A vision wearing white entered.
Tears sprang to Kat’s eyes. So gorgeous. And so Sophie.
The style wasn’t puffy ball gown with layers of tulle underneath that would make Scarlett O’Hara proud, nor was it a form-fitting sheath that hugged curves like the ones Kat had seen online and in the pages of bridal magazines.
The long-sleeved, A-line silk dress made Sophie look like the ultimate princess bride. An overlay of exquisite lace added the right tough of elegance, as did the crystals and pearls in an intricate design at the waistband.
The duchess clapped. “Just perfect. The high neckline and long train are like the ones from my wedding gown.”
The queen harrumphed, yet her gaze remained focused on her daughter. The edges of her mouth curved upward. “Perhaps, but the rest of the bodice is like mine. So is the lace. That’s a royal family tradition.”
Olga bowed her head. “Sophie brought me pictures of both your wedding gowns and asked me to incorporate designs of each into hers.”
“Spectacular.” Kat wiped the tears from her eyes. “You are the most gorgeous bride ever. Bertrand is going to lose it when he sees you walking toward him.”
The duchess nodded. “He won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
Sophie beamed. “Thank you.”
“There’s one issue,” Olga said in a dramatic tone. She hung her head as if for added effect.
“What?” the two mothers said at the same time.
“Sophie has lost too much weight. Any more, and I don’t know that the dress will fit as well. I can take it in, but that will take time away from attaching the pearls and crystals to the skirt.”
The duchess pressed a hand to her heart. “Pearls.”
Queen Louise sighed. “Crystals.”
The two women looked at each other. Nodded. “No more wedding diet,” they said together.
Sophie bounced, but Olga put a finger on her shoulder to stop her.
Kat was thrilled for Sophie. Gill had put an end to the no-eating insanity without going face to face with his mother or the duchess.
A smart man, even if he didn’t want to kiss her under the mistletoe.
Sorry, but I pass.
His loss.
Besides, she didn’t want to kiss him.
But she imagined his kiss would taste good for him being, as Sophie called him, such a beast.
“That train will look fabulous as you walk down the aisle.” A smug smile settled on Queen Louise’s face, but pride gleamed in her eyes. “You couldn’t have worn something that long if you’d gotten married at the castle’s chapel.”
Sophie’s smile remained in place. “You’re right, Mother.”
“Is Crown Prince Guillaume walking you down the aisle?” Kat wasn’t about to use nicknames with this crowd.
“Sophia has decided to walk herself down the aisle,” the queen answered, and she didn’t sound pleased.
“That’s progressive,” the duchess said.
Queen Louise shook her head as if this was the end of the world. “It isn’t proper, but I have relented because Sophia asked your daughter and this American to be her bridesmaids.”
Kat had learned from Sophie that they didn’t have maid of honors in Alistonia. The bride also went down the aisle first with her attendants behind her. A little different from what Kat was used to back home where the bridesmaids went first and the bride was the last to enter the church.
