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Back The Chalet Save as PDF
Chapters (75)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise for The Chalet
  3. Dedication
  4. PART ONE
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. PART TWO
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. PART THREE
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. Epilogue
  71. Acknowledgements
  72. Keep Reading …
  73. Prologue
  74. About the Author
  75. About the Publisher

By now I just want to lie down on my bed and go to sleep but, if I do that, it’s going to look like I’m storming off like a toddler having a tantrum. So I force myself to smile and say: ‘I’m sorry. It’s been a long couple of days and I’m very tired. I think I’ll go and have a quick shower – I’ve been in these same clothes for days – and then I’ll join you.’

‘We’ll eat in about an hour, so plenty of time,’ Millie says, placing a plate of exquisite-looking canapés on the table. ‘Matt has already taken your bag up, so I’ll show you where your room is now, if you’re ready.’

I down the rest of my champagne and stand up. ‘That would be great, thank you.’

Millie leads me up two flights of stairs and opens a door. It’s an eaves room with sloping ceilings and a Velux window. There’s a double bed made up with white linen and covered with a fur throw, and a fleece-covered chair. A small door in one wall looks like it probably leads to the bathroom.

‘I’m sorry it’s rather small,’ Millie says, ‘but I hope you’ll find it comfortable. There are towels and toiletries in the bathroom, and if you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to let me know. There’s no code for the Wi-Fi – it’s open. Though it’s not working too well because of the weather, I’m afraid.’

‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘I very much appreciate you putting me up.’

‘Cameron – the owner of the chalet – felt that it was the least we can do. He’s coming for dinner to pay his respects, so you can thank him then if you like. But there’s really no need – he’s very happy to have you here.’ There is a pause. ‘Is there anything else I can do for you?’

She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. I guess she’s had enough of having to wait on her guests hand and foot for several days solid since the lifts closed. Having to put me up as well has probably only added to her load.

‘No, this looks great, thank you. I hope having me here isn’t putting you to any extra trouble?’

‘I’ll leave you to it then,’ she says, diplomatically ignoring my question. ‘See you in an hour for dinner?’

‘Looking forward to it,’ I lie.

47

January 2020, La Madière, France

Ria

‘What were you thinking?’ I hiss when Cameron plonks himself down at my table, snow falling off his jacket and on to my already-soaked jeans. ‘Why are you inviting that guy to our chalet? He’s going to recognize us, you know. We were lucky to get away with not going to prison all those years ago, and now you’re …’