*Let's ignore the 6 month hiatus from this challenge and get straight into the next episode! I have graduated college and now have sooo much free time to finally continue and finish this challenge! Yippee!!!*
Welcome back, our dear viewers, to another episode of The Bachelor! We are about to embark on the ninth episode of the series and we're sure you're eager to see what else our contestants will get up to in Champs Les Sims! Last episode we saw our bachelor, Bobby, begin to explore the beautiful sights of their vacation destination with the remaining contestants, but what is in store for them today?
Let's find out!
Bobby was up bright and early this morning as he arranged a sunrise date for him and Mary-Anne to go on. As he freshened up and put on a new shirt he thought about Mary-Anne, hoping she was also awake by now, but also thinking back on the kiss he finally shared with her in her room last night. He had only kissed one other contestant in his time on the show and that other girl was Pearl... who he also secretly kissed last night! His mind spun anytime he thought about how different his feelings were for both of them and how polarising physical intimacy was with Mary-Anne and Pearl. Regardless, he was satisfied that things were getting more serious between himself and the others and he finished this contemplative morning by slinging a red jumper over his shoulders and making it to the foyer to meet Mary-Anne for their date.
At the exact same time that Bobby was getting dressed, so was Mary-Anne. She woke up with a stomach full of butterflies, excited for a completely solo date with Bobby, and a wide smile on her face. Her excited jitters made her a little indecisive when it came to picking an outfit but she stuck with something comfortable and light as her outfit of the day.
She brushed her hair and applied a slight bit of makeup in the mirror, took a deep breath and walked out into the hallway to meet Bobby. She could still hear some snoring coming from some of the other bedrooms and kind of wished she was sleeping in but was more than anything excited to see where Bobby was taking her!
As Mary-Anne made her way down the last few steps she noticed the bachelor already waiting for her in the foyer. They smiled warmly at each other before extending a "good morning" out to one another. Bobby pulled Mary-Anne in for a hug and she accepted it without hesitation. She deeply inhaled the fresh smell of his cologne and felt the butterflies in her stomach do a little happy dance before she pulled away.
"Ready to venture on a little date with me?" questioned Bobby.
"Of course!" exclaimed Mary-Anne, "you lead, I follow!"
Bobby led her down the front gardens of the chateau and brought her to the car he was renting during their stay at Champs Les Sims. The car felt so empty when it was just the two of them but at the same time very roomy! As Bobby steered the car to their destination he engaged in some small talk with his date, asking how she slept and where she thought they were going. Mary-Anne giggled with excitement as she answered his questions, almost embarrassed from how girly she was acting.
Not long after Bobby parked the car on the side of the road near the Champs Les Sims river and turned the engine off, "C'mon," he began, "We're almost there!"
Mary-Anne followed his lead with a confused yet happy expression and had all of her internal questions answered as she saw a motor boat on the shore along with a small island in the middle of the river. From the river bank it looked like there's some ancient ruins on the island which has been greatly overgrown by bushes and grass. Bobby stepped onto the boat and helped Mary-Anne into it before speeding to the island. The boat journey was short and sweet and they stepped back onto land to take in the scenery. The sky was still a dark blue but was getting brighter by the minute, showing slight streaks of orange on the horizon.
"What do you think of this secret getaway of ours?" asked Bobby as he took Mary-Anne's hands in his gently.
"It's..." began Mary-Anne, her words trailing off. "It's... breath taking. I can't help but be curious as to what it was before... and why did they build it on such a small island?"
"Not much is known about it, that's why it's kind of gone into disrepair! At least the overgrown nature looks romantic, right?"
Mary-Anne blushed in response. Bobby continued to hold one of her hands and led her around the ruined structure to reveal an archway with some wooden stairs ahead. They climbed them to reveal a wider picturesque scene of the river and town surrounding them. As they took in the beauty they looked towards the horizon and stared in awe at the warm sunrise with Bobby wrapping his arm around his date and sharing this romantic moment.
"We've seen it all together," said Bobby in a low voice, "we've watched the stars at midnight and now we're watching the sun rise in the morning." Mary-Anne squeezed the bachelor's arm in approval and relished in this moment. Quickly after Bobby pulled away and says to his date, "want to see another surprise I have for you?"
Mary-Anne nodded enthusiastically and so Bobby led her back down the stairs and around to the other side of the ruins once again. The sun was hovering fully above the horizon by now and was giving the ruins a fiery glow. In between the ancient walls is an opening which Bobby invited Mary-Anne to walk through to reveal his last surprise for her...
"A picnic!" said Mary-Anne in a bright voice, "Oh my god, I'm starving. Thanks, Bobby!" The bachelor laughed with glee and joined his date on the blanket. As they both got comfortable Bobby opened the basket and took out some plates and placed some traditional French sandwiches on them. He explained to Mary-Anne the ingredients of the sandwich and called the dish 'Pan Bagnat'. They dug in and discussed the food a bit before focusing on chewing.
