It was just after the children had fell into the lake, he had asked Maria to stay and she went to go shower. The Captain was strolling through the grounds of the villa. He knew he had lots of paperwork to do but her had to clear his head, every time he tried to concentrate his mind wandered back to the beautiful little governess who was standing before him in a soaking wet dress just moments before. He just couldn't get her out of his mind.
At that exact moment he heard something coming from the second floor of the villa, He looked up, and who else did he see but Maria, in her bathroom through the window, apparently she had dropped something and it had made a noise that caught his attention. He knew he should look away but he couldn't help himself so instead he just stood and stared.
Maria was in her room preparing for her shower, she undressed and was testing the water. Little did she know that the man who had haunted her dreams for every night since she had arrived was watching her from outside.
She stepped into the shower and got her hair wet under the shower head.
Meanwhile, outside, the Captain watched as she poured shampoo into her hands and started massaging it into her hair, she looked so amazing. He couldn't help but chuckle when she started using the shampoo bottle as a microphone, that's one of the many things he loved about her.
'Loved?' Georg stopped his thoughts and questioned himself, and then sighed, 'yes I love her, I am in love with my governess' he finally admitted it to himself and smiled. He loved that she wasn't snobby like all of the other high society women he knew, she was just herself, the wonderful woman who helped him reconnect with his children, she was Maria.
He was shaken out of his thoughts when Maria started singing edelweiss from upstairs, and once again he was mesmerised by her beauty. She turned off the shower and grabbed her towel before walking back into her room, still singing edelweiss,mshe reached for some moisturiser that was on the top shelf of her cabinet and chuckled to herself when she nearly lost the towel that was around wrapped her body.
Then she walked back into the bathroom, but this time she closed the door behind her. He wasn't going to lie he was slightly disappointed when she closed the door but nevertheless he went inside to wash up for dinner.
Later at the table the Captain was unintentionally staring at Maria, she didn't seem to notice but Brigitta did.
"Father, why are you staring at Fraulein Maria?"
Maria instantly looked up, catching him staring, she blushed a bright shade of crimson.
"I was not Brigitta, now finish your dinner, I have a surprise for you all later" he said, changing the subject.
"A surprise!" All the children shouted excitedly.
"One more thing father." Brigitta spoke again, "Where is the Baroness?"
"The Baroness? Oh she won't be joining us tonight Brigitta."
"Oh, why father?" Birgitta said, even though all of the children were so happy that she wasn't here, they never liked the Baroness anyway.
"Father I'm finished may I be excused" Leisl asked.
"Yes Leisl, all of you go and wait in the living room until we get there, I just need a word with your Fraulien."
"Yes father." seven children replied and walked out towards the sitting room.
"Please come with me to my study Maria."
"yes Captain, as you wish." she said as she followed him towards his study.
He opened the door for her and gestured for her to enter, before following her inside and closing the door.
"Please sit Fraulien." Georg said, sitting down on the couch.
"What did you wish to discuss Captain? Is it about the children? Have they done something wrong? Please don't punish them captain, anything that they have done I'll take the blame-"
Georg chuckled at Maria's rambling "Shh Maria, it's not about the children, I actually just wanted to talk to you."
"To me?" Maria looked shocked
"Yes Maria, you see I've been feeling these things and I pretty sure that you've been feeling it too." he said, shifting closer to her on the sofa.
"Um could you be more specific Captain?" Maria said, wanting to be absolutely sure that he was saying what she thought he was.
"Well you see everything was wrong before you came to us, and it will be all wrong again when you leave, so I was hoping that you might..." He trailed off, unsure how to continue.
"Yes?" Maria urged him to continue speaking.
"I was hoping that you might...change your mind?" The Captain asked hopefully.
"Oh I'm sure the Baroness will be able to make things fine for you" Maria said.
"Maria. There isn't going to be any Baroness."
"There isn't?" Maria said with the slightest bit of hope.
"No, I didn't tell the children because I wanted to tell you first, we called off our engagement you see."
"Oh I'm sorry."
"Yes - you are?!"
"You did?!"
"Yes, well you can't marry someone when you're...in live with someone else. Can you?"
Maria was so shocked she just shook her head, afraid to break eye contact in fear of breaking the moment.
In the next moment his hand was under her chin, drawing her lips towards his own and before she could comprehend what was happening his lips when on hers in a soft but passionate kiss.
He broke the kiss a few seconds later and Maria kept her eyes closed still not quite believing that this was happening to her. He kiss both of her eyelids, cheeks and nose before saying "I love you" and capturing her lips again in a more passionate embrace, hands roaming and sounds of moaning filled the study.
He only broke the kiss when the need for air was too strong, when they broke apart they looked each other in the eyes.
"I love you too my captain" Maria said after a few moments.
Georg drew her into his arms and held her tightly too him.
"From the way that you reacted, I take it that you wouldn't mind a repeat of that kiss" Georg said with a wink.
"Oh no I don't think i would mind that at all Captain."
"And I also hope that you wouldn't mind marrying me?"
Maria looked at him, her eyes wide and tears threatening to fall.
"I..I..of course I'll marry you Georg, oh I love you." Maria replied, her voice shaky form everything that had just happened.
Georg practically launched at her, kissing her hard, pressing his body against hers so that Maria had no choice but to lay down on the couch, wriggling her way underneath him. She moaned when Georg started kiss his way, along her jaw and down her neck. When suddenly a knock at the door of the study brought them back to reality.
"Father, Fraulien are you coming?" A voice from outside called.
"Oh, um yes Leisl we will be there in a second." Maria replied trying to regain her composure.
Georg looked at Maria, their eyes met and they both smiled.
"Come on darling, let's go and join our children."
"Our children" Maria repeated "I like the sound of that." and she smiled and linked her arm with Georg's as he led her out of his study.