An Unwanted Guest(9)

Matthew notices the sour look Henry shoots at his wife, as if it’s her fault there’s no wi-fi. Maybe that’s what he’s so annoyed about.

‘The scenery is lovely, though,’ Beverly says gamely. ‘And I see there are lots of books here.’

It’s true. Matthew has noticed bookcases around the hotel, filled with books of all sorts.

‘I found an old Agatha Christie on my bedside table,’ Lauren volunteers.

‘That’s me,’ Bradley says. ‘I put books in all the rooms. So much nicer than chocolates on the pillows, don’t you think? Although we do the chocolates, too, of course.’ He grins.

‘I think it’s refreshing,’ Lauren says.

‘We actually have a rather extensive library. I can find you something else if you like. I’m very familiar with what’s in there – I’ve read most of them. Our guests like to read in the library, of course, but in the summer they read in the hammock, or by the pool, or in the gazebo.’

‘We’ll have to come back up here in the summer,’ Matthew says, smiling at Dana, ‘after we’re married.’

‘You should,’ Bradley agrees. ‘It’s lovely here in the summer. But it’s just as lovely in winter. I can light a fire in the library after dinner if anyone wants to sit in there.’

‘We’d like to see the icehouse,’ Lauren says.

‘What is the icehouse, exactly?’ Beverly asks.

Bradley smiles. ‘It’s a little outbuilding made entirely from ice and snow. We had it made into a bar. Everything is carved from ice – the bar, the shelves, the stools, even. And there’s some wicked sculpture. The only thing in there that isn’t made out of ice is the bottles and the glasses and the bar equipment. It’s pretty amazing. I haven’t had a chance to clear the path out to it yet, but I’ll get the snowblower out and it will be open tomorrow, I promise.’

‘It sounds cold,’ Gwen says.

‘You’ll need a jacket,’ Bradley admits.

The atmosphere in the room has shifted slightly since the arrival of Dana and Matthew. Lauren couldn’t help noticing how the men in the room reacted when Dana joined them. Bradley gawking at her as he served her drink. The older men are better able to hide their feelings; nonetheless it’s impossible to ignore that Dana’s remarkable beauty has affected everyone. It’s as if they are all suddenly sitting up straighter. Even Ian. She gives him a little kick now, irritated, and he returns his attention to her.

Lauren knows that she herself is an attractive woman – and she has no doubts about Ian finding her so. But Dana is in another class altogether. It’s not just her beauty, which is hard to ignore. It’s her glamour. Her awareness of her own gorgeousness. She makes every other woman in the room feel second rate without even trying. There’s something about exceptionally beautiful women, Lauren has noticed, that makes them think they’re entitled to anything they want.

Lauren finds herself staring at Dana. Suddenly, as if she can feel Lauren’s eyes on her, Dana looks directly at her. The smile on her lovely face doesn’t falter as her gaze lingers on Lauren.

Dana reminds Lauren of someone, she can’t think who. Maybe she just reminds her of all those women who look out from movie screens and magazines, the ones who remind the rest of them of their own shortcomings. Lauren turns away first.

She catches Gwen and Riley watching Dana, too.





Friday, 6:45 PM


When James emerges from his kitchen and enters the lobby to check on the guests, he sees the cocktail hour is in full swing. The guests are chatting with each other, and everything seems quite convivial. They’ve been drinking for a while already, and there’s something about being snowed in that has a way of bringing people together.

His son glances up at him as he enters the lobby. Bradley is holding an uncorked bottle of champagne – Veuve Clicquot – loosely by the neck. He’s a rather striking young man, and now a lock of his hair is falling forward on his forehead, which lends him a certain rakish charm. He’s tall and lean and athletic, and looks perfectly at ease in his slim black trousers and crisp white shirt. He wears clothes well. And Bradley is so good with the guests. So confident and outgoing, like his mother had been. James is more at ease behind the scenes, in his kitchen wearing his apron, or looking over his accounts. Still, he has his concerns about Bradley. He worries about him stepping over the line. He’s still young and impulsive. He has to remember that he’s a server, not a guest. There are boundaries to be observed. Bradley hasn’t always been so good at observing boundaries.

All of the women are now drinking champagne out of old-fashioned coupe glasses. Occasionally a fussy guest will request a flute, but most enjoy the decadent, twenties feel of the coupes. James loves them, himself. They go so nicely with his hotel.

Bradley makes the introductions. Now James can put names to the faces.

‘We’ve switched to champagne,’ Lauren says, raising her glass.

‘Excellent choice,’ James agrees.

‘Since we’re snowed in here, we’ve decided we’re going to make the most of it,’ announces Dana, a strikingly pretty young woman with a large diamond engagement ring on her finger.

‘The ladies are celebrating,’ Henry says, standing in front of the fireplace and holding a drink aloft, ‘but the men are just drinking.’