As they ate their sandwiches in silence they each took in the beautiful silence of nature. All they could hear around them, apart from their chewing, was the gentle sounds of the river, birds chirping in the distance and the rustling of the grass and leaves around them. It was really lovely for them to be able to fully separate themselves from the rest of the contestants for a short while. By the time they finished their sandwiches the sun was peering over the ruined walls and beaming down on them, keeping them warm against the breeze coming from the river.
"Thank you for joining me on this date Mary-Anne," started the bachelor in a sincere tone, "You have made my morning one of the most memorable ones I've had on this show so far."
Mary-Anne beamed and went red from his flattering words. "Oh, I'm incredibly honoured, Bobby! Do you really mean it?"
He nodded back, closing his eyes in agreement. "It's not everyday that you can meet the sunrise with some delicious food and a beautiful girl by your side!" He jests as Mary-Anne looks down shyly. "But our time is coming to an end, we have to go back soon. Could you help me clean up?" Mary-Anne nodded and they both stood up, going into clean-up mode.
Once Bobby closed the picnic basket they both took a step back and took one last look around the secluded ruins they spent their morning at. The bachelor looks at his date who was still looking up at the large ruined structures. He took her hand in his, surprising her with his touch, and pulled her in close. Mary-Anne was tense for a second before melting in his arms and being the first to lean in for a kiss. Bobby followed her gesture and locked lips with her, indulging in her soft and sweet lips once again.
Today's kiss lasts longer than last night's and felt more passionate as he rubbed Mary-Anne's back gently while they embraced, feeling her soft hair rub the back of his hand as he went into the motion. Mary-Anne's thoughts were fast and loud, where thoughts of tomorrow flashed in her mind and even far thoughts of the future entertained her as she kissed Bobby. She briefly imagined how she would kiss the bachelor at their wedding and how amazing it would be if he picked her as the winner after all is said and done. But before she could continue Bobby pulled away, bent over to pick up the picnic basket and took her hand in his to lead her back to the motor boat they arrived in.
While the pair was travelling back to the chateau the rest of the contestants had finally woken up and were eating authentic French crepes for breakfast. Conversations about yesterday's cafe trip floated around the table and some girls even dropped hints on what they talked about, and even engaged in, with the bachelor in their room last night. Before the jealous stares got too out of hand the others heard Mary-Anne and Bobby arrive back home. Theodora gasped and realised it was her turn to go on a date with Bobby and ran upstairs to quickly get changed into something appropriate. The bachelor never told her where they were going to go so she dressed in something that would suit any occasion.
Before the other girls stormed to the entrance of the castle to find out how Bobby's and Mary-Anne's date went he wanted to share one last hug with her. They said their thank you's for the date to one another and just as they separated the contestants peered in and started asking all sorts of questions. Bobby cut them off prematurely and asked, "where's Theodora?"
The girls explained that she was getting dressed and so the bachelor took a seat in the front room and waited for her arrival. This was an appropriate time for him to cool off and realign his thoughts on another girl and another date. As exciting as this whole "bachelor" experience is Bobby admitted to himself it was quite overwhelming and he had never engaged in so many romantic interactions with so many different girls at once. His thoughts were abruptly ended as Theodora showed up.
The bachelor greeted his next date with a hug and complimented her outfit.
"Is it appropriate for our destination?" she asked, "I can go change again if it's not!"
"No, no," assured Bobby, "you look perfect! C'mon, let's go to the car."
During their car journey Theodora was very chatty and Bobby felt like he couldn't get a word in. She talked about how much she loved the French chateau that they were staying at, the French views, the French language, the French food, everything French that was on her mind really. It was a change from his last date who enjoyed silence with him but he didn't mind.
Theodora was still yapping away when they parked and Bobby looked at her for a while before she realised he wasn't driving anymore. She started looking out of the car windows and gasped, observing the old French architecture in front of them.
"Oh wow," she started, "this building is gorgeous! What will we find inside?"
"Why don't we take a look inside and find out?" Bobby suggested. Theodora nodded and they both exited the vehicle and started walking to the entrance of the building.
After walking up the steps they were greeted by a French lady who announced to them, "Bonjour madame et monsieur! Welcome to La Gallarie d'Art, please enjoy your visit."
Bobby replied with a "merci beaucoup" and walked through the museum ropes, beckoning Theodora to follow him. Once they began to walk the halls, intricately decorated with paintings of all styles and sizes, he saw Theodora's eyes widen in awe.
"A-are these the new paintings of Lefebvre, the famous painter of Champs Les Sims?!" exclaimed Theodora with fascination in her voice.
"Mmmmmhm," replied Bobby with a confident tone. Theodora exhaled with delight and squeezed the bachelor's arm as a thank you and began to slowly wander around the exhibition, taking her time to analyse each portrait in great detail. Bobby followed her and tried to see the minute details that his date was looking out for. Although he wasn't as much of an art fanatic as Theodora was he still enjoyed an occasional visit to a gallery and was always curious to learn more about local artists.
