“I’ll have to pay that shop a visit while I’m here.”
“Yes, you should enjoy seeing the whole village.” Anton set the bonbon box on the seat between them. “Shops are just starting to prepare for Christmas. By the weekend, the whole village will be lit up and sparkling. All of Montovia celebrates the season with great enthusiasm, but Horvath puts on the best show. It goes throughout December and ends on New Year’s.”
She sighed. “I can hardly believe it’s almost December.” She tried not to think of the exams she’d rescheduled for January as she peered out the window at the countryside. They’d been driving through gorgeous rolling hills and past blue mountain lakes, but now it seemed they were headed into more rugged terrain. “It’s so beautiful here. Are those mountains the Alps?”
Anton leaned toward Adelaide to look through her window. “That is a matter of opinion. Our mountains connect to the Alps, but some mountain snobs refuse to call them the Alps. Montovians will tell you that our country is actually nestled in the foot of the Alps at an elevation just over 1,200 meters.”
“Does that mean snow for Christmas?” she asked eagerly.
“You can usually count on it.” Anton leaned back in the seat, gazing her way with a sideways glance. “You resemble your father, Adelaide.”
“Really?” She turned to face him. “Some think I look like my mother. Although she was fairer.”
“Your green eyes are strikingly similar to your father’s, and the king’s hair used to be a rich warm brown like yours, but it’s grown quite gray these past few years.” His expression grew somber. “He has aged beyond his years.”
“Because of the illness?”
He frowned. “That is one theory.”
“Meaning there is another?”
“Perhaps.” His tone sounded a bit crisp, as if he regretted his words.
Cradling the white porcelain coffee cup in her hand, she let the warmth seep into her fingers before she decided to press her host a bit more. “I’ve read everything I could find about Montovia in the last few days. Sort of like doing my homework.” She smiled. “But there’s not a lot of information online. I’d love to hear more. Especially about my, uh, the king.” She couldn’t bring herself to call Maximillian V her father. Of course, she would have difficulty calling anyone “Father,” not to mention a complete stranger.
“Right.” Anton nodded sagely. “I should probably fill you in on the recent family history. The king was a bachelor for quite some time. Of course, it was expected he would marry. According to my uncle, his parents urged him to wed many a time, but King Maximillian was stubborn. Uncle Albert believes it’s because of his love for your mother, that he never got over her. My uncle got to meet your mother when she visited our country all those years ago. Albert says she was a beauty, but not only that. He believes she was a genuinely good and kind person.”
“I agree with him. As a nurse my mother was always verykind to all her patients ... to everyone, really.” Perhaps too kind to some people ... like Terrance. But she didn’t care to mention that.
“Your mother was a nurse?”
“Yes. Until she died.”
“I’ve been doing my homework too. I read of your mother’s tragic accident. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“It’ll be three years tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Really?”
She sighed.
For a moment, Anton was quiet.
“I can’t explain it,” Adelaide said, “but somehow I think Mom would approve of me coming here. She never spoke of my, uh, my father. I think the story was buried deep within her. In fact, she never married.”
“I’m aware of that.” He frowned. “I also know the king tried to find her for years. For the record, he never knew she was with child. And with the somewhat common name of Susan Smith, and not knowing where she lived in the States, well, it proved a challenge. If you hadn’t been listed on that DNA network, we never would’ve known about you. Did you join the registry in hopes of discovering your father?”
“I did it last summer in a moment of weakness. I was lonely for some sort of family connection. My mother had no interest in the registry. I suspect she wanted to protect our anonymity. She was a proud woman, and I think being rejected by Max, or his family, well, I’m sure it broke her heart.” This was something that Adelaide was still processing, but it made sense, like missing puzzle pieces slipping into place.
“And yet she named you Adelaide Katelyn.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Why do you say that?”
“Didn’t you know King Maximillian’s mother was Adelaide Katelin?”
“Really?” She blinked a few times. “I had no idea.”
“Your middle names are spelt a bit differently. Yours has aYwhere hers has anI.”
