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His children filed into the dining room neatly, taking their seats quietly, knowing that silence was expected at mealtimes, the older ones folded their hands on their laps while the younger one's fidgeted slightly. Georg cast his gaze down the table, checking over their outfits and ensuring that they were all neat and presentable. He let out a small sigh when he saw that Brigitta had an open book in her lap.

Clearing his throat, he saw all seven heads jerk up to stare at him but his gaze never left Brigitta, the young girl flushed pink and closed over the book, placing it carefully underneath her chair. "Sorry Father," she murmured.

Georg simply gave a curt nod in reply, his eyes narrowing on the empty place at the table as dinner was served. His fingers tapped irritably against the pristine white tablecloth and he knew his children were watching him, waiting for a reaction. So he did not react, simply fixed a bored expression on his face as he told them irately, "It would appear as though we have to wait for your Fraulein to appear."

The children all exchanged a knowing look, and he couldn't help but notice the slight smirk shared between Friedrich and Louisa. Normally that smirk would have him fearing for his governess's safety, however he quite wanted to see how she'd face this latest challenge, he was beginning to wonder if anything could dim that smile of hers, her unwavering faith that everything would turn out well.

It was that blind faith that irritated him, he'd once held such faith, when the war had ended and he'd returned home, a decorated hero, when he'd met and married Agathe, he'd felt as though nothing could touch upon his happiness. He'd been wrong, so terribly wrong; although his faith had survived through the war it did not survive Agathe's death. Now he was without her and his country was on the brink of another war that looked to be even more terrible than the last, he felt foolish for ever having thought that no matter what happened some higher deity would see him through.

He felt his temper flare again, that was most likely what irritated him about this Fraulein Maria, she reminded him of his previous, utterly foolish beliefs. He surreptitiously glanced down at his watch, or perhaps it was just her blatant disregard for timekeeping that set his teeth on edge. Unthinkingly his hand reached up, fingertips brushing against the edge of his whistle, he was close to whistling for her and seeing what happened, it was certainly a very tempting thought. The sudden sound of Marta's soft giggle pulled him out of his thoughts and back into the real world. His hand drew back as though he'd been burned and he looked sharply back up just in time to see his children attempt to look serious again. They wanted to see their new governess's reaction to being summoned he realised, and so he was certainly not about to indulge them. So gritting his teeth, he reassumed the drumming of his fingertips against the table.

"May we eat yet?" he heard Kurt ask almost timidly from his place in the middle of the table.

Georg shook his head. "No, you may not; it is polite to wait for everyone to take their seats at the table before anyone raises their forks."

He saw in son's face fall as he stared down at his plate and felt a twinge of what felt like remorse, or even regret that his words had such an effect. He shook himself; it was easier this way, easier to keep them at arm's length than to be reminded of everything he had lost, of everything he could still lose.

With an even breath he forced himself to clear these thoughts from his mind, just as he heard what sounded like someone running down his hallway. It would appear his errant governess had decided to grace them with her presence after all.

Running into the dining room, Maria felt her heart sink when eight pairs of eyes met with hers, she'd known she was late but she'd still hoped that her entrance would not have been quite so obvious. She could feel those icy blue eyes of the Captain's staring into her, setting the hairs on the back of her neck on end. "Good evening," she mumbled to him as politely as she could manage, that rather intense look making her voice come out much quieter than usual.

Meeting the children's somewhat brighter gazes, she felt slightly cheered and greeted them with a louder, more confident, "Good evening, children."

"Good evening, Fraulein Maria," they chanted back, the very picture of innocence.

Smiling, she took her seat, only to jump back up again with a sound of alarm as something jabbed itself into her skin. She heard the sniggering of the children as she glanced down to see a pinecone sitting in the middle of her seat. "Oh," she breathed out.

"Enchanting little ritual, something you learned at the Abbey?" Maria looked up at that smooth tone, she might not be a woman of the world but even she could hear the dangerous edge to the enquiry.