After their first round of the exhibition the duo stopped in the middle of the room to discuss what they thought about the series. Theodora was in love with the use of canary yellow paint in a lot of Lefebvre's work while Bobby explained how much he enjoyed seeing the local lavender flowers appearing in all of the landscape scenes. They had a civil and respectful conversation that Bobby felt was a little too serious for a romantic date so he had to throw in a compliment that would earn him brownie points.
"Although these paintings are beautiful, none of them are as beautiful as you are." Theodora blushed and gave the bachelor a playful shove in response to his cheesy comment but she appreciated the gesture.
Bobby suggested to have a seat and talk away from the paintings and so they found a small secluded area not far from the exhibition. The furniture was classically French and surprisingly comfortable. Their conversation started with the typical small talk he engaged with Mary-Anne too, talking about his date's experience in Champs Les Sims so far and also thanking her for coming on a date with him. The atmosphere was light and calm as they talked but still lacked the romance that Bobby wanted to engage in, so he invited Theodora in for a cuddle.
With his arm around her now he thought back on how he did the same a few days ago, just before the second elimination back in Sunlit Tides. It was nice to share this moment but he still questioned her feelings towards him as he felt like they were far more friendlier than romantic. After a few minutes of enjoying the silence while being close to his date he decided to ask her something,
"Do you picture ever living in Champs Les Sims?" This question caught Theodora off guard and she looked at the bachelor quite puzzled before coming up with an answer.
"I've never thought about it until you asked," she replied in a questioning tone, "but maybe if I saw more of the town I'd maybe say yes!" She looked away momentarily before adding, "I'd probably need to learn a bit of French too to survive here."
Bobby chuckled at her response and followed up with another question, "Can you imagine starting a family in Champs Les Sims?" He looked at her inquisitively as he spoke and met her surprised eyes.
"Umm..." she hesitated, "I don't know... I don't really see myself having kids anytime soon. What a strange question to ask!" She nervously laughed as she finished her sentence, slightly tense from the seriousness of this conversation.
"Well, I don't think so. I just want to see how willing you are to win this competition," He said with a stern voice. "To be a winner is to start a new life with me, with marriage and then a family later. These things are very important to me and I want to see if you're on board with it.
"Did you ask the other girls this same question?" snapped Theodora. Bobby was taken aback by this and felt a bit of pain from her sudden hostility.
"That's not for you to know," he defended. His date looked away for a moment before shaking off his arm and saying, "Let's go have another look at the paintings before we have to leave. As she stood up he could see her paint on a smile to move past this tense conversation, and so he mimics her and does the same.
They looked at Lefebvre's paintings once more and moved past what they discussed earlier, with Theodora raving on about the artist with great enthusiasm. The bachelor engaged in his date's interests and lets her talk more than him, just like they did in the car ride here. Soon enough they thank the lady that greeted them into the museum and they walked back to the car to drive back to the French castle they are staying at. Theodora, once again, talked about her interests the entire journey home and has Bobby questioning if this is what he wants...
Once they got back and said their goodbye's to each other he heard the piano in the front room playing a sweet melody. He peered in and saw Mary-Anne sitting at the grand piano while Bethany looked like she was about to start singing. She opened her eyes just as she took in a deep breath she met Bobby's gaze. Instead of singing she just said, "Oh, Bobby's back!"
Mary-Anne stopped playing the piano and looked to the entrance and waved at the bachelor. Before Bethany walked closer to Bobby Mary-Anne whispered to her "good luck, you'll smash it!" and gave her a thumbs up. Bethany put on a wide smile and greeted her date.
"Glad to see you girls are keeping yourselves entertained!" admitted Bobby, getting a chuckle from the two girls in the room with him. "Do you mind if I steal Bethany away from you, Mary-Anne"
"Not at all," she responded with a smile, "be my guest!" She continued to play a completely separate melody as he started to talk to Bethany.
"Are you all ready for our date?" he asked.
"Of course! I'm ready to go when you are," she replied.
They began to walk to the front door before Bethany stopped in her tracks and said, "Oh, one second. I need to take something with me." She ran up the stairs and brought down a guitar case and Bobby arched one brow as he scanned it.
"You told me you'd find a suitable place to serenade you," she explained. "So you better be ready for my song!"
"I should be the one with the surprises, not you!" he laughed. "But I really appreciate it, I'm excited to hear it." They walked down to the car and he helped her load the guitar into the trunk of the vehicle before speeding down the country roads again.
They arrive to the main plaza of the town square, which they briefly saw when they were visiting the cafe yesterday. Bobby parked the car and invited Bethany to step out onto the sunny plaza, relishing the warm sun rays before they became spotty under the shelter of the tree's leaves.
