‘Oh wow, they weren’t kidding when they said it was a spa. Look at it, Léo! This is a waterfall shower – you could fit about five people in it. And the bath as well! And look at all the gorgeous products, there’s everything we could possibly need.’
Léo grinned.
‘I think a fancy bathroom might be more your thing than mine, so I’m going to leave you to enjoy it.’
Although she felt a stab of disappointment at his departure, Juliet didn’t need telling twice. Within seconds of the door closing, she had pulled off her clothes and was standing under the hot stream of water in the shower, pressing a different button every couple of minutes to change the force or pattern of the deluge. It had been a wonderful day, but a lot had happened, and the peaceful drenching was blissful. Eventually, feeling revived, she emerged and wrapped a bath sheet around herself, then started investigating the tub. She started the water running and poured in a luxurious amount of a foaming bath oil she had seen rave reviews for in magazines but couldn’t bring herself to pay forty-five pounds for. The scent of patchouli and bergamot filled the air and she breathed deeply. She was about to climb in when she noticed a small sign above some white cotton bags, saying ‘Laundry’. Closer investigation revealed that she could bag up her clothing, alert Reception and have it washed and pressed by morning: ideal. She decided to take the bags and a robe out to Léo to see if he wanted to avail himself of the serviceas well and found him stretched out on the sofa listening to quiet music flooding the room from hidden speakers.
‘Hi, just leaving this here in case you want your clothes washed.’
‘Ah,merci, I will do that. I will call down. I must say, this sofa is very comfortable, I shall spend a pleasant night here.’
‘You don’t have to do that.’
‘Of course, I do not mind – that was the understanding,non?’
‘I didn’t mean, well…I mean, you know, you don’t have to sleep out here. That bed is massive, it would be silly to waste half of it. Obviously, do whatever you want. But I don’t mind.’
Ugh, so awkward.
‘Then I shall gladly share, thank you.’
‘Great! I mean, fine, whatever works. Oh look, magazines! I might take one for the bath.’
Grabbing a copy ofVogue, Juliet scuttled gratefully back to the bathroom, wishing she could get her head in order around Léo. It was infuriating how much he unsettled her, yet how calm and accepting he was of her obvious fluster.
When she emerged some forty-five minutes later, Juliet felt she had regained some composure. Léo was still in the living room but soon showered and joined her in the bedroom.
‘I have had a wonderful day getting to know you, Juliet. I feel as if we could stay in this hotel room forever.’
‘I know. London has been very different with you. But I have to say – something I never thought Iwouldsay – I am looking forward to going home. And Feywood is feeling like home for the first time in a long time.’ She yawned lavishly. ‘I’m sorry, I’m dropping off.’
‘Not at all. Good night, lovely Juliet.’
Léo dropped a kiss on Juliet’s forehead and watched as her eyes closed and her face relaxed. The softening effects of sleep changed her beauty, blurred the edges somewhat and gave him a glimpse of the child she had once been. All signs of wariness left her, and he wished that the same was true for when she was awake. How he longed for her to share all her vulnerability with him, to allow him to smooth away the hurt of the past. His anger flared at the thought of the pain that her mother and Toby had put her through, and he had to relax the fists that had involuntarily clenched. He was suddenly gripped by the fear that he would only become another bad interlude.Maybe I’ll also hurt her, but how could I, when I feel such a protective instinct? Maybe that will save her – and me?He hoped so. Neither of them needed any more anguish in their lives.
SEVENTEEN
When she awoke the next morning to the stunning room and Léo’s sleeping form on the bed beside her, Juliet couldn’t contain a shiver of pleasure. He had honoured her wishes without any attempt to persuade her otherwise, either through flattery, cajoling or irritated half-threats, and she felt that was one of the most heroically romantic things anyone had ever done for her. She raised a sardonic eyebrow as she wondered if maybe she had set the bar a bit low, but then remembered the overblown gestures she had been subjected to in the past from Toby. Flowers, a trip to Paris, even a hot air balloon ride – but never the gift of respect. All his offerings had come with a hefty price tag, and she had been the one to pay it. For the second time in recent months, she felt a sense of homecoming – this time to a person rather than a location. Still wrapped in her cosy bathrobe, she wriggled across the bed and snuggled into Léo’s chest, resting her head and feeling the rise and fall of his body as he breathed. He lifted his arm and closed it around her shoulders, pulling her closer into him.
‘Bonjour, ma chérie.’
‘Bonjour. Did you sleep well?’
‘I did, beautifully. And you?’
‘Very well. I’m hungry now, though.’
‘As am I.’ He twisted his arm around to look at his watch. ‘It is quite early still; shall we call down for breakfast and enjoy it on the roof terrace?’
Juliet agreed to this, and soon they were sitting in the morning sunshine enjoying coffee, pastries, yoghurt and fruit and grinning at each other.
‘I’d better turn my phone on,’ said Juliet. ‘I messaged Martha last night to let her know we were staying in London, but then I thought I’d better try to preserve the battery. Mind you, this amazing hotel would probably have lent me a charger.’
‘I’m sure, but it is also nice to be free of these things once in a while,non?’
Nodding her agreement, Juliet lit up her phone, then grimaced at the flurry of beeps.
‘Look, there’s Martha, oh, and bloody Frankie thinking she’s Britain’s next top comic with all her unfunny messages about us staying over. God, I forgot we’d have to run that gauntlet when we get back.’
