“Oh, just that he wants to make me his queen.” She sippedher overly sweet soda. “But I learned something else. I don’t think he knows anything about his mother’s involvement in whatever is going on with Prince Farcus. I’m pretty good at reading people, and Georg is in the dark. Well, except for knowing his mother wants to control him as queen. I think he gets that.”
“Poor Georg.” Anton shook his head.
“Poor Montovia if he ever gets to be king.”
The band started to play a slower number, and Anton asked her to dance. “That way we can keep an eye on the crowd,” he said.
“Yes, of course.” As she danced with him, Adelaide temporarily forgot about their surveillance assignment. She lost herself in Anton’s arms and wished this moment could last forever.
But the song ended and after a brief pause, the drummer began to pound furiously on his instrument to get everyone’s attention. Suddenly the lights dimmed, and a spotlight shone brightly onto a hairy beast with horns, hooves, and creepy fangs. This evil-looking Krampus dramatically entered the ballroom to the beat of the drum, letting out a bloodcurdling shriek as he prowled among the guests. Adelaide cringed and moved closer to Anton.
But others cheered as the Krampus pretended to terrorize. Growling and stalking, the monster worked the crowd, pointing out the “bad children,” which amused many. He paused near Adelaide and Anton as the houselights went off. Aside from a few flickering candles on the sidelines, the ballroom was eerily black. Adelaide felt the growling Krampus drawing closer—and then she was snatched from Anton’s grasp and dragged away screaming while everyone else just laughed.
CHAPTER
Fourteen
The hem of Adelaide’s dress got torn in the scuffle that followed her bizarre abduction, but other than being shaken, she was okay. The man dressed as Krampus claimed it was all just a joke, but Anton and the two plainclothes officers who’d tackled him out in the main hall were not amused. And as Adelaide listened to the chief grill her abductor, she, too, began to see the seriousness of what she’d assumed was a random albeit startling incident.
Huddled with them in a small office off the main hall, the Krampus, a.k.a. Hugo Scholer, had removed his headpiece to expose messy blond hair and a flushed youthful face. Pressure from the chief soon convinced Hugo to admit he’d been paid to snatch the “pretty American frau in the red dress.” But Hugo still claimed it was only for laughs.
When the police chief asked if he realized he’d just abducted King Max’s daughter, thePrincessAdelaide, Hugo’s blue eyes grew wide with fear. “Nein, nein.” He held up his hands, now freed from the hairy gloves and sharp claws, and eagerly surrendered the name of the man who’d hired him for this “little joke.”
The police chief then demanded to know where Hugo hadbeen instructed to take the princess, and he sheepishly confessed he was to take her “downstairs to the ground floor to where friends would transport her to the dungeon to lock her up. But only as a joke, of course.”
The chief exchanged glances with his team, instructing two of them to hurry down there and discreetly take Hugo’s cohorts into custody. Next, he told his lieutenant to transport Hugo over to the station for a full statement and booking. Although Adelaide felt a little sorry for the young man, who now looked close to tears, she hoped it would be a good life lesson. After all, she might’ve had a weak heart and expired down in the dark, dreary dungeon.
When they were gone, the chief turned to Adelaide. “I cannot let you return to the party.”
She shrugged. “Fine by me, but why?”
“Too dangerous. But another reason—those involved in the scheme must not know it failed. Not yet.”
Adelaide was pretty sure she understood. “That way you can keep watching them.”
“Exactly.” He turned to Anton. “Take Adelaide back to the farmhouse. Keep her there until I advise you otherwise. Und you must not be observed leaving the palace.” He pointed to a box filled with random items. “Left from our costumes. You can disguise yourselves.”
Adelaide lifted up a purple hooded cape trimmed with mangy fur and suddenly remembered her father’s gift. “What about my Russian sable coat?”
“That’s right, I checked it for her,” Anton told the chief.
“I will take care of it.” He placed a hand on Anton’s shoulder. “Get her out of here. Quickly und quietly.”
The chief left and Anton and Adelaide outfitted themselves in strange ensembles. They made their exit through the quiet main hall. “I don’t think anyone noticed us,” Adelaide whispered as they hurried out to his Land Rover.
“We’ll take a circuitous route just in case.” He started the engine. Before long, they were cruising through the countryside without a single car in sight.
“So, that was supposed to be a Christmas celebration?” Adelaide just shook her head. “No wonder the king doesn’t approve.”
“It’s not my cup of tea, that’s for sure. And when that Krampus grabbed you like that.” He blew out a long breath. “I almost wished for Herr Baumann’s new hunting rifle, I was that angry.”
She couldn’t help but smile at the image of Anton, dressed in a tuxedo, aiming a hunting rifle at the crazy Krampus. “Poor Hugo. I think he was in over his head.”
“Hopefully the police will knock some sense into him.”
“I know the police chief wants me to stay at the farmhouse until he thinks it’s safe, but what about my father? He expected me to visit with him tomorrow.”
“We can schedule a phone call. Maybe you can do Facetime or Zoom.”
