Christmas at the Castle

by Melissa McClone

  A vision wearing white entered.

  Tears sprang to Kat’s eyes. So gorgeous. And so Sophie.

  The style wasn’t puffy ball gown with layers of tulle underneath that would make Scarlett O’Hara proud, nor was it a form-fitting sheath that hugged curves like the ones Kat had seen online and in the pages of bridal magazines.

  The long-sleeved, A-line silk dress made Sophie look like the ultimate princess bride. An overlay of exquisite lace added the right tough of elegance, as did the crystals and pearls in an intricate design at the waistband.

  The duchess clapped. “Just perfect. The high neckline and long train are like the ones from my wedding gown.”

  The queen harrumphed, yet her gaze remained focused on her daughter. The edges of her mouth curved upward. “Perhaps, but the rest of the bodice is like mine. So is the lace. That’s a royal family tradition.”

  Olga bowed her head. “Sophie brought me pictures of both your wedding gowns and asked me to incorporate designs of each into hers.”

  “Spectacular.” Kat wiped the tears from her eyes. “You are the most gorgeous bride ever. Bertrand is going to lose it when he sees you walking toward him.”

  The duchess nodded. “He won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”

  Sophie beamed. “Thank you.”

  “There’s one issue,” Olga said in a dramatic tone. She hung her head as if for added effect.

  “What?” the two mothers said at the same time.

  “Sophie has lost too much weight. Any more, and I don’t know that the dress will fit as well. I can take it in, but that will take time away from attaching the pearls and crystals to the skirt.”

  The duchess pressed a hand to her heart. “Pearls.”

  Queen Louise sighed. “Crystals.”

  The two women looked at each other. Nodded. “No more wedding diet,” they said together.

  Sophie bounced, but Olga put a finger on her shoulder to stop her.

  Kat was thrilled for Sophie. Gill had put an end to the no-eating insanity without going face to face with his mother or the duchess.

  A smart man, even if he didn’t want to kiss her under the mistletoe.

  Sorry, but I pass.

  His loss.

  Besides, she didn’t want to kiss him.

  But she imagined his kiss would taste good for him being, as Sophie called him, such a beast.

  “That train will look fabulous as you walk down the aisle.” A smug smile settled on Queen Louise’s face, but pride gleamed in her eyes. “You couldn’t have worn something that long if you’d gotten married at the castle’s chapel.”

  Sophie’s smile remained in place. “You’re right, Mother.”

  “Is Crown Prince Guillaume walking you down the aisle?” Kat wasn’t about to use nicknames with this crowd.

  “Sophia has decided to walk herself down the aisle,” the queen answered, and she didn’t sound pleased.

  “That’s progressive,” the duchess said.

  Queen Louise shook her head as if this was the end of the world. “It isn’t proper, but I have relented because Sophia asked your daughter and this American to be her bridesmaids.”

  Kat had learned from Sophie that they didn’t have maid of honors in Alistonia. The bride also went down the aisle first with her attendants behind her. A little different from what Kat was used to back home where the bridesmaids went first and the bride was the last to enter the church.

  The queen continued. “That means your older son, and my son, the crown prince, will need to stand with Bertrand. We can’t have the wedding party lopsided.”

  The duchess’s fingers touched her gaping mouth. “You cannot. Just imagine. The photos would be doomed.”

  “Exactly,” the queen agreed.

  Were these two enemies or twins separated at birth? Perhaps this was how royal mothers acted.

  Not that they mattered. Only the bride did.

  “You look incredible,” Kat said to her friend. “The dress is amazing.”

  “I can’t believe I’m wearing this dream of a dress.” Sophie stared down at the dress. “You outdid yourself, Olga. Just as I knew you would. Thank you.”

  Olga dipped her head. “The gratitude is mine for being entrusted with your wedding gown.”

  Sophie squeezed Olga’s hand. The look of love that passed between the two brought another tear to Kat’s eyes.

  And she wondered.

