Christmas at the Castle

by Melissa McClone

  As the music played, he led her out onto the dance floor.

  She focused on him but sensed others looking at her.

  At them.

  Only she didn’t feel self-conscious.

  She felt special, as if this moment had been somehow pre-destined. Maybe from the day she’d met Sophie and Gill out by the camp’s lake.

  “What are you thinking?” Gill asked.

  “How wonderful it is to dancing with you.”

  His smile reached his eyes, and her breath caught. “I was thinking the same thing.”

  The two of them moved, their steps in unison, as if they’d been dancing together forever.

  Kat couldn’t have said what song the orchestra played or who else was around them or what time it was. All she knew was this dance with Gill was perfect.

  Her heart seemed to beat in time to the music.

  Maybe her fairy godmother had waved her magic wand tonight.

  He looked at Kat with such affection and made her feel like the only woman present.

  Nothing mattered except Gill.

  She’d never felt anything like it. She didn’t want the song to end.

  “Enjoying yourself?” he asked.

  “Very much so. You?”

  “I am now that I’m with you.” His eyes darkened. “This probably isn’t the time or place, but I’d like you to do something for me?”

  “What?”

  “Consider staying in Alistonia.”

  “I’m here until the twenty-sixth.”

  “That’s only three days away.” He twirled her around. “Stay longer so I can spend more time with you.”

  Her lungs constricted, and she couldn’t breathe.

  He wanted her to stay.

  Kat wanted to scream yes at the top of her lungs. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

  She couldn’t stop thinking about his mother or what he meant by spending more time together. He hadn’t said he wanted her stay to be permanent. Only longer. As in a few days or weeks. But not forever.

  “No need to answer now,” he said. “But think about it.”

  “I will.”

  The song ended.

  He kissed her cheek. “We’ll talk and dance again later.”

  The Duchess of Darbyton stood at the microphone. She wore a sparkly pink long-sleeved gown and looked beauty-queen gorgeous. “It’s time for one of my favorite traditions. The bridal bouquet toss. Will all single ladies please come onto the dance floor?”

  Queen Louise leaned into the microphone. “The lucky woman who catches the bouquet will get a dance with my son, Crown Prince Guillaume.”

  The duchess pulled the microphone stand toward her. “And a dance with my son James, the Marquess of Darbyton.”

  As the two mothers sized each other up like professional wrestling opponents, excitement buzzed through the ballroom. Some women whispered. Others laughed. A few put on their game faces.

  Kat watched in amazement.

  Even royals went crazy over the bridal bouquet toss. Add in the extra reward of dancing with two eligible, titled gentlemen, and the women were ready to rumble.

  She caught a glimpse of the film crew. Each was positioned around the edge of the dance floor—Brad in the front on the right, Dylan behind her, Conrad in the back on the left, and Wes in the front on the left. Funny, she’d almost think they were filming except they didn’t have cameras. Too bad they weren’t taping. Kat had a feeling it would make for entertaining viewing later.

  She’d told Jojo she would go for the bouquet, but as women jockeyed for a prime spot, Kat stepped to the rear of the dance floor. Catching the bouquet might give the queen one more reason to dislike her.

  She stood far enough away from where the bouquet would be tossed it would never reach her. Sophie had practiced throwing earlier in the week. The bride had never come close to this distance.

  Grinning, Sophie stood on the dais in front of the orchestra. “Are you ready, ladies?”

  The women shouted and screamed.

  Sophie turned her back to them. “1…2…3…”

  She tossed the bouquet high into the air. The flowers flew over the women waiting in the front with hands in the air.

  Princess Rowena jumped for the bouquet and bumped into a countess, who stumbled and took out a princess and a baroness. The three landed on the ballroom floor with a thud, a grunt, and a squeal.

  Rowena reached again for the bouquet only to have a duchess jump in front of her. Their hands collided and hit the bouquet like a volleyball. The flowers continued toward the back, soaring past fingertips and hands, until the bouquet hit Kat in the chest.

