Christmas at the Castle

by Melissa McClone

  She’d been queen since she was twenty-eight and promised to abdicate once Gill married. The only reason she wouldn’t give up the throne until he wed was because, as the reining ruler, she had the authority to approve his bride choice. If he were king, he could approve his own.

  “The woman didn’t do anything per se, but she acts like she’s one of us already. Speaking out of turn. Forgetting etiquette and protocol rules.”

  “She’s American. She may not know them.”

  “She’s in Alistonia. She should act accordingly.”

  Gill understood his mother’s point, but he also knew how Kat had interacted with Sophie all these years—as friends. The same with him at camp.

  “The woman is also playing the role of bridesmaid so perfectly that your sister is enthralled by her friend’s presence,” his mother continued. “When Sophie appeared in her gown, tears filled that woman’s eyes, and she lavished praise without a thought to what the duchess or I might want to say.”

  Gill was not a fan of Kat Parsons. Far from it, but his mother seemed hypercritical, more so than usual. “I believe that’s what bridesmaids are supposed to do.”

  “Yes, but…” Her gaze clouded. “I fear the American has her sights set on you.”

  He thought about what Sophie had said yesterday and how Kat had interacted with him since she arrived. Granted, Kat could be misleading his sister and him. “I don’t know about that.”

  “Everyone knows you’re the best catch among the peerage.”

  Her words brought a smile to his face. She sounded more like a mother than a queen. “Other princes might disagree with that statement.”

  “I may have a slight bias.”

  More than slight, but he knew better than to say that.

  “I don’t think you have to worry, Mother. Kat hasn’t sought me out.”

  If anything, he was the one seeking her out in her bedroom last night and in the sitting room today.

  His mother tapped a finger against her cheek. “The woman could be playing hard to get. Or she could have enlisted Sophie to take part in a royal romance scheme.”

  “If that’s the case, we’ll know soon enough. Sophie can’t keep a secret to save her life.”

  His mother sat on the loveseat and patted the spot next to her. “Whatever is going on, I will not allow our family to be the cause of a scandal.”

  Gill sat. “I’ll keep an eye on Kat.”

  “Not too close,” his mother warned. “I must admit she’s prettier than I expected. Her blue eyes are stunning.”

  “Not my type.” He did agree about her eyes, though, and she had a nice smile, too. “I’m immune to American women, remember?”

  His mother touched his shoulder. “Clarissa wasn’t the right one for you.”

  For so long, he’d disagreed whenever anyone said that to him, but time had allowed his heart to heal. He saw the situation more clearly. “I know.”

  His mother gave a gentle squeeze. “Your princess bride is out there, my son.”

  Maybe so, but he was in no rush to find her. He didn’t want to be forced to marry for the sake of his country. He wanted to marry for love like his sister was doing. “Whoever she is can stay far away for now.”

  “Yes, she can.” His mother sounded unusually supportive given the subject matter. “Your great grandmother once told me ‘Love that is true, always remains.’ There’s no rush.”

  Warning bells sounded in his head. This was a complete turnabout from how his mother normally spoke about him finding a bride. He eyed her warily. “You don’t sound like yourself. Why the change of heart?”

  “I may be queen, but one royal wedding at a time is all I can handle. Another might push me over the edge.”

  He laughed, but if anyone was capable of having an ulterior motive, it was his mother. “The planning must be a nightmare if you feel this way.”

  “Not a nightmare, per se, but the duchess is complicating matters. She wants to be involved in every detail. Her ideas are so…so American.”

  “She’s American.”

  “But she married a duke and should forget the traditions where she came from. Your dear father, God rest his soul, did.”

  Gill wondered if his mother had given his father a choice in the matter. She’d always been strong-willed and opinionated, but his father had adored everything about her.

  “Poor Sophia.” His mother shook her head as if some tragedy had befallen her daughter. “She’s such a sweet girl, but she needs to stop saying yes to the duchess’ demands.”

