Part 8
Her whole body ached, her core organs feeling lost, as though they had been torn away from their rightful place and instead sat inside a stranger's body, no feeling, no connection.
Her eyes felt sore and heavy, tears escaping as she just stared blankly at the plain grey wall. Nothing could get her attention, no one could bring her back, food came and went and none of it even touched. She didn't bathe and didn't speak, it was like she was an echo, her body still there but, her, Maria, the young woman so full of life and ready to take on the world… gone, absent and eternally lost.
She missed him despite the hurt, despite the fact that she knew he would still marry the Baroness, she loved him despite all of this and that's what hurt her most, that she couldn't hate him, couldn't feel the urge to hurt him as he had her. If there was the slightest chance that he wanted her forever, she would run straight into him arms gladly and that, right there, was the problem. Did he want her forever? Or did he just lust for her? The painful thoughts consumed and another tidal wave of pain washed over her.
Margaretta sat there, her hand cupping her chin as she watched the child lay there, blank and un-moving. The sight broke her heart and she couldn't stand it, Maria had always been so full of life, so strong, so to see her broke and gone destroyed her heart.
Three days they had been back and for three days she had not moved an inch. She was pale and looked so sick. Margaretta tried to feed her, even sister Berthe but she would not swallow, any food just tumbling back out.
Margaretta sighed and closed her eyes as she tried to hold back her tears. Maria couldn't carry on like this, she had to eat, had to move and wash… she would die if kept this up, maybe that what she wanted she thought.
Watching as a tear rolled down her blank face she took the girls hand "Maria you have to eat" she said softly but no reaction came "Please, a spoonful of soup, anything" she begged.
Maria blinked.
She had tried this for days, begging her even throwing a tantrum but Maria just lay there. It was so unlike her and frankly it was starting to scare her. She thought it would pass after the first day or so but now they were on the fourth morning and still she didn't move.
Shifting off the chair and onto the bed she stroked the girls hair, it was getting greasy and was in very much need of a wash but still she stroked, somehow trying to get through to her "Please get up Maria. We miss you, the reverend mother is worried sick, even sister Berthe" she said hoping the names and worries of others would get through to her.
When Maria inevitably didn't answer Margaretta snapped a little "Damn it Maria! You can't keep this up!" she said looking at the poor girl "I'm not asking much, please, let's just get you into the showers at least…" she sighed then she said the only thing she could "Don't let him break you" she whispered.
A few seconds past and Margaretta thought all hope was lost when Maria's red sore eyes flicked to hers and that was it, that was all it took. Margaretta smiled and kissed the girls cheek knowing that though it was not much it was something. Maria's eyes screwed shut in pain as a sob escaped her and Margarertta hugged her "Oh my sweet, i know. Sshh, i know" she said trying to calm her.
"How about a shower, nothing else just a shower?" she asked tenderly.
Maria gave a small nod, barley even there but it was still a nod "Okay, I'll be back in a moment"
-SOM-
The past few days for Georg had been hell, pure hell. The household was in uproar, the children walking around as if they were zombies, no emotion, and their faces blank. Max constantly drilling him, telling he needed to do something, visit Maria, console the children, fix this, fix that, it was all just getting too much! And it was tearing him apart. And the maids, he groaned at the thought, ever since Maria had left everyone had seemed to shut down or end up exploding in fits of tears, it appeared Maria had touched everyone's heart in the house … even Elsa.
He rubbed his eyes as he sat in his office, away from everyone and everything for if he stepped outside the pain would catch up and override him, knowing it would be so severe that he wouldnt be able to handle it. He thought before his mind quickly flicked back to Elsa, not wanting to dwell too much on those feelings.
Though Elsa often gave the impression that she had no heart, it was not true. The truth was shown through her actions since Maria had left, along with him she had taken Maria's departure hard, blaming herself for everyone's unhappiness. He shook his head. It had not been Elsa's fault if anyone had been to blame it was him; he had acted impulsively, irrationally and no doubt selfishly. His memory and recollection of Maria being a postulant and a young one at that had fled out the window, only his strong lustful emotions driving him.
He groaned at the memory of his lips kissing down her soft warm neck against her door, the night it all started, the night he had sang and then foolishly slept with Elsa. What a damn fool he had been. He had no one to blame and though his children's persisting that Maria and him 'Sing' had certainly not helped he couldn't blame his actions towards his precious Fraulien on anyone else.
Suddenly a knock came at his door, the sound snapping him out of his thoughts thoroughly. Clearing his throat and sitting up straight in his chair he called "Come in" he said half-heartedly.
The door opened and a rather un-composed Baroness came in. Her makeup, as always, flawless and her clothing fitting her perfectly like a glove, but her hair, her usually perfectly pinned up hair fell down in soft curls to her shoulders.
She gave a weak smile as she closed the door behind her and his curiosity filled him as no one, not even his children had spoken to him since Maria departure. Apart from Max but that was beside the point "Is there something I can help you with Elsa?" he asked gently, not sure what to expect in response.
She walked forward, her grace never failing her as she sat down in the chair opposite him "It's more of what I can help you with" she said softly and again his curiosity was peeked.
"And what exactly do I need help with?" he asked.
Elsa smiled mischievously despite the sad mood that ran through out the household "I want to help you with a certain young postulant who…"
"Elsa…"
"Hear me out" she said holding up her hand.
