Elsa Part 2

Elsa couldn't help but notice the change in Georg's mood. Just a few nights ago she had scared Maria into leaving her position as governess. He tried to hide his somber mood, but despite his attempts she could still sense it. Just last night they had decided to make that leap into wedded bliss, but the bliss part was considerably absent from Georg's demeanor. It was one of the oddest proposal's she had ever heard of and was done in such a fashion that it came out utterly unromantic.

He didn't even get down on one knee for the proposal, she thought. He had simply told her that he thought it was time that they made it official. Devoid really of a lot of the emotion that a woman would expect from a man proposing to her. There hadn't even been a ring, just a promise to go shopping for one at a later date.

She sighed hoping that he would soon forget about Maria and that she might be able to get him back into the person he was. She missed the man who would playfully taunt her, the man who was always up for escorting her to huge parties. She still couldn't help but think about how much he had changed in such a short time.

She had been playing ball with the children for what seemed like an eternity. She was trying to make an effort to get to know them, but she couldn't keep their names straight. There must be an easier way to win the affection of these children, but all she could think of every time they passed the ball to her was how she could never live up to Maria in their eyes. No, she wasn't Maria and there was no point in pretending to be. She wasn't made for motherhood and the more she thought about it the more she knew that boarding school was her only option. It would take some coaxing to get Georg to agree to it, but perhaps she could get him to see it her way eventually and then maybe, just maybe, he would return to the man she loved in Vienna.

The children finally asked for a break and she was relieved to stop playing that awful and boring game with them. I don't know how Maria does it, she thought, but then Maria was much younger than herself and much more energetic. For the first time since Maria left she found herself wishing that the governess was still here to deal with the children so she didn't have to, but the bigger part of her was glad that she was gone, knowing that Georg's growing fondness for the governess would be curbed without her around, or at least she hoped so.

She sat across from Max who was trying in earnest to cheer the kids up. He finally managed to get them to sing, but she could tell that their hearts were not in it. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Georg come wandering out of the house and she saw him visibly sigh at the sight of his heartbroken children. She couldn't help but wonder if he too was feeling some of the same melancholy at the sudden loss of their favorite governess.

She couldn't help but notice how strange and awkward his demeanor was. The children wanted to talk about Maria, but he was avoiding the topic like the plague. The few times she had attempted to question him about Agathe he had done the same, making it very clear that it was not a touchable subject. It made her feel uncomfortable and she kept trying to change the topic by idly making comments about the pink lemonade, but neither the children or Georg had given her much thought. What was it about this woman that kept them all so mesmerized by her? Even she though had to admit that Maria had a certain charm about her that was undeniably infectious.

He just needs time, she thought, he'll forget her eventually. Somewhere deep down inside her though she wondered if that was true and as much as she tried to convince herself of it she couldn't help but wonder if he would always have a place in his heart for Maria. Would he ever be able to give all of himself to her?

She watched Georg carefully as he fielded their questions and then Gretl finally asked who their new governess was going to be. She watched as Georg put his hands down on the table and stood to tell them they were going to have a new mother adding that they were all going to be very happy as if he was trying to convince himself as well as the children.

She couldn't help but notice the surprised look on their faces as they just stood their trying to take it all in. They definitely didn't look very approving of this new development and the idea of boarding school suddenly became that much more of an appealing idea. One by one they slowly came up and placed a kiss on her cheek and she was relieved when Georg sent them all off to play.

She had hoped to be able to spend more of her day with her new fiance, but she was quickly disappointed when he excused himself and retreated back into his study for the rest of the afternoon emerging only briefly when he realized that the children were late for their dinner claiming he had a lot of business to attend to.

She was inside the parlor reading when she heard a loud commotion coming from outside and realized that the children must have returned. Thinking dinner would soon be served she got up to go and change, but then she almost froze in her tracks when she saw all seven children come clamoring inside. There in Friedrich's hands was a familiar looking guitar case and in Kurt's a carpetbag.

It can't be, she thought, but it certainly appears to be. Her eyes drew away from the kids to the open door leading out onto the veranda. She willed herself to move to see what she was afraid to. Composing herself with pure self determination she walked to the door and exited out. There stood Maria, the object of her fiance's attention and she couldn't help but notice how Georg was staring at her.

She noted that Maria didn't look at all happy and she must have been told about the engagement. The woman looked absolutely forlorn while Georg's face told a story of confusion and surprise. She interupted the gaze between them feeling that she needed to break their attention from one another. That pang of jealousy had now returned and was intensified. She felt the need the need to move in on her territory.

"Fraulein Maria, you've returned." She quickly took her place next to Georg joining with his hand. She wanted to make sure that Maria knew that Georg belonged to her. He was her fiance and she suddenly felt very possessive of him yet nervous all at the same time. Yes she had received the message loud and clear and she was congratulating them. She felt a small bit of sympathy for Maria, but it was short lived.

Elsa's smile quickly drained from her face as Georg dropped her hand and turned to Maria asking if she was going to stay. She could see the hurt and concern in his eyes as she replied that she would only stay until another governess could be found. She could see the struggle within him playing out in that moment and noticed that he could barely turn his gaze away from Maria. It was in that moment that Elsa knew in her heart that she had lost the battle for his affection. His heart belonged to Maria and the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach told her deep down that he would never feel that way about her.