"This place is really beautiful," says Bethany in a breathy voice, "I'll forever be in awe of French architecture here!" The bachelor smiled in response and extended his hand out to his date to walk with her to the fountain. As they approached it they felt the cold water splash their bare skin as the streams hit the base of the fountain, gently cooling them off from the summer heat. Bobby thought back on their date back in Sunlit Tides and remembered how comfortable Bethany was in a crowded space so he wanted to challenge her and see how she would be at a busy plaza with foreign locals all around.
"We'll chill here for a bit before going back to the cafe to have a coffee," said Bobby as he detailed his plans for their date. "Is that alright with you, Bethany?"
"More than alright! I'm happy to spend my time under the sun with you, handsome!" she exclaimed. Bobby really loved how forward and confident she was and really felt like she stood out from the rest of the girls in the competition. To start their conversation near the fountain he asked her about what she has been up to in the chateau and how she felt about Champs Les Sims and was met with positive responses from his date. He was also happy to hear that she was getting on well with the other contestants and she started a discussion that he wasn't expecting.
"So, who have you kissed so far?" she said with a grin. Bobby's face hardened and a thought flashed in his mind, did she think she could get an answer from him if she caught him off guard?
"That's not for me to reveal," he answered confidently.
"Pearl said you've kissed multiple times now," she blurted out. Bobby raised his eyebrows, seems like Pearl's a 'kiss and tell' type of girl. "Is she telling the truth?" she beckoned for an answer from the bachelor.
"If you're oh so curious, then yes, we have kissed," answered Bobby. Bethany pursed her lips together and looked away in thought for a moment.
As she looked back she asked, "so, when are you going to kiss me?"
Bobby did a short laugh and said, "why are you so confident that I'd want to kiss you?"
Bethany flipped her hair and replied, "I know you like me, it's a matter of fact. I'm just tired of waiting for it to finally happen."
"Well, it'll happen when the time is right," he smiled back.
"You're right..." her voice trailed off as she looked to the ground briefly before continuing. "I say the time is right now."
She quickly leaned towards Bobby with puckered lips and planted a smooch on the bachelor's mouth. After a few seconds she pulled away and watched his face fill with surprise, then satisfaction, then lust.
He pulled her back in for another kiss and held onto this one for longer. The bachelor had never experienced such a direct and confident relationship like this one and it was very exciting to him. He understood that there was no point in beating around the bush with Bethany and it was best to just act on her wants and urges and have fun with her. Afterall, it is a competition at the end of the day anyway!
Once they finally pulled away they looked into each other's eyes for a moment. Bethany bit her lip and then finally went to the car to get her guitar out. Bobby stood in silence and looked at his surroundings as he waited for his date to come back, catching the eye of one of the locals sitting on a bench a few metres away and getting a wolf whistle in response. He laughed and was delighted when Bethany came back with her acoustic guitar.
"I think this is the perfect time to play you my song I wrote specifically for you," she explained. "I call this one 'French Kiss'."
She began strumming an upbeat and fun melody and Bobby tapped his foot along to the beat. Bethany's smooth voice echoed across the antique buildings and through the tree canopy's above as she sang about this long awaited kiss she had been imagining with Bobby. The bachelor was very flattered and couldn't take his eyes off of his date the entire time she was performing.
He could tell that she was born for performance, no matter how many people were around and how many actively came over to watch her play she still performed with the biggest confidence he has ever seen. After a few minutes she finished with an intricate finger picking bit and ended on a harmony, receiving a roaring applause from the locals at the park and the bachelor too. She put her guitar by her side and walked over to Bobby to give him a kiss. He was extremely flattered and was almost frozen in awe from his date.
Once the crowd dispersed and they put Bethany's guitar back into the car he invited her to have a quick coffee at the cafe before returning back to the castle. As they walked in they were greeted by the same barista they met yesterday and Bethany stood awkwardly as Bobby exchanged some French words with the barista. He ordered them a coffee each and they went to sit at a table in the corner of the room.
The bachelor was very curious to learn more about Bethany's musical prowess and pushed her to reveal how she wrote the song.
"To be completely honest," she started, "I had most of the lyrics written since the beginning of my stay at the villa in Sunlit Tides, but last night I felt it was appropriate to change the words to fit our time in France!"
She leaned in closer, elbows resting on the table, "did you like it?" she says in a sultry voice.
"Like it?" began Bobby, "I LOVED it, Bethany! I've never had anyone write a song for me, so seriously, thank you so much. We're gonna have to get it recorded so I could listen to it whenever I like..." He pondered about where to go to get it recorded and Bethany was beaming at the opportunity.
They continued their conversation about music, about Champs Les Sims and whatever else naturally came into discussion. The bachelor felt it was very easy to talk to his date and once he got used to her spontaneous yet exciting nature it was comforting to talk to her.
Once they finished up their coffees and were ready to start making their way back to the chateau Bobby decided to make the first move before Bethany did. He pulled her in for a big hug and thanked her once again for the surprising serenade and wonderful afternoon. She promised to sing to him again soon and so they said "au revoir" to the barista and went to their car.
