AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘I would not be allowed to treat a guest in the August Suite.’
He was about to sayWhat a pity, but he rather sensed that that would have her scuttling behind the wall she had erected, which was just starting to inch down.
She rather fascinated him, and it was a relief to focus on their gentle conversation rather than deal with the problems he must face. He had intended to go for a run, just to clear his head. Yet instead he carried on chatting as she worked her way through the suite.
‘You grew up here?’ he asked.
‘Yes, I left a few years ago.’
‘For how long?’
‘Five years,’ Antonietta said. ‘And though it was wonderful, I came to realise that you cannot drift for ever. Home is home—though it is very different now, and the hotel has changed things. There are more people, more work...’
‘Is that why you came back?’
‘No,’ Antonietta said, and cut that line of conversation stone-cold dead.
It usually took an hour and fifteen minutes to service the suite to standard. Today it took a little longer, although they did not talk non-stop, just made gentle conversation as Antonietta got on with her work, diligently ticking off items in turn to ensure that nothing had been missed.
‘Do you have family here?’ Rafe asked, curious despite himself.
‘Yes.’
Again she closed the topic, and headed into the lounge and dining area. There had been no fire lit last night, and no meal taken, but she dusted the gleaming table, then topped up the cognac decanter and replaced the glasses.
Tick.
He was leaning on the doorframe, watching her. Usually to have a guest watching her so overtly would be unsettling, yet it didn’t feel that way with Rafe. She found him relaxing. Oh, her heart was in her throat, and beating way too fast, but that was for other reasons entirely.
She liked it that he did not demand elaboration. So much so that as she put the stopper in the decanter she revealed to him a little of her truth.
‘We are not really speaking.’
‘That must be hard.’
‘Yes.’
The candles in the heavy candelabra were new, and didn’t need replacing.
Tick.
She checked that the lighter worked.
Tick.
But she paused for a moment and wondered how used to luxury he must be not to light them each night. Not to need the stunning suite bathed in candle and firelight.
‘The August Suite is my favourite,’ Antonietta admitted. ‘You should use these candles. I am sure it would look beautiful.’
‘I’ll keep that in mind.’
‘I mean...’ She was flustered, for she was not used to idle conversation. ‘I’ve always wondered what it must look like.’
‘I’ll bear that in mind,’ Rafe said again, and this time she flushed. ‘Which is your favourite view?’ he asked.
‘The one from the dining room. From there you can see the valley.’
‘Show me.’
