“No. I haven’t had the pleasure.”
“You can see Matterhorn from the resort.”
“Oh, that does sound nice.”
“Do you ski?” Georg asked eagerly.
“No. That’s considered a rich person’s sport where I live.”
King Max cleared his throat. “It is a rich person’s sport here too.”
Adelaide suppressed a weary sigh. It seemed no matter the topic, things always rounded back to these troubled barbs. Clearly, the royal family was not a happy one. She vaguely wondered what it would’ve been like if her grandfather had allowed her birth parents to wed. Perhaps it would’ve been worse.
After dinner, the four of them visited briefly, and at times tersely, in the living room. But King Max was wearing out, and the queen sent a message to Herr Schneider to help him to his suite.
“I will see you in the morning,” he told Adelaide. “Ten o’clock in my chambers.”
“I’ll be there.” She reached for his hand. “Thank you, King Max, for your kind hospitality.”
His smile warmed her. “You are most humbly welcome, but please, can you disperse with King Max and call me Father?”
She pursed her lips, then nodded. “I will try tomorrow.”
He squeezed her fingers. “Thank you, mein lieber. Until tomorrow.”
As he was wheeled away, Adelaide turned to her hostess. “Thank you, too, Queen Johanna, for your hospitality. I hope you will excuse—”
“No, no,” Georg protested, “it is early yet.”
“But I am—”
“We will have coffee,” he insisted. “I want to know more about you. You are my first real American girl. Do not say good night so soon.”
“I’m sorry, but I flew through the night and arrived this morning. I’m so sleepy I can barely keep my eyes open.”
“Let her go,” the queen told her son abruptly. “Can’t you see she’s tired?”
“Only if you promise to spend time with me later,” Georg said. “You fascinate me. I need to know you more.”
“Fine. I promise more time,” she said. Anything to get out of here. “I apologize, but if I don’t leave now, I might fall asleep on my feet.”
“I won’t let that happen.” Georg hurried over to take her arm. “I will escort you safely to your room.”
Queen Johanna said something to her son in German. The meaning slipped past Adelaide, but the tone was clear. She was not pleased by Georg’s behavior. For that matter, Adelaide wasn’t either.
“Thank you, but I can make it on my own.” She pulled her arm away.
“I’ll get you there,” he declared.
Feeling too weary to argue, and worried the scowling queen was about to say “off with her head,” Adelaide allowed Georg to escort her, but when he lingered by her door, she firmly disengaged her arm from his, told him a crisp “gute nacht,” then went into her room and locked the door. As she kicked off her shoes, she wondered what on earth she had done to encourage the prince and what she could do to get him to back off. She would have to think about that in the morning.
CHAPTER
Eight
Adelaide had never slumbered in such a comfortable bed, luxurious room, or peaceful place, but she still woke up at the crack of dawn the next morning. She refused to allow herself to calculate exactly what time it would be in Virginia. She’d heard her phone ping in the middle of the night but had ignored it. Looking now, she saw that Maya had tried checking up on her. Even though Adelaide knew it was the middle of the night back home, she texted her friend back anyway. Just to remind her of the time difference and let her know that everything was okay. At least, she hoped so.
Adelaide took her time getting ready for the day, vaguely wondering what she should do about breakfast. It wasn’t that she was hungry, but coffee did sound good. She was about to go exploring when her phone pinged again. This time it was Anton, politely inquiring about today’s schedule and wondering if she would still like the full palace tour. She texted back saying she was on board as long as the tour included coffee. His response was immediate. He told her to meet him on the second floor.
When she got there, Anton was already waiting for her. He led her through a generous dining room to a kitchen where someone had set out a continental breakfast with coffee and tea. As they dined on pastries, cheese, fruit, and coffee, she told him a bit about the previous night’s royal dinner.
“I didn’t expect the queen to give you a warm reception.” He whispered although no one was around to hear him.
“Prince Georg made up for that.” She tore apart a flaky croissant and chuckled. “That guy has a lot of nerve.”
“What did he do?” Anton’s brows drew together.
“Oh, nothing, really. He just seems to assume I am his new best friend.”
“Interesting.” Anton looked amused.
She frowned. “Isn’t it kind of creepy? We’re sort of like stepsiblings.”
“Of no relation. Prince Georg may see you as a way to secure the throne.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Well, that’s flattering.”
“I’m sure he also noticed your many fine qualities.” He smirked back at her. “Sorry. To be honest, I’m not surprised to hear of the prince’s interest.”
“Hello there.”
They both looked up as an older gentleman entered the room. He waved and smiled. Anton stood and introduced him as Prime Minister Albert Kovacs. “My esteemed uncle.”
“I’m happy to meet you.” Adelaide shook his hand. “You look almost as I imagined.”
He held her hand, looking deeply into her eyes. “You are more lovely than I imagined. A pleasing combination of your father—and your mother.”
Her spirits dipped at the mention of her mother. She pulled her hand back as she looked down.
“Did I offend you?”
“This is the third anniversary of her mother’s tragic accident,” Anton quietly told his uncle.
“Ja, I am so sorry.” Albert put a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Losing a mother is difficult. More so if you are young. I am so very sorry.”
She met his gaze. “Thank you.”
“Hopefully we can distract you with more pleasant things,” Anton told her.
“Ja. I hear you are my new pupil,” Albert said.
Anton looked at her. “What is this?”
“The king has arranged it to help me understand Montovian law,” she explained. “I’m very eager to learn.”
“Is it something I can sit in on too?” Anton asked his uncle.
“I see no reason you cannot join us. We meet at ten o’clock. I’ll see you both in the king’s quarters following a short meeting with the royal council.” Albert checked his watch. “You’ll have to excuse me, Princess. I’m due there now.”
She nodded.
“And we’re due to take a tour of the palace,” Anton said.
For the next hour, he gave her the full tour—including the dark, musty dungeons, which were mostly used for storage. Finally they headed clear up to the highest turret, above the roofline, where they took their second cups of coffee and sat down to enjoy the amazing view of the surrounding countryside.