C HAPTER O NE
Jakarta stumbled when she and Teague entered the lobby of Castle Phantasie. If not for his supporting arm cradling hers, she might have fallen over in shock at the sight that met her eyes. She couldn’t help gazing with childlike wonder at the Christmas tree dominating the lobby. It must have been twenty feet tall, but the arched ceiling of the room easily accommodated its height.
Even more stunning than its stature were the tree’s decorations. Real candles in brass holders, numbering in the hundreds, dotted the branches. Interwoven among the lights were thick bunches of white garland, along with antique ivory and brass bulbs. The angel at the top was too far up to distinguish its features, but it wore an intricate scarlet and ivory dress. To show up as well as it did, the tree topper must have been at least three or four feet in height.
She turned to Teague, giving him an impulsive hug. “This is fabulous, darling.” When he had promised to give her a Christmas to remember, he hadn’t taken the oath lightly.
He put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Strands of her ebony hair brushed his cheek when he bent his head to kiss her. “Wait until you see the room. It’s their Deluxe Phantasie suite.”
A surge of excitement filled her at the prospect. As she walked with Teague to check in, in her mind’s eye, she envisioned yards of soft carpet, decadent fabrics, and antique furnishings.
The process went quickly, handled by an efficient blond German man who spoke English with a crisp accent. After taking their pertinent information, he entrusted them to a bellhop. The young man took Jakarta’s carryon bag and led them up the stone staircase.
Jakarta admired the castle with wide eyes. It was obvious the owner had made every attempt to restore Castle Phantasie to its original splendor, wherever possible. The details were exquisite, down to the candleholders mounted on the wall flanking the staircase, complete with red, holly-scented candles, wreathed with real holly leaves, and currently not lit.
The climb up the stairs seemed to take forever, and she became aware of the chill that had settled into her bones during the drive from the airport in the van. Even her new ski jacket didn’t do much to warm her.
She slanted a look at Teague, noting the flush of color in his wind-kissed cheeks. His hair was damp from the snow that had melted in it. The light cast by the crystal chandeliers spaced every few feet on the vaulted ceiling brought out red-gold highlights in his honey-brown hair. He looked cold too, but she easily thought of ways they could quickly warm up each other.
“Just this last flight,” said their bellhop several flights of stairs later. “There’s an elevator, but this is the best way to see the castle.”
Jakarta breathed a sigh of relief, knowing the trek was almost over, and that she could use the elevator from now on. Apparently, even chasing after a classroom of forty-two six-year-olds all day hadn’t given her the stamina to tackle all these stairs.
A couple of minutes later, she decided it had been worth every single step to arrive at their room. The young man had swiped an electronic card through the box mounted beside the ornately carved wooden door and now stood back to let them enter. “There are only two tower rooms,” he said, as they slipped past him. “These suites are always booked, sometimes years in advance.”
Jakarta lifted a brow in Teague’s direction. “How long ago did you make this reservation?”
He squirmed, appearing embarrassed. “Last Thanksgiving.”
She flinched, abruptly remembering last November had been the first time he proposed to her. Had he booked this room with the anticipation of honeymooning here?
The thought was uncomfortable, and she allowed the room’s beauty to distract her from it. It was a circle, complete with two tall windows that would have been without glass when the castle was first constructed. The stone
Jakarta stumbled when she and Teague entered the lobby of Castle Phantasie. If not for his supporting arm cradling hers, she might have fallen over in shock at the sight that met her eyes. She couldn’t help gazing with childlike wonder at the Christmas tree dominating the lobby. It must have been twenty feet tall, but the arched ceiling of the room easily accommodated its height.
Even more stunning than its stature were the tree’s decorations. Real candles in brass holders, numbering in the hundreds, dotted the branches. Interwoven among the lights were thick bunches of white garland, along with antique ivory and brass bulbs. The angel at the top was too far up to distinguish its features, but it wore an intricate scarlet and ivory dress. To show up as well as it did, the tree topper must have been at least three or four feet in height.
She turned to Teague, giving him an impulsive hug. “This is fabulous, darling.” When he had promised to give her a Christmas to remember, he hadn’t taken the oath lightly.
He put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Strands of her ebony hair brushed his cheek when he bent his head to kiss her. “Wait until you see the room. It’s their Deluxe Phantasie suite.”
A surge of excitement filled her at the prospect. As she walked with Teague to check in, in her mind’s eye, she envisioned yards of soft carpet, decadent fabrics, and antique furnishings.
The process went quickly, handled by an efficient blond German man who spoke English with a crisp accent. After taking their pertinent information, he entrusted them to a bellhop. The young man took Jakarta’s carryon bag and led them up the stone staircase.
Jakarta admired the castle with wide eyes. It was obvious the owner had made every attempt to restore Castle Phantasie to its original splendor, wherever possible. The details were exquisite, down to the candleholders mounted on the wall flanking the staircase, complete with red, holly-scented candles, wreathed with real holly leaves, and currently not lit.
The climb up the stairs seemed to take forever, and she became aware of the chill that had settled into her bones during the drive from the airport in the van. Even her new ski jacket didn’t do much to warm her.
She slanted a look at Teague, noting the flush of color in his wind-kissed cheeks. His hair was damp from the snow that had melted in it. The light cast by the crystal chandeliers spaced every few feet on the vaulted ceiling brought out red-gold highlights in his honey-brown hair. He looked cold too, but she easily thought of ways they could quickly warm up each other.
“Just this last flight,” said their bellhop several flights of stairs later. “There’s an elevator, but this is the best way to see the castle.”
Jakarta breathed a sigh of relief, knowing the trek was almost over, and that she could use the elevator from now on. Apparently, even chasing after a classroom of forty-two six-year-olds all day hadn’t given her the stamina to tackle all these stairs.
A couple of minutes later, she decided it had been worth every single step to arrive at their room. The young man had swiped an electronic card through the box mounted beside the ornately carved wooden door and now stood back to let them enter. “There are only two tower rooms,” he said, as they slipped past him. “These suites are always booked, sometimes years in advance.”
Jakarta lifted a brow in Teague’s direction. “How long ago did you make this reservation?”
He squirmed, appearing embarrassed. “Last Thanksgiving.”
She flinched, abruptly remembering last November had been the first time he proposed to her. Had he booked this room with the anticipation of honeymooning here?
The thought was uncomfortable, and she allowed the room’s beauty to distract her from it. It was a circle, complete with two tall windows that would have been without glass when the castle was first constructed. The stone
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