Ann: I arrived at the Preve Gstaad Center during the late afternoon. My legs were becoming sore from so much riding, and I was glad to see Cleopatra escorted to the stables.
I checked in at the front desk, paying for a one week stay. Erik had given me well enough money for the things I might enjoy, but I wanted to be as economical as possible.
The Center was a large, white brick building with many windows. The front intereior was a pale blue with mahogany desks and large mahogany bookcases. There were wicker chairs and lounges in the front foyer, and a large door that led outside to a garden and pool. Two staircases at each end of the hall led upstairs, and my room was situated on the left stair in Suite 436.
The room was quite opulent, although I had chosen a less expensive room than what Erik had suggested. There was one bed in the center, and a beautiful balcony that led to a view of the Swiss Alps.
I had a white amouire and a white desk, complete with stationary. A door beside the desk led to a lovely bathroom, with a porcelain chamberpot and white counter with a fresh water pitcher.
A note beside the porcelain tub explained that when water was necessary, to come downstairs and ask a chambermaid for fresh bathing water. It also said that when the chamberpot needed to be emptied, they had professionals's available at all times.
I was ecstatic.
Immediately I unpacked my clothes, realizing that my dresses were rather frayed and unsuitable. I wondered how Meg's clothing was holding up, and if she would need me to sew them for her.
My first thought of Meg led me to think of Erik, and of course the knot in my stomach came back.
I was worried that leaving them alone for so long would only increase the chances of them becoming closer. I realized that I could not stop whatever happened, and if Meg was to find love with Erik, it was her heart that would break. I knew deep inside, Erik would never let go of Christine.
At least, of all the men Meg had courted before, Erik was somewhat acceptable. If he had been simply another admirer who came to the Opera, I would have been glad to let Meg see him.
But I had encouraged Christine instead, making it possible for them to be together.
I wondered how things might have been different if I had allowed Meg to be raised with Erik, as a brother or cousin. Instead I had kept them separate; Erik below as my dark secret, and Meg above, as my pride and joy.
My only problem was facing the fact that if Erik had not murdered my husband, then I would have never seen him again, and Meg would indeed have had brothers and sisters and would now be ready for marriage.
Instead we were miles away from home, and she was off with a man and no escort, and I was here; all alone.
Was I simply going to accept a romance between him and my daughter? Or would I force them apart, and leave Meg crying in the arms of another man, while Erik wasted away over a woman who had left him?
I knew I had to take care of both of them, because I was their caretaker. So many things swirled about in my mind, and I knew I was becoming rather stressed.
I slammed the amouire shut and went downstairs to see how I could ease my mind.
Erik: The ski lodge was quite impressive. It was pure wood and logs, with three rectangular buildings set side by side. The top of the mountain was visible through the swirling snow, and I saw people, horses, and even mules climbing to the top in order to fly down again. I thought it would be easier if they had some way to fly people to the top, as a lift or some wire trap, but no one else seemed to mind the long trek.
Meg was racing Brise to the front door of the middle building, and I chased after her. She disembarked and I followed. Suddenly we heard an English voice beside us.
"I'll take your horses to the stable until you need them. We have pack mules for rent if you don't want to tire your horse."
I nodded and Meg thanked the man.
He pointed to the first building, "That's the entrance and the main house. These two are the rooms. The outhouses are behind them, ten for the ladies and ten for the gents. I suggest you get a warm hat miss." Meg smiled and I led her to the first building.
She asked me, "Won't we be cold when we, um.." She shrugged but I knew what she meant.
"I suggest you bring a small cup with a hot ember inside. It may warm you." I told her.
Meg's cheeks were crimson, but I couldn't tell if she was blushing or simply freezing.
I held her hand as we walked inside and found the main desk. The building was heated by four fireplaces situated in each wall. There were rugs and comfortable couches and chairs along the main floor, and a large bookcase along the far wall.
I smiled when I saw the grand piano on the right side of the floor, and out of habit my fingers began to twitch.
Meg was walking to the main desk, which sat before two smaller ones, and I smiled at the man who worked it. His first question in plain English was, "What language do you speak?"
He asked again in Spanish, but I held up my hand. "French Monsieur. The lady and I are interested in a stay." He adjusted his bifocal and looked at a large ledger. "We have twenty-three rooms available. Would you prefer two separate one-bedroom rooms or one bedroom with two beds?"
Meg suddenly spoke and replied, "One room with two beds please."
I looked at her quizzically, wondering why she would want to be in the same room with me. It was not appropriate, and I knew Ann would not approve. "Are you sure? You can have your own you know." I asked her.
Meg smiled at me and asked, "Is it alright? If your not comfortable we can have two separate rooms." The man looked at us and said, "There is a line. Please tell me what you prefer."
I shrugged. It did not matter to me where Meg chose to sleep, so long as she was comfortable. Myself I was used to being alone, and as long as Meg gave me my privacy she was welcome to stay in the same room.
We had shared rooms in Italy as well, with Ann and Meg sleeping in one bed, and it had not bothered me. Yet I wondered why; when her mother was not here; Meg wouldn't want to assert her independence with her own room. I told the man what we wanted, and paid for our time.
Meg already had the key and I walked alongside with our luggage.
Meg: The ski lodge was rather atrocious.
They had poor bears and moose heads along the walls, and I wondered what had become of the rest of the bodies. I did not approve of hunting for sport, only for survival.
Also, they didn't even have chamberpots. In order to perform private acts, I would have to walk outside in the cold!
I had also realized that in order to ski down the summit, we would have to walk up a large hill with our equipment. I hoped Erik would rent a mule, because I did not Brise or Aries to suffer.
When the man had asked what room would we prefer, I immediately told him one room with two beds. I knew Erik suffered at night, with constant nightmares and moving about.
If he happened to fall off the bed, I wanted to be there for him.
Also, I rather enjoyed Erik's company. I didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable however, but he had made no move to change the plan. Our room was in the third building, a long rectangle with doors leading along both walls.
A small foyer at the end of the hall furnished a large fire, and I realized each of the rooms had a smaller fire inside. The room we had was not small, but not large either. It featured two beds across from each other, with a space in between the footboards that lead to a small fire and beside that a large amouire.
That was all actually. It was nice, but I knew I would be spending more time outside than in, so I was content.
Erik began to unpack his clothes, and then he came to me. "You may need these tomorrow. Your cheeks are flushed." He was holding a black scarf and a small, black fedora hat.
I asked, "Won't you need them?" His reply was short, "No." I took them and thanked him, but when his back turned I quietly sniffed the scarf. His cologne was still faintly upon it, and I felt embarrassed for doing so.
He was still wearing the ski mask, a large piece of black wool that covered not only his entire face, but his hair and neck as well. I wondered if he would ever take it off during our vacation.
After we had both packed our clothes away, Erik stowed the bags under the beds and asked me. "Are you hungry?" I smiled and replied, "Yes."
The ski lodge had a smaller building behind the large three ones, for meals and refreshments.
We walked outside as I covered my neck and cheeks with the scarf and placed the fedora on my unkempt hair.
I decided that later I would braid my hair for easier management. Erik opened the door for me and we went inside.