Bride of the Castle Read Online Free Page A

stuff, contraptions that looked like fugitives from a B sci-fi movie. Spark coils, wheels, banks of switches: the laboratory of a mad scientist.
    â€œWhat in the world—? Hey, where is this place? Did we walk into the next building?”
    â€œWelcome to Castle Perilous,” Jeremy said as he passed, grinning impishly.
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    CHAPTER FOUR
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    â€œdo you think we took the hem up too far?”
    Red-haired, freckle-faced Melanie McDaniel stepped back from the oaken table. On it stood her friend, Linda Barclay, blond bride-to-be.
    â€œI like it the way it is.”
    â€œI think it’s too high.”
    â€œIt’s a nice wedding gown, Linda.”
    â€œDo you think eliminating the bow is going too far?”
    â€œWell, you said you wanted a modern look.”
    â€œMaybe something more traditional would be better for a wedding in a castle.” Linda reached down and turned up the hem. “Maybe a train?”
    â€œYou said you didn’t want to feel like you could trip at any moment.”
    â€œI don’t. But I don’t want the dress to look too modern either. I mean, this is a castle.”
    â€œThey why not go with the medieval costume thing?”
    â€œI don’t want it to be a costume ball. It’s supposed to be a wedding. My wedding. We run around in silly clothes enough around here.”
    â€œBut in Castle Perilous, silly clothes really aren’t costumes. They’re the clothes people actually wear. And they’re not silly.” Melanie looked down at her own outfit, that of a minstrel.
    â€œSorry, point taken. But still—Anyway, I think it’s too short.”
    â€œDepends on what effect you want. Bionda, what do you think?”
    Bionda, the Castle seamstress, looked on as if only mildly interested. After all, Linda, a powerful sorceress, had conjured the gown herself. Bionda was there only to offer professional advice, if it was needed and wanted.
    Bionda stepped back and took a fresh look. Linda and Melanie waited expectantly for her opinion.
    Bionda cleared her throat. “I think it much too short, milady.”
    Linda’s face fell. “See? I was right.”
    â€œI think the train would be nice,” Bionda said. “Gives a bride dignity. Adds pageantry to a ceremony.”
    â€œWell, maybe I should go with the train.”
    â€œBut milady, your wedding day draws near! Perhaps you might take this as impertinence, but you really shouldn’t have waited until now to settle these important matters.”
    â€œOh, it’s no problem,” Linda said. She snapped a finger.
    Instantly, the dress changed. Gone were the clean modern lines, replaced with lace, brocade, and sequins. A long train cascaded from the bustle and flowed out over the table.
    â€œWell, now you’re going way in the other direction,” Melanie said.
    Bionda was a little ruffled. “I forget, milady, that you can do that so easily.”
    â€œNothin’to it,” Linda said, lifting the veil. “Except it won’t last overnight, if I conjure it now. That’s why I had to wait until so close to the wedding day.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œI’ll whip it up late tomorrow night. It’ll last well into the next day. Just have to remember this configuration.” Linda looked back. “And remember not to overdo the train.”
    â€œI think it’s beautiful, if you like traditional,” Melanie said.
    â€œOh, hell, I don’t know,” Linda despaired. “I can’t decide. Maybe I’ll just go back home and pick out a dress at Wedding World.”
    â€œLinda, you don’t have time for that.”
    â€œOh, right. Forgot.”
    Melanie looked up at her. “Linda, are you having . . . uh . . .” She gave a sidelong glance at Bionda.
    â€œSecond thoughts? I’ve been thinking ever since Gene proposed to me. I wonder if we’re doing the right