The high and low notes of the grand organ chimed and echoed through the sunlit cathedral. The place was jammed with aristocrats from far and wide and the few close friends of the bride and groom who could find a place at the magnificent wedding of the Baron and Baroness.

'What a gorgeous ceremony, but did you see her gown? It must have cost a fortune' the women gasped in their obsessive gossip over the bride, while the men had their own to say of the groom, 'Did you see the rock he put on her finger? If only we all had our great-great-great grandmother's jewels to dote on our wives.'

These lofty conversations, and those of the other guests, slowly led them out of the huge doors of the cathedral, where newlyweds waited.

Oh, how beautiful she looked in the gown that had been labored over for hours, holding the arm of the handsome, baron beside her. They smiled and looked at each other. But what was that shimmering in the bride's eye? Was it a hint of sadness—that tear or two ready to slip covertly beneath sweeping lashes? And what of those sour glances hiding under the groom's gracious smile? Was it distaste for such a grand display of wealth? Or was it the bride he scowled at secretly?

Perfection was the word on the lips of all those present for such a day, all but the bride and groom.

She felt as he squeezed her hand and pulled her to the car that was already waiting for them. She once again looked at him attentively but he seemed avoiding her eyes.

Maria didn't say a word. What was there to say, after all? They hardly knew each other and yet they were married. It hadn't really ever been settled properly. And honestly, he didn't even care that she was now tied to him. No, why would a brute like Georg care.

On the villa they were relatively quickly. Maria was a little surprised to see that almost all guests had already arrived and were waiting for them. Tables in the garden were already set. And when everything is conveniently located in their places the noise around the pair again resumed.

Georg was the first to say any words to the woman beside him besides the words 'I do'. He cautiously picked up the bottle of his favorite wine he that he had shared with her once before and offered politely, "Would you care for some?"

Taken aback, Maria's eyes shot towards him at the sound of his attempt at politeness "n...no thank you, I find the flavor slightly sour," she said quietly.

His jaw tightened at the decline—she was trying him.

"Not the only sour thing tonight," he said, then slammed the bottle back on the table and shot a glare at her.

Maria turned her head to the table for the children. Their faces, unfortunately, didn't show any happiness either. Interestingly they will treat her as.

"I would like to approach the children," said Maria looking at Georg.

"As you like," his tone was smooth and he seemed completely uninterested.

With these words Maria stood up and directed to the children.

"Can I join you?" the children just nodded.

Maria sat beside Louisa, who even refused to look in her direction. Others, on the contrary, regarded she as a doll in the shop window

For some time they sat silently and each looked at his plate.

"I just wanted to say that I very happy to be your new mother" after Maria got up and headed to Georg who all this time carefully watched them.

A lovely and delicious dinner was served, and the cutting of the cake finally came. Both of them held the knife as it sliced through the cake, her dainty hand felt so light on top of his much bigger hand, Georg's skin tingling at the touch of Maria's soft skin. That not being the only tradition of the wedding night, they bravely endured the rest of the night and acted as happily as they could to perceive the contentment everyone felt for them.

'And now this moment has come,' Maria anxiously thought as they finally said goodbye to all the guests and put the children to bed. All of her personal things had been brought during the day, she had assumed, as she discovered a wardrobe full of her clothing. Maria looked back. Room as the house itself was simply gorgeous with white and gold walls and beautiful wood furniture. Everything here spoke of wealth and luxury. She hesitantly approached the great four-poster bed after slipping into the nightgown made of silk, but only with great nervousness. Georg was seated on the bed, flipping through some novel. He then glanced up at her. Maria's heart audibly pounding out of her chest.

"I'm very tired after today; I think I'll go to sleep…" Georg yawned and switched off the bedside lamp, leaving the room in darkness.

Oh, how embarrassed she felt that she couldn't even interest her husband into anything else on their wedding night! Maria really did think he was a good-looking man. Although he was much older, she couldn't disagree that he had this natural charm. Even his slightly gray hair looked dignified.

