He led her to a seasonal storage room where labeled boxes were arranged on shelves and a large worktable was strewn with miscellaneous decorations. “In the past, we always used these red velvet ribbons and the more traditional baubles.” He hung a rocking horse ornament from his little finger.
“Cute.” Adelaide picked up a faux gingerbread man, letting it spin on its string. “This is adorable.” She reached for a grinning elf decoration and smiled. “So is this.”
“Mother feels they are too old-fashioned, but the head chef complained over this new direction.” He picked up a golden ball bedecked with faux jewels. “Chef Braun says we are mistaken to use such ornate decorations on the tree. And the head housekeeper says children will be disappointed.” He picked up a string of multicolored lights. “We always used these, but Mother wants white lights. She wants the tree to match the splendor of the rest of the hall. Now I am unsure.”
“I see.” Adelaide fingered a colorful string of faux candies, thinking how appealing it would be to young children. “I think these old-fashioned decorations are delightful.”
“Really? Better than these?” He waved to an unopened box of glass ornaments that shimmered like gold.
She shrugged. “You asked for my opinion. All I can say is, I agree with the head chef and housekeeper. I think the old decorations are perfectly charming. No wonder the children love them. I’m not a child, but I love them too.”
He nodded. “Then we do it the old way. As soon as my work crew returns.” He went to work finding old boxes of ornaments and putting the new boxes back on a shelf. Meanwhile, curious about the many boxes of decorations, Adelaide began to poke around the room. Seeing a stack of dusty boxes tucked in a corner, all labeled the same, she grew curious. “Weihnachtskrippe?” she read the word aloud. “What does that mean?”
“Those are just the old figures for the nativity scene.”
“Oh?” She opened a box, carefully peeling back layers of worn tissue paper to reveal a large carved figurine of a shepherd with a lamb under one arm. “Oh, how beautiful,” she said with enthusiasm. She lifted the shepherd from the box. “Where will the nativity go?”
Georg shrugged as he set another bin of multicolored lights on the table. “Mother doesn’t care for it. She does not display the Weihnachtskrippe anymore.”
“Oh?” She tucked the shepherd back in his place and replaced the cover. “That’s a shame. And such fine craftsmanship too.”
More workers entered the storage room. With Prince Georg busy assigning tasks, Adelaide slipped out unnoticed. She was just heading up the stairs when her phone pinged. A text from Anton invited her for tea. She eagerly accepted. To her pleasant surprise, he was still at the palace.
As she hurriedly gathered her coat to meet him downstairs, she wondered if her enthusiasm was to escape the palace for a spell or because she was becoming quite fond of Anton. But she reminded herself, there was no point in becoming romantically involved. After Christmas break, or as soon as the king passed, whichever came first, she would be returning to America.
CHAPTER
Nine
After a pleasant afternoon tea, Anton and Adelaide took a stroll through the village. It was growing even more festive with strings of lights framing windows, evergreen wreaths on doors, and the occasional nativity scene displayed in shop fronts. They returned to the palace in the early evening, and Adelaide prepared herself for another awkward dinner with the royal family. She knew this was the plan because someone had slipped a schedule under the door of her bedroom suite. As Adelaide put on a simple black frock accented by a silver cross necklace her mother had given her years ago, she suspected Queen Johanna was behind the rather packed schedule.
The queen probably wanted to keep Adelaide away from the king’s company during her visit. But a quick phone call to Anton confirmed that Adelaide’s time was hers to spend as she pleased, and the most important time spent, Anton and Albert agreed, was with her father.
Feeling only somewhat relieved, Adelaide forced a smile when Queen Johanna welcomed her into the royal living room at six. Prince Georg was already there, standing by the fireplace, and King Max was just being rolled in. Greetings were exchanged and hors d’oeuvres were consumed, but after they were seated in the dining room, it grew clear that the queen was even more agitated than she had been the previous night.
“Tomorrow is December the first. Our busy time of year.” She directed her words to Adelaide. “I assume you saw the agenda my private secretary prepared for you.”
“Yes, thank you. I’ll keep your suggestions in mind,” Adelaide said pleasantly. “Although I’m sure you’re aware my highest priority is time with King Max.”
“Now, now.” The king held up one hand. “Adelaide, didn’t you promise to stop calling me King Max?”
“Oh?” Adelaide glanced at the queen, whose well-shaped brows were so closely drawn that two sharp creases lay etched between them.
“I am your father,” the king continued. “It would give me great pleasure to hear my daughter address me as such.”
“Yes, I’ll try to remember that,” Adelaide said quietly.
The queen’s expression grew even darker as she forked a green bean hostilely. Georg seemed oblivious to the drama, or perhaps just more interested in roast beef than family feuding.
“Do you know tomorrow is the first day of Montovia’s Christmas festivities?” the king asked Adelaide.
“Yes. I was in the village this afternoon, admiring all the shops’ wonderful decorations.” She kept her voice cheery. “I was trying to imagine how sweet it will all look with snow. Just like a Christmas card.”
“I hear we will have snow by next week,” the king told her.
“Speaking of decorations,” the queen said, sliding into the conversation, “I understand Adelaide has recommended a change in my plans for the main hall.”
“How good of you to get involved,” the king said to Adelaide.
“I do not think it good,” the queen retorted.
Adelaide glanced at Georg. “I only gave Prince Georg my opinion.” She hoped the prince might clarify, but when he didn’t, she continued. “He asked what I thought of your new decorations, and I—”
“New decorations?” King Max stared at his wife. “What’s this?”
“I’m sure I told you,” she said smoothly. “The old decorations looked so tattered and worn. Not befitting a palace. I ordered new ones months ago.”
King Max frowned, then turned to Adelaide. “So, tell me, mein lieber, what did you think of the queen’s new decorations?”
Adelaide considered her words before speaking. “Well, they’re quite grand. Very regal. But I’m not a fancy person. I prefer gingerbread figures to jeweled, golden harps.”
To Adelaide’s relief, Georg jumped in, explaining how the palace staff had complained about the overly fancy decorations. “So, we put up the tree just like it’s always been.” He reached for his phone and started pulling up photos to show the king. “See, this is a picture of Mother’s new decorations. Very glamorous, indeed.” He swiped his finger across the screen. “And here is the tree with the old decorations.”