Free A Scandalous Adventure by Lillian Marek Page B

abrupt expletive, but Conrad barely heard them. His entire being was focused on his future bride.
    * * *
    The attention of the bridal party was on the prince and his companions.
    As they neared the foot of the stairs, the general murmured to Olivia, “The old man is Count Herzlos, the First Counselor. The young man is his son, Baron Hugo Herzlos. He was part of the delegation to Hechingen, so you have met him. The woman is his sister. You do not know her.”
    Olivia gave a tiny nod and stepped forward, holding the general’s arm.
    Susannah, who had heard every word, kept her attention on those surrounding the prince. She had not missed the horrified shock on the faces of the baron and baroness when Olivia stepped from the carriage. They were aghast at the sight of the princess. They covered it up quickly and now wore masks of frozen courtesy, but Susannah had seen.
    So, apparently, had Max. When she glanced to her side, he was staring at them with a scowl on his face. Scowls were hardly appropriate for the occasion. He had wanted this masquerade. The least he could do was play his part properly. She smiled and jabbed her elbow into his side. An elbow, but only because she did not have a knife. He jumped and looked at her. She smiled more broadly, baring her teeth and wishing they were fangs. He recovered himself and smiled as well. It was no more convincing a smile than hers, but it would do. He was not a fool.
    â€œYou have been lying to us,” she said, whispering through her smile. “There is more going on, more danger threatening, than we were told.”
    There was no more time to speak, for they had reached the prince. Olivia began to curtsy to him, but Conrad caught her hands to raise her up. “No, my princess. You need never bow to me.”
    He introduced her to the count, who clicked his heels and bowed.
    â€œCount Herzlos,” she said. “I have heard much of you. You are greatly admired all across Europe.”
    The count flushed with pleasure. “And I believe you have met my son, Baron Hugo Herzlos?”
    Hugo also clicked his heels and bowed.
    Olivia looked at him, slightly puzzled, and then her face cleared. “Oh yes, you were one of the delegation that came to my father’s court to arrange this marriage. I do remember you.”
    The look of annoyance on Hugo’s face at this snub was undeniable, but Olivia had already turned away to look coolly at Helga. The baroness tried, but she was finding it difficult to stand up to Olivia’s clear gaze.
    Sounding dismissive, the count said, “My daughter, Baroness Helga Herzlos.”
    The baroness sent a quick glare at her father and then sank into a curtsy.
    It was not quite deep enough. Olivia looked at her with raised brows and turned back to the prince.
    They all proceeded into the castle, Olivia on Conrad’s arm, Lady Augusta on the general’s arm, and Susannah on the captain’s arm, with the Herzlos clan trailing behind. The general turned back and said softly to Susannah, “That was clever of her, to flatter Herzlos. One cannot offer too much cream to that old fool.”
    Max glared, but the general simply smiled and shrugged before moving on with the procession.
    â€œWe have to talk,” Susannah muttered to Max, keeping her smiling gaze on the couples ahead of her.
    Something was bothering him. He was so tense that she could almost feel his frown in the muscles of his arm. She did not, however, think that the scowl was for her. He was silent for a minute or two, but then muttered, “Yes. I must find out what is going on. Stay together, you and your friends. Do not allow yourselves to be separated. I will come to the princess’s rooms as quickly as I can.”
    She had to be satisfied with that, mysterious and worrying though it was, because Olivia soon pleaded weariness after the journey, and the welcome broke up.
    The chamberlain hurried over from a corner of the room, where