A Scandalous Adventure Read Online Free PDF

it off instead. He would be glad to do so himself.
    She was so very prim and proper that he could barely keep from laughing out loud. Did she think she was fooling him? He had seen her fly into action when her little friend seemed to be threatened. She was not so prim and proper then. Her wariness was that of a warrior, prepared to go into battle when necessary, not that of a shy little miss.
    What amused him most was the way she tried to avoid meeting his eye. Did she think he would eat her up? It was a temptation. And then she kept glancing over at Lady Augusta and Lady Olivia, as if to make sure all was well . Or to make sure they were behaving? No need to worry about them, pretty Suse. What can happen to them here?
    So he let the silence between them stretch out. When it seemed to be growing uncomfortable for her, she asked, “What made you think the princess might be in Baden, Captain Staufer? Is this not rather far from Sigmaringen?”
    â€œSo very formal, Suse. Surely you can call me Max. After all, you did attack me with your parasol. That makes us friends, doesn’t it?” He spoke in German, partly to see if she understood, and partly because he did not speak English well and disliked sounding foolish.
    A delightful shade of rosy red crept up her cheek. She definitely understood, and replied in excellent German. “That would be most improper, Captain.”
    â€œProper, improper—we must be beyond that, no? After all, you did kick me. And I picked you up and held you on my hip. Does that mean nothing?” He put his hand over his heart and looked soulful.
    â€œReally!” Her mouth pursed up. She was either annoyed or trying not to laugh. “If you were a gentleman, you would forget that ever happened.”
    â€œBut was it not more interesting than the usual stroll through the gardens?”
    She did laugh then. “You are dreadful, Captain. Even if it was, I should not admit it.”
    â€œHow does it happen that you speak such excellent German?” He was curious.
    The question seemed to startle her, as if she had not even realized that they were no longer speaking English. For that matter, she noticed, the others had all drifted into German as well. “Our governess—Olivia and I had a German governess. She was from Vienna, and while she was with us, she would speak only German. If we wished to converse, we had to learn.”
    â€œAn obviously effective method.”
    Susannah smiled.
    â€œAnd did she call you Suse?”
    â€œMost certainly not, Captain Staufer.” She made an effort to look affronted, but he did not find it successful. “She called me Lady Susannah, just as she should.”
    â€œYou should call me Max,” he persisted. “My name is Max.”
    She ignored that. “You did not answer my earlier question about the princess.”
    He gave a plaintive sigh. “I do not want to talk about the princess. She is a very stupid and tiresome creature. I would much rather talk about you. Why do you keep looking over at your friends? Are you their guardian?”
    The question seemed to startle her, and she gave a little laugh. “Why…I suppose I am, in a way.”
    It was as he had thought. She was a companion to the old woman, though obviously not a servant. Probably a poor relation if it was her task to watch over the others. “There is no need to worry about them. I promise you no harm will come to them at my hands—or at the general’s hands either.” He offered a reassuring smile and held out his cup. “Might I trouble you for some more coffee?”
    She blushed again and took the cup to refill for him, adding cream and sugar just as he had requested the first time. It delighted him that she remembered. When she handed it back to him, their fingers brushed and he sucked in a sharp breath. There had been something, a spark between them—he would have sworn it was powerful enough to set the