  “Oh.” She couldn’t help but catch of it.

  Clapping, Sophie bounced up and down.

  The queen glared at Kat as if she’d somehow planned this when she’d done nothing of the sort.

  Gill, Jacques, Jamie, and Bertrand helped up the pile of women lying haphazardly on the floor. No one seemed to be injured. A few women laughed, but not Rowena.

  The princess asked Gill for help, which he gave her.

  Back on her feet, Rowena straightened her gown, smoothed her hair, and then grabbed a glass of red wine.

  Good idea, Kat thought.

  She sniffed the bouquet. So pretty.

  Rowena walked toward Kat. “Aren’t you the lucky one tonight?”

  “I should buy a lottery ticket.”

  “Or a plane ticket home,” Rowena mumbled.

  Kat looked around. No one else seemed to have heard that.

  The woman had issues with her, but the princess was a guest at the castle, like her, and Kat wasn’t going to call her out.

  Talia, the wedding planner, had been clear about the wedding party’s behavior tonight—do not drink too much or make a scene.

  But Kat couldn’t stay mute. “I beg your pardon?”

  “Never mind. I’m just a little green-eyed.” Rowena stood in front of Kat. “The bridal bouquet is so lovely. Would you mind if I took a closer look?”

  Kat held out the bouquet.

  Rowena bent slightly and sniffed. “Lovely. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  As Rowena straightened, a wave of red wine flew out of her glass and hit the front of Kat’s bridesmaid gown.

  Rowena covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, no. I’m so sorry. I don’t know how that happened.”

  “Oh, what a shame,” Queen Louise said in a compassionate tone as she joined them.

  Kat hadn’t seen her come up, but she stood next to Rowena.

  The queen shook her head. “That was such a lovely dress on you, too.”

  Emphasis on was.

  Kat trembled with embarrassment.

  Gill touched Kat’s arm. “What happened?”

  “It was my fault,” Rowena said. “Someone bumped in to me and my wine went flying all over Kat. I feel dreadful. The dress is ruined.”

  “It was an accident.” Kat said through gritted teeth and tried to ignore the stares from other guests.

  Servers arrived to mop up the floor. One handed her a white towel.

  “Thank you,” she managed.

  Her dress was not only ruined, but also unwearable. The liquid made the fabric see through even though the white was now stained burgundy.

  Kat crossed her arms over her chest. Thankfully, the bouquet provided extra coverage. “Please excuse me. I need to change.”

  “Since Kat won’t be here…” Queen Louise said. “Dance with Rowena.”

  It wasn’t a question but a command.

  So much for luck.

  Kat had lost.

  This reaffirmed what she’d already known. No matter how much she cared for Gill or how much he wanted her to stay in Alistonia, Queen Louise would never accept Kat in her son’s life. His mother had chosen a woman for her son. And heaven knew Gill would do as his mother decreed.

  A weight pressed down on Kat’s shoulders. She forced herself to stand tall and not to run out of the b
allroom.

  Do. Not. Cause. A. Scene.

  That had been drilled into her enough times by Talia that Kat managed to say a polite word or two to several guests who spoke to her on the way out of the ballroom. She’d never been more relieved to see an exit.

  Driven by the threat of tears, she accelerated. At the curved staircase, she ran. She kept running until she reached her room.

  So much for being a princess at the royal wedding ball. She couldn’t even pass for Cinderella.

  Kat stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror. She looked worse than an ugly stepsister.

  Not even the best dry cleaner in the country could salvage the beautiful gown.

  But she couldn’t sit up here and mope.

  This was Sophie’s big night.

  The gown might be ruined, but Kat needed to put on a smile, a new dress, and return downstairs.

  A knock sounded at the door. “It’s Liv.”

  “Come in.”

  Liv raced into the room. She wore a black dress with a white apron. “Let me help you change.”

