Page 56 of Christmas at the Castle
Queen Louise sat. She shot a displeased look at Kat before smiling at everyone else. “Please be seated. There is a place card at each setting.”
Jamie sat on the other side of Gill. Sophie sat on the opposite side from those two in the chair on the queen’s left. Bertrand took the seat next to his fiancée. That left a chair next to the groom open for Kat.
Sitting across the table, Jamie flashed a charming, lopsided grin. The kind that no doubt melted hearts and possibly panties. “My little brother gets to sit between two lovely ladies tonight. He has all the luck.”
Gill rolled his eyes. The man looked like he wanted to be anywhere but seated next to Jamie. At least, he wasn’t stuck next to her. That would probably make him more miserable.
The queen cleared her throat. She tasted the white wine and then nodded her approval.
A waiter, not Isaac, filled each of the glasses.
The first course—a soup—was placed in front of them. Kat kept her hands folded on her lap. She could tell everyone was waiting for the queen, but Gill’s gaze kept meeting hers.
He looked at her expectedly. And not in a good way.
No way would she screw up with him watching her.
After what seemed like ten minutes, but was probably only one, the queen picked up her spoon and tasted the soup. As if on cue, the others did the same. Kat picked up her spoon.
Isaac gave her a half-nod.
That made her feel better.
Careful not to slurp, she tasted the soup. Butternut squash with a mix of spices she couldn’t name. Tasty.
“How do you like Alistonia?” Bertrand asked her.
She wiped her mouth with a napkin. “It’s lovely. Sophie showed me a couple of places in town today. I can’t wait to see more. The people are so friendly. Everyone is very welcoming.”
“Alistonians are friendly and welcoming to all,” Queen Louise said. “I don’t know why you’d expect them to be otherwise.”
What? Kat had been complimentary, not negative, but she didn’t know what to say without coming off defensive. Which she was, but that might get Queen Louise more upset.
Jamie picked up his wineglass. “I must have missed part of the conversation because that’s not what I heard.”
Sophie nodded. “Jamie’s correct. That’s not what Kat said, Mother.”
“No?” The queen sounded surprised. “Well, that’s what it sounded like to me.”
“Then perhaps Kat should sit in my place so you won’t have to strain your hearing,” Gill said to his mother, much to Kat’s surprise.
He was the last person she expected to stand up for her, but she appreciated the effort, as she’d appreciated his others—covering her with a blanket and stopping the wedding diet. Gill might turn out to be more of a prince charming than she thought.
“If Kat sits closer to me, I can translate if needed, ma’am,” Jamie offered.
The queen’s lips pressed together. She avoided looking toward Kat’s side of the table. “Thank you both, but the first course has been served. I’ll pay closer attention to what is said.”
“Thank you, Mother,” both Gill and Sophie said at the same time.
Jamie winked.
Staring into her bowl, Kat sipped her soup. The less she said in front of the queen, the better.
Bertrand leaned toward her. “I’m close enough to hear you fine. I’d love to know about Sophie’s camp days. She says the two of you had so much fun, but she won’t share any details.”
“I’d imagine pillow fights in T-shirts and panties, reading each other’s diaries, and braiding hair.” Jamie sipped his wine.
Not bad guesses for the marquess. Kat exchanged a glance with Sophie.
