Christmas at the Castle

by Melissa McClone

Smiling and laughing with Kat today had made him realize something was missing from his life, something he wanted. He hadn’t felt the same companionship with Clarissa. Being with Kat was different.

  But he’d never expected that kiss to rock his world. To make him question everything he believed to be true about Kat Parsons. To make him want someone special to spend time with and love.

  Someone like her.

  He hugged his dog. “I love you, boy.”

  But Gill needed more. He hadn’t realized that until…

  Kat.

  A knock sounded at his door.

  Could that be her? He hurried to the door.

  Usually Maximillian would be at his heels, but the dog lay on the bed. His paw? Or laziness?

  Gill opened the door.

  Not Kat. Sophie. She usually didn’t knock.

  His sister placed her hands on her hips. “Were you mean to Kat today?

  He motioned her inside and closed the door. His room wasn’t that far from where Kat was staying. “What are you talking about?”

  “Kat wants to eat dinner in her room.”

  Disappointment shot through him. He wanted to see her. “That’s my fault?”

  Sophie’s hands went from her hips to across her chest. “Well, is it?”

  “No. We had a wonderful afternoon.” Too wonderful. He wanted more.

  “That’s what she said, but she wouldn’t rat you out if you’d been awful to her.”

  That surprised him. “Why not?”

  “Because she wants to lessen my stress. Something she read in a book about being a bridesmaid.”

  “You seem stressed out tonight.”

  “I don’t want my brother hurting my friend.”

  Defensiveness rose inside him. “I didn’t. We got along fine.” This probably wasn’t the time to tell Sophie he’d kissed Kat. There might never be a good time for that. “Kat enjoyed herself.”

  “That’s what she told me. It’s just…”

  “What?”

  “She seems off. Like something is bothering her.”

  “You naturally assumed that was me.”

  “Based on your past—”

  “We were kids back then. Today was fun.” He walked to his nightstand and picked up the snow globe. “If I’d been such a beast, do you think she would have given me this?”

  Sophie’s mouth formed a perfect O. “That dog looks like Maximillian.”

  He nodded. “Whatever’s bothering Kat has nothing to do with me.”

  But he wondered what was wrong with her, and if there was anything he could do to help.

  Sophie reached for the door handle. “Well, if you’re sure.”

  “I am. See you at dinner.”

  She opened the door. Gasped. Closed the door so only a crack of light from the hallway showed.

  “What—?”

  “Shhh.” She lowered her voice. “Jamie is at Kat’s door.”

  Gill stood behind his sister. He hated to resort to eavesdropping, but he wanted to know what was going on. For Jamie’s sake, Gill rationalized, but he knew he was lying to himself. “Let me see.”

  “Don’t open the door anymore or they’ll see us,” Sophie whispered.

  Through the crack, Gill stared over the top of his sister’s head and watched the interaction in the hallway. Jamie used lots of hand motions as if he were excited. Kat laughed.

  What was so funny? Had Jamie made a joke?

  A vise tightened around Gill’s heart and squeezed out the last drops of blood. Kat looked so animated, so beautiful. And it was Jamie standing there, not Gill.

  Had she forgotten about their wonderful day together?

  His muscles coiled tight like springs. He glanced at the snow globe. “Can you hear them?”

  “No.” Sophie kept her voice low. “But I hope Kat invites Jamie in for a little pre-dinner partying.”

  Gill’s hands curled. “She better not.”

  Sophie peered up at him. “How come?”

  All the reasons had to do with him. But this wasn’t about him. He thought for a minute. “Mother would throw a fit.”

  She shrugged. “Yes, but not as much of one if Kat was with you.”

  That was true. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

  They watched and waited. Finally, Jamie walked away. Kat closed the door to her room.

  Interesting. Perhaps Kat was playing hard to get as his mother had suggested. Or perhaps she wasn’t interested in the marquess. Gill hoped the latter.

  Sophie’s shoulders slumped. “No invite inside. No kiss goodbye.”

