The Chateau by Catherine Cooper

Author:Catherine Cooper [Cooper, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2021-06-22T17:00:00+00:00

39

February, French Alps

Ella

‘Seven thirty! Up you get!’ Miss Fielder shouts, banging on our door before it is even light. ‘Got to be in reception all kitted out and breakfasted by nine o’clock at the very latest! Vite, vite, vite!’

‘Whose idea was it to come on this trip?’ Molly groans, switching on the bedside light and rolling out of bed.

‘Um – yours?’ I say. ‘Or actually I think it was Ethan who first suggested I come.’

‘Pffft. Bloody Ethan. I’ll blame him, then,’ she grumbles, padding over to the tiny bathroom and closing the door behind her.

Guess that’ll be Molly having first shower then. I force myself out of bed and over to the cupboard. I fish out my pants, ski socks, thermals, neck warmer, inner and outer gloves, jumper, wildly unflattering salopettes, goggles, sunglasses, brand-new ski jacket from TK Maxx and the bag of Mini Mars Bars Mum insisted I bring to put in my pockets. That’s the other thing about skiing, apart from the early mornings – there seems to be so much gear to deal with.

The bathroom door opens and Molly comes out wrapped in a towel. ‘Bathroom’s free!’ she sings. ‘I don’t know about you, but now I’m properly awake I’m actually quite excited about today.’

By the time we get down to breakfast it’s five to nine, so we only have time to cram in a croissant and have a quick slurp of hot chocolate before Miss Fielder is shouting at us all to hurry up and assemble in reception. As we start walking to the ski shop to pick up our stuff, I suddenly feel quite nervous.

Jack, though, is bouncing around, totally excited in a way I’ve never seen him before. ‘Look at that blue sky!’ he says. ‘Today’s going to be amazing!’

I smile. ‘I’m a bit scared,’ I admit.

‘Don’t be,’ Jack says. ‘Honestly, by the end of the day I bet you’ll wonder what you were worrying about. You’ll love it.’

I stand with the gathering group of beginners, watching the door of the ski shop from where the stragglers are still appearing. I’m trying to look like I’m just staring into space but really, I’m looking out for Mr Dorian. I haven’t yet seen him this morning and I know it’s ridiculous but there is a part of me that misses him. As if I just need to see him, even if we don’t speak.

Another, smaller part of me wishes he hadn’t come on this holiday at all. Maybe if he wasn’t here, I would be able to stop thinking about him every waking minute. Maybe then I could concentrate properly on Jack. Maybe then I’d actually want to …

And suddenly, there he is. He looks so hot in his black beanie and I instantly feel self-conscious in my hideous rented helmet which is probably giving me nits. I drag my eyes away from him and look at my reflection in the shop window. I don’t know if it’s the angle of the glass or the padding in my clothes but I feel like I’ve never looked less sexy.

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