A groggy Maria was awakened by the wet press of a mouth at the back of her neck. She could feel warm breath whispering across her skin, setting her waking body on fire. As her mind slowly came out of the daze of a deep slumber, her senses came back to her.
She could feel the weight of an arm around her waist, gently pulling her back against the hard planes of a chest. She felt the silk sheets wrapped around her in a delicious way. In the distance, she could hear birds singing a song to ring in the dawn of a new day.
Her eyes slowly opened, and she took in her surroundings. The morning sun was filtering in through the burgundy drapes, giving a red glow to the unfamiliar room. For a moment, her heart rate kicked into high gear as she didn't immediately recognize her surroundings. This wasn't her room.
Her heart fluttered considerably when the memories of the night before began to flood her mind. The picnic under the stars. The conversation with Georg. Getting drenched in the rain. Walking to his room. His lips on hers. Her back against the door. The weight of him on top of her.
She was very nearly at a loss for breath when she remembered what they had done – what she had let him do. She could feel her cheeks getting warm, and the feel of his chest pressing into her back was not helping.
She couldn't explain to herself why she had so eagerly accepted his advances, or why she had basically asked him to bed her. The feelings between them were so new and raw, and Maria had believed that Georg was likely doing the right thing by keeping things restrained between them. She had never considered giving her body to a man before. While she knew there was a deep wanting within her whenever Georg touched her, she had resolved that they should take things slow.
That hadn't stopped her curiosity from sparking whenever she kissed him. She couldn't get enough of him, and if she was being honest with herself, she wasn't sure how to stop. She had briefly felt guilty in all the times that Georg caught her alone and things would slowly begin to slip out of control in the wake of their desires for one another. He typically was the one to stop things before they got out of hand, even though Maria could see the reluctance clear in his eyes.
She hadn't planned on letting things go as far as they did. In fact, she hadn't planned on anything happening at all. The picnic he had laid out was beautiful, and her heart had fluttered at the thought he put into it. It didn't matter that he couldn't take her out as was customary, all that mattered was that Georg was next to her, his arm wrapped around her, as they talked. She had felt so safe in those moments. She had felt so cared for.
When it started raining and they had to rush inside, Maria hadn't counted on what would take place in his bedroom. She had been of the mind that she would bring the champagne glasses and strawberries to his room, and they would leave it at that. But then she had looked at him, and in a single moment, everything seemed to have shifted.
He was thoroughly soaked. His hair had fallen over his forehead and drops of water were trailing a path along his skin that Maria's eyes couldn't help but follow. Both his jumper and jeans clung to his body, and that's when she had first caught sight of the arousal he was feeling. Her eyes had caught his again before he noticed the direction of her gaze, and there was something in his irises that knocked the breath from her lungs. In that moment, she couldn't recall wanting anything more than Georg's lips on hers.
Then he had kissed her, and everything else seemed to disappear. She wanted him. She wanted to know all of him. She didn't want to go back to her room with only the dreams of what he might do to her playing through her mind. She just wanted him.
His attempts at trying to get her to go back to her room were valiant, and Maria briefly wondered if it would be for the best. She disregarded that idea entirely when she had eyed him again, taking in his unkempt appearance that had sparked something deep within her that both thrilled and frightened her.
She hadn't known what to expect, and if she was honest with herself, she had felt a bit wary of what she was getting herself into. All her doubt happened to fly right out her head when she felt the press of his bare chest against her own. The contact had been unfamiliar, and yet it set her aflame.
Every logical thought had seemed to escape her, and the only thing on her mind had been how she wanted more. She wanted to feel him entirely. She wanted to feel him all over – his skin, the muscles of his back, his lips pressed against every inch of her. She was driven solely on the need to have him everywhere.
In the course of her life, Maria had never been driven by desire, but something about the way Georg touched and kissed her had elicited a need that Maria didn't even know she had. She acted on completely primal urges to take the delicious pleasure coursing through her body higher. Though entirely inexperienced in such a situation, her body had seemed to react on instinct. Her hips rolled against his on an accord of their own, her body pressed against his in a desperate attempt to feel more of him, her lips attacked his with a passion she didn't know lay within her.