Patting the source of her pain briskly, trying to disperse the feeling, she caught sight of the children's nervous gazes, saw the little one's biting their lips and replied instantly, "No it's uhm...rheumatism." She wanted to gain their trust and telling on them wouldn't achieve that, besides this was nothing she couldn't handle, even if it was slightly inconvenient. Seeing all seven of her charges heaving a sigh of relief she knew she'd made the right choice. With a quick flick of her hand she ridded her chair of the offending pine cone and sat down, trying to ignore the fact that the Captain had just rolled his eyes at her.

They'd put something on her chair, he knew that without a doubt, after all it would not be the first time they'd played that trick. His children were beginning to need a lesson in originality, although he supposed after scaring off eleven governesses so far it was difficult to keep track of what stunts they'd already pulled.

Once again though she'd acted as though nothing was amiss, whereas Fraulein Josephine had thrown the pin cushion onto the table and declared his children...what was it...his face darkened, ah yes, hateful little beasts. Picking up his fork though he couldn't help but roll his eyes at the young woman, although he was grateful that she'd refrained from making a scene at dinner surely she could have came up with a better excuse then rheumatism?

That clear, questioning voice of hers once again broke through the silence. "Excuse me, captain. Haven't we forgotten to thank the Lord?"

Resisting the urge to show his annoyance, Georg set his fork down again, watching as all the children followed his lead, he supposed it should not be a great surprise that a postulant wanted to say Grace at dinner.

She seemed to pick up on his reluctance though, either that or she realised she'd already held up dinner long enough and that seven children were not renowned for their patience, as she said quickly, "For what we receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful, Amen."

"Amen," they all chorused dutifully.

Picking up his fork once more, Georg realised with gritted teeth that the girl had started talking again, looking up he saw what looked like a devilish glint in her bright eyes as she told his children, "I'd like to thank each and every one of you for the precious gift you left in my pocket today."

He saw his children's shoulders slump, ah, now this was interesting, had she simply been biding her time before she informed him of their behaviour. Glancing suspiciously around the table and then back to the smiling Fraulein Maria, he asked coolly, "What gift?

She looked at him and remarked in surprise, "It's meant to be a secret Captain, between the children and myself."

It was her tone that annoyed him the most, she spoke as though he should know not to ask, he felt that previous irritation with her claw at him again and replied impatiently, "Uh huh. Then I suggest you keep it, and let us eat."

She continued as though he hadn't said a word, that smile still firmly in place as she looked from one child to the next. "Knowing how nervous I must have been, a stranger in a new household, knowing how important it was for me to feel accepted. It was so kind and thoughtful of you to make my first moments here so warm and happy and pleasant."

Somehow, and he wasn't entirely sure how he did it, Georg managed to fix a smile onto his face, she was making it sound as though she were thanking his children! It was surreal, what on earth was she up to?

There was a sniffling sound from his left, and he looked over to see Marta tearing up, her head bowed. "What is the matter, Marta?" he asked irritably, all he wanted was to sit and eat his dinner in silence, was that really too much to ask?

"Nothing," the little girl told him, although her sniffing didn't abate, in fact if anything it had gotten louder, and he realised with alarm that the rest of his children were joining in. The only two still silent were Liesl and Friedrich and even they were staring, subdued at their plates.

She was making them feel guilty, he realised with a start, the girl was surprisingly manipulative for a soon to be nun, he decided. Why even now she was sitting eating her dinner and staring around the room looking as though nothing out of the ordinary were going on and she was simply learning it's every feature. "Fräulein," he called, keeping his voice even. She looked over at him, her eyes widening slightly as she inclined her head in a silent question. Oh but she was good he decided grimly, well two could play at this game. "Is it to be at every meal or merely at dinnertime that you intend leading us through this rare and wonderful new world of indigestion? " His voice hardened at the last few words as he stared her out.

His stare had little if any effect on her and she replied calmly, "Oh they're all right, Captain. They're just happy."