  Had there been a caring, loving nanny like Olga in Gill’s life when he was growing up? Or was that why he acted the way he did? Because there’d been no one to give him the attention a child needed, the love a child deserved.

  The thought tore at Kat’s heart. That might explain why Gill had never seemed happy at camp. Caroling aside, he didn’t seem much happier now, but for all she knew, he had the most nurturing caregivers in the country.

  None of her business.

  Except he was part of Sophie’s life, and she was part of Kat’s.

  He’d surprised her more than once today. Maybe there was more to Prince Annoying than she was giving him credit for.

  Dare she find out?

  Chapter Six

  ‡

  Lunch at a café followed the fitting. After that, Sophie had a conference call, so Kat explored the public rooms at the castle. Yesterday, her brief tour had given her a glimpse of the first floor, but she wanted a closer look at where Sophie lived. Walking around with so many paintings, tapestries, and sculptures, however, made Kat feel as if she was touring an art museum, not a home.

  Her first stop was the sitting room. The gray and yellow décor was not only inviting, but this room also had framed photographs of the royal family on the walls and fireplace mantle. She enjoyed looking at the childhood pictures of the young princess and princes with their parents. No priceless oil paintings, fragile statues, or suits of armor on display anywhere. This was the only room, other than the bathroom, where she wasn’t afraid of breaking something.

  The feeling of home flowed through her. Not a way she expected to feel, but she understood why. This room felt the most…normal.

  The traditional-style sofa and chairs were contemporary and comfortable looking. She pictured the royal family—any family for that matter—sitting around watching a movie or sporting event. The various wood tables looked sturdier than the antique ones in the music room and parlor. The pillows and throws gave the room a lived-in look. Most of the other rooms seemed more for show than actual use.

  Not this one.

  A fifteen-foot-tall Christmas tree was positioned against the far wall and centered between tall windows. The castle had more than a dozen trees, but this one was her favorite.

  The other trees were decorated by theme or color scheme. Works of art and beautiful, yes, but she preferred the twinkling white lights and the variety of ornaments—blown glass, wood, metal, plastic—hanging from the branches.

  Warmth flowed through her.

  She walked toward the tree with wide branches and a shiny gold star on the top. The spaces between the branches told her it wasn’t a Douglas fir, but she didn’t know the type. The scent, however, was familiar.

  She inhaled deeply.

  The smell brought back fond memories of Christmases past, and she wondered what this year would hold. She pictured colorful wrapped gifts tucked under the tree branches. Pretty packages tied with silver, gold, and red ribbons. Would one have her name on it?

  A crystal icicle ornament caught her attention and drew her closer.

  Still no snow or icicles outside, but Kat was hopeful the weather forecast of a winter storm would come true.

  She touched the icicle. So beautiful and not as fragile as the ornament looked at first glance.

  “Looks like you survived meeting my mother.”

  Gill.

  Kat pulled back her hand, turned away from the tree, and faced him. His wool coat from earlier was gone as were his gloves. He wore a navy suit with a light blue shirt and red tie. She’d only been her
e two days, but he dressed so formally other than his workout clothes. Okay, he was the crown prince, but she wondered if he owned a pair of jeans or khakis.

  His suspicious gaze made her feel like a trespasser. Her muscles bunched. She shouldn’t feel guilty for being in here—Sophie had said to go wherever Kat wanted.

  She straightened. “I did.”

  “Are you and Mother BFFs now?” The amusement in his voice shone in his eyes.

  Heat rose up Kat’s neck. Might as well get this over with. “I owe you an apology.”

  “For what?”

  “You weren’t trying to scare me. Your mother was exactly as you described.” No sense pretending the meeting had gone well. “I didn’t have to pick my battles though. She barely addressed me. Which in hindsight may have been a blessing. I doubt she’ll remember me if we meet again.”

  “If?” Gill didn’t gloat. Lines creased his forehead. “You’re staying here. You’ll see her again.”