It was heavenly, she reflected. The feelings and pleasure he was able to elicit from her were unlike anything she had ever known. The way she had touched her, both with a gentleness and fierceness had been extraordinary.
She waited for the guilt and regret to work its way under her skin at the memory of what they had done the night before, but it never came. She expected to feel disgusted with herself. Having only have just gotten involved with Georg, she expected to feel guilt for giving herself to him so easily, but the guilt never came.
She couldn't feel the disgust she believed she ought to. He had made her feel incredible in ways she couldn't possibly have imagined. She had been entirely honest when she had told him that she trusted him, she had. And he had been gentler and more tender than she could have anticipated. He had taken his time to make her feel immense pleasure, while being incredibly patient with her lack of experience. In those moments they shared with every inch of him covering every inch of her, she couldn't feel anything besides want, adoration, and desire.
She was brought out of her reverie when Georg's arm tightened around her waist, his face nuzzling into her hair. She let her face break into a smile as she felt him wrapped around her.
"Good morning," he muttered into her hair, his voice still husky from sleep, eliciting a shudder down her spine. She began to turn in his arms, wanting to see his face. He loosened his grip, allowing her to turn fully towards him. Her heart stilled in her chest when she caught sight of his face.
He looked at her with a sleepy smile on his face, his hair completely mussed and the untamed waves sticking up in places all over his head. It seemed entirely impossible for him to be more handsome, but in that moment, his head resting against the pillows and the faint dimples making an appearance on his cheeks, Maria was convinced he had never been more handsome.
"Good morning," she replied. She felt his hand rest on her hip, his thumb tracing small circles on her skin. His smile grew as his eyes scanned over her face. The dimples were out in full force, and she found him entirely irresistible. He lifted his head, bringing it closer to her own to press a chaste kiss against her lips. Her eyes closed as she felt the sparks all over her body at his touch.
He let his head fall back against the pillows, and Maria opened her eyes to find him gazing at her with adoration. She felt her face flush under his watchful eye.
"Are you okay?" he asked. She presumed he was referring to the previous night. She gave a soft smile at his concern. His worrying about her made her feel important; it made her feel cared for in a way she wasn't sure she had ever known.
"Yes," she said, eliciting another grin from Georg. "Are you okay?"
"No," he replied. Maria frowned at her answer and wondered if she had done something wrong. His light laugh caused her thoughts to stop, along with her heart. "I'm more than okay. I'm amazing."
Maria had to smile at that. He looked incredibly at peace in the moment, and it looked good on him. Before she could reply, he was moving. He rolled over her, holding himself up on his forearms as he gazed down at her.
"I'll tell you why," he said, pressing a kiss to her nose. He moved his lips to her temple. "Because a beautiful," he muttered against her skin before pressing another kiss to her cheek, "incredible," another kiss to her jaw this time, "wonderful," a kiss under her jaw, "breathtaking woman," a kiss behind her ear before he sucked lightly at the skin, causing Maria to gasp, "woke up in my arms this morning."
Maria felt her body tremble at his words as his breath whispered across the shell of her ear. He brought his head back to look down at her, a fond smile on his face. She looked up at him and saw the clear oceans of his eyes darken with desire. The sight of him above her, gazing down at her with clear admiration in his eyes, was enough to stir something familiar deep within her.
Her hand travelled into her hair, the soft locks slipping through her fingertips like silk. She brought his head down slowly, needing to feel his lips on hers. At first, the touch of their lips was tender, soft, a delicate dance of the feelings that stir between them. It wasn't until Georg lowered himself ever so slightly and Maria felt the hard evidence of just how much he wanted her against her lower abdomen that her lips parted, and his tongue was sliding into her mouth.
