“Not yet.” Albert frowned. “We don’t want to worry him until we know more.”
“Yes, of course.”
Albert pointed to Adelaide. “Anton will go with you to your room. Pack an overnight bag with the things you’ll need for tonight’s festivities. You are not safe at the palace for now.”
“What about the king?” she asked. “Is he safe?”
Albert pursed his lips. “We see no reason the queen would want him gone. Not just yet.”
Adelaide nodded. “That makes sense. But do you really think she’s that worried that I could replace him?”
“Yes.” Anton opened the door for her, and they waved goodbye to Albert. “That’s why we must keep an eye on you.”
Although assured the queen was not in residence at the moment, Adelaide still felt like looking over her shoulder as she and Anton went to her room. He waited outside her opened door while she quickly packed everything she needed, then she remembered that her gown wouldn’t be delivered until five. She asked Anton where to have it sent.
“We’ll pick it up on our way,” he said quietly. “We don’t want to disclose where you’ll be staying.”
“This is kind of exciting,” she said as he drove her through the village a little while later. They’d picked up her party dress and then stopped by his apartment where he got his own things. “I feel like we’re in a spy movie. My mother loved James Bond. I was never much of a fan, but now I wish I’d watched more.”
Anton laughed. “Not sure how much that would help you now. Mostly you need to remember to be careful tonight. Please don’t get out of my sight.”
“So, where are you taking us now?”
“To my good friend Gerard’s home. Rather, Gerard’s parents’ home. It’s not far from the village, but it’s in the country. Not fancy but very private.” He explained how Gerard’s father was a farmer and a hunter. “He has quite an impressive gun collection.”
“Guns?” She felt alarmed. “Do you think that’s necessary?”
“No, but it makes me feel more protected somehow.”
The Baumann farm was enchanting. Dozens of woolly sheep comfortably grazed in fenced green pastures, and colorful chickens were roaming around closer to the house. The barn was an architectural treasure of stone and wood timbers. And the farmhouse, with its white stucco walls, thick thatched roof, and windows glowing with golden light, was like a page from a picture book.
The Baumanns’ were expecting them upon their arrival. They welcomed Anton with hugs and greeted Adelaide like a long-lost relative. Delicious smells wafted in from the kitchen. Adelaide had never felt so at home. Like Anton had said, the Baumanns’ house wasn’t fancy, but it was warm and cozy. All thoughts of the ice queen and chilly palace were put aside as the four of them sat at a rough wooden table to eat generous bowls of the tastiest stew Adelaide had ever tasted. And for dessert, they ate apple strudel topped with thick cream.
“I heard they are serving food at the palace party tonight,” Adelaide said to Frau Baumann while Herr Baumann showed Anton his newest hunting rifle. “But I won’t touch a bit of it after this.”
“Ach, palace food is not good for digestion,” Frau Baumann said with her thick German accent. “Now I take you to room.” She led her up the stairs to a small dormer-style room. “My daughter. Her room.” She smiled as she patted the faded patchwork quilt on the bed. “My mutter, she make this.”
Practicing her German, Adelaide complimented her on the quilt and the room, then asked the age of her daughter, which got Frau Baumann talking quickly. She said her daughter was forty and her son was thirty-five. Before Adelaide could respond, she was listing off the names and ages of her grandchildren and where they all lived and worked, most of which went over Adelaide’s head.
“Now you rest . . . refresh.” Frau Baumann patted her solidly on the back. “You have big nacht ahead, jawohl?”
Adelaide nodded. “Ja.”
Dressed in her red satin gown, the diamond necklace, and the Russian sable coat, Adelaide knew she should feel like a million bucks as they entered the palace. Instead, she felt like a bundle of raw nerves. By now they knew, via text messages from a police detective, the queen had been playing host with Georg by her side. Anton, who looked dashingly handsome in a black tux with a red vest, said it was a strategic political move on the queen’s part. Showing the VIPs in attendance that she was still in charge and Georg was still prepared for the throne, the queen wanted to get and maintain the upper hand.
And when Adelaide spotted the queen, dressed in a very low-cut, formfitting gown with daring slits up one side of her skirt, her jaw dropped. Queen Johanna looked very unqueenly, and Adelaide doubted King Max would approve. Still, the queen smiled and greeted her guests like she owned not just the palace but the whole world as well. Meanwhile Georg was nowhere in sight.
When the queen noticed Adelaide and Anton join the reception line, her perfect red-lipped smile faltered ever so slightly, and her pale blue eyes looked icier than ever. Even so, she grasped Adelaide’s hands and greeted her. “I did not expect you tonight,” she said. “Georg said you left. We thought to America.”
“No, not yet. My father suggested I might enjoy tonight’s festivities. Thank you for inviting me.” Adelaide freed her hands from the queen’s chilly ones and stepped aside.
“Watch out for Krampus tonight.” The queen’s tone was light, but her expression was not. “He’s out to get the bad little boys and girls.”
“Then Adelaide should have no worries,” Anton told the queen.
The queen laughed like this was amusing, but Adelaide suspected she would love nothing more than to turn Krampus loose on her inconvenient stepdaughter.
Anton, with his arm nestled around hers, led Adelaide toward the ballroom, where a hard rock song was being played by a loud band dressed like devils. Already a number of couples were on the dance floor, letting loose with some wild moves that made Adelaide blush. The alcohol must’ve been flowing freely for a while.
“Can I get you a drink?” Anton asked.
“Only if it’s a soft drink.”
“Exactly what I had in mind, but I will make sure it looks like something stronger.” He winked. “Help us to fit in here better.”
“Brilliant.” She smiled.
“Don’t move from this spot,” he warned, and she agreed. She watched as he went over to the bar, which was crowded with a rowdy bunch. Then she turned her attention to people watching partiers of all ages. The majority appeared older than her and Anton. Dressed in a variety of costumes, they mingled and danced and drank, acting, she thought, like a bunch of inebriated adolescents.
“There’s my favorite princess.” Georg sidled up to her suddenly. “I thought you were gone.”
“Gone?”
“I saw you leave with Anton. You had your bags with you. I thought you went home.” He held up his amber-filled glass with a slightly foggy expression.
“Did you hope I went home?” she asked a bit coyly, hoping to extract some information.
“No, no, I like you, Adelaide. I like you a lot.” He leaned closer, his breath heavy with whatever drink was in his glass.