  “Thank you.” She turned so Liv could unhook the back of the dress. “I have no idea what I’ll wear. Nothing I have is fancy enough for a royal ball.”

  Liv studied her. “I may have something. It’s a little out there.”

  “I don’t care,” Kat admitted. “Anything would be better than a plain little black dress. That’s my only option.”

  “This isn’t plain, and it is…royal.” Liv unzipped the bridesmaid gown. “I’ll be right back.”

  As the door closed behind Liv, Kat went into the bathroom. She peeled the wine-soaked gown from her body and then wiped off the wine with a wet washcloth.

  Kat waited to hear another knock on the door, but none came.

  Sophie couldn’t leave her own wedding, but Gill could. She thought he might come to her room to check on her. Wasn’t that what people who cared about each other did?

  Except…

  He would be dancing with Rowena.

  Under the watchful gaze of Queen Louise.

  Kat’s stomach roiled.

  I don’t need to be rescued by a prince.

  And she didn’t.

  What had Gill said?

  You are more than capable of taking care of yourself and everyone around you.

  Kat squared her shoulders. She was, and she would.

  She would put on Liv’s dress, march downstairs to the ballroom, and pretend nothing had happened.

  For Sophie. For Gill. And for herself.

  Chapter Fourteen

  ‡

  Would this song ever end? Gill danced with Rowena as his mother wanted, but he hated every moment. The woman had completely forgotten what she’d done to Kat’s dress. Granted, it was an accident, and she’d apologized, but he thought she might be more subdued or remorseful.

  The woman looked ready to party.

  With him.

  He shuddered. No, thank you.

  The song ended, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He bowed. “Thank you for the dance.”

  She ran her fingertip along his arm. “The night’s still young; perhaps we can continue our…dancing in private.”

  Just shoot him now.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Sophie. She was hard to miss in the bridal gown. She waved to him.

  Saved by his sister.

  “Excuse me,” he said to Rowena. “My sister needs me.”

  He wove his way through the other couples on the dance floor. As soon as he was within arm’s reach, Sophie grabbed his hand and pulled him to the side.

  Gill had no idea what was going on, but Sophie’s smile had disappeared. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  She blew out a breath. “I’m worried about Kat.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Upstairs with Liv.” Sophie glanced to the doorway. “Kat will be back after she changes.”

  “You sound certain.” No one knew Kat better than Sophie, though he wished that he did.

  “I am, but I need you to make sure she’s okay.” Sophie’s eyes twinkled. “It would seem I picked the wrong brother for my BFF, but I couldn’t be happier about that. Just please, don’t let Mother ruin whatever is going on between you and Kat.”

  He didn’t want that to happen, either. “I’ll do what I can.”

  A flash of color caught Gill’s eye. He looked to the ballroom entrance. Kat was no longer wearing the stained gown, but an elaborate costume that looked like something one of Henry the Eighth’s wives might wear. She carried the bridal bouquet.

  Gill could barely breathe. His mouth watered.

  In the white bridesmaid gown, she had looked gorgeous, but also sweet and innocent. Now dressed in a historical reenactment gown with the bodice a tad too small, she looked take-her-to-bed sexy.

  He would start with a dance and hope for a kiss. Anything else…

  His mother gasped. “What is she wearing?”

  Rowena pursed her lips. “She looks ridiculous.”

  “She’s hot.” He gave them both a look that said back off. He walked straight toward her, not allowing anyone to distract him.

  Earlier today, he’d imagined her as his bride. She was smart, caring, compassionate, and brave.

  Not many women would have returned wearing a dress like that.

  But she had.

  And he knew the reason.

  Sophie.

  Kat had put her friend—the bride—above all else.

  Yes, he could picture Kat on her wedding day, but more so, he could imagine her as his wife. The one who would be at his side and be the mother of his children.

  He had met her over fifteen years ago, but he’d been too young to see just how right she was for him. And she was.