Her body was once again set alight at the taste of him on her tongue, and the feel of his weight covering her. Her free hand slipped around to his back, her fingertips digging into the muscles of his lower back gently, causing him to moan into her mouth. It was easy to lose herself in Georg, she reflected, perhaps too easy.
It was then that a loud, insistent knocking sounded throughout the room, followed by the jiggle of the doorknob. His head snapped away from her as he looked over his shoulder towards the door. Maria felt her blood run cold.
"Father! We can't find Maria," a small voice urged from the other side. Maria felt a chill go through her veins as she recognized Brigitta's voice. Her heart sped up at the prospect of getting caught in Georg's bed.
For a moment, neither of them moved. They were both frozen in place as they let it sink in what was happening. The only sound in the room was the sound of their mixed ragged breaths, and the frantic beating of their hearts.
"Father!" Brigitta's voice exclaimed again. That seemed to spring Georg into action as he hopped off of Maria, standing next to the bed. He grabbed his phone off the nightstand and looked turned it on.
"Oh god," he groaned. Maria sat up, looking at him with bewildered eyes.
"What?" she asked in a hushed whisper. Georg showed her the time on his screen, and she immediately felt the panic flood through her. It was past eight-thirty. Breakfast had already commenced, the entire household was awake, and Maria wasn't where she was supposed to be.
"I'll be right there, Brigitta," he called in the direction of the door before running into closet. Maria sat there, not knowing exactly what to do. She couldn't very well let Brigitta see her sat in her father's bed, undressed at that, but where was she supposed to go? What was she supposed to do? Georg stumbled out of the closet, struggling to do up his jeans.
"What do we do?" she asked. Georg glanced over at her before averting his eyes and letting out a quiet groan. He retreated back into the closet before coming out with two shirts. He threw one in her direction.
"Put that on, I can't think when you look like that," he said. Maria's eyebrows furrowed but she slipped her arms into the soft material of the dress shirt, her fingers fumbling to do up the buttons.
"Like what?" she asked. Georg wouldn't look at her. Instead, he shoved his own shirt over his head and kept his eyes directed at the wall.
"Undressed and sitting in my bed," he replied, his voice coming out as a low growl. Her face began to feel incredibly hot at his words. She tried to focus on doing up the buttons instead of the implications of his words. Another insistent knock came at the door. Maria looked up when she heard Georg growl again.
"Somehow, this is much worse," he muttered, his eyes roaming over her dressed in his shirt. Her face had to be scarlet now. She finished doing up the buttons before Georg's voice sounded again.
"In the bathroom," he said in a hushed whisper. Maria got out of the bed but paused as their trail of clothes caught her attention. "Maria, we don't have time."
"The clothes," she whispered back to him. Georg looked down at the floor, his eyes scanning over the various articles of clothing scattered across the carpet. She swore she saw the hue of his face darken ever so slightly as his eyes roamed over the clothing trail of their activities from the night before.
Without any further hesitation, Georg bent down, gathering the clothes in a bundle in his arms before handing them to Maria. With one last glance of worry, she made her way into the bathroom, closing the door as quietly as she could before leaning against the door.
She could hear his footsteps as he crossed the floor to the bedroom door. She heard the telltale click of him unlocking the door and wondered when the hell he had locked it last night. She didn't dwell on it; it was a blessing that he had.
"Now, what is so important at such an ungodly hour?" she heard his voice ask. She marvelled at how calm and collected he sounded, considering the position they had been in only moments before. She certainly didn't feel calm in any sense.
"It's eight-thirty, father," she heard Brigitta tell Georg. Maria couldn't believe they had slept in so late. She was typically an early riser. She knew Georg also tended to wake rather early, so at the prospect that they had slept in past breakfast, she was shocked.
"I must have slept in. Now, what's this about Maria?" he asked. Maria bit her lip. Would Brigitta somehow know that she was hiding in his room?
"We can't find her. She's not in her room. When she didn't come to wake us up, we went to find her, but she wasn't there," Brigitta said frantically. Maria swore the girl hadn't even taken a breath as she spoke.