  Of course, his mother wouldn’t admit to making any demands herself. Gill nearly laughed. He’d bet she’d long surpassed the number of requests made by the duchess.

  “You’d rather Sophie say yes to what you want.”

  “Of course,” she said, her tone matter of fact. “My ideas are the best ones.”

  This was one situation where he didn’t envy his sister.

  His mother stood, and so did Gill.

  “I need to speak to Isaac about the seating arrangement for tonight’s dinner.” She headed toward the door. “I want that American on the opposite end of the table from you.”

  “Don’t be too blatant.”

  His mother glanced over her shoulder at him. “I doubt the woman would notice.”

  Gill had no doubt that anything got by Kat. “She will.”

  A finely arched brow shot up. “And you know this how?”

  “She was sharp when she was younger. She’s a veterinarian now. Clearly, she’s not stupid.”

  “Perhaps, but she only arrived yesterday, and we’re onto her. How smart could she be?”

  “I don’t know,” Gill admitted. “But I have a feeling we might find out.”

  *

  Kat changed into the little black dress she’d been told by a sales clerk could be worn anywhere and put on her grandmother’s pearl earrings and necklace. She pulled out her sling-back heels and held them for five seconds.

  No way.

  She placed them in the armoire and put on her black kitten-heel pumps instead. She wasn’t used to wearing any size heel. Ending up in a heap at the bottom of the staircase would not be good.

  Walking down the stairs wasn’t difficult, but she kept a hand on the railing just in case.

  “You’ve got this,” she muttered.

  Kat entered the dining room. No one else was there.

  She blew out a puff of air.

  Good, she had time to get comfortable.

  Not that she would ever be completely at ease in such a fancy place. The table could seat at least forty guests and was bigger than those tiny houses that were the new home design craze, even in Cedar Village. Two large crystal-and-gold chandeliers hung over the large table covered with a white linen tablecloth. The six place settings barely took up a third of the space. Gold-rim plates sat on gold chargers with five crystal glasses within arm’s reach.

  Each setting had a place card with a name written on them in calligraphy. The card closest to her had Gill’s name on it. His seat was to the right of the head spot. Kat guessed that space belonged to the queen. The card at the place setting to Gill’s right belonged to James. That must be Bertrand’s older brother, Jamie. The other three place settings were on the opposite side of the table. She must be sitting there.

  Staring at the numerous forks, spoons, and knifes on either side of the plates made Kat nauseous. She didn’t own this much flatware. Worse, she had no idea when to use each piece. Muscles tightened into melon-sized balls like the ones served with breakfast.

  Dinner had epic failure written all over it.

  Hers.

  What was she going to do?

  She didn’t want to let Sophie down and add to her stress. Maybe Kat could claim tiredness—not a lie since she was adjusting to the time change—and ask to eat in her room tonight.

  Again.

  “May I help you, miss?” A waiter dressed in a formal uniform with an easy smile and short, black hair stood i
n the doorway. He appeared to be in his early thirties and had a friendly demeanor.

  A bale of hay seemed to be pressing on her shoulders. No way could she figure this out on her own.

  Maybe he could help her. The man’s smile looked genuine, but he could be one of the queen or crown prince’s minions.

  Kat weighed the consequences—make a fool out of herself versus be sold out for needing help. The latter sounded like the better option. She glanced toward the hallway. No one was coming.

  “I’ve never had dinner at a castle before,” she said. “Would you mind giving me a rundown on the silverware and what each piece is used for?”

  “Gladly, miss.” He bowed. “I’m Isaac.”

  “Hi. I’m Kat.”

  His grin widened. “You’re Princess Sophia’s American friend. The animal doctor.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  He looked around as if to make sure they were alone. “We don’t have much time before the royal family arrives, so I’ll give you a short cut to remember for tonight, and we can work more on this another time.”

  “That would be great.”