The sights were truly breathtaking and Bethany stayed quiet during their ride home, occasionally pointing out what excited her most like pretty looking trees, tall mountains and gorgeous homes.
Back at home the girls were all busy with their own activities before dinner, many of which were engaging in some group activities like throwing a football around. Theodora was confiding in Rosie about her date with Bobby in one of the lounge rooms.
"Has he ever asked you that?" Theodora asked in a tense tone, referring to the question Bobby asked her about starting a family, "It's just so intrusive and weird and... I hate that he did it to me!"
"I'm sorry you feel that way," said Rosie calmly, "but I see where he's coming from, he just wants to see how committed you are to him. There's a lot of girls here who would probably be happy to start a family with him asap."
"Well, are you one of those girls?" scoffed Theodora.
"Erm..." thought Rosie, "not right now, but if he asked me like he did to you I'd probably say yes."
Theodora's face dropped as she didn't expect that answer from her friend, she just really wanted someone to think the same way as her. "Forget it," she snapped, "It was a stupid question anyway."
As she walked away Rosie quietly said "sorry" and watched Theodora leave the room. Theodora retreated upstairs, far from the other girls, and began setting up a canvas to paint her feelings on. She stood at an easel near one of the windows of the castle and let her brush do the talking.
Rosie looked at the clock and noticed that Bethany and Bobby have been gone for a while so they should be back soon. She took the book about the ghosts of France that the bachelor gifted her last night and sat comfortably in the front room and began to read to pass the time.
Before she knew it she heard the front door open and she began to hear the voice of Bobby and Bethany finishing a conversation. As she was finishing the sentence she was reading in her book she heard them walk into the front room and Bobby say, "Oh, Rosie! I was just about to go looking for you!"
He sat down beside her on the couch and spied the cover of the book she was reading. "Ah, you dove straight into the book I see! What's your favourite story so far?"
"Yes, of course!" Rosie answered, "I've been incredibly fascinated reading about the Paris Catacombs, there's so much information yet so much mystery on every page!"
"I'm so happy you like the book," he said with a smile. "Now, set aside the book..." Before he finished his sentence he stood up and went into a thinking pose as Rosie watched attentively.
"We've got a mystery to solve... at the Champs Les Sims Nectary!" he exclaims with passion and his hand in the air. Rosie's face dons an excited expression and leaps out of her seat to shout,
"To the Champs Les Sims Nectary!"
As they leave the castle (yet again) they briefly meet Pearl and Mary-Anne in the front garden's having a chat. As Bobby walks past the girls Pearl catches his attention and quickly asks, "are we still good to meet at 8, Bobby?"
"Of course, wear something sexy!" he replies as he runs past her. Mary-Anne gasps yet giggles at the comment and she could swear she saw Pearl blush a little. Rosie and the bachelor get into his rented car and drive farther out of the town than they expected.
The arrive to a secluded yet picturesque orchard that is growing many trees and grape vines across the property. A large countryside home stands in the middle of the land and has welcome signs with 'Champs Les Sims Nectary' written in beautiful cursive. Bobby invites Rosie inside and they are met with a sweet yet sharp wine smell as they step inside. A man behind a counter waves at them and calls out "Salut!" as they enter and waits for them to talk to him before saying anything more.
"So, here's the sitch," Bobby started in a hushed tone, leaning closer to Rosie, "there's a wine bottle somewhere in this house that belonged to a great psychic some 300 odd years ago. It's said he could interact with spirits to an uncanny level and he stuck a wax sealed letter detailing his greatest discovery onto a wine bottle, hidden somewhere on this property. Problem is, even the owners of this place are unsure where this bottle had been misplaced; it's up to us to find it!"
"Hell yes, let's get on it!" smiled Rosie enthusiastically. "Should we start somewhere here? What if it's hidden in plain sight?"
"Sounds good to me! You start in the middle here and I'll look along the walls."
The couple split up and started looking at various wine bottles for any clues or perhaps the missing bottle. Not long after Rosie called out to Bobby, "Um... is there any other information we can go off of? Like, what was his name? Or the year it was made? Or what colour is the bottle?"
Bobby began to sweat as he couldn't remember any of the details of this bottle, but he did remember one piece of information, "Um... I think his first name was Marcel?"
Rosie turned her head to look at the bachelor who had an unsure expression on his face. She chuckled and replied, "You do know that's an extremely common name in France right? I don't think that'll be all helpful!"
"Alright, alright," smiled Bobby, "I'll ask the man at the desk for some information. You keep looking, maybe there's only one Marcel that made wine among these bottles!"
The bachelor walked behind the counter and began to talk to the man in French. He explained what they were looking for and the man told him that he was in the loop and was willing to tell him exactly where it was so they wouldn't have to run back and forth for more clues. He revealed all the information needed and Bobby understood that this would be more of a treasure hunt for Rosie than it is for him.
