"John DeChancie - Castle 08 - Bride of the Castle" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dechancie John)

"Welcome to Castle Perilous," Jeremy said as he passed, grinning impishly.
? CHAPTER FOUR

"DO 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, blonde bride-to-be.
"I like it the way it is."
"I think it's too high."
"It's a nice wedding gown, Linda."
"Do you think eliminating the bow is going too far?"
"Well, you said you wanted a modern look."
"Maybe something more traditional would be better for a wedding in a castle." Linda reached down and
turned up the hem. "Maybe a train?"
"You said you didn't want to feel like you could trip at any moment."
"I don't. But I don't want the dress to look too modern either. I mean, this is a castle."
"They why not go with the medieval costume thing?"
"I 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."
"But 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.
"Sorry, point taken. But still- Anyway, I think it's too short."
"Depends 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."
"I think the train would be nice," Bionda said. "Gives a bride dignity. Adds pageantry to a ceremony."
"Well, maybe I should go with the train."
"But 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."
"Oh, 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.
"Well, 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."
"Nothin' 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."
"I see."
"I'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."
"I think it's beautiful, if you like traditional," Melanie said.
"Oh, 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."
"Linda, you don't have time for that."
"Oh, right. Forgot."
Melanie looked up at her. "Linda, are you having . . uh . . ." She gave a sidelong glance at Bionda.
"Second thoughts? I've been thinking ever since Gene proposed to me. I wonder if we're doing the right
thing."