Sighing he nodded "Go on"
Elsa smiled and breathed out, her clammy palms running against her long skirt "Maria is gone and know that I am the cause…" Georg went to interrupt her, tell her she was wrong but she held up her hand and continued "And whether anyone believes it or not, my heart is breaking for the both of you. I wanted you for myself but not for the reasons that a man should marry a woman, what you and Maria have barely even touched on these past few days is far more than we could ever be. She left because she knew deep down that you are an honourable man. It's something we both know. You would marry me because you felt you had to; you feel that it is the right thing to do. But I tell you now Georg that it is not, It is stupid and makes things far more complicated than they ever should be" she said earnestly, looking deeply into his eyes "And I have a plan"
Georg had listened and found elsa's words moving. Everything she had spoken was true and though he knew that this wasnt an easy sacrifice for her he also knew that by doing this she would free herself and somehow find peace. They had been eachothers rebound, now it was time to move on. Raising an eyebrow "A plan?" he teased realizing her intentions were good and true.
Elsa smiled "Oh yes a plan indeed"
"And tell me of this plan my dear, you have my curiosity peeked"
Smiling fully she leaned forward on the table "The party" she said simply before continuing to explain "Originally it was for me. Well for us, to show me and introduce me to your friends and family, but I have a better idea. It's quite obvious of the feelings you and the young Fraulien have for each other but none of us know how that road will end. So why not lure her back. Throw the party for Leisl instead as a sort of coming out party. It's about time Leisl was introduced to society and Maria can't refuse an invitation. It's Leisl, one of the children, she can't deny them anything and you and I both know it" she finished with a mischievous smile.
Georg sighed and thought about it for a second before shaking his head "It won't work"
Elsa rolled her eyes "It will"
"It won't"
She rose an eyebrow "Oh and how do you know?" she asked but when no reply came she continued "See you don't. It will work and even if it doesn't and she does not turn up at the party at least you gave her a chance. No harm will be done in at least trying Georg" she persisted.
He looked at her not sure what to do. She spoke the truth no harm would come in trying but could his heart cope if she rejected his invitation?
Taking his hand for a second she squeezed it "I've seen what lies inside your heart Georg, now I'm giving you a chance to follow it" she said sincerely.
Sighing he made his decision and brought her hands to his lips, kissing them lightly before smiling gently at her "Alright"
Elsa smiled and stood "She will come" she said finally before leaving him alone and with his thoughts once again.
-SOM-
Gretl sat there, under a tree alone and very much upset as her sisters and brothers brooded in different places along the grass. Marta lounging across Louise as Leisl played with Brigitta's hair and Kurt and Fredrich kicking a ball half-heartedly.
Leisl and the others had tried to talk to her, had tried to get her to sit with them, get her to do anything but Gretl refused. She didn't want to play, didn't want to talk, didn't want to do anything while Maria wasn't with them. Gretl couldn't understand it, she had known with everything in her that Maria loved them and yet still she had left, her mother had left.
Gretl knew she was only 5 and though she was young and knew that Maria was not her real mother, she didn't care. Maria had been there for the last few months to dry her tears, to help her cut her food, play with her and Marta and their dolls and was preparing her for school. Maria couldn't leave, she just couldn't. Feeling more lost than she ever had before in short life so far she wiped away her tears with her little hands, making up her stubborn mind. Gretl still had a lot to learn but for the first time in her life she had tasted the sweet feeling of having a mother, she had finally felt what it was like to have the comfort and safety of a mother and she wasn't about to let that go.
Standing up she looked around at her sisters and brother who moving back into the house before running after Kurt who was lagging behind and grabbed his arm.
Kurt frowned when he felt Gretl grab his arm and bent down too look at his little sisters hurt face "What's the matter Gretl?" he asked kindly knowing that though all of them were grieving Gretl was taking it the hardest.
"I need your help" she asked her voice quiet and pleading.
She whispered in his ear and he pulled away and bit his lips "I don't know Gretl"
Pouting she gave him her best puppy dog eyes "Please, she has to come back, I have to see her!" she begged.
"See who?" their father's voice suddenly came and both of them jumped, a guilty blush gracing their young soft cheeks.
Kurt coughed and Gretl hid behind him "Uh no one, I mean a cat, the cat that I ugh ah comes around… um sometimes, Gretl's loves her… lots" he stuttered and after mentally smacked himself. The cat? Honestly, could he not do better than that he thought?
Georg though pained by his youngests plea to her older brother smiled at his cover "Mmmhmm. The cat. Of course" he said looking at the red face pair "Come on, I have an announcement" he said picking up Gretl as Kurt followed him into the house.
Gretl frowned "What kind of annonana, ananonnonnce, anannnounancement?" she stumbled out making Georg chuckle and his day seeming a little brighter.
"This is an announcement that I think you will all very much like" he said mysteriously as he entered the lounge where the rest of the children waited.
Authors note: Short I know but this chapter was just a stepping stone to what I have planned next! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and hopefully I shall update sooonn! :D Oh and before I forget I want to give you ALLLL a HUGGGGEEE! THANKYOUUUUUU! XXXX 71 REVIEWS! :O I'm sooo soooo glad you are all enjoying this story and continue to follow it! I just wanted to let you know how much EVERYSINGLE comment means! :D They help me soooo much and give me happy writing sparks that's keep me going! So thankyouuuuu! :D
