Part 7

The children had changed and Leisl had grabbed the guitar all of them intent of on singing to the baroness and gaining at least some sort of forgiveness form their father. But as they rushed down the stairs raised voices from outside pulled them away from the lounge and to door to the veranda.

They watched as their governess and father shouted at each other the little ones upset and confused, the older ones, especially Leisl, their hearts pounding in their chests as Fraulein Maria tried to urge their father to see his wrong doings. But the way she talked about their mother struck a chord in all of their hearts.

They were stunned when Maria broke down but even more shocked when their father shoved her against a tree their faces so close Leisl wasn't sure if they had kissed. Gretl whimpered and went to run to Fraulein Maria but Louisa held her back as Kurt quickly grabbed Marta.

The shouting finally ceased but only when their father screamed at Maria only Leisl and Fredrich fully understanding. Leisl closed her eyes the comment even running through her. But then their father and Fraulein Maria just stood their bodies almost moulding together as one and the children couldn't help but watch in confusion and fascination.

Then suddenly it was like his legs broke and he dropped down onto his knees burying his head in Maria's stomach as she stroked his head back in return. Fredrich eyes widened as did Leisl and Louisa's the three of them exchanging a look of shock and recognition. Each of them faintly remembering the way their father used to bury his head in their mothers stomach when he was upset or she was pregnant. And then Maria bent down and kissed his head and Leisl knew it was time to go. Of course she wanted to stay and watch the intimacy of the two people they loved most but knew it was their moment, whatever the moment was.

She turned and saw Frau Schmidt standing next to them looking at them and then at the two figures in the distance "Come on now, let's leave them alone" she said quietly and warmly.

They walked back towards the lounge when suddenly the baroness came out.

"Oh there you are, I was wondering where everyone had gotten to but its seems your father is still missing" she said trying sound somehow funny to which Louisa raised her eyebrow "Er well I'm just going to go out and see if your fathers done with whoever that woman was" she said walking to the veranda and everyone's eyes widened including Frau Schmidt's.

Leisl thought quickly "Wait! No er I mean I we, we have a song for you!" she said holding up the guitar.

The baroness smiled "Well isn't that lovely, let me get you father and we can all listen to it" she turning again.

"No we were taught it just for you! Please!" Louisa said.

The baroness hesitated and then suddenly Gretl pounded on her "PLEASE! WE WAELLY WANT TO SWING IT TO YOU!" she said loudly putting on the cutest voice she could muster.

The baroness looked at Gretl in shock and then agreed to which everyone silently gave a huge sigh of relief.

Outside…

Maria breathed in letting the final tear roll down her cheek. What had she done? What was she doing? She asked herself. Here she stood holding a man she barely knew so intimately. Usually it wouldn't have bothered her, this was her job but the fact that she was open to him scared her. He could ask her anything right now and she would answer truthfully no matter what it cost her. If he asked her to leave, she would, if he asked if she would stay, she would and if he asked if he could take the one thing she held most dear to her, her virginity, she would give it to him gladly.

His hands that gripped tightly at her hips loosened and started drawing gentle circles through the fabric of her wet dress that stuck to her like a second skin. She couldn't help but gasp at the sensation and her hands tightened in his hair. She couldn't do this she didn't have the strength. Slowly she slipped her hands from his hair and gently laid them on top of his. He stopped drawing circles and looked up at her his deep eyes now red and puffy and oh so innocent.

His eyes bored into hers and the urge to kiss him was almost irresistible "Georg, please" she whispered not really sure what she was asking of him.

Georg didn't know why but he didn't care what had happened or where he was or what was right or wrong he just felt compelled to be held by her to feel her all around him so when she whispered his name he couldn't help but kiss her stomach.

Her breath caught in her throat "Don't…" she said quietly.

He looked at her again "You come here flirt with me, turn my house and children upside down and tell me the utter truth no matter how painful, why?" he said quietly "Why did you come here?"

Maria knew she could not lie to him, so she wouldn't "I came here for my job" she said truthfully.

He smiled "And that was for what?, so your torture me and toy with me?" he joked.

She smiled back her hands still on his "Not exactly" she said as honestly as she could, why could she not lie to this man?

"Then w…" he trailed off when he heard sweet voices floating from the house to them "What's that?" he asked looking at the house and Maria followed his gaze.

"It's singing" she said.

Georg chuckled and leant his head against her stomach again "Yes Maria but who is singing?" he asked in wonder.

Maria swallowed "The children" she said barely audible.

He looked up at her "The children?"

She nodded "I taught them something to sing for the baroness" she said as he got up slowly, watching him as he walked away from her and into the house entranced by the beautiful voices.

She followed him in after a few seconds and watched as his voice mingled with theirs beautifully. When they finished the children ran to him after a moment's hesitation and she smiled the scene filling her heart with warmth.

