Christmas at the Castle

by Melissa McClone

  Gill’s gaze shot up from his tablet. “Ask Bertrand for a temperature range, so you’ll know what to pack.”

  “Great idea.” Kat should have thought of that, but she was glad Gill had.

  His intense gaze met hers. The way he stared made Kat shift in her seat. She looked at Sophie.

  “The temperature won’t give away the exact locale, and it’ll make packing so much easier,” Kat added.

  Sophie took back her phone. “I’m texting Bertrand now.”

  “If he doesn’t want to tell you, have him talk to your brother,” Kat suggested.

  Gill’s brows pinched together. “Why me?”

  She smiled at him. “It was your idea.”

  “Yes,” Sophie agreed. “Bertrand will be coming to dinner tonight. I can’t wait for him to meet the life-sized Kat. He’s only seen you on my screen and in photographs.”

  Kat couldn’t wait to meet Bertrand. He and Sophie seemed to be a perfect match. They both gave back to their countries and people in different ways. Sophie through her social work and Bertrand through his military service.

  “I’ve never met a lord before,” Kat said.

  Gill rolled his eyes.

  “You’ll also be meeting a marquess tonight,” Sophie said. “That’s Bertrand’s older brother’s title. Jamie is joining us for dinner too, but neither is a typical royal.”

  Gill nodded. “Especially Bertrand.”

  “That’s why I’m marrying him,” Sophie announced.

  Kat smiled. “He’s a lucky guy to have you as his bride.”

  Sophie raised her hand to stare at her engagement ring—an emerald cut diamond surrounded by tapered baguette diamonds on either side.

  “I still can’t believe I’m getting married in two weeks.” Sophie had a wistful look in her eyes. “If I hadn’t gone on that reality TV show, I would have never met the love of my life.”

  “You don’t know that for sure,” Gill countered.

  “Do you believe in fate?” Kat asked.

  “Of course not,” he said.

  “He’s never wished on stars, either,” Sophie added.

  Kat had, but none of her wishes had come true. Her parents had never came back to get her. They’d died and were buried in some far-off country.

  Africa.

  That would be her next trip after she saved enough money and vacation time. She wanted to see the place that had meant everything to her mom and dad, along with the animals they’d loved more than their daughter.

  “There’s a reason I’ve never done that.” Gill smiled at his sister. “I wanted to leave all the stars for you to wish upon.”

  Oh, how sweet. Kat clasped her hands to her chest. The crown prince flip-flopped between the arrogant man who disliked her and the caring brother who adored his sister. Too bad he couldn’t act like the latter to everyone. That would make things more…pleasant.

  “Well, I do believe in fate. Being on that show is why I was invited to Luc and Emily’s wedding and met Bertrand.” Sophie sounded happy and content. “Oh, I almost forgot, Kat. Prince Luc, Emily, a few of the other princesses, and the entire TV crew, will be attending the wedding. The crew wanted to film the ceremony and reception, but I said no because I knew Mother would never agree. But the crew will be doing interviews and vignette pieces beforehand, so you may end up on camera.”

  “Keep them away from me.” Gill held up his hands as if to ward off an imaginary camera. “I have no interest in being asked to be the next prince they showcase in search of a princess bride.”

  “Puh-lease.” Sophie burst out laughing. “I love you, but let’s be honest. You’d bore the audience to sleep. The one thing you and Kat have in common is how many hours you work each day. TV audiences don’t want to watch that.”

  “I enjoy what I do.” Gill didn’t sound offended. “It doesn’t feel like work.”

  “Same here,” Kat agreed.

  Sophie pursed her lips. “I know you both love what you do, but I don’t want either of you to be lonely.”

  Gill’s brows drew together. “I’m surrounded by people every day. No chance of being lonely.”

  “I’m too tired to be lonely,” Kat admitted. “I work as hard as I can. Sleep as many hours as I can. Sounds boring, but it’s exactly what I want to be doing. Establishing my career is my goal right now.”

  “What about finding a husband?” Gill asked.

  His question caught her off-guard. “I’m focused on my career.”