  No present in a small bag given like the one Gill had received. His chest puffed up. “It’s almost dinnertime, not bedtime.”

  His sister groaned. “What is it going to take to get those two together?”

  He had no idea, but Sophie’s words told him nothing had happened between Kat and Jamie yet.

  And that made Gill very happy.

  *

  The next morning, Kat heard yelling. Female voices. Two of them. Neither was American.

  That could only mean one thing—Sophie and her mother were arguing.

  Kat slipped on her shoes and hurried out of her room.

  Gill stood in the hallway. He wore gray trousers. His belt was undone, and his shirt unbuttoned so she could see his chest. Smooth and muscular.

  Oh, my…

  She gulped. Heart pounding in her ears, she forced her gaze up to his face.

  He shook his head. “Sounds like the cannons are about to be fired.”

  Not trusting her voice, she cleared her throat. “I’ll go so you can, um, finish dressing.”

  Don’t look.

  She took a quick peek.

  So sexy.

  She rushed down the staircase, as much to get away from Gill as to help Sophie. Kat headed along the hallway to the ballroom.

  Queen Louise’s voice carried like she was using a bullhorn. The woman intimidated Kat worse than Professor Hinkleworth, whose main goal in life seemed to be failing veterinary students. One visit to his office had left Kat shaking and in tears, positive she would be the next one to drop his course, one that was mandatory for graduation.

  “You cannot sit Countess Maria Therese next to any of the royal family members from Christonia,” the queen yelled. “The countess was banished from her homeland by her own sister. You don’t want to cause an incident that will quickly become tabloid fodder.”

  “This is a wedding. My wedding.” The words poured from Sophie’s mouth like water from a fire hose. “Guests need to put their personal differences aside for the evening.”

  Sophie’s voice trembled toward the end.

  Uh-oh. Kat recognized that tone. Sophie had sounded that way once before—after she’d been sent home from the reality TV show.

  Kat ran to the ballroom.

  Queen Louise laughed. Though cackle might be a better description. “Step out of your perfect rose-colored world, Sophia. A wedding won’t make people behave differently. Most don’t care about being civil. Only pursuing their own agendas.”

  The ballroom doors were open.

  Kat stood in the doorway. She took a step and then stopped. Fear of the queen in the designer red skirt and jacket kept Kat frozen in place.

  Queen Louise towered over Sophie, who kneeled on the floor next to the seating arrangement she and Jamie had been working on. “Take these two for example.”

  The queen plucked two of the toothpick flags with wedding guest names written on them from a cardboard circle representing one of the many dining tables. She waved the tiny flags.

  “These two countries have been bitter foes for centuries. If you seat these two leaders together, you’ll start a war.”

  Sophie took a deep breath. And another. “Mother—”

  “You don’t want your wedding to be known as the catalyst for international unrest.”

  Sophie stared at the miniature dining room layout. She wasn’t a glowing bride now. Lines formed around her m
outh. “The guests will be eating. No one is required to speak to each other. All they have to do is swallow, chew, and repeat. International unrest avoided.”

  Kat’s heart told her to barge into the room to support her friend, who looked like she needed a hug, but logic said to wait. Perhaps the situation would calm down on its own. The last thing Kat wanted to do was make things worse, which she feared her presence at the castle had already.

  “You’re much too naïve, Sophia,” Queen Louise said. “Not everyone gets along with others like you do.”

  Sophie frowned. “It appears the aristocracy cannot be expected to behave better than toddlers who want the same toy.”

  “Who’s winning?” Gill whispered into Kat’s ear. He stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders.

  Kat’s muscles bunched. The scent of his aftershave surrounded her. She forced herself not to inhale deeply.

  “I wish I could say Sophie.” Kat kept her voice low. “But I think your mother’s ahead right now.”

  “She never takes on a battle she can’t win.”

  His warm breath against Kat’s neck sent her pulse into overdrive. Awareness of him buzzed through her body. The same way it had after he kissed her yesterday.

