The children scamper away, bubbling over with excitement at finally being here, on holiday, after a long day of travel and a long year of being stuck in the UK. I know how they feel.
Elaine ushers me through the grandiose doorway into an incredible square hallway. It’s blessedly cool and has that mix of austerity and magnificence the French do so well: bleached, ancient flagstones and plastered walls providing a blank canvas for an oversized chandelier and ornate, curved staircase.
‘Oh my God. This is to die for.’ I don’t normally gush—I’m harder and harder to impress, these days—but this chateau has such natural style and such a sense of place. I couldn’t be anywhere else but France, and it’s been far, far too long.
The best part: the wall of French doors on the oppositeside of the hall, all thrown open to showcase a vast terrace and a vista dominated by the Mediterranean, in all its blue, effervescent glory. There’s no pine forest here to block the view. It’smagnificent.
The breeze carries the children’s whoops of delight into the hallway.
‘We have a full house now.’ Elaine gestures to the French doors and I step out onto the terrace. ‘Noah arrived on Wednesday, and Angus and Evelyn yesterday. Eddie’s been beautifully behaved, but he’ll be thrilled Rollo’s here. He’s been asking when you’re arriving every half an hour since breakfast.’
‘Oh, Lord,’ I say. ‘At least they’ll keep each other entertained, so we can all sit back and relax.’ I’m distracted by the sheer gorgeousness that lies around us. To my right, a cluster of low rattan sofas and tables under a woven bamboo shade. And straight ahead of me: heaven. Broad steps down to another terrace, with multiple loungers and a couple of white-curtained daybeds, and a huge, turquoise pool. Rollo already has his top off. He insisted on wearing swimming trunks as shorts on the flight.
I’m used to making an entrance, but it’s just old, dear friends here. No sign of Noah. I follow Elaine lightly down the steps. Philippe has hung back. He’s sweet, but a man of few words. I suspect he’d love to have the house to himself and bury himself in a book.
Evelyn squeals and waves from a day-bed. She’s sleek and stunning, as usual, in a red one-piece, with beautiful little Rose in her arms. She heads in my direction, Angus behind her in a pair of shorts.
‘You’re here, and we can party!’ She throws her arm around my neck and hugs me, Rose gurgling between us.
‘I’m not sure I’m ever the life and soul of the party, but God, am I happy to be here! I’m feeling more sociable already.’
I take Rose from Evelyn. She’s delicious. Velvet soft baby skin, clad only in a pair of frilly white swim-pants over her nappy. She gives me the benefit of her tiny front teeth with a huge grin and instantly latches onto my pendant earring with a little fist.
‘No, you don’t, monkey.’ Evelyn laughingly detaches her fist and holds it.
‘She’s heaven. Good enough to eat. Hi, Angus.’
Angus is looking tanned and well. He’s extremely attractive, in a rustic kind of way, with the kindest, crinkly eyes that melt when he looks at his wife and their daughter.
‘Well done for making it.’ He kisses my cheeks. ‘The journey wasn’t too painful, I hope?’
‘It was fine, actually. Ooh!’
The shriek comes as Eddie and Rollo take a run at the pool and cannonball in, sending a huge splash my way. Serena is out of her sundress and down to her swimsuit, and hot on their heels.
A flash of movement catches my eye, and I turn to see Noah exiting the cabana at the far end of the pool and walking towards us. There must be showers over there, because he’s soaking wet and combing his dark hair back off his face with his hands.Holy shit.He’s far enough away that I can take him in properly through my sunglasses without him or anyone else being able to see exactly what I’m looking at.
He’s beautiful. And he’s been working on his tan. Those French genes mean he just has tolookat the sun to turn bronze. His swim shorts sit low on his hips and show off his lean, rangy figure and a dark, wet happy trail. He’s far leaner in build than Jackson, who’s completely ripped, and his body has an easy grace when he moves. And then there’s the body hair. Jackson’s had to wax religiously for as long as I’ve known him, and I’m used to it, but the light coating of dark hair on Noah’s chest and stomach is mesmerising. He’s grinning at me, andwhen he gets close enough to put a damp hand carefully on my bare arm, it gives me the delicious ghost of a shiver.
‘Sorry.’ The grin widens. ‘And welcome to the Cote d’Azur.’
‘Thank you. I’m not sure why you don’t relocate out here. Forget the hospice. This place is incredible.’
‘It is. Sadly, it’s a recent purchase. If they’d bought it when I was at med school, I doubt I would have qualified.’
‘How has the trip been so far?’
‘Magical,’ Evelyn interjects. ‘But we’ve missed you. Elaine and I have missed having long, rosé-fuelled gossips with you after lunch. And Noah’s been a very gracious gooseberry, but now you can keep him company.’
She means it innocently, but Noah’s smile turns more bashful.
‘It’s good to have someone here to rescue me from being thrashed relentlessly by Angus at backgammon. How was your mum when you left her?’
‘She was on good form, thanks.’ I set my heavy tote bag down on the table next to me and rub my shoulder. ‘No thanks to the big boss buggering off and leaving his team and his patients to fend for themselves.’
‘I hate to admit it, but I’ve surrounded myself with a hugely competent team who are probably far happier when I’m not around, getting in the way. Which works for me.’ He gestures around the pool area. ‘Now, what do you need? Shower? Change? Dip in the pool? Although maybe not while those lunatics are in there… glass of rosé? I’d offer to show you to your room, but I know Mum’s excited to give you a full tour.’
CHAPTER 12