Gretl hugged her father but out of the corner of her eye she saw Fraulein Maria at the door almost hiding, she wanted to run to her and ask if she was ok but she pointed over to the baroness and Gretl remembered the flowers they had picked for her in her hand. Reluctantly she walked over, gave her the flowers and bowed just like they had practiced. The baroness hugged her but she felt too overcome with perfume and other strange scents. She liked how Maria smelled, she smelled fresh and subtle like flowers.

"Georg, you never told me how enchanting your children were" she said her thick rich voice filling the room.

Maria watched as the children glanced at her but then Georg turned as well and she backed away before rushing up the stairs, praying that by some miracle none of them would have noticed her but her miracle did not come as she heard her voice being called.

"Maria wait" he said at the bottom of the stairs "I behaved badly before, I apologise" he said and Maria shook her head.

"I'm far too outspoken it one of my worst faults" she said pleadingly.

"Your right I don't know my children"

"There's still time captain they want so much to be close to you"

"And you brought music back into the house… I'd forgotten" he said looking up at her.

She went to leave but he stopped her again "Maria, I want you to stay, I ask you to stay" he said smiling.

She smiled back her eyes glowing "I didn't know I had been fired" she said mischievously and Georg chuckled before walking away.

Late In the evening…

As usual Maria pottered down to the kitchen and peered around looking for food, there were none of Georg's lovely biscuits but there was some of Margret's delicious chocolate cake and there was ice cream in the freezer she knew, she had made sure there was.

She cut herself a slice and before she knew it the knife was being plucked out of her hand from behind her once again. Her body stiffened as he pushed up against her, his head resting just beside her face, cutting himself a slice and robbing her plate and spoon as he stepped away. But as he stepped away she didn't mind, her body still tingling from the sensation of his body being pressed up against hers.

She smiled at him as he stood beside her eating. Suddenly she stepped forward, crushing her body against his before grabbing a plate from behind him and she smiled as she watched the same reactions of feelings that she had had just a moment ago pass across his face like a passing wind.

She found a spoon in one of the draws and they both sat down not saying anything, just basking in each other's company. Looking at him she realised he had his night wear on and she blushed slightly bowing her head to cover it.

But Georg noticed and chuckled "Fraul… Maria I think it's a bit late to start blushing now don't you think?" he said placing another piece of cake in his mouth.

Maria looked at him and smiled "Not really, today we were both emotionally, unstable you could say, it wasn't the same" she said thanking god she had put her dressing gown on this time.

Georg nodded "Mmm I suppose you have a point there" he said thinking about it.

She smiled broadly "I always do!" she giggled.

Georg rolled his eyes before staring at her intently again "I wanted to thank you again for setting me straight today" he said kindly.

"Oh no! please don't thank me! I was rude, outspoken, completely out of place, rude, did I already mention that?" she said her blabbering making him chuckle.

"Maria please if you hadn't spoken to me like that I would still be treating my children like dirt" he said disgusted with himself.

Maria sighed and reached over for his hand which lay on the table "You didn't treat them like dirt, you just didn't show them enough love so don't blame yourself for anything, please!" she begged drawing circles with her thumb on his hand like he hand done on her hips.

He smiled weakly and she drew her hand away missing the contact as she did so. The automatic alarm in her head went off telling her to pry information from him, it gnawed away at her but she ignored. No, not tonight, too much had happened, she could pry and convince tomorrow she thought.

She smiled and picked up their finished plates, washing them quickly as Georg dried them next to her. It was strange yet at the same time it felt right. Just her and him eating together, things a coup… her thoughts drifted off. No not a couple, she had to stay detached, oh but how she wished she didn't have to.

She sighed handing him the last spoon as he dried it and put it back in the draw. She dried her hands and turned back to him to find him staring at her once again. They looked at each other each studying the other.

Georg's need for her was so great it almost overflowed him. She looked so inviting yet innocent making him want to ravish her right there on the table top but at the same time she almost looked too delicate to do so, as if she would shatter. Maria watched as his tall dark frame stepped towards her, his dark eyes sparkling in the low light as hers did the same.

Her breath caught in her throat and her stomach did flips over and over and as he stepped closer he was just about to reach out when a tired Margret walked in watching with amusement as the two jumped apart.

Maria and Georg stood not daring to look at each other as Margret stopped the smile that so desperately needed to grace her face "Oh I'm sorry dears I just came for a glass of water" she said quickly walking over the tap.

Maria shook her head and smiled at the kind lady "Its fine I was just going back to bed myself, so good night Margret, captain" she said quickly glancing at his eyes before rushing off up the stairs.

Margret smiled "And I suppose you were about to go to bed as well were you?" Margret said sarcastically and Georg smiled at her and rolled his eyes.

"I was actually, so goodnight" he said dipping his head and walked off slowly.

Margret chuckled and went back to her own bed "Please, they were going to kiss" she said to herself.