  He joined her at the table and motioned to the closest place setting. “As each course is served, use the silverware from the outside in. Let the utensil be cleared away with the plate or bowl. Don’t keep them. And most importantly, follow the queen’s lead. She takes the first bite. Don’t touch any utensil or food before she does.”

  “Outside in. Utensils go away. Let Queen go first,” Kat repeated. “I can remember that. Thank you so much.”

  “They’re coming,” he whispered. “You can do this.”

  Kat appreciated his vote of confidence. She smoothed her dress, took a deep breath, and prayed she did nothing to call attention to herself.

  Chapter Seven

  ‡

  Not knowing what member of the royal family would be entering the dining room first, Kat stepped away from the table. She didn’t want anyone to know she’d received a quick lesson on manners. With a deep breath, she forced the corners of her mouth upward.

  You can do this.

  She hoped Isaac was right.

  Sophie entered first.

  That brought a rush of relief.

  She wore a stylish pink cocktail dress and silver sling-back heels. She held hands with Bertrand, who wore a suit and a big smile. The two looked good together, and Kat had no doubt their future children would be adorable.

  “Here you are.” Sophie let go of Bertrand’s hand and gave Kat a hug. “We went to your room, but you weren’t there. I had no idea you’d beat us downstairs.”

  “I was ready early,” Kat said.

  “Early,” Bertrand repeated. “An interesting concept I’d forgotten about since meeting the love of my life.”

  Sophie shook her head.

  Kat laughed.

  Smiling, Bertrand extended his arm toward Kat. “You’re taller than I expected.”

  She shook his hand. A smattering of freckles covered his nose and cheeks. The reddish tint to his blond hair hadn’t shown up on screen, neither had the deep blue color of his eyes. But he was as handsome as his pictures. “So are you. It’s nice to meet you in person.”

  “Same, though Sophie talks about you so much I feel like you and I are BFFs, too.”

  His friendly tone soothed some of Kat’s nerves.

  “Jamie will be down soon,” Sophie said.

  Bertrand laughed. “My brother would be here now, except someone told him to put on a tie.”

  Sophie shook her head. “You know my mother has certain expectations for dinner.”

  No way could Kat live up to any royal expectations.

  What composure she had mustered disappeared. Her mouth was so dry not even a pitcher of water would help. Her fingers and toes tingled. Much worse than the pins and needles feeling when an appendage fell asleep.

  “Bertrand.” Queen Louise entered the dining with Gill at her side. Her elegant, royal-blue gown and tiara shimmered.

  He looked nice in his suit—the same one he’d worn earlier—but he’d changed his shirt, now white, and his tie was red with blue stripes. He looked underdressed compared to the queen, but that didn’t make Kat feel any better.

  “How delightful to see you,” Queen Louise said to her future son-in-law.

  Bertrand bowed. “The pleasure is mine, ma’am.”

  The queen greeted her future son-in-law with a hug.

  That was the first public display of affection Kat had seen. A good sign, right?

  “We don’t see you around here nearly enough,” Queen Louise said. “I’m so happy the Air Force let you have a day off.”

  “Two days, in fact, and I fear that’s all I’ll get until right before the wedding.” He glanced at Sophie with a look of pure adoration. “I flew in as soon as I could. Can’t miss an opportunity to spend more time with all of you.”

  Most especially Sophie, but Kat gave the man credit for being so cool and calm and including the entire family, not only his fiancée. Her insides trembled, but Bertrand seemed to be able to handle the queen without much effort.

  Practice? Or a royalty thing?

  Maybe commoners didn’t stand a chance with the queen. That might explain her antagonism with the duchess. A title by marriage didn’t make a person one of them.

  Gill shook Bertrand’s hand. “Good to see you.”

  “I appreciate your help with the wedding,” Bertrand said to him. “I wish I could do more, but Jamie’s here to lend a hand. He should be down any minute.”

  A third man would be coming, but Kat couldn’t help but compare the two men standing next to each other now. They were the same height with athletic builds. Both had royal titles, but the similarities ended there.