  Gill bowed and then kissed her hand. “I believe I owe you a dance, milady.”

  Kat curtsied, giving a glimpse of her chest. “Yes, you do, Your Serene Highness.”

  Was it wrong that he was hoping for the bodice to experience a fashion malfunction?

  Sweat beaded at the back of his neck. “Your dress—”

  “Belongs to Liv. She made it for a Renaissance Festival. I had nothing fancy enough to wear.”

  “The gown is perfect. I’ll buy it from her for you to keep. You look amazing.”

  Kat beamed. “It’s not too much?”

  “Way too much.” He grinned. “That’s why it’s perfect.”

  The orchestra played a different tune. Couples filled the dance floor.

  “Come.” He laced his fingers with hers. “They’re playing our song.”

  “We don’t have a song.”

  He had no idea what this one was called, but he would find out the name from the conductor. “We do now.”

  *

  Sitting in the ballroom, Kat had no doubt in her mind that magic was real. That was how tonight had turned out for her—magical. She lost track of the number of times she danced with Gill. But each time was better than the last.

  As Gill spoke to a council member at another table, Kat sat to give her feet a rest from all the dancing.

  Queen Louise approached her. “Your costume has mesmerized my son.”

  Kat knew Gill liked the dress, but she also knew what she wore was only a small part of why he was so attentive.

  Something had changed between them—from the way he looked at her to the possessive touch of his hand at the small of her back. She didn’t know what, nor did she mind, but even her nerve endings sensed a difference in both his mannerisms and in him. She was afraid to get her hopes up too high.

  “I’m grateful to have a dress I could borrow, ma’am.”

  “I expect you to dress more appropriately for the wedding breakfast.”

  She’d brought a dress especially for the breakfast. “I will, ma’am.”

  “Princess Rowena will be there. I’m sure Guillaume won’t be able to take his eyes off her.” Queen Louise walked away, and Gill reappeared.

  He pulled Kat
to her feet. “In less than an hour, it’ll be December twenty-fourth. You never told me what you wanted for Christmas.”

  She wanted him. “The only thing I want, that I’ve wanted, is to be with you.”

  “That makes things easy.”

  She smiled. “It’s the truth.”

  “I know, but you try to make things easy on everybody else, even if that may turn out to be hard on you.” He ran his finger along her jawline. “It’s time someone did the same for you. I want to be that person.”

  Her throat constricted with emotion. She tried to speak but couldn’t.

  Her grandparents had provided her with unconditional love and support. Sophie did what she could for Kat living with an ocean between them. But she’d never expected anyone to make her feel so loved and special as her grandparents had made her feel.

  But Gill did.

  “Thank you.”

  “Anytime.” The sincerity in his voice matched the look in his eyes. “And I mean that.

  Gratitude brimmed, but so did something else.

  Love.

  She had been falling for Gill before, but she’d fallen all the way now. Stepped over the edge and crashed heart first.

  She loved him.

  The realization should terrify her, but she felt nothing but peace. The fairy tale was hers to grab like a brass ring.

  If only the situation weren’t so complicated with his mother…

  They could still make this work. Kat had to try.

  She gazed into his eyes. “There is one more thing I would like.”

  “Name it.”

  “A kiss.”

  Kat didn’t wait for him to lower his mouth to hers. She rose up on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his lips.

  If Gill was surprised, he didn’t show it.

  Instead, he pulled her close against him. His lips moved across hers, soft at first, and then harder as if he couldn’t get enough.

  Kat couldn’t. She ran her hands through his hair. Strands curled around her fingers.

  Their tongues met and explored. Heat pulsed through her. She arched against him.

  He was all she needed.

  Time seemed to stop. There was only this moment and him. She wanted the moment to last forever.

  Gill drew the kiss to an end and pulled back, then he brushed his lips against her again.

  “I want nothing more than to continue this in your room, but we should say goodnight and not rush things.” He pushed a piece of hair off her face. “We have plenty of time.”