  Kat needed to stay in control. He was just a man, not a slice of calorie free seven-layer chocolate cake. “I keep waiting for the right time to go in.”

  “I love my mother, but there is never a right time when she’s trying to get her way.”

  With him so close and wreaking havoc with Kat’s senses, this might be the perfect time to enter the ballroom.

  “There’s only one thing you can do,” Queen Louise said.

  Sophie looked up at her mother. “What’s that?”

  “Start over.”

  Sophie’s mouth gaped. She rarely seemed caught off guard, but she did now. “What?”

  “Redo the entire seating arrangement and take into account political alliances and past love affairs.”

  Her shoulders sagged. Shook. “Jamie and I have spent hours on this. Days. I wanted to have everything finished before Bertrand arrives.”

  “Then it is a good thing you have a few more days until your fiancé is here.” The queen’s flippant tone wasn’t helping matters. “Have your animal doctor friend help you. She seems reasonably intelligent enough to manage searching the Internet for friends and foes of the various countries that will be attending.”

  “Reasonably intelligent,” Gill whispered. “High praise from the queen.”

  Kat bit back a laugh. The highest praise would be when she left the castle to return home. At least Sophie would be moving out once she was married, but she’d have both her mother and a mother-in-law to deal with then.

  “I’m going in,” Kat said to him.

  “I’ve got your back.”

  If only that were true…

  Pushing the thought from her head, Kat inhaled deeply and then entered the ballroom. “Good morning. Anything I can do to help?”

  The visible relief on Sophie’s face made Kat wish she hadn’t waited so long.

  “I’m happy to lend my assistance also,” Gill added from behind Kat. “I believe Jamie is on a hunt to find ice to climb in Alistonia.”

  “The two of you have impeccable timing.” Queen Louise’s gaze narrowed on the two of them coming in together. “Help Sophia redo the seating arrangement. I have three appointments in town. I expect to see progress when I return.”

  With that, the queen walked out of the ballroom with a click, click, click of her heels against the floor and the scent of her expensive perfume wafting behind her.

  “Is it too late to elope?” Sophie asked.

  “Yes,” Kat and Gill said at the same time.

  Her gaze met his before he looked at his sister.

  “If you and Bertrand eloped, that would cause an international incident.” Gill stepped closer. “Mother would blame him. The duchess would blame you. Tempers would escalate, and fashion designers everywhere would be forced to choose sides. I fear the results of that might not be to Mother’s liking, which would lead to shoe makers and jewelers being dragged into the fray.”

  Sophie laughed.

  The sound warmed Kat’s heart.

  Gill not only knew his sister well, but his love for her also shone through. Kat loved seeing his caring big brother side.

  “I fear Jamie had fun seating arch enemies together,” Sophie admitted and then looked at Kat. “But I don’t hold that against him and neither should you.”

  “Sounds like something he would have fun doing.” Kat touched Sophie’s shoulder. “What do you need me to do?”

  “Us,” Gill corrected. “We’re both here to help.”

  Sophie motioned to the miniature seating arrangement layout. “Help me avert arguments, tabloid fodder, and war.”

  Gill gave a mock bow. “At your service, princess.”

  “You have time?” Sophie asked her brother.

  He nodded. “If I didn’t, I would make time. And with the intelligent doctor—”

  “Reasonably intelligent animal doctor,” Kat corrected.

  The amusement in Gill’s eyes made her feel warm all over.

  “With the two of us working together,” he said to Sophie. “You’ll have no worries about progress being made.”

  Kat nodded. “We make no promises about food fights not happening during the wedding dinner. Some things cannot be avoided.”

  “That’s true. Especially with Jamie in attendance,” Gill agreed. “After a couple glasses of bubbly and dancing next to your centuries’-old foes, you never know what might happen when the second course is served.”

  Sophie sat straighter, but she was smiling again. “Mother would be mortified if food went flying. Could you imagine?”

  “Her reaction would almost be worth it.” Gill grinned. “Emphasis on almost. She’d likely decide to make sure she never died so I couldn’t inherit the throne.”

