Page 102 of Christmas at the Castle
The dog would be in good hands with Kat, but Gill wanted to be there.
“She’s alerted the veterinarian in case there are complications or they need x-rays to make sure all the puppies have been delivered,” Claude continued. “Bertrand and Jamie have constructed a whelping box. The queen thought the stable was the best location for the puppies given the wedding.”
It wasn’t surprising that his mother would want the dogs hidden from guests. Fortunately, the stable’s heating system was first rate and would keep the puppies warm. “Anything else?”
“No, your sister thought you should know.”
“Why didn’t she call me?”
“Princess Sophia said she tried but was sent straight to voice mail.”
“My phone hasn’t rung all day.” Gill pulled out his cell phone. He tapped his screen. Nothing. His phone had been fully charged when they left. He held down the button on top to restart his phone. It powered up. Full battery. “That’s strange. The power was turned off.”
Rowena stared out the window. “I wonder how that happened.”
“I wonder.” He had his phone on the seat next to him when they’d left this morning. He had an idea who might have turned off his phone. “Let’s head back to the castle.”
“What about the waterfalls?” Rowena asked, her voice rising.
“Claude can drop me off and take you.”
“I want to go with you.”
Her lower lip thrust forward in a pose that some might consider sexy. He didn’t. The exact opposite in fact. He kept his beast mode reined in. Best not to lambast her for turning off his phone and playing the coquette. The princess was a guest. He needed to be polite. “Perhaps another day.”
“Yes, please. Find a date on your calendar. My schedule is rather open at the moment due to the holidays.”
The time it took to return to the castle stretched in interminable silence.
At the front entrance, his mother welcomed them home. “I’m so sorry your day was cut short.”
Rowena curtsied. “It’s fine, ma’am. We’ll be setting a date to see what we missed.”
His mother beamed. “Meet me in the sitting room in thirty minutes. We’ll have tea.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Rowena smiled at Gill and then went inside.
The door closed.
“I’m going to the stable,” he said.
“You should have continued your tour.” His mother had that knowing look in her eyes. “You won’t find a more suitable princess bride than Rowena.”
Unbelievable. Anger simmered low in his belly. “Then you marry her.”
She arched an eyebrow and gave him her best intimidating stare down. “Excuse me?”
“It isn’t going to work, Mother. Not today. Or ever.” He was growing tired of her meddling. A son—man—could only be pushed so far. “You may have the legal right as queen to approve my future wife, but you will not choose her.”
His mother sighed. “This is that American’s fault. She’s filling your head with ideas the way she has your sister.”
His fingers curled into fists at his side. He purposely flexed them. “Don’t blame Kat for this.”
She may be the catalyst, but she wasn’t at fault.
Kat made him want to take action, do more, to lead—not only follow what his mother ordered. He’d pushed aside what he’d wanted in life to be the dutiful son worthy of the kingdom, but like Kat dreaming about grand adventures in Africa, maybe he didn’t have to give up everything he wanted.
“I’m thirty-one,” Gill stated in a matter-of-fact tone. “I respect you as my queen and am more than willing to do my duty for our family and Alistonia, but I don’t need my mother micro-managing my personal life.”