  Kat might as well change her name to the invisible American while she was in Alistonia. “Yes, but I doubt she’ll see me.”

  A smile spread across his face. “That sums up my mother perfectly.”

  Unfortunately.

  Kat didn’t take any pride in being right. She’d hoped to get along with Sophie’s family. The same way her friend had with Kat’s grandparents. But that wasn’t going to happen.

  Not with Queen Louise. Not with Gill.

  That stung.

  Kat prided herself on being able to fix things, whether a problem or a sick animal. She had no way of making this situation better. That made her feel worthless. A way she hadn’t felt since she was younger and needed to know why her parents didn’t want her anymore.

  She plopped onto an overstuffed yellow-and-gray striped reading chair where she had a perfect view of the tree and not as good of one of Gill.

  Kat had no doubt the wedding would be wonderful, but her dream of a fabulous Christmas at the castle was disappearing faster than the dog biscuits they gave out to patients at the animal hospital.

  On the twenty-fourth, Sophie and Bertrand would leave on their honeymoon. Kat had planned to stay here for Christmas and then fly home the next day. Now she wasn’t sure what she should do. The queen and Gill made Kat feel like an intruder. She might feel less unwelcome and alone spending Christmas in a hotel rather than here where she wasn’t welcome.

  Gill sat on the couch next to her chair. “What are you thinking?”

  She didn’t want to tell him because she didn’t want Sophie to know. Kat could check into a hotel after the newlyweds took off. Her friend would never have to know she hadn’t spent Christmas at the castle. She doubted the queen or Gill would mention her.

  But Kat needed to reply now. Something safe and on topic. “That this is where you’re supposed to say ‘I told you so.’”

  His smile widened, and once again, she had to admit he had a nice one. “No need because you admitted I was right.”

  “You like that.”

  “Of course.”

  “Then you should know your call to Olga worked,” Kat said. “Sophie’s wedding diet is over, and she enjoyed every bite of her lunch.”

  “What about you?” he asked.

  “Delicious.” Her entrée had been incredible with spices she’d never considered combining. “Though I couldn’t pronounce many of the dishes.”

  “That’s the Eastern European influence.”

  Kat nodded. “Olga joined us for lunch and gave me a history lesson on food in Alistonia.”

  His gaze softened. “That sounds like Olga.”

  This was the opening Kat needed to find out more about his childhood. “Did you have a different nanny?”

  “Yes. Freya was British and very proper.”

  While Olga seemed warm and loving. That could explain a few of the differences between the two siblings.

  “Was Freya with you long?” Kat asked.

  “Until I was eight and went off to boarding school. After that, her services were no longer needed.”

  Kat tried to picture a young boy being sent away to school. Home was a place to live, not where a child spent school vacations. “So young.”

  Then again, she’d only been four when her parents left her with her grandparents, but at least she’d been with family, not paid faculty.

  “That was the age my older brother went away to school.”

  “You followed in his footsteps.”

  “Tradition.” He spoke without emotion.

  “That had to be difficult on you and your parents.”

  “It was,” he admitted to her surprise. “My mother thought I wasn’t ready, but my father said she coddled me too much and it would be best for me to go away to school.”

  Kat would never associate Gill with the word coddled.

  “Surprised?” he asked.

  “Yes. Neither you nor your mom seem like the coddling types.”

  His smile remained. “That may be true now, but my mother was very hands-on when we were younger, in spite of each of us having a nanny. Lots of hugs and kisses and playing on the floor.”

  Kat wished she’d had a taste of that from her mom. “Must have been nice.”

  He nodded. “My mother might not appear to be the warmest person, but she loves us, and I have no doubt she would do anything to protect Sophie and me.”

  Another warning? Kat hoped not.

  She liked hearing there was more to Queen Louise, who appeared so controlling and opinionated. Kat would take a mother like her over one who wasn’t around. “You’re fortunate she cares so much.”

  He glanced at his watch and then stood. “I must return to my office.”

  “I’ll go back to admiring the ornaments on the tree.”