He thanked the French man for his help and turned around to see his date still scouring the wine shelves in the lobby area. He called out Rosie's name and beckoned her over to tell her the news.
"So, I just had a quick chat with the French man there," he explained, "and he let me know that there are hundreds, if not THOUSANDS, more wine bottles in the cellar below the house! He'll unlock the cellar for us and let us browse as long as we'd like."
"That's fantastic Bobby!" she said in a cheery voice, "but, uh... any other leads about the bottle?"
The bachelor chuckled, "oh, of course, how could I leave such information out! I was right about his first name being Marcel but his last name is DuChamp. The man also hinted at the wine bottle year starting with 17... he can't even remember the year himself!"
After their exchange they were called over by the French man who had opened the door to the cellar. They went down the long stairs and were in a large cellar that held a strong musky and dusty smell. Right away they were noticing the walls have wine shelves from the ceiling to the floor. Rosie gulped at the amount of searching she'll have to do but Bobby quickly reassured her that they're all numbered by year so they should find the section from 300 years ago.
Walking through what felt like a maze of a cellar they eventually found the section that displayed 16th Century wines. With some teamwork they quite quickly found the bottle they were looking for, an antique looking wine bottle with the name Marcel DuChamp written in intricate cursive and displaying an illustration of the Champs Les Sims Nectary that they are standing in right now. As Bobby described, there indeed was a note with a wax seal on the back of the bottle. Rosie gently peeled it off and got to reading.
"Dear reader," she began as she traced the words with her index finger, "I implore you to pop open the bottle of wine to which this note was attached to and smell the aromas as you read." She looks up from the note and waits for Bobby to get to it. He did as instructed and began pouring the wine into glasses for them to drink from.
Rosie continued, "As you inhale the ancient aroma of the ripened grapes from the year 1738 and have your mouth salivate at the flavours you will read this note and realise it is fake... huh?!" Rosie's face becomes puzzled and Bobby stifles a laugh, she continues reading out loud in an urgent tone.
"This note was purely written for entertainment purposes by Bobby Martin and not by Marcel. I hope you enjoyed your scavenger hunt and also enjoy the wine in this bottle... heyyy, Bobby!" The bachelor hunches over in laughter and inspects his date's face as he tries to compose himself.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he giggles, "I really tried my best finding some ghost hunting story in Champs Les Sims and there was absolutely nothing! But it led you to some good wine in the end, didn't it?"
"I'm not sure yet, I haven't even had a sip!" she retorted. She accepted a glass from Bobby's hands with a mischievous smirk and walked to a nearby seat to fully enjoy her hard work.
The bachelor joined her at a grand table that wasn't too far from where they found the bottle of wine and drank a little more while he waited for his date's verdict.
"Yeah..." she sighed, "this is really delicious wine." Bobby smiled, satisfied that even with the disappointment of this all being a ruse she enjoyed the reward.
"I knew it. Was it worth the treasure hunt, the experience?"
"Hrmm... I'll have to get back to you on that," she said facetiously.
The pair continued to sip their wine and really get acquainted with the flavours they were experiencing before they were interrupted by the French man that helped them earlier. He apologised for interrupting their tasting experience but asked if he could tell them more about the wine they were drinking and the history of the place. They let him speak and he told them all about how Marcel DuChamp was a wine maker and grape farmer back in the 1700s who also loved to collect wine from around the country, hence the massive wine cellar. He explained more about the DuChamp family history and before they knew it they both had empty glasses and were ready to say goodbye to the dank cellar.
When they went back up to the ground floor Bobby asked Rosie to wait outside for him, he just needed to thank the French man for making this night special. Little did the bachelor's date know, he was also buying a modern bottle of the DuChamp wine as a gift which he intended to surprise her with before they left the orchard.
Once they met outside Bobby was surprised to see how dark it had gotten and knew he had to speed his last plans with Rosie up a little to be home on time for his last date.
"I'm not ready to go home just yet Rosie," he admitted, "follow me, let's have a little walk around the orchard. She agreed and followed him amongst the trees.
The first few rows of the trees were still illuminated nicely by the lights not far from the Champs Les Sims Nectary and so they didn't linger too far. They walked while holding hands and reminiscing on the little treasure hunt he put her through. Bobby slowed down and stopped walking as they stood under one of the apple trees and smiled at Rosie while looking deep into her eyes. Then he finally pulls out the gift he bought several minutes ago.
"Something to remember this trip by," explained the bachelor, "pop it open when another special occasion comes around." He smiled as he watched her open it with excitement and relished in her gratitude for the gift.
He was starting to feel a bit of pressure to get physical with Rosie as he had kissed everyone but her... and Theodora. He knew that their relationship was relaxed and playful so far but he could feel more of a hint of romance from her and more so than Theodora. So as sounds of crickets in the fields surrounding them chirped away and they stood looking at one another he decided to bite the bullet and finally lean in for a kiss.
