Who knew what Sophie meant? Maybe she’d thought of someone Kat could kiss under the mistletoe.
She took in the passing scenery. The views coming down the hillside were incredible.
Claude sang along with the carol playing. His lovely tenor voice filled the car and sounded like it belonged on the recording.
“Let’s sing along,” Gill suggested.
“Oh, yes.” Sophie sang a line off-key.
Kat joined in, but she kept eyeing Gill. He didn’t seem like the type to be caroling in the car, but a kid-in-a-toy-store smile was on his face.
Weird. She would have thought him to be a modern-day Scrooge given his personality, but he knew the words. His voice was warm and rich and did funny things to her stomach.
Maybe she should have eaten more breakfast.
“Adeste Fideles” came on next.
She knew one verse, but only in English, so she listened to the others sing in German. Gill knew all the verses.
She was impressed.
When the song ended, she clapped. Sophie and Gill bowed their heads. Claude waved his hand.
A few notes of the next song made everyone laugh. Kat wouldn’t be the only one sitting this one out. “Sleigh Ride” didn’t offer much in the way of vocals, though humming along was an option.
The limousine pulled to a stop. Claude exited the driver’s seat.
Kat peered out the window. They were parked in front of an old stone cottage with empty flower boxes beneath the window and smoke rising from the chimney. A broken gate hung from one hinge.
This didn’t look like a bridal shop. “Where are we?”
“The dressmaker’s.” Sophie wrapped a scarf around her neck and picked up her purse. “Get your things. Claude will drop off Gill and come back for us.”
Kat stared at the cottage in disbelief. She’d been measured for her bridesmaid’s dress at a local bridal boutique in a nearby town. That place screamed weddings with its pink and ivory décor and racks of poufy white dresses. She’d expected to go to a similar shop, or a nicer one since Sophie was a princess. Not a place that looked like it sold magic wands and potions.
“Something wrong?” Gill’s smile had disappeared, and his eyes were dark.
His assessing gaze was on Kat once again. Likely finding something else he didn’t like about her.
Too bad—she’d thought he might be warming up to her while they sang. Getting along would be best for Sophie, but Gill would have to agree. That didn’t seem likely.
Oh, well. Kat wasn’t about to let him continue to make her uncomfortable. She squared her shoulders. “This shop looks different from the bridal stores back home.”
Sophie grinned. “We have those here, but this isn’t a bridal shop. This is Olga’s house. She’s making my dress.”
Kat stared at the house. Maybe Olga would whip up the dress with a magical phrase and wave of a wand like the fairy godmother in Cinderella. Sophie must have great faith in the woman.
“Olga was Sophie’s longtime nanny,” Gill said as if reading Kat’s mind. “The two are very close.”
Kat remembered. “You’ve talked about her before.”
Sophie nodded. “After she retired, she took up dressmaking. She and I have been talking about my wedding dress since I was a little girl. Both Mother and the duchess exploded when I didn’t want to use a name designer, but I held my ground on this one.”
Kat’s gaze met Gill’s. He didn’t have to say anything. She knew he was thinking the same thing.
Pick your battles.
He smiled at her.
