Kat’s cheeks warmed. “Thanks, though I don’t think your brother was impressed.”
“I told him to be nice.”
Maybe the way he’d acted had been his version of nice. A scary thought. “Gill was being himself. I don’t know what I did all those years ago, other than leave my fishing gear out, but he still doesn’t like me.”
“You did nothing except be yourself,” Sophie said. “Unlike the females from our country, you didn’t fall at his feet and treat him like a demigod. Granted, you had no idea he was a prince that first summer, but once you knew, you still spoke your mind. No one has done that to him other than family members.”
“I hoped time would have mellowed him.”
“He’s only gotten worse, but in his defense, that’s not all his fault.” Sophie toyed with the lace on one of the bed pillows. “When our brother Jacques joined the seminary, Gill became the heir to the throne. He was twenty-two, and his plans took a one-eighty. I don’t know that he’s forgiven our parents—well, Mother since Father died three years ago—or even Jacques for abandoning him. Giving up his dreams was hard on Gill.”
“Dreams?”
“Of teaching. Gill had planned to go into academia. He thought being a professor would allow him the flexibility to do his duties as second in line to the throne until a new heir was born but also enable him to have a fulfilling career.”
Kat tried to picture Gill forming the minds of young adults. Tried and failed. He didn’t seem like he’d have the necessary patience, but then again, she hadn’t seen him in years. “You’d think he’d want to be crown prince and the future king.”
“Even future kings have desires. Some that don’t align with their duty.” A soft smile appeared on Sophie’s face. “I give Gill a hard time, but he’ll be good for Alistonia. He’s smart and knows economics better than most. He also has a kind and caring heart. He just doesn’t show that side too often.”
Pride filled Sophie’s voice. She loved her brother.
“Maybe things will be different after he gets married.” Gill might not be friendly to Kat, but she only wanted the best for Sophie’s brother.
“I hope so,” Sophie admitted. “But he doesn’t seem to be in any rush to wed. Being dumped by Clarissa hurt him. My mother was so angry, but I was secretly thrilled.”
Kat remembered the long conversations they’d had about this. “You never liked her.”
“No, I didn’t. If he was going to date and then marry an American, he should have picked you.”
“So we could be sisters.”
That had been Sophie’s teenaged dream when they’d been at camp. Kat had to admit she liked the idea of the two of them being sisters, even though she hadn’t been too thrilled with the thought of Gill as a husband.
“Let’s hope you like the next woman he dates,” Kat added.
“I don’t know when that will be. Gill hasn’t been interested in dating anyone since Clarissa, so Mother has set out to find him a wife.”
“Someone nice.” Maybe that quality would rub off on Gill.
“Being nice isn’t one of the prerequisites for being Gill’s wife. Mother will look for a royal with the right pedigree and breeding who offers something Alistonia currently lacks.”
That was what dog and horse breeders did. “What about love?”
“Not a requirement.” Sophie sighed. “I’m so happy I’m getting to marry for love. I often wonder if my brother rushed into a relationship with Clarissa to heed off Mother’s matchmaking.”
Not matchmaking.
Ordering.
But Kat didn’t need to point that out to her friend.
Sophie hopped off the bed. “Enough about Gill. Grab your coat and gloves, and put on your shoes, so we can go for a walk outside.”
Kat opened drawers. Everything was neatly folded. The non-clothing items were in a drawer by themselves. In one, she found her socks. In another, she found her hat and gloves. She sat on the blue-and-white chair to put on her shoes and yawned.
“If we don’t get moving, I fear you’ll fall asleep,” Sophie said. “I know. We’ll visit the stable first. You can admire the beautiful horses, and I can steal one of their apples.”
“Hungry?”