As soon as she said the word happy, his children's sniffling erupted into full blown sobs, and still she didn't seem to react. He on the other hand was reaching the end of his tether, this girl had been in his home for only a few hours and yet already she was wrecking havoc, if it hadn't been the fact that he was just about out of options when it came to his children then he would have been thoroughly tempted to show her the door.

The sobbing was growing louder in volume, making him feel sick, his chest tight as the memories of the days immediately after Agathe's death, when his children had mourned the loss of their mother, it was the last time he had heard them cry. The sound of their distress, even when it was over something so simple was cloying and unthinkingly he slammed his hand hard down onto the table.

Everyone looked at him in surprise, and he saw both Marta and Gretl's bottom lips quiver. "That is quite enough," he ground out, quickly regaining the control over himself that he'd momentarily lost. "This is a time for eating, nothing else so you will all desist with this caterwauling."

The children knew better than to argue with their father and they stared back down at their dinners, finally picking up their own cutlery and starting their food. Georg rubbed at his temples, trying to rid himself of his sudden headache, he looked back over at the young Fraulein and was perturbed to see her staring at him, and try as he might he could not decipher the expression on her face but he had the most uncomfortable feeling that it was disappointment.

Still the action had brought about what he most desired, silence and for that he was grateful. The minutes ticked by, and despite the silence he could still feel those crystal clear eyes of hers watching him.

He studiously ignored her, concentrating on the meal in front of him before Franz's voice hit his ears, "A telegram for you, Sir."

Taking it from him, Georg unfolded it carefully, reading the words printed across it. It was from Elsa simply confirming that she had gained tickets for the opera the following evening. He'd forgotten he was even going to Vienna he realised with surprise, hadn't thought about it once since he'd sat down at the table, where normally escape was all he thought about. All he ever wanted to do was escape the memories that filled this house; that plagued him.

His thoughts elsewhere he only just heard Liesl ask him, "Father, may I be excused?"

"Mmm," he mumbled, shaking his head to indicate that his answer was no. He saw her cross the room out of the corner of his eye, slowly pouring herself a glass of water. Folding the telegram neatly shut he addressed the table, "Children, in the morning I shall be going to Vienna."

Their reply was an expected but unwelcome chorus of disappointment, "Not again, Father!"

He glared at them, the noise unwelcome, he'd made it perfectly clear how he felt about that sort of behaviour. They quickly fell silent again, but that silence only lasted a few moments before Gretl's soft, innocence voice asked, "How long will you be gone this time Father?"

He shook his head as he replied, "I'm not sure, Gretl, not sure."

"To visit Baroness Schraeder again?" Louisa asked, leaning forward in her chair, her clever eyes watching him.

"Mind your own business!" Friedrich reprimanded her on a slight hiss.

There was no harm in telling them the truth though, as he replied to his daughter. "As a matter of fact, yes, Louisa."

"Why can't we ever get to see the baroness?" Marta asked him.

"Why would she want to see you?" Kurt replied incredulously, staring at his younger sister.

Repressing a sigh, Georg told his children, "It just so happens that you are going to see the baroness. I'm bringing her back with me to visit us all."

"Good," his children all breathed out, and he knew he hadn't imagined the shared look of glee between Friedrich and Louisa, he did not like that look.

Determined to distract the two hellions from whatever plans they were brewing he added, "And Uncle Max."

"Uncle Max!" His children squealed in joy, they all adored their irreverent uncle, one of the few people who could still bring a small smile to their Father's face, and the only adult who's treatment of them since their Mother's death hadn't changed. They exchanged happy, excited smiles at the prospect, and Georg belatedly realised that in all the fuss, Leisl had snuck out of the room without him realising. Glancing up he met the Fraulein's gaze and knew instantly that she had noticed.


"Would you both like a story before you go to sleep?" Maria asked her two youngest charges, as she leaned over Gretl, tucking the covers around the small girl, while Marta watched her from the bottom of the bed.

