You Must Love Me
Written by: lysimarie
Author's note and disclaimer: Still don't own it...
Chapter 7: A Telegram
Last time on You Must Love Me: She couldn't breathe, she felt as if she had died and gone to heaven. "It's fine." She said, breathlessly.
This was the perfect way to end a perfect picnic. If only Avril had seen this, she would know that their operation was almost a complete success.
Dinner was going along smoothly, Erik occasionally stealing glances at Christine without the children noticing, and Christine doing the same, as Herr Reyer entered the room. "A telegram for you sir."
Christine noticed that Avril lit up and looked at Reyer, who nodded subtly. "Children, I'm afraid I have to go to Vienna in the morning."
The children groaned and asked how long he was going to be away. "I hope not very long." He said, glancing at Christine, who was busy trying to ignore the conversation by paying attention to her dessert. "I will be bringing Uncle Naider home with me, he's visiting from Paris."
As the children cheered, Avril excused herself and Christine watched as the girl smiled as she began to run from the doorway. "Fraulein?"
The governess turned to the captain and smiled, the table was empty except for the two of them. "Yes Sir?"
"After the children are in bed, I would like to talk to you about something."
"Of course. I'll just make sure that they're getting ready and I'll join you." She said, rising from her seat and leaving him alone to his thoughts.
Christine made her way to the children's bedrooms and smiled when she heard their laughter. However, when she entered the older girls bedroom to say goodnight, she was shocked. Feathers from pillows were everywhere. Christine felt her emerald eyes almost pop out of her head as the children stopped their fight, and looked at their Fraulein. "What do you think you are doing?" she asked quietly, not wanting to get their father angry.
Adam looked at his siblings and then back to Christine. "We just wanted to have some fun…" he stated, his voice falling at the end.
Christine's heart warmed and she smiled. "Well, as long as you promise to be in bed within the next half hour, I promise I won't say a word to father as long as this mess is cleaned up before I come in to take you to breakfast in the morning." She said, closing the door behind her.
She shook her head and went to her bedroom to change into something comfortable, a pair of loose sweatpants, and a sporty tan tank top. Just as she was about to leave to join the Captain, Avril climbed into her bedroom window. "Avril! Where have you been?"
The girl knew when she had been caught and explained the whole situation. She had left dinner to go and see the young man who had delivered the Captain's telegram, Devan Lundon, a boy she had known for a long time. They had come to have a secret relationship behind her father's back, much to her dismay. And according to Avril, they hadn't seen each other since school ended.
"I know I shouldn't have snuck in through your window, but the doors were locked earlier than normal, and I couldn't get in, so I…"
"It's fine Avril, really. Your siblings have a surprise of some sort for you." She said, as they exited her bedroom.
"I think I know what." She said, heading down the hall to her sister's room, where she saw the mass production of feathers flying in the air. "I am so grateful I have my own room." She added, closing the door and going to it.
Christine laughed and walked down the stairs a small skip in her step. She walked to the Captain's Study and knocked softly. "Come in." his booming voice coming through the thick old door.
"You wanted to see me?" she said, closing the door before sitting in a chair by his desk.
"I have news…I am going to be leaving for Vienna in the morning, as you know, and I hope to return before the day is out. I can't stand being in that city for more than a few hours, and the few that I'm there for are going to make me crazy."
Christine chuckled and looked at the Captain, who had a small smirk on his face. "I am bringing my good friend Naider with me, who will be living with us for a little while, which you also know. The reason I wanted you here after dinner is, I wanted to see exactly how long you were intending on staying here with our family."
Confusion crossed her face. He wants rid of me so soon? Erik sensed her question, and answered "I don't mean that I want you gone, I just was curious…" he said, similar to how Adam talked a few moments earlier.
Christine smiled at the moment, Like father, Like son. "Well, I just figured that I would return to Ohio when the children return to school, and I would continue working back there. Unless of course, I was needed." She said, her words rushing.
Erik smiled, "The children adore you. I have never seen any of them act like they do when you are around. And I'm afraid that when you go…I'll never have that again…" he whispered, moving to stand before the roaring fire.
"Captain, you've always had this, they've always been there. Never forget that they are always there. They don't hold what you've done against you."
Erik turned to the governess, whose skin and hair were glowing from the faint light the fire provided. She was stunning. "I know they don't…but I do." He whispered, turning away, ashamed with himself.
Christine walked over to him, and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Don't. Not anymore. Your children only want you to spend time with them."
