Return to the CHATEAU

Mary was delighted to discover the hotel was still perfect – but was it in safe hands?

Mary looked out of the window as the taxi glided along the tree-lined avenue. Suddenly, the chateau came into view, and Mary smiled. Everything looked just as she recalled.

In the hotel foyer, the cream carpet was immaculate, and Chopin’s preludes played quietly from discreetly hidden speakers. Freshly cut lily-of-the-valley sprigs had been arranged in vases. The side tables were grouped around the comfortable armchairs Mary remembered. Those chairs must be rather old now, she thought, but they had been reupholstered perfectly.

‘Welcome to the Chateau de Mayonne. How may I help you?’ the receptionist asked.

‘We have a double room booked in the name of Mason,’ Mary replied. ‘Mr Mason will arrive separately. We weren’t due to arrive until this afternoon, but…’

‘No problem,’ the receptionist smiled. ‘May I offer you one of our speciality coffees while we finish preparing your room? Or a quick tour of the hotel grounds, as it’s not busy at the moment?’

Mary accepted the offer of coffee gratefully and chose an armchair close to a window overlooking a flower-filled courtyard. ‘Please join me,’ she said, as the younger woman set down a tray with china cups, a silver cafetière and rainbow-colored macarons. ‘I do believe you are allowed to take coffee with the guests?’