Gretl's forehead creased into a frown. "The governess's don't read us stories," she informed Maria. "That's not their job."

"Who told you that?" Maria asked, looking between the two girl's.

"Fraulein Helga," Marta told her. "But none of them have ever done it, sometimes Leisl or Louisa will read us a story but only if they have time because we all have to go to bed at the same time."

"Yes, I know about that," Maria murmured, that was a subject she meant to broach with the Captain at some point, it simply didn't sit right with her that Liesl was meant to retire to bed at the same time as her five year old sister. Smiling brightly at the two young girl's she added, "Well I'm not like the others, we could add story time to your bedtime routine if you'd like."

Gretl and Marta shared a look, they'd been told not to get close to the governess's, their older siblings all said so, said that they would never stay and that the only people they could trust were each other. But then they both did enjoy stories and they never got to hear them very often. "What kind of story?" Gretl finally asked.

"Any kind you'd like," Maria replied, brushing a strand of blonde hair off the little girl's forehead.

She hesitated before finally giving her a wide smile and telling her, "I want Cinderella."

"Do you have the book?"

"No, it fell in the bath, Brigitta took it in with her once."

Feeling the bed dip as Marta clamoured up beside her, Maria not wanting to disappoint, told them both, "Well I think we can manage without the book." She helped Marta round her so that she could sit next to Gretl and started her tale, fully aware the four more sets of eyes were watching, and four more sets of ears listening to the bedtime tale.


Her room as lovely as it was, was certainly stuffy. Rubbing at the back of her neck, Maria threw open her window, breathing in the damp air and feeling the light spray of rain against her cheek. She felt much more cheerful about her role here after reading to the children, the older ones had never stepped into the room but they had stayed until the end, simply listening. It gave her hope that maybe they would come to accept her into their lives. The younger girl's certainly seemed more relaxed in her presence.

Hearing a knock at her door, Maria called out, "Come in. Oh, Frau Schmidt." She looked at the older woman in surprise, she had not expected a visit from her this late at night. Her eyes fell to the pile of colourful swaths of material in her arms.

The older woman held them out to her. "For your new dresses, Fraulein Maria, the captain had these sent out from town."

Maria admired the high quality material, her hand stroking over the top of one "Oh, how lovely," she remarked, hugging the material ever so slightly closer to her. "I'm sure these will make the prettiest clothes I've ever had." Her expression turned thoughtful and she asked suddenly, "Do you think the Captain would get me more material if I asked?"

Frau Schmidt looked at her in surprise, "How many dresses does a governess need?" she asked, her meaning clear.

"No not for me, for the children," she told her, confiding in the older woman, "I want to make them some play clothes."

She looked at her and reminded her gently, "The von Trapp children don't play. They march."

"Surely you don't approve of that?" Maria asked, she didn't understand how anyone possibly could, it just seemed so at odds to what she thought childhood should be.

Frau Schmidt sighed sadly, "Ever since the captain lost his poor wife he runs this house as if he were on one of his ships, whistles, orders. No more music, no more laughing. Nothing that reminds him of her, even the children.

"But that's so wrong," Maria blurted out. She simply did not understand how the man could just choose to block out his own children like that? Even if he was still mourning his wife.

"Oh, well," the older woman murmured, changing the subject before Maria could pry any further, asking her, "How do you like your room? There'll be new drapes at the windows in the morning."

"New drapes? But these are fine," Maria remarked, it seemed such a waste to replace something that was still in good condition.

Nonetheless," Frau Schmidt shrugged, "new ones have been ordered."

"Oh but I really don't need them," she tried to protest.

"Good night, now," the woman told her firmly, and Maria knew it was pointless to argue further about the curtains.

"Frau Schmidt, if I asked the captain about the material?" she asked instead, causing the woman to stop in her tracks.

"He's leaving for Vienna in the morning," she reminded her.

Oh of course," Maria sighed. "How long will he be gone?"