  Gill hesitated. “Those are part of my father’s legacy.”

  “How so?”

  “He didn’t like themed trees, so he proclaimed no decorators were allowed to hang the ornaments on the sitting room tree. Only family and a few longtime staff members like Jennings and Claude.”

  “What a wonderful thing for your father to do.” Kat remembered Sophie’s stories about him. Before he passed and after. Losing her grandparents so close together, and then Sophie’s dad dying after that, had brought them closer, even though they lived far apart and very different lives. “That’s what makes this tree perfect.”

  Gill’s gaze traveled from Kat to the tree. “Nothing is perfect, but this comes close.”

  With that, he turned and walked out of the sitting room.

  This was the second time he’d walked away without saying goodbye. Third, if she counted last night, except she’d been asleep.

  At least they’d spoken pleasantly just now. No disagreeing. That would make Sophie happy. And strangely, that made Kat happy, too.

  *

  Later, in his office, Gill signed documents at his desk, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t stop thinking about Kat. She wasn’t what he expected, and he was having trouble reconciling the woman he’d spoken with earlier that afternoon to who he believed her to be.

  He’d been walking by after playing fetch with Maximillian when he saw her standing at the tree. The backdrop of the lights and ornaments had been picture perfect, and he’d wanted a closer look.

  Her apology for not believing him had been unexpected. Nor had he thought she’d say anything less than flattering about the queen, but he’d appreciated Kat’s politeness and honesty.

  His mother could stare through a person as if they weren’t there. What his mother didn’t say often had more meaning than if she’d spoken.

  He gave Kat credit. She was both observant and sharp. In some ways, she reminded him of the teenaged girl from camp. He’d tried many times to get a rise out of her, but he’d always failed. No doubt because of Sophie.

  But he couldn’t decipher who Kat was now, and that bothered him.

  The office door opened, and his mother strode in. The skirt of her blue evening gown swished around
her legs. She wore a tiara from the royal collection.

  “I should have known you’d still be working,” she said. “It’s almost dinnertime.”

  He rose from his desk that had once been Jacques’. Before his mother’s coronation, when his grandfather was still alive, she’d used this desk, too.

  Gill walked around to the front to greet his mother with a kiss to the cheek.

  “You look lovely.” The scent of her signature perfume—the same fragrance she’d worn for as long as he remembered—hung in the air. “Are you going out?”

  “No, I wanted to dress up for dinner.” She glanced at the papers on the desk. “You’re correct. That American girl is going to be a problem.”

  He’d heard Kat’s take on their meeting. Now he would get his mother’s. “Did something happen at the fitting?”

  His mother walked to the window that overlooked a three-tiered fountain. “Your sister’s wedding gown turned out better than I expected. I’m returning the backup dress. I’m positive your sister would have thrown a temper tantrum had I mentioned the existence of another wedding gown.”

  “Sophie’s always wanted Olga to design her dress.”

  His mother shrugged, but Gill thought there was more to her feelings about this. He’d always thought she was jealous of Sophie’s relationship with her nanny.

  “The design is sentimental and not haute couture, but your sister has never had much fashion sense.”

  Sophie had been named one of the Top 10 Best Dressed Royals for the past ten years, but their mother chose not to recognize the honors because his sister didn’t wear the styles the queen wanted.

  “I wasn’t asking about Sophie’s dress,” he said. “I want to know what happened with Kat.”

  Lines creased his mother’s forehead. “Who?”

  Gill sighed. “The American.”

  “Oh, her. I’d forgotten her name.”

  That seemed unlikely given Sophie had mentioned Kat’s name at least twice a day, usually many times more, for the past fifteen years.

  “What did Kat do at the fitting to raise your concerns?” he asked.

  His mother glanced up at the tall ceiling. Probably looking for a cobweb the staff had missed. Complaints fell from her lips more than compliments these days. She’d been picky before his father’s death, but grief had brought out a bitterness that not even time could ease.