Free A Scandalous Adventure by Lillian Marek

for this?”
    A frightened underling saluted and replied, “Baron Hugo Herzlos ordered it. He said the open carriage would make it easier for the people to see the princess.”
    The carriage looked perfectly acceptable to Susannah. It was a wildly ornate landau, white with gold trim and a coat of arms—presumably that of Sigmaringen—on the door, and was drawn by four white horses. The weather was cold enough that the ride would probably be chilly, but other than that, Susannah did not know what the general’s objection was. Nonetheless, he and Max were exchanging worried glances.
    The general tugged at his mustache briefly, then decided, “It will have to do. It cannot be changed now. Come ahead.”
    The ladies were seated in the carriage with fur rugs tucked over their laps, Susannah and Lady Augusta riding backward and Olivia in the middle of her seat, the cynosure of all eyes. She looked nervous, but managed a smile, and they set off.
    Once they were out of the station area and riding down a broad avenue, Susannah had an opportunity to see something of the city and the castle on the hilltop high above it. The avenue had the breadth that Susannah had seen in Paris and other cities that had been shaken by all those revolutions and riots in the wild year of 1848. Wide avenues let in the light and gave cities an air of elegance. They also made it difficult for people to erect barricades to impede the passage of troops.
    The buildings lining the way were as new as this thoroughfare. They were tall edifices, many of them as much as six stories high, built of stone with large windows that would provide plenty of light for the inhabitants. On the ground floor were shops offering a wide variety of goods. Nymburg looked prosperous and remarkably clean—far cleaner than London. Occasionally, however, the cross streets offered a glimpse of an older, shabbier, less pristine city. That was rather more like London.
    High above them, separated from the town by a swath of forest, loomed the walls of the castle. Those grim fortifications contrasted badly with the cheerful banners flying from the buildings in the town.
    News that the princess had spoken in Schwäbisch spread through the crowds with amazing speed. One could almost see the tide of the news moving along as smiles appeared on faces that had, moments before, been almost hostile. Shouts of welcome in Schwäbisch were directed at the princess, and she responded with smiles and waves. Such a simple gesture made such a difference. Olivia was a perfect princess.
    Susannah turned to share her delight in Olivia’s performance with Max, riding beside the carriage, but he was not looking at her or at Olivia. He was scanning the crowd, looking at rooftops, staring at anyone who was moving through the crowd. On the other side, the general was doing the same. They both looked intent and serious. Deadly serious.
    As if they thought there was some danger threatening.

Eleven
    The fanfare announcing the approach of the princess startled Conrad out of his reverie. He had been imagining what it would be like if he gave an order and Count Herzlos actually took it seriously, rather than dismissing it as idle speculation. What would it be like to actually rule Sigmaringen?
    But the trumpet blare called him back to reality. He stood up, straightened his tunic, adjusted his sword, and set out for the Rudolf Room, where the princess was to be received.
    Conrad was not to be allowed to receive her on his own, of course. Count Herzlos awaited him in the anteroom, and the twins were there as well. Ready to walk beside him, as always, but kept a few feet behind by the presence of the count.
    â€œWell, the great day has arrived, has it not, Cousin?”
    Conrad swung around and gave Hugo his best icy glare. It was enough to make Hugo pull back the hand that had been about to clap Conrad on the shoulder. That, plus his father’s growl, forced Hugo to grind out,