"It depends. The last time he visited the baroness, he stayed for a month." On seeing Maria's disapproving look at the thought of the man being away from his children for so long she added, "I shouldn't be saying this to you. I mean I really don't know you that well but if you ask me, the captain's thinking seriously of marrying the woman before the summer's over."

Maria's face cleared, her smile brightening again, that was exactly what both the children needed, a mother to bring some love and laughter back into the house. "Why that's wonderful! The children will have a mother again."

It was clear the young woman had never met the Baroness, the woman might be the epitome of elegance and grace but she didn't exude the most maternal air. Her lips thinning slightly Frau Schmidt mumbled, "Hmmm, Yes." Who was she to destroy this young girl's preconceptions of marriage? "Well, good night," she told her finally.

"Good night," Maria smiled, hugging the material to herself as she thought of the new task ahead of her. Placing the material in her cupboard, she turned back to the bed and dropped to her knees, her hands coming together so she could pray, "Dear Father, now I know why you sent me here; to help these children prepare for a new mother, and I pray that this will become a happy family in thy sight. God bless the captain. God bless Liesl and Friedrich. God bless Louisa, Brigitta, Marta and little Gretl, oh and I forgot the other boy. What's his name? Oh well, God bless what's his name. God bless the Reverend Mother and Sister Margaretta and everybody at the Nonnberg Abbey." She saw Leisl sneak in through her window out of the corner of her eyes and added meaningfully, "And now, dear God, about Liesl. Help her know that I'm her friend and help her tell me what she's been up to."

"Are you going to tell on me?" Liesl anxious voice interrupted her, even as she dripped onto the carpet, her wet hair plastered to her head as she shivered.

Maria held her hand up, indicating that the girl should let her finish. "Help me to be understanding so I may guide her footsteps. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. Amen."

She turned to look at Liesl who was staring at her with wide eyes as she told her, "I was out walking in the garden and somebody locked the doors earlier than usual. I didn't want to wake everybody, so when I saw your window open...oh you're not going to tell Father, are you?" she finished desperately.

Making to close her window, Mara asked curiously, "How on earth did you climb up here?"

"Oh it's how we always got in to play tricks on the governess," Liesl told her, and with a gleam in her eyes added wickedly, "Louisa can make it with a whole jar of spiders in her hand."

"Spiders?" Maria echoed, letting the window fall shut but forgetting to shut the clasp over as she stared at Liesl's smile and confident nodding in horror. She knew that they were one of God's creatures but oh she hated spiders. A sudden thought occurred to Maria and she asked suspiciously, "Liesl, were you out walking all by yourself? "

The teenager lifted her chin as if to nod before thinking better of it and shaking her head mutely. It was as she'd thought, the girl had been meeting the boy who delivered the telegram earlier. Young love no doubt, not that Maria knew much, or indeed anything on the subject. She thought for a moment on her best course of action, the best way to inflame a situation was to ban the person from doing the one thing they wanted to do most. So telling the Captain probably wasn't the best course of action, although admittedly she didn't know what was. But what she'd start with was getting to know the girl a bit better before jumping to any conclusions. "You know," she told her thoughtfully, "If we wash that dress out tonight, then nobody would notice it in the morning." She handed the girl one of her spare nightgowns, identical to the one she herself was wearing. "You could put this on, now take your dress and put it to soak in the bathtub and then come back here and sit on the bed, and we'll have a talk."

Liesl tilted her head, looking at her governess as though she were only really seeing her for the first time. She wasn't like the others, in fact she was so very different to anyone she'd ever come across. "You know I told you today that I didn't need a governess." She looked down at her dress and gave a wry laugh admitting, "Well, maybe I do."

Maria watched her slip into the bathroom and smiled, she finally felt as though she might actually get somewhere with these children. She was going to let them have a childhood no matter what, and when the Captain remarried she was sure that with the help of his new wife this house would become a home again, and she could help the children accept these new changes.

There was a flash of lightening, and as Maria turned she saw the quivering form of Gretl gripping onto the doorframe, staring at her with wide, terrified eyes. Maria felt her heart twist for the little girl. "Gretl, are you scared?" she asked gently.