"Did you check the gardens? I know she likes to take walks in the morning," he replied gently. Maria smiled to herself at the mention of the gardens. In the last week, she and Georg had taken a few walks through the gardens before the children woke up. It was one of the rare times that they could talk without any interruptions.
"No, we didn't check the gardens. But why would she have missed breakfast?" Brigitta asked, the concern clear in her voice. Maria smiled at the worry Brigitta had for her well being. It was rather nice to be worried about, Maria was realizing.
"Well, she doesn't entirely have the best time management skills," she heard Georg reply. Maria let out an audible scoff at his statement before quickly covering her mouth with her hand. Had she completely ruined her cover? If she had, it was entirely Georg's fault.
"What was that?" Brigitta's voice sounded. Maria clamped her eyes shut, praying she hadn't compromised them.
"I'm sure it was nothing. I left a window open in the bathroom last night. Sweetheart, I'm sure Maria is fine. Why don't you go see if you can find her outside? I'll be down in a few minutes, and I'll help with the search," he said smoothly. Maria marvelled at the way he was able to sell a lie in an almost cool manner.
"Okay. You'll be down soon?" she heard the girl ask sweetly.
"Yes. Just let me get ready," Georg replied. Maria heard a muffled exchange of goodbyes before she heard the door click shut. Only seconds later, the door to the en-suit was being flung open to reveal Georg.
"That was close," he muttered. His eyes scanned her face before his gaze seemed to drop down to her body clad in his shirt. She didn't miss the way his tongue flicked out to lick his lips as his gaze travelled further south. Maria fought off the shiver that threatened to run down her spine as his eyes roamed over her, an insatiable hunger deep within them.
Almost as if realizing he was blatantly staring at her, he shook his head, his eyes coming back up to meet hers. She watched a weak smile form on his face.
"I haven't slept in so late in a very long time," he told her. She nodded in agreement, brushing past him. She tried to will her body to calm down. With the threat of being caught still looming over her, and the heat of Georg's stare burning through her, Maria felt her nerves stand on end. She walked over to the bed and placed the bundle of clothes down before sorting through them. She frowned as she registered the dampness of the material.
Not more than a moment had passed before she felt an arm slide around her waist. She leaned back into his warmth. His lips came to kiss just under her jaw, nipping lightly at the skin. She couldn't fight the shiver that ran down her spine as she felt his warmth breath tickle her skin. For a moment, she let her eyes flutter shut as Georg continued his attentions. For a moment, she just let herself revel in the heat of his touch, and the way it made her whole body come alive.
After a moment, her eyes opened, and she was reminded of the situation they were in. The children were still looking for her and were likely to come back at any moment to request their father's assistance. Her hand came to rest over his on her waist.
"Georg," she said. He didn't stop, his lips pressing open mouthed kisses insistently along her neck.
"Hm?" he muttered against her skin. Maria very nearly groaned at the vibrations his voice made against her neck.
"I-I need to leave," she told him. She heard his groan of disapproval, but he backed away all the same. She grabbed her leggings, slipping them over her legs. She winced at the dampness. It certainly wasn't the most pleasant feeling, but it was all the clothing she had. She went to unbutton Georg's shirt but was stopped by his voice.
"What are you doing?" he asked. She could hear the strain in his voice. She had almost forgotten that he was standing behind her, watching her get dressed. Her face burned with mortification. She turned towards him.
"I was going to change my shirt and give this one back to you," she replied. She watched as he shook his head, a dangerous smirk playing on his lips.
"If you take that off, the likelihood that I let you leave the room is slim," he told her, his eyes turning dark. Maria felt the flush travel down her chest. Her heart hammered at his words. "Just take it for now. It looks far better on you than it ever did on me, anyways."
"What if I run into the children?" she asked. His smirk widened.