  “A family would be good for you.” Sophie spoke as if Kat could order one online. “You know you want one.”

  “Yes, but my job—”

  “You could do both,” Gill said. “My mother has.”

  Kat didn’t hold up Queen Louise as a parenting benchmark given the nannies, boarding schools, and summer camps her children had attended.

  “Someday.”

  Kat’s parents hadn’t been able to combine a career with having a daughter, and she never wanted to be forced to choose between work and family. She didn’t think she could make the same choice as her mom and dad. Kat wouldn’t want to do that.

  She leaned back against the seat.

  “Someday might arrive sooner than you think.” Mischief gleamed in Sophie’s eyes.

  “Huh?” Kat asked.

  Gill stared at his sister. “What are you up to?”

  “Nothing.” Sophie looked at her cell phone with a sly smile on her face.

  Kat and Gill exchanged confused glances.

  She shrugged.

  Who knew what Sophie meant? Maybe she’d thought of someone Kat could kiss under the mistletoe.

  She took in the passing scenery. The views coming down the hillside were incredible.

  Claude sang along with the carol playing. His lovely tenor voice filled the car and sounded like it belonged on the recording.

  “Let’s sing along,” Gill suggested.

  “Oh, yes.” Sophie sang a line off-key.

  Kat joined in, but she kept eyeing Gill. He didn’t seem like the type to be caroling in the car, but a kid-in-a-toy-store smile was on his face.

  Weird. She would have thought him to be a modern-day Scrooge given his personality, but he knew the words. His voice was warm and rich and did funny things to her stomach.

  Maybe she should have eaten more breakfast.

  “Adeste Fideles” came on next.

  She knew one verse, but only in English, so she listened to the others sing in German. Gill knew all the verses.

  She was impressed.

  When the song ended, she clapped. Sophie and Gill bowed their heads. Claude waved his hand.

  A few notes of the next song made everyone laugh. Kat wouldn’t be the only one sitting this one out. “Sleigh Ride” didn’t offer much in the way of vocals, though humming along was an option.

  The limousine pulled to a stop. Claude exited the driver’s seat.

  Kat peered out the window. They were parked in front of an old stone cottage with empty flower boxes beneath the window and smoke rising from the chimney. A broken gate hung from one hinge.

  This didn’t look like a bridal shop. “Where are we?”

  “The dressmaker’s.” Sophie wrapped a scarf around her neck and picked up her purse. “Get your things. Claude will drop off Gill and come back for us.”

  Kat stared at the cottage in disbelief. She’d been measured for her bridesmaid’s dress at a local bridal boutique in a nearby town. That place screamed weddings with its pink and ivory décor and racks of poufy white dresses. She’d expected to go to a similar shop, or a nicer one since Sophie was a princess. Not a place that looked like it sold magic wands and potions.

  “Something wrong?” Gill’s smile had disappeared, and his eyes were dark.

  His assessing gaze was on Kat once again. Likely finding something else he didn’t like about her.

  Too bad—she’d thought he might be warming up to her while they sang. Getting along would be best for Sophie, but Gill would hav
e to agree. That didn’t seem likely.

  Oh, well. Kat wasn’t about to let him continue to make her uncomfortable. She squared her shoulders. “This shop looks different from the bridal stores back home.”

  Sophie grinned. “We have those here, but this isn’t a bridal shop. This is Olga’s house. She’s making my dress.”

  Kat stared at the house. Maybe Olga would whip up the dress with a magical phrase and wave of a wand like the fairy godmother in Cinderella. Sophie must have great faith in the woman.

  “Olga was Sophie’s longtime nanny,” Gill said as if reading Kat’s mind. “The two are very close.”

  Kat remembered. “You’ve talked about her before.”

  Sophie nodded. “After she retired, she took up dressmaking. She and I have been talking about my wedding dress since I was a little girl. Both Mother and the duchess exploded when I didn’t want to use a name designer, but I held my ground on this one.”

  Kat’s gaze met Gill’s. He didn’t have to say anything. She knew he was thinking the same thing.

  Pick your battles.

  He smiled at her.

  The guy had a great grin when he let it show. Too bad that wasn’t more often.