A chill ran through her body as Erik placed his hand on top of hers, and turned to look into her eyes. "Thank you Fraulein. For everything you have done for my family."
She smiled and pulled her hand away reluctantly. "I need to check on the children and make sure they are asleep. Good night Captain." She said, going to the door.
"Good Night…." She closed the door behind her as she left him. "Christine…"
Dinner was served, and the captain was nowhere to be found. The children were concerned, but their governess was a nervous wreck. Christine couldn't stop thinking about all the worst possible scenario's, and she knew she shouldn't. He was her employer, and even though they had shared a few looks over the dinner table, the way he held her hand when she injured it, and the way they looked at each other last night, Christine knew that she could not allow it to progress any further. She just didn't know how to prevent that.
"Fraulein Christine?" Arabella's small voice asked, pulling Christine from her trance.
"Yes darling?" she said, smiling at the small brunette.
"Is father coming home soon?"
"I hope so Arabella. I do hope so. It's getting very late out, and his dinner is getting cold." She said, her smile slightly fading as the little girl giggled.
The rest of dinner was spent in a comfortable silence between the seven, and as soon as they finished, Christine put the youngest ones to bed, leaving Avril and Adam alone to finish up a few things before they went to bed.
The teacher just wanted to sleep, but it was not coming easily. Thoughts of the captain were polluting her head, and she couldn't stop. Aggravated, she got out of her bed and threw on some clothes before going downstairs to get a book out of the Captain's study. She walked in, and in the darkness, she looked for something interesting to read. After a few moments, she decided to not read, seeing that all of his books were written in either German, Spanish, and French. "Today is not my day." She said, running her hand through her hair.
"I apologize for that."
Christine turned, shocked that the Captain was right behind her. "Captain! I'm sorry. I couldn't sleep, and I wanted to read something, but…"
"All of my books are in a foreign language?" he asked, his mouth forming a wry smile.
She blushed, and leaned against the bookcase. "You took a long time in Vienna today."
"Much to my dismay." He said, slumping into his chair, his head resting against his hand.
"That bad?"
"Worse. Naider decided to spend some of my money. Not that I mind, but I would like to see where some of my funds are going beforehand." He said, a chuckle emerging.
"I hate to come off as nosy, but what exactly did he buy?"
"Enough food and decorations for a party to be held in his honor, and the makings of outfits for my children, and you Fraulein."
"Me? But I've never met him."
"I actually bought that. I want to give you something special to thank you for everything."
Christine blushed as she sat. "I doubt you will let me deny you the pleasure of spoiling me?"
"Of course not. I plan on giving you something nice, and you are going to accept it."
Christine smiled, and couldn't help the yawn that escaped her mouth. The captain chucked. "I believe someone is tired, and should go to bed. You should too Fraulein. Seven unruly children are going to be running wild tomorrow, seeing that it is the weekend."
She laughed, and bid him good night before running up to her room, where she collapsed on her bed, smiling as she fell asleep.
"We need to do something. Fraulein Christine is leaving as soon as we go back to school. We can't have that." Avril said, flopping down on her bed.
The four older children sat quietly, and pondered. Suddenly, and idea hit Alexandar. "The party! We can ask father to show us how to waltz, and he'll use Fraulein Christine as a dance partner."
"What if he chooses me?" Avril asked, seeing only one problem.
"Insist that he show us. That we learn better from an example than actually doing it. That's how Fraulein Christine shows us." Adam answered for his younger brother.
"That could work. But a waltz? I already know how to do that….What about a Tango!" Avril exclaimed her eyes wide.
"A what-go?" Alex asked, completely confused.
"It's a very complicated dance, which requires the dance partners to dance very close together. And father wouldn't fee comfortable dancing that with me, so I can ask him to dance with Fraulein Christine." She explained to her younger brother and sister.
"That could actually work." Alana said, realization crossing her face.
"Then it's settled. The party is Friday, and Fraulein Christine and I are going to town tomorrow to get our dresses. Father specially designed hers, and from what I saw in his sketch book, the tango is the perfect dance." Avril said, a mischievous smile on her face.
"How did you get father's sketchbook?" Adam asked. It had been one of his goals in their childhood.
"I have my ways. Now, go to bed, we have a big week ahead of us."
GerrysJackie you are my hero. I am so glad I pulled off your favorite scenes and I hope that you will continue to like what I've been writing. Your reviews are so amazing. I'm beginning to love checking my e-mail cause you reply on each individual chapter.
And before anyone asks, the trip from Salzburg to Vienna is only 2 hours and 30 minutes approx.
