Free A Scandalous Adventure by Lillian Marek Page A

“Your Highness, that is.”
    Helga was less easily cowed. She gave her irritating trill of a laugh and said, “It is to be hoped that all is well.”
    â€œWhy shouldn’t it be?” Count Herzlos scowled at her.
    The baroness gave a careless shrug. “It is only that the escort for the princess was left in the hands of General Bergen.”
    â€œBah. A simple task like that should be no problem, even for a simple soldier like Bergen.” The count harrumphed and kept his eyes ahead of him.
    That was enough to irritate Conrad. “General Bergen has ever been a loyal and devoted champion of my house. I will not have him insulted.”
    â€œNo one would dream of insulting the old general,” said Hugo. “It is just that he is so, well, old . One always worries if he will be up to a task.”
    â€œIndeed.” Helga laughed again. “I wouldn’t be in the least surprised if he misplaced the princess and brought a milkmaid instead.”
    â€œYour disrespect is unbecoming,” said Count Herzlos stiffly. “No more of this.”
    Helga stopped speaking, but she did not bother to suppress the little smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
    They neared the Rudolf Room, an enormous chamber almost one hundred and fifty feet long. The plan was for Conrad to stand before his throne at one end of the room while the princess entered from the far end and walked the entire length of the chamber to present herself to him.
    That, he decided, was ridiculous. When they came to the doors, he kept going.
    Hugo had started to turn in and stopped in confusion. “Cous—Highness, where are you going?”
    The count also tugged at his sleeve. “The plan, Sire, was to…”
    â€œI have changed the plan,” Conrad said, cutting him off. “I will greet the princess at the castle entrance.” He continued on his way, walking too quickly for the others to do anything more than follow, and ignored the disgruntled mutters behind him.
    At his approach, the guards promptly opened the huge castle doors and stood at attention while he passed through to stand in the sunlight at the top of the stairs. In the courtyard below, a company of the Royal Guard snapped to attention, and he could see the heads of innumerable servants peeking out of windows and around pillars to catch a glimpse of the princess.
    â€œAn excellent idea, Highness,” said Hugo. “This way, the people will soon know all the details about the princess’s arrival.”
    â€œYes,” said Helga. “I only hope it hasn’t been too much for the poor old general.”
    Conrad ignored them.
    Another fanfare sounded, and the wrought iron gates leading to the courtyard swung open. General Bergen and Captain Staufer rode in on their white steeds.
    â€œThe general does not appear to be suffering any ill effects from the journey,” said the count.
    His daughter smiled.
    Conrad continued to ignore them. He stood as immobile as the guards in the courtyard.
    Next came the princess’s carriage, pulling to a halt at the foot of the steps, while the troop of Royal Guards on horseback formed a line behind. The general and the captain dismounted and came to stand at the door of the carriage. Two ladies descended, one old and one young. The princess’s ladies-in-waiting, presumably. They stepped to the sides to allow the princess room to alight. The general held out his hand to assist her.
    And there she was.
    Conrad drew in a sharp breath. Her portrait had lied. It had shown only a conventionally pretty girl. And this woman before him? He did not think he had ever seen a more beautiful creature. Golden ringlets framed a heart-shaped face. Huge brown eyes looked up and locked with his. A smile trembled on the lips of a beautifully bowed mouth. She stood proudly erect, with a tiny waist beneath a glorious bosom.
    Behind him, Helga also drew in a hissed breath and Hugo uttered an