Their lips touched for a brief moment, Bobby planting a little peck on her soft mouth. He felt his heart race faster for this moment than any other kiss he shared with the contestants, but why? He watched her face stay relaxed and gentle as she processed what he had just done and she smiled.
She raised her hand and stroked his cheek, her supple and small fingers scratching against his stubble. He felt himself melt from the sensation and was grateful for her reciprocation. Then her hand started gliding down his shoulder, down his arm and then intertwined in his hand. She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but no words seemed to come out. Bobby waited for a few seconds before deciding to make a more daring move.
He smoothly pulled her by her hand towards him and put his other hand on her upper back. He felt her breath on his face as they were only centimetres away from each other now and he loved the feeling of her arms holding on to him tightly. Their lips met once again but now moved in a rhythmic motion, creating a dance made only for two. They shared this passionate intimate moment in privacy, just the apple trees and stars watching over them. Once they let go no words were said, they just smiled at one another and held hands until they walked back to the car and drove back to the French chateau.
Back home Pearl was fully glammed up and grew slightly impatient. They were only a few minutes late but it was one of Pearl's pet peeves to be kept waiting and so she paced around the front room where he picked up all the other girls for a date earlier today. Before she could start muttering something under her breath she heard the front door unlock with Bobby and Rosie following in after.
The bachelor glanced at Pearl and apologised for being late and asked if he could quickly pop upstairs to get changed. She rolled her eyes but let him go, commenting she would question what he and Rosie were up to with a devious smirk. Even if it wasn't a joke she didn't even have enough time to ask about anything intimate, she just listened to Rosie talk about their scavenger hunt and present the bottle of wine she was gifted by Bobby before he showed up again in a smart ensemble.
"Hrm... looking smart," complimented Pearl in a sultry voice, "I'm glad I was kept waiting now." Bobby smiled and was excited to have a shift in energy and environment with Pearl. She was his last date of the day and although he was quite tired he was ready to spend as much time as they liked tonight, and so he invited her to join him in the car to a special dinner date with him.
Their drive was quick as the bar he was taking Pearl was just across from the town square, the same one Bethany had serenaded him at just hours ago. The car was filled with bustling conversation as he drove them safely to their venue, mostly friendly comments apart from his date saying "I've missed you today" in the most desperate voice he had ever heard come out of Pearl.
"You're with me now, savour every moment," he replied before turning off the engine and stepping out of the vehicle.
Once Bobby locked the car door they turn around to look at the beautifully lit bar that they were about to go to, decorated in its intricate French architecture and standing grandiosely under the moonlit sky. Once inside they get a strong scent of lavender and feel super cozy with the dim and romantic lights in every room. Bobby decided to skip dinner and go straight to the bar for drinks, so after confirming his booking with the lady at the front desk they went on upstairs.
As they made their way upstairs they found that the hustle and bustle was there, lots of couples and friends bantering in French with a variety of cocktails and drinks on their tables were spending their evening at this bar. They slipped past all of the crowded tables and made their way to the back of the room where the bar stand was.
Bobby pulled out a seat and gestured for Pearl to sit down. She thanked him and sat down seductively before he walked to his own seat. As Pearl didn't understand French, and the entire drink menu was in the foreign language, she asked for her date to order for her, adding "surprise me" at the end of her sentence. Bobby knew just the drink to get her and he hailed the bar tender to get their drinks going.
The bachelor ordered a drink for Pearl that roughly translated to 'Between the Sheets' and got himself a cocktail called 'Peppermint Kiss'. The barman was quick and confident in his drink making skills and wowed the couple with various spins of bottles and cool shakes, topping each drink off with a sparkler. The pair thanked him in French, Pearl doing the best she could with her pron, and clinked their glasses together to celebrate the night.
Before Bobby could get a word in Pearl raised her hand as a thanks and replied, "oh thank you, we're actually celebrating a year together tonight!"
"Oh, magnifique!" exclaims the barman, "Félicitations!" Pearl smiled at the man and looked at Bobby for a translation. The bachelor was wearing a light but stern expression, one that read "oh no you didn't just do that" but also saying "keep going".
"He's saying congratulations," he explained as a smile crept up on his face.
"Oh! Merci boo-coo" butchered Pearl. The barman smiled and continued to serve the other customers. She turned to face Bobby and had a cheeky smile on her face before asking him what's the matter.
"Why wasn't I aware that we have been dating for a year?" asked Bobby with a smile.
"Surprise!" Pearl replied. "Why not make it a fun evening and roleplay as if it was just us two all along? No competition, no other girls, just you and me in a French bar." She lightly leaned on the bar over her drink, arching her back and presenting herself that appeals to Bobby. He looked at her for a moment before giving her a small nod and raised his glass to cheers to the night once again.
