Page 13 of Christmas at the Castle
“Yes.” Sophie sighed. “This call is exactly why I didn’t tell you Kat was coming.”
“She’s a danger to you.”
“You only think that because the two of you always disagree about me, but Kat has my best interests at heart.”
“And I don’t?”
“It’s different with Kat. To her, I’m just Sophie, not Princess Sophia Elizabeth Marie Louise.”
Gill had his doubts. “Don’t be so sure.”
“So ominous sounding.”
“Kat says she’s here for your wedding, but what if she has an ulterior motive?”
“Oh, this should be good,” Sophie muttered. “Tell me, oh wise brother, what other reason could Kat possibly have for coming to Alistonia?”
“To find a royal to bed or wed, possibly both.”
Sophie burst out laughing.
“I’m serious,” Gill countered. “For years, I’ve heard you talk about wanting her to marry a prince. I heard her say she wanted to be a princess.”
“We were teenagers. I had a mad crush on William. I told her she could have Harry.”
“No doubt she planted the idea of making her a princess in your head. Look at the timing of her visit. She couldn’t bother to come any time before this, but now that that there’s a royal wedding, she finally shows up. Two weeks early.”
Sophie sighed. “How many times do I have to tell you Kat’s nothing like Clarissa?”
His ex-girlfriend had only been interested in snaring the royal with the best title. She’d dumped him so she could date the future king of a much-larger country. “You don’t know that for certain.”
“I know Kat. I’ve known her for fifteen years and tried to fix her up with men before. Royalty doesn’t impress her. She knows little about our lives. Besides, she doesn’t date.”
An image of Kat flashed in his mind. She might not be his type, but an attractive woman like her did not stay home alone. “I don’t believe that. She isn’t telling you what she does.”
“I know everything about her. Kat had a serious boyfriend in college, but that ended when she started vet school. Her grandparents needed her help at the farm, and the guy wanted more time than she could give him.”
“He must have been a commoner, or she would have given what he asked and married him.”
“I feel sorry for the woman who falls in love with you.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you don’t listen. Kat isn’t after a royal or any other man, including you. But that doesn’t mean I won’t try to fix her up while she’s here. I worry about Kat because all she does is work. I doubt she’ll find a man she loves more than animals.”
“That’s her problem, not yours.”
“Of course, it’s my problem. She’s my friend.”
“Family and duty first.”
“It’s terrifying how much you sound like Mother right now.”
He knew that wasn’t a compliment. “Sophia…”
A noise sounded in the background. Someone was calling for his sister.
“I have to go,” she said. “Promise me you’ll be on your best behavior around Kat and remember she’s our guest. Don’t be rude, and please keep your beastly side hidden.”