Tilting her chin stubbornly – a trait no doubt inherited from her father, Maria thought – Gretl shook her head, only for a loud boom of thunder to send the five year old scarpering across the room, her arms wrapping around Maria's legs.

"You're not frightened of a thunder storm, are you?" she asked again as she dropped to her knees and stroked the young girl's cheek.

Gretl gave her a tight nod and Maria smiled softly as she lifted her into her arms. "Well then you just stay right here with me." She looked around and added, "Where are the others?"

"They're asleep," Gretl informed her, adding confidently, "They're not scared."

Maria gave a small chuckle as another round of thunder shook the room, she nudged Gretl's cheek with her shoulder. "Oh, no? Look."

Gretl turned, giggling when she saw three of her sisters standing unsurely in the doorway, despite having dismissed her fears only moments ago.

"All right, up here on the bed," Maria announced patting the space beside her.

"Really?" the girls all echoed, staring at her as though she'd fallen from the sky.

"Well, just this once," she told them, knowing that she would repeat this time and time again if needed. "Come on," she encouraged them as they continued to stare at her uncertainly. After a moment they ran into the room, bouncing on the bed slightly as they leapt onto it. Laughing, Maria told them, "Now we'll wait for the boys."

"Oh you won't see them," Louisa informed her. "Boys are brave."

Maria simply looked towards the doorway, the four girls looking round just in time to see their brother's dart into view, trying and failing to look very nonchalant about their hurried entrance. "You weren't scared too, were you?" she asked, teasing them as she hugged Gretl's solid body into her.

"Oh, no," Friedrich told her quickly. "We just wanted to be sure that you weren't."

"That's very thoughtful of you."

"Oh it wasn't my idea, it was Kurt's," he replied, the younger boy shooting a reproachful glare at his brother and looking very much as though he'd like to hit him.

"Kurt!" Maria exclaimed suddenly, the missing name had been annoying her for a while now. "That's the one I left out! God bless Kurt."

The children stared at her in bemused confusion, before another roll of thunder made them all duck for cover.

"Why does it do that?" Gretl asked, her eyes filling up with tears again.

Hugging her closer, Maria replied, "Well the lightning talks to the thunder, and the thunder answers back.

"But lightning must be nasty."

"Oh not really."

"Then why does the thunder get so angry? It makes me want to cry."

"You know," Maria told her thoughtfully, "Whenever I'm feeling unhappy, I just try to think of nice things."

"What kind of things?" All seven children chorused.

They couldn't even think of nice things? She twisted her mouth in concentration as she decided the best way to approach this, a smile bloomed across her face when she realised that not once had the Captain banned her from singing. "Well, let me see. Nice things..."


There was something quite satisfying when the weather matched your mood, Georg decided as he stared broodingly out of the window in his study. He'd seen Liesl dart through the grounds a few moments before and he knew instinctively she'd been out with that damned boy.

His fingers clenched together, originally he hadn't wanted to ban her from seeing him, fearing the lure of the forbidden would force her closer to the boy, or maybe he simply hadn't wanted to deal with an errant daughter, whatever the reason it had went on for far too long now. Especially since he'd heard murmurings that the boy was already part of the youth movement the Nazi's were pushing forward. No, his daughter would not be involved with a boy like that, he must speak to Fraulein Maria about keeping her busy with her studies while he was away.

Slowly stepping away from the window, he decided that it probably best to retire for the evening, he was up early tomorrow so that he could avoid any unnecessary goodbyes with his children, they always made him feel as though he were choking. No it was better for all if he just left.

As he stepped into the entranceway, he heard the loud slamming of one of the window's on the children's side of the house. He paused and listened more closely, convinced he could hear laughter. He felt his temper flare, his children should be in bed, God only knew why they weren't and what Fraulein Maria was doing about the situation. He hoped that they hadn't locked her in her room, he'd seen that trick before as well.