After their glasses were empty and the conversation was slowing down Bobby noticed the music was classy and perfect for a little slow dance. He got up from his chair and presented his hand to his date, inviting her to stand up and dance with him. He took her hands and swayed them around for a bit as they were feeling the beat of the melody, scanning each other's body and face as they were getting into the groove.
Once it seemed like the song got to its chorus Bobby put his arms on Pearl's waist and pulled her in closer, fully into their slow dance. His date began to glide her left hand across his cheek and looking deeply into his eyes as they shared this intimate moment. It really felt like they were the only ones in the bar, the bustle of French words seemed to evaporate into the air and all they could feel was the music swaying them to the rhythm and their heartbeats growing rapidly faster.
Just before the slow song ended Pearl leaned closer to Bobby and rested her chin on his shoulder, now in a full embrace as they finished their dance. The bachelor held her tight and as close as he could to his strong body and was ready to let go when he heard a new tune begin to play on the speakers. They pulled away and looked at one another with great desire and adoration and Bobby suddenly got an idea on what to do next.
"Come with me, Pearl," he commanded gently, "Let's go outside to cool off." She held his hand as they walked past the busy rooms and down the stairs they came up earlier and went out the back exit into a small garden area that was attached to the bar.
"Sit with me on the grass," suggested Bobby, "the stars are really bright tonight, I'd love to watch them with you."
He bent his knees and sat comfortably on the ground, helping Pearl sit down on the grass too as her dress was a little tight to move in. Once she readjusted her dress they slid along the grass closer to each each other and had their shoulders touching gently.
A few minutes pass and they feel their eyes adjust to the dark sky and many more stars open brightly into view. They map out various shapes and constellations and enjoy the peace under the night sky, only a quiet hum of voices coming from inside the building behind them.
Bobby's mind can't help but replay a moment from about a week ago, back at the villa in Sunlit Tides. He has shared this stargazing moment before with another girl that means something to him, Mary-Anne. Although the air feels different tonight the stars all look the same and it's tough to feel like he is not cheating on his previous date. What breaks him out of these thoughts is Pearl's warm face leaning on one of his shoulders and the sound of her comfortable sigh as she gets cozy with him. His previous stargazing memory might just be replaced here tonight as he leans his head onto Pearl's, closing his eyes for a moment and matching his breathing to the rhythm of his date's.
"Did you see that?!" shouts Pearl with excitement, pointing in the direction where the shooting star just flew by. "It was a shooting star, oh my god!"
"Wow..." says Bobby, stunned from the coincidence. "I guess this is a perfect time to wish for something."
"Hrm..." thought Pearl. The bachelor turned his head and watched his date's eyes flicker from one star to another as she thought hard about her wish. He made his wish secret, but was curious if Pearl would share hers.
"I got it," she announced, looking towards Bobby with confidence.
"Care to share?" he asked suggestively. She pondered for a moment and bit her lip before leaning towards his ear and covering her mouth with one hand.
Pearl whispered her wish into Bobby's ear and he stifled a laugh before responding with, "really?" Pearl nodded and maintained eye contact with the bachelor, tilting her chin down slowly to look at his seductively. The bachelor was stunned at the response from his date but never revealed what she had told him, instead he took a deep breath and stood up from the ground.
He helped Pearl up and once again she pulled down her tight dress, making sure she wasn't revealing anything and fixing herself up. The pair stood close to each other, clearly magnetic from the chemistry they experienced.
He moved his hand smoothly to her neck and pulled her in for a short yet passionate kiss before gliding his hand down her arm and taking her hand, leading her away from where they once stood. The bachelor asked the camera crew to stay behind and give the pair some privacy for a moment which they obliged to.
He swung the latch on the big door to the storage shed and opened the door, letting Pearl walk in ahead of him. He switched on the small and dim light inside and promptly closed the door behind him, a giggle from his date was the last thing the camera crew heard before they left the scene. Isolated from the crowd inside the main building and now the production crew whatever happened inside was completely secret and a secret only the couple shared.
When they finally popped outside of the shed they instantly made their way back to Bobby's rented car, smiling at one another the entire walk back. The production crew of the Bachelor show tried to get some information from the pair but Bobby just told them, "no comment," before driving back to the French castle they were residing in.
He fell into bed and folded his arms behind his head and began to decompress his body after an extremely long and eventful day. Although he was still buzzing after the wonderful date he had with Pearl he took time to think of each girl he had been on a date with today. Tomorrow was the third elimination of the series and thoughts of the flower ceremony made his smile finally fade and that's when he decided it was time to sleep. He turned off the light and quickly fell asleep, resting up for their last day in Champs Les Sims.
And with that we conclude episode 9 of the Bachelor. With so few girls left in the competition now everyone was lucky enough to share a short but sweet date with the bachelor today and everyone is left with memories to remember him by. Next time we face our third elimination and say goodbye to yet another contestant... who do you think it'll be? Who's your favourite? What do you think Pearl and Bobby did in private? Comment below and discuss! See you again!