  She smiled back and then looked at Sophie. “I’m glad you did. I can’t wait to see Olga’s design.”

  The passenger door opened.

  Sophie scooted across the seat and took Claude’s hand as she stepped out of the limousine.

  Kat hesitated. She knew Gill wasn’t coming inside, and she didn’t know when she would see him again. “Thank you for calling Olga. That means a lot to Sophie. And to me.”

  One of his eyebrows shot up. “The wedding diet is a thing of the past.”

  Cold air streamed inside the car. A popular carol—one Kat knew the lyrics by heart—played on the speakers, but she couldn’t recall the title.

  Sophie was waiting, but for some odd reason, Kat was in no hurry to get out of the limousine. “I’d better go.”

  “You don’t want to keep my mother waiting,” he warned. “I received a text asking the status of our arrival. She’s been here for thirty minutes. So has the duchess.”

  Oops. Kat picked up her tote bag.

  He watched her. “Remember…”

  “Pick my battles.”

  He nodded.

  “That might not be necessary,” Kat said.

  His eyebrow rose higher. “Why is that?”

  “The queen might like me.”

  A slow smile spread across his face and crinkled the corners of his eyes. The result—breathtaking.

  Her heart thudded.

  “She might.” He sounded amused, and though that was at Kat’s expense, his killer smile more than made up for it. “But I wouldn’t hold your breath.”

  Was she doing that now? She took a breath. Being near him flustered her.

  “Kat,” Sophie called from outside the limo. “Are you coming?”

  “Hurry,” Gill teased. “You don’t want the queen screaming off with her head. Especially since she’d be talking about yours.”

  Realization hit Kat. “You’re not trying to help me. You want to scare me so I’m afraid to meet the queen.”

  Gill rubbed his chin. If that was him feigning innocence, he was failing. Big time. “You think?”

  “I bet your mom is a total sweetheart, just like Sophie.”

  Wicked laughter lit his eyes. “I may have to skip my appointment.”

  “Why?”

  “So I can hear firsthand about your meeting with my mother.” His tone was lighthearted, but Kat wasn’t amused. “This has the making of legend or lore.”

  Taking a page from Sophie’s book, Kat stuck out her tongue and got out of the limousine.

  Sophie held open the broken gate. “What took you so long?”

  “I was thanking your brother for calling Olga.”

  “He can be a sweetheart when he wants to. I wish you two could get along better.”

  Kat couldn’t miss her friend’s hopeful tone. “We’re trying.”

  At least she was, and she would try harder for Sophie.

  Part of her job as a bridesmaid was to keep her friend’s stress level low.

  “I can’t believe I ever thought the two of you could fall in love,” Sophie said.

  “We’re very different, and, be honest, you only wanted that to happen so we’d be sisters.”

  “That’s true.” Sophie climbed the porch steps. “We might not be related by birth, but we’re sisters by heart. Still, I wish…”

  The cottage door opened. A woman in her fifties with a chic, jet-black bob hairstyle motioned them up the porch steps and inside. She wore black leggings, a black-and-white striped tunic, and red boots.

  Kat thought a retired nanny might look more conservative, but nothing in Alistonia was what she expected—from the castle to Gill.

  She stepped inside. The cottage was charming and inviting with no wands or potions in sight. Worn wood planks with more dings and marks than she could count covered the floor. Thick dark beams crossed the low ceiling, and arched wood-paned windows let in natural light.

  The woman placed her hands on her hips and gave Sophie a hard stare. “It’s about time you arrived.”

  “Oh, Olga, you know you’re not mad at me.” Sophie hugged her former nanny and then stepped back. “This is Kat Parsons. My BFF from camp. I’ve told you about her. Kat, this is Olga. She’s creating my wedding dress.”

  Olga smiled. “So nice to meet you, Kat, but we must hurry.”

  “Are they disagreeing already?” Sophie asked.

  “I believe a six-figure wager may be in the works over whose older son gets married first.”

  Sophie shook her head. “A bet is better than them starting a war.”

  “That might be next.” Olga lowered her voice. “The queen and duchess are losing their patience with each other.”