  The glow returned to Sophie’s cheeks. “You mean she hasn’t already done that?”

  Kat burst out laughing. “If your mother hears you, she’ll have you locked away in the dungeon.”

  Gill winked at her. “Be careful; she might throw you down there, too.”

  Stuck with him in a dark place might not be so bad.

  Sophie plucked flags from the cardboard tables. “Let’s get busy so that doesn’t happen.”

  Kat sat on the ballroom’s hardwood floor.

  A moment later, Gill sat. His thigh pressed against her. Heat emanated from the spot, and she fought the urge to scoot closer.

  The man was hot.

  His kisses, his looks, his body.

  Kat had a feeling the seating arrangement wasn’t going to be as hard as not being affected by him. She forced her attention on Sophie. “Where should we start?”

  *

  Too many hours later, Gill placed the last flag onto the cutout cardboard table. He slumped against Kat, both happy to be finished and wanting to touch her. Not that he hadn’t while they worked, but an accidental brush of the fingers or a collision of hands wasn’t enough.

  “We are finished,” he announced.

  “Finally.” Kat raised her palm. “High five.”

  He did. “No wars will begin or challenges to duels made.”

  “A romantic duo might emerge,” Kat added. “Maybe two couples.”

  He could see that happening. “Depends on those mistletoe kisses.”

  Kat’s cheeks turned pink.

  Sophie’s nose scrunched. “What is it with you two?”

  “Huh?” Kat and Gill asked at the same time.

  “You’re getting along so well.” Sophie seemed puzzled. “I’m happy that’s the case, but it’s a little strange to see.”

  Kat shrugged. “We’re just…”

  “Getting to know each other,” he finished for her.

  Sophie narrowed her gaze. “You’re completing each other’s sentences like an old married couple.”


  “No, we’re not,” they said, again in unison.

  Kat gave him a stop-doing-that look.

  It was Gill’s turn to shrug.

  A canary-eating grin spread across Sophie’s face. “You’re acting like brother and sister now. That’s cute.”

  Gill didn’t feel that way about Kat. He made a face. “I don’t do cute.”

  “You’re so not cute,” Kat agreed. “But I agree with Sophie; it’s weird.”

  “She said strange, not weird,” he corrected. “But I disagree. Perhaps it’s a little odd but not deplorable.”

  Kat shook her head. “Definitely weird.”

  “You are too much.” Laughing, Sophie stood. “Now that we’ve figured out the dinner’s seating arrangement so a war won’t break out, I’m going to call my betrothed and see how he’s doing.”

  “Say hello to Bertrand for me,” Kat said.

  “Are you going to wait around for Jamie?” Sophie asked Kat with a hopeful expression.

  Gill didn’t want her anywhere near the man. That gave him an idea. “I thought I might show Kat the dungeon.”

  “Oh, that would be great,” Sophie said. “Kat was too tired her first day here.”

  Kat didn’t say anything. “No” being the most important word he hadn’t heard.

  He wanted to spend more time with her. “Might be a good idea to show her the escape routes in case she finds herself stuck down there someday.”

  “Have fun.” Sophie headed out of the ballroom.

  Kat’s brows drew together. “The dungeon? Don’t you have work to do?”

  “It can wait.” He stood and reached out to help her up.

  She grabbed his hand and stood. Her skin was soft and warm.

  He didn’t want to let go, but he did. “You’ll enjoy this.”

  “I didn’t think dungeons were supposed to be enjoyable.”

  “This will be.”

  Her mouth slanted. All he could think about was kissing her again.

  “Why is that?” she asked with suspicion.

  He smiled. “Because you’ll be with me.”

  *

  With him. Kat followed Gill down a narrow circular staircase made out of stone blocks. Since yesterday, that was the only place she wanted to be—with Gill.

  Crazy, yes, but being with him felt…right. In a way spending time with Jamie didn’t.

  Old-looking electrical sconces hung on the wall. Much safer than the open flame torches that were used in centuries past. The lights cast eerie shadows on the staircase and Gill.