"They could be searching the gardens for another twenty minutes for you. I doubt that you'll run into one of them," he told her. She nodded weakly, feeling her knees turning to jelly at the uninhibited way his eyes roamed over her. She turned quickly, hoping to hide the blush in her cheeks. She picked up her clothes and bundled them in her arms.
When she turned back, she saw that he had made his way to the door, peeking his head out into the hall. She walked up behind him, and he turned towards her, a smile on his face.
"You're all clear," he whispered. She gave him a smile, taking a step to exit the room. She stopped when she felt him catch her hand in his. Before she could process what was happening, his lips were on hers again, his hand coming to hold the back of her head. She melted into the kiss, feeling the fire within her body light up again.
Before she was able to fully appreciate the feel of his lips, he was gone again, a mischievous smirk on his lips.
"I'll see you soon," he said, his hand slipping across her face in a lingering touch. She was too dazed to reply. Her head was hazy from the taste of his lips. She only nodded before walking out of the room, tiptoeing to her own room with a smile she just couldn't wipe off her face.
Maria sighed happily as the breeze blew through her hair. She looked up to the clear blue sky, her heart so full she thought it might burst. The mid-afternoon sun shone warmly on her skin. For a moment, she closed her eyes and inhaled the summer air. In that moment, everything was perfect.
The morning had been a little awkward after explaining to the children that she hadn't been missing, she had simply been on a walk off the property and had lost track of the time. She had received a few skeptical glances, as well as a hearty laugh from Georg, but none of the children made a move to question her explanation. They were simply glad to have the presence of their governess again.
The rest of the day had gone smoothly. The children had worked diligently on their studies until Georg interrupted in mid-morning to spend some time with them. She smiled as she remembered the way he had sat Gretl on his lap as he asked her to explain her math questions to him. He had glanced up at Maria, his baby girl in his arms, and he had flashed her a dazzling smile that had nearly unhinged her on the spot. It had taken all her energy to keep a straight face and turn away from his soft, unwavering gaze.
Lunch had come and gone, and the afternoon had rolled in with bright sunlight and clear skies. Georg had announced that he fancied a game of tag with his children, to which an eruption of cheers sounded at the table. The nine of them had gone directly outside to make the most of the afternoon.
The day had been so lovely that Maria felt at total peace. It was uncomplicated. It was a calm day spent with the children and Georg. She felt that nothing could come and ruin such a beautiful day.
When she felt a tap at her left side, Maria opened her eyes, her thoughts of peace escaping her.
"You're it!" Kurt exclaimed, running in the opposite direction. Maria let out a playful giggle before dashing towards the closest child she could find. That just happened to be Louisa. The girl was fast, but Maria was faster. Maria stretched her arm out, just barely grazing the girl's shoulder with her fingertips.
Louisa let out an exasperated sigh, stopping dead in her tracks as Maria took off the other way. Maria looked over her shoulder as she slowed to a jog, watching as Louisa selected her target. The girl's eyes quickly landed on her father, who was holding Marta in front of him as a shield. Louisa took off, breaking out into a sprint as she chased after her father. Georg, seeing that he was the next target, released Marta from his grip before running away from Louisa.
Maria let out a light chuckle as she watched Georg dash behind a tree. The sight of Georg playing so freely with his children created a pull deep within her heart. He was so carefree in that moment, so alive. His boyish dimples seemed to be permanently etched on his face as he dodged Louisa's attempts to catch him. His eyes were brightened, both by the sun and the activity. There was something completely refreshing about seeing him this way – seeing him happy.
She watched on as Georg continued to sprint around the yard, his second eldest daughter quickly closing in on him. In one sudden moment, he looked over his shoulder as if to gage how far behind him Louisa was, causing him to misstep on an uneven patch of grass. He fell forward, his body landing with a hard thud on the ground. Louisa stopped, a gasp escaping her lips, as the other children called out to their father.
Without thinking, Maria's feet were taking her over to where Georg's body lay facedown on the ground. As she got closer, she could hear the faint sound of his chuckle from where he lay. She approached him tentatively, crouching down next to him as the children began to surround their father.
"Are you all right?" she asked softly. Georg rolled over on his back, letting out a sigh. His eyes met hers, before scanning the worried faces of his children.
"I'm fine," he said with a light chuckle. Maria gave him a soft smile. His eyes flitted between the eight faces looming over him. "You'd think I've broken a hip or something."
A couple of the children snickered.
"Did you?" Kurt asked blankly. Georg's smile faded from his face as he lifted his head off the ground to look properly at his son.
"How old do you think I am?" Georg asked. Kurt shrugged.
"Old," the boy replied. Georg jumped up with an agility that surprised even Maria. He walked over to Kurt, ruffling his hair fondly. Maria watched as he opened his mouth to retort, but another voice cut him off.
"Surprise!" came the exclamation of a familiar tone from the terrace. Maria's eyes snapped to the terrace as she rose from the ground to find Max walking through the back doors, Elsa trailing behind him.
Maria's blood turned to ice as she laid her eyes on Elsa. The woman crossed the terrace with a grace like no other, her lips quirked in a polite smile as she eyed Georg and the children. However, her eyes grew dark as her gaze landed on Maria. Maria swallowed the lump that began to form in her throat as Elsa stared her down. Maria felt as if Elsa could see right through her, as if she knew what Maria had done.
While the previous night had been one of utter ecstasy, Maria realized with a pounding heart that she hadn't given much thought to Elsa. She suddenly felt foolish. She had disregarded a woman who likely believed that Georg was faithful to her in favour of her own desires. Wasn't that the reason they had wanted to take things slow? Weren't they taking things slow until Georg had a chance to speak to Elsa?
Maria suddenly felt dirty. The way she had disregarded the fact that there was another woman still in the picture caused all the guilt and disgust she had expected to feel earlier to seep into her bones. She felt as if she were going to be sick.
The silence was stifling in the yard. Maria averted her eyes from Elsa's unnerving stare, glancing to Georg instead. His smile had fallen as his eyes grew distant. Maria wondered if he was coming to the same realization that they had disrespected Elsa entirely.
"This is the saddest welcome I've ever received," Max scoffed. While Max's voice was one of mock exasperation, his eyes told a different story. He looked between Maria and Georg carefully, seemingly assessing the tension that had grown quickly in the summer air.
Max's voice seemed to do the trick to shake Georg from his thoughts. Maria watched as a polite smile forced its way on his face, though, she noticed it didn't reach his eyes. She desperately wanted to know what was going through his mind in that moment. Was he regretful? Was he nervous? Did he wish he could take it back? The never-ending questions were unsettling to Maria's piece of mind.
"I wasn't expecting you today," Georg said gently, his arm still around Kurt's shoulders. Maria's attention was torn from Georg when she saw Elsa descending the stairs to approach Georg. Something about the way she walked so confidently towards him made Maria's stomach twist. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Kurt taking a few steps away from his father as Elsa approached.
"We would have called, but Max and I thought the surprise would be so much more fun," she told him. Elsa stood in front of Georg, giving him a light kiss on the cheek in greeting. Maria felt her stomach unsettle as she averted her eyes. She didn't feel that she had a reason to be jealous of the situation, and yet, when she watched Elsa give Georg a simple kiss on the cheek, it ignited a wave of discomfort in the pit of her stomach that wouldn't go away.
Maria glanced around at the children, who were giving each other looks of confusion at the entrance of Elsa and Max. Liesl's gaze fell on Maria, her eyebrow quirked in question as if asking if Maria was okay. Maria gave a small nod before looking away. She was fine. She had to be. Even if she did feel guilty and deeply uncomfortable.
"Do you mind if I borrow you, Georg?" Elsa asked sweetly. Her eyes shifted to Maria's with a fiery gaze that caused Maria's stomach to twist uncomfortably. Her look seemed to be one of possession of Georg. Georg nodded gently, shifting his eyes to Maria and offering her a small smile. Without another word, Elsa turned on her heel to walk inside, Georg trailing closely behind her.
Maria watched helplessly as Georg ascended the stairs, past a seemingly amused Max on the terrace. When they reached the doors, Georg glanced back over his shoulder, offering Maria a sad smile that deeply unsettled her. She stared blankly at the doors long after he had disappeared through them.
Was he going to talk to Elsa about everything he said he would? Was he going to tell Elsa the truth? She almost felt nauseous. She briefly wondered if Elsa would confront her. Perhaps Elsa would take it gracefully, as she seemed to do with anything, but there was something about the situation that seemed off to Maria. She couldn't quite place her finger on it. Perhaps it was just her nerves getting the best of her.
"I don't like her," Gretl's voice said, shaking Maria from her distant thoughts. She looked at the young girl who had crossed her arms over her chest, her bottom lip sticking out in a pout.
"Gretl, that's not nice to say," Maria said, her voice sounding distant to her ears. She struggled to regain her composure. Georg would talk to Elsa, and everything would be fine, she told herself. She only hoped that it was the truth.
"She always takes father away. I wish she never came back," Gretl whined. Maria let out an exasperated sigh as she looked around to the solemn faces of the other children. She needed to set aside her anxieties and focus on the children. They had been so happy over the past week when his attention had been almost entirely focused on them, and now they feared that with the reappearance of the guests, they would lose him again.
"I'm sure he'll come back soon," she said, more to herself than them. She watched as a few of the children nodded, but Maria could see the disappointment behind their eyes.
"Why don't you continue playing your game? I'm sure your father would love to join you when he's finished," she suggested. For a moment, none of the children moved. They stood in their spots, looking down at the ground beneath their feet with sorrow in their eyes. It wasn't until Friedrich made the first move, tapping Brigitta on the shoulder before running away.
"You're it," he called. Maria smiled. Friedrich, she had noticed, had been taking more and more initiative when it came to his younger siblings. He had become a bit of a leader. Maria smiled as she remembered when Gretl had tripped over her feet only days ago. She had cried out, tears escaping her eyes rapidly as she had scraped her knee. Before Maria or Georg could even get to her, Friedrich had her sat in his lap, brushing her tears away as he soothed her with a calming voice. He really was becoming a fine young man, and an exceptional older brother.
Maria watched for a moment as the children restarted their game. While it wasn't as enthusiastic as it had been before, each of them participated with as much energy as they could muster. Even Liesl, who had admitted to Maria that she wasn't a fan of tag, joined in. She smiled at the image, her affection for the seven of them swelling in her heart.
After a moment, Maria turned away, her gaze gravitating towards the doors Georg had disappeared through. Knowing that he likely wouldn't be coming back out of them for a while, her gaze shifted around the terrace. She spotted Max, who had taken a seat at the table. He watched the children, a wistful smile on his face. Maria made her way up the stairs and in his direction. Max could be a good distraction for her increasing anxieties.
"Maria, just the person I wanted to talk to," he said as he caught her eyes. Maria gave him a timid smile before reaching for the pitcher of water on the table, pouring herself a glass. She frowned as she emptied the pitcher.
"How are you, Max?" she asked before taking a seat.
"Oh, I'm fine," Max replied with a nonchalant shrug. His eyes landed on her, scanning her face with a hint of skepticism. Maria could feel her cheeks flush slightly at his scrutiny. Could he know what had happened? "And how are you, Maria? How did you manage this week?"
"I've been fine. The children have been quite active this week. Everything's been quite all right," she replied, straining to keep her voice as neutral as possible. She cringed slightly at the awkwardness of her words. Typically, she had no problem making small talk. What was happening to her? Why was she struggling over the simplest of conversations? She took a deep breath, desperate for her control to return to her mind.
She watched as Max narrowed his eyes in her direction. He seemed to scan her face carefully, as if trying to solve a puzzle in her features. She took a sip of her water, hoping her face wasn't displaying the insecurities she was feeling. She willed her features to remain neutral.
"And Georg?" he asked, his voice filled with an air of innuendo that Maria didn't entirely like. She very nearly choked on her water at the sound of his name. She brought the glass away from her lips, trying to get her breathing to slow. So much for Max being a good distraction.
"He's been well, I suppose," she replied, looking down at her cup of water. She was afraid of revealing too much. She was afraid of giving something away before Georg had gotten the chance to speak to Elsa. She was afraid of the way Max eyed her like a hawk.
"I was worried after the night of the dinner party. His actions were deplorable at best," he said, a finger coming up to stroke at his thin mustache absentmindedly. Maria gave a weak nod, keeping her eyes on her glass. If she looked at Max directly, she was sure her feelings would be written all over her face.
"Yes, we've discussed that," she said, feeling her face heat more as she felt Max's gaze burning a hole through her skin. For a moment, the man said nothing. He seemed to only observe Maria with a watchful eye.
"I bet you did," she heard him mutter. She was sure that she wasn't supposed to have heard the suggestive comment, but she did. She was sure she looked something akin to a tomato by now. Did he know? Would he ask her? She couldn't imagine what she would say if he did.
She couldn't take the silence anymore. She couldn't take the idea that Max somehow knew everything that had taken place that week. She couldn't take the way his eyes raked over her in an almost judgmental manner. She needed to leave, if only for a moment to catch her breath. She stood abruptly, grabbing the now empty water pitcher in her hands.
"I'm going to go get more water," she told him. She watched as he regarded her with a nod, his eyes travelling to where the children played. His steely gaze and hard-set jaw was the first indication that something was wrong. For a typically jovial man, Max's frown gave Maria cause for concern. Had she said something she wasn't supposed to? Had she given everything away? She refused to get hung up on it. If Georg was in fact talking to Elsa, Max would know everything soon enough. Whether he would be happy with the news, given his loyalty to Elsa, was another matter entirely.
She walked through the double doors, letting out the breath she hadn't known she had been holding. Her mind raced. Were they really going to tell people that they were involved? It suddenly seemed like too much. When it had just been her and Georg, it had been easy. What would the children think? Would Elsa be furious? Would Max despise her for breaking up his best friends?
The questions began to flood her head at an alarming rate. She had thought about these questions before, of course, but she thought she didn't think she would be facing this day so soon. She barely knew where her feelings stood.
She liked Georg, that much she was sure of. She liked the way she felt when she was with him. The way her entire body set aflame when he touched her was unlike anything she had ever experienced. He never failed to make her laugh, and his smile was enough to make her heart beat twice as fast. She knew she was attracted to him, and she knew that she felt more than just a platonic warmth towards him, that much was clear the previous night.
But how far did her feelings go? She cared for him deeply, and that frightened her beyond belief. She couldn't identify specifically where she felt she was with him. There was mutual attraction, but when Maria was with him, something else began to burn brighter from within the depths of her heart. She found herself wanting to be around him all the time. She found herself catching his eye from across the room and wanting to kiss that infuriating smirk from his face.
She knew she had never felt this way about anyone before. She had never felt like she was home just by looking into the depths of someone's eyes, as she felt with Georg. She had never felt safer than when she was wrapped in Georg's arms. She had never felt more beautiful than when Georg told her that he thought she was beautiful. She had never burned for anyone the way she did for Georg.
But did he feel the same? While he had assured her that he had feelings for her and was obviously physically attracted to her, did he want her beyond that? He had said that he hoped she would be in his life for a long time, but had he meant it? She was sure he wouldn't say anything he didn't mean, but she couldn't be entirely sure where his heart was. He wasn't exactly the type of man who wore his heart on his sleeve, unlike the way she did.
She shook her head from her thoughts. She shouldn't be concerned about where Georg's head and heart were at. With time she would find out. But as she began her trek towards the kitchen, she couldn't help but feel the nagging doubt in the corners of her mind, driving her crazy.
She shouldn