This was completely opposite to her assumptions of what this night would be like. Maybe, just maybe, things would be better in the morning.

She awoke from her sleep early and found herself alone. 'How typical of him,' she thought. Well, she shrugged, there was absolutely no reason why she should be awake now! And with that thought she flopped back down for a much more comfortable rest.

An hour passed before Maria decided to get up. Raising her head, she saw a note lying on the nightstand.

Maria,

sleep as much as you see fit. I will take the children to school and go to the city on business. Breakfast will be waiting for you in the dining room. If that's what you need, don't hesitate to ask Frau Schmidt.

Georg.

She read over the letter once more. Maybe it sounded strange but she liked his handwriting. With the loops and twists he wrote, it looked so old fashioned as if out of an old parchment maybe by a royal scriber hundreds of years ago.

She reluctantly dressed and headed for the dining room. For breakfast were pancakes with strawberry jam. After Maria went to walk around the house.

She was at the villa several times before and did not remember much. After an hour's walk Maria found out where to find the children's room, the cabinet, the library and many others.

So she spent almost all the time before dinner in the garden. Looking at different flowers and listening to birds singing.

When she came into the dining room, everyone was already sitting and waiting for her. Awkwardly sitting down in her place, Maria looked at Georg who quickly nodded quickly and began to eat.

Dinner was held in silence. But then the words of little Marta broke through the silence.

"Now we should call you mom?" she looked at Maria "or do we need to call you by name?"

Maria cleared her throat before saying something "you can call me as ..."

"You must call her mother" George interrupted her "and now we will stop asking stupid questions and continue with eating."

Maria went into each of the children's rooms and wished every child a good night. They were pleased with this little gesture and Marta and Gretl even kissed her.

Back in the bedroom, she quickly changed her clothes and took the book that she brought with her. Until she wanted to take anything from the library. Soon Georg appeared in the bedroom. He also climbed into bed and continued the novel that he read the day before.

"Good night," she said just loud enough for him to hear as he turned off the light, settling into the darkness, and gruffly replied likewise.

It was just the same as the night before; the two slept on their proper sides of the bed without letting on, like any sort of married couple, and with a still unconsummated marriage. How awkward. Summer, as they had found in their stuffy room, was quite hotter when one was trying to sleep under heavy blankets. The two frequently shifted about in the bed, their sheets unwelcomingly warm against the skin. It was when Georg's leg touched hers that he remembered the presence of a woman in his bed. They both tensed and turned back to their sides to contemplate whether the other had felt the slight contact.

Both unconsciously gave in to their need for sleep and it wasn't until Maria woke in the very early hours of the morning-or late at night as one might see it-that she had found herself tightly tucked in her husband's arms. Her heart was heavy with excitement. They both must have moved closer in their sleep. But the part that surprised Maria was that she did not mind it at all. He had been an awful, yet somewhere in her heart were butterflies flitting about wildly at his touch, the warmth against her and how wonderful it felt. She knew her cheeks were warm with a blush and she closed her eyes as she relaxed into what should have been their relationship towards each other as husband and wife.

On the morrow, Georg woke with a start at the chirping of birds just outside the master bedroom's window. He heaved an annoyed sigh and dropped his head back on the pillow. His hand was loosely across her side and he pulled her closer as he closed his eyes again. His eyes shot open. Was he, or was he not, holding his wife tight to him, as if the two were actually a couple? There really wasn't anything he could do now; she would wake if he moved. He swallowed bravely and closed his eyes to sleep it off.

Shortly after Georg had dozed off again, the birds began again with their musical show, Maria yawned and stretched her arms slightly.

"They are rather a nuisance," Georg's low voice replied as he pulled his arm away from where she lay, and stretched as well "maybe" answered Maria. It took several moments before they realized they'd just comfortably been in each other's arms, and they'd spoken!

It was Georg who swung his legs out of the bed and hastily left the situation. He went and splashed water on his face to wake himself up. A strange feeling inside for some reason that didn't want to let go of him

A/N something knocked into my head and I decided to write it. Let me know what you think about this