  Bertrand was not only good looking, but he also exuded warmth and friendliness. His light hair color and complexion made her think of a white knight—the type you took home to meet your family and married.

  Unlike Gill.

  Gorgeous, yes. His hair was light brown, not dark, but the contrast with Bertrand’s reddish blond was strong and made Gill look black-knight dangerous. More lover than husband material. Not that she was interested in finding either. Or interested in him.

  His suspicious gaze zeroed in on her.

  A good thing her dress didn’t have pockets or he might think she was stealing the silverware. She ignored the urge to hold her hands in the air and proclaim her innocence.

  “Sorry I’m late.”

  A guy with sandy-blonde hair that fell into his eyes approached the table. He moved with the grace of an athlete. His light blue tie was askew, and the top of his dress shirt unbuttoned. He was need-to-catch-her-breath attractive. The kind of man who drew second and third looks and caused women to smooth their hair and pinch their cheeks when he wasn’t looking.

  She found herself drawn to him. Not only because he was handsome, but also because he had an easy manner about him. He was—in a word—approachable, in a way she’d never pictured Gill.

  He bowed in front of Queen Louise. “You look radiant tonight, Your Majesty.”

  The queen laughed. “Oh, James. You’ve been missed, too.”

  This must be Jamie. He was an older, hotter version of his younger brother.

  He greeted Gill, and then Jamie’s blue-eyed gaze zeroed in on Kat like a laser beam. He sidled up next to her.

  Everything about him appealed to her physically, but she fought the urge to back away. He was almost too much. Too male.

  Sex in a designer suit was the only way to describe him.

  Hot, yes, but no doubt heartbreakingly dangerous.

  “Hello, there. I’m Jamie. You must be Kitty Kat.” He took her hand and kissed the top. “You are exquisite.”

  Heat rose up Kat’s neck. No man had ever kissed her hand, called her that, or made her feel so desirable. Her throat tightened. She swallowed. “Thank you.”

  “Love the pearls.” Jamie leaned toward her with no regards for personal space.
He fingered her necklace. His fingertips skirted over her skin. “So which does Kitty Kat prefer most—purring or meowing?”

  He was being so blatantly sexual in front of everyone, including the queen, that all Kat could do was laugh. His flirting was over the top, but he was attractive enough to pull it off. The man had guts. She had to give him that.

  “The name is Kat with a K.” Gill stepped forward. “Short for Katrina.”

  “Katrina is a lovely name.” Ignoring Gill, Jamie’s smile dazzled. “But I prefer Kitty Kat.”

  “You would,” Gill mumbled.

  He was so proper that Kat couldn’t believe he’d said the words in front of a guest. Maybe he and Jamie didn’t get along for some reason. Or maybe Gill considered him family already, so he could be more open.

  Isaac, who had been standing by a doorway, stepped forward and pulled out the chair at the head of the table.

  Queen Louise sat. She shot a displeased look at Kat before smiling at everyone else. “Please be seated. There is a place card at each setting.”

  Jamie sat on the other side of Gill. Sophie sat on the opposite side from those two in the chair on the queen’s left. Bertrand took the seat next to his fiancée. That left a chair next to the groom open for Kat.

  Sitting across the table, Jamie flashed a charming, lopsided grin. The kind that no doubt melted hearts and possibly panties. “My little brother gets to sit between two lovely ladies tonight. He has all the luck.”

  Gill rolled his eyes. The man looked like he wanted to be anywhere but seated next to Jamie. At least, he wasn’t stuck next to her. That would probably make him more miserable.

  The queen cleared her throat. She tasted the white wine and then nodded her approval.

  A waiter, not Isaac, filled each of the glasses.

  The first course—a soup—was placed in front of them. Kat kept her hands folded on her lap. She could tell everyone was waiting for the queen, but Gill’s gaze kept meeting hers.

  He looked at her expectedly. And not in a good way.

  No way would she screw up with him watching her.