  “I’m sorry.” Sophie sounded contrite. “You know how hard being on time is for me.”

  “Not hard, my sweet girl. Impossible. And your mother should know that by now.” Olga pointed to a doorway covered with a patterned fabric. “Wait in there with the two mothers, Kat. I’ll help Sophie into her gown, and we’ll join you shortly.”

  Olga took Sophie by the hand and led her down a hallway.

  Kat stared at the cloth. The bright colors were inviting, but she had no idea what she’d find on the other side. She took a breath.

  No reason to be afraid. Gill had been joking about his mother, only trying to scare Kat.

  She took another breath. This one deeper.

  Exhaling, she walked through the cloth and found herself in a small living room with mismatched styles of furniture—a Queen Anne loveseat, a wingback chair, a barstool, and a wooden rocking chair.

  “Hello,” she said to the two beautifully coiffed and fashionable women sitting with their hands clasped on their laps.

  Olga hadn’t been kidding.

  The friction in the room was palpable. If Kat pulled out her pocketknife from her purse, she could slice the tension and serve up pieces.

  One woman’s stunning features suggested she’d modeled in her younger days. Her blonde hair was pulled up in a French twist. Her gaze studied Kat like this was the first day of sorority recruitment, not a wedding dress fitting.

  The other wore a pale green suit and matching jacket. Her light brown hair was pulled back off her face and highlighted her cheekbones, wrinkle-free skin, and impeccable makeup. Her eyes…

  Hazel.

  Like Sophie’s.

  With a touch of green.

  Like Gill’s.

  This must be Queen Louise. She was beautiful, and no broom was in sight. Much better than the ugly stepmother or wicked witch that Gill seemed to suggest his mother was.

  Kat stood there, feeling on display. Each second her unease quadrupled.

  Both women eyed her with wariness as if trying to decide if she should be allowed in their presence. Worse, as when she was
with Gill, Kat felt as if she wasn’t measuring up to whatever standard the two held.

  Her throat clogged.

  She forced herself to swallow.

  Neither the queen nor the duchess spoke. They didn’t move, either, making Kat think of eerie wax figures in a museum.

  Unwilling to allow the silence to continue, Kat curtsied in front of the queen. “I’m Kat Parsons, ma’am.”

  The queen pursued her lips. “You’re the American.”

  The disdain in her voice put her son’s attitude to shame.

  Kat’s stomach sank. Maybe Gill hadn’t been joking.

  “Yes.” She hated the slight quiver in the one word.

  “Thank goodness.” The other woman, who by default must be the Duchess of Darbyton, spoke with a thick Southern drawl. “I’m so glad I’m not the only red, white, and blue girl here.”

  “Two against one.” Queen Louise didn’t sound worried at all. “Whatever shall I do?”

  “You have your sweet baby girl.” The duchess’s smile never wavered, but if her face got any tighter, the skin might shatter like an eggshell. “That’ll even up the odds.”

  The queen’s drawn-out sigh could inflate a dozen balloons. “Not quite because my daughter does whatever this one tells her.”

  Uh-oh. Kat’s insides trembled. Whatever words came out of her mouth would likely be the wrong ones, so she kept quiet. But maybe it was time for Sophie to tell her family that she hadn’t been doing whatever Kat said all these years.

  The queen picked something off the loveseat arm, though Kat hadn’t noticed anything there. “We all know this gown will be ghastly, but never fear, I have a gown that was sent from a designer in Paris and is ready for Sophie to try on.”

  The duchess shook her head. “You leave nothing to chance, ma’am.”

  The queen’s hard gaze narrowed on Kat. “Nothing at all.”

  Queen Louise seemed so hard-nosed and critical. Granted, Kat had spent less than five minutes in her presence, but nothing about the woman was warm or nurturing.

  The queen might like me.

  Yeah, right.

  Gill had warned Kat, but she hadn’t listened. No wonder he’d laughed at her.

  Stupid.

  But she wouldn’t forget his advice now.

  Olga held open the cloth door covering. “May I present your bride, Princess Sophia of Alistonia.”