Moving closer to their rooms, he felt something close to incredulity when he realised that he could hear singing. It was her, he realised with a shock, she was singing, that strong, clear voice of hers unmistakable as she sang about the most ridiculous things.

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Unthinkingly he moved towards her door, he'd never once imposed himself on the governess in the middle of the night, but he was not thinking of propriety. All he could think of was the fact that once again she'd blatantly disobeyed him, and he simply would not stand for it.

Silver white winters that melt into springs

He threw open the door, his eyes widening a fraction as he saw her prance around the room, he'd been right, that tent like structure was indeed her nightgown. He frowned at himself, he should not be even thinking about her nightwear. He looked over his children who had yet to notice him and instead were giggling at her actions, leaning forward eagerly, jumping on beds and prancing around the room, desperate to be part of this nonsense. He'd never seen such excitement on his children's faces for years, he realised with a sharp sting.

These are a few of my favourite things

She twirled again, right past him, so close that he could have grabbed hold of her and told her to stop this nonsense. She was so caught up that she didn't notice him, his children did though, staring at him aghast as their Fraulein swooped round once more, almost falling into him

When the dog bi- Dog bites," she finished awkwardly, before gathering her wits about herself again and greeting him cheerfully, "Hello."

He'd decided it was already typical of her to pretend that nothing was out of the ordinary when chaos was reigning supreme. "Fräulein, did I not tell you that bedtime is to be strictly observed in this house?" he asked, gritting his teeth slightly.

"The children were upset by the storm, so I-" she stopped suddenly, his glare for once seeming to have an effect on her exuberance. "You did, Sir," she confirmed.

"And do you, or do you not, have difficulty remembering such simple instructions?"

Her chin tilted defiantly as she shot back, "Only during thunderstorms."

His gaze shot in the direction of the children as Kurt giggled at the small defiance, and he caught sight of his eldest daughter, wearing an identical tent to her governess, her hair still damp from the rain. "Liesl," he barked, gathering her attention. "I don't recall seeing you anywhere after dinner."

She blinked at him, obviously uncomfortable with the fact she'd been caught out, as well she should he decided firmly, his daughter was not going to run about with some little runt. "Oh Really? As a matter of fact..." she trailed off, searching for a suitable answer.

"Yes?" He prompted her tersely.

"Well, I was..."

It was Fraulein Maria that came rushing to her defence. "What she would like to say, Captain is that she and I have been getting acquainted tonight, but it's too late to go into that. Children you heard your father. Go back to bed immediately."

He watched as she expertly hustled his children out of the room, they moved quickly, grateful of the escape no doubt. He knew that he should leave with them, should not stand alone in this bedroom with his virginal governess, and yet he simply could not allow her the last word yet again. The impropriety of the situation had seemed to dawn on her though, as she reached for her dressing gown and held it against herself. A ridiculous action considering one could not see through the damn thing even if one wanted to. His annoyance grew, why was he even thinking along these lines? "Fräulein, you have managed to remember I'm leaving in the morning?" She gave an uncertain nod, her clear skin flushing pink. "And is it also possible you remember the first rule in this house is discipline?" he continued, watching as she nodded again, for once mercifully staying silent. "Then I trust that before I return you will have acquired some?"

With that said he turned on his heel, meaning to put as much distance between himself and this impetuous girl before any of the staff saw him. But yet again her mouth seemed determined to run away with her, and she had the nerve to follow him to the door. "Captain?"

"Hmmm," he turned, wondering what she could possibly have to say to him now.

"Could I talk to you about clothes for the children, for when they play?" He raised his eyes towards the sky, this girl simply didn't seem to get it, she seemed determined to push him. Even now she was continuing to talk, "If I could have some material-"

"Fraulein," he interrupted. "You are many things. Not the least of which is repetitious."

"But they're children!" She protested.

"Yes, and I'm their father. Good night," he concluded firmly, closing the door on her shocked face. Determined to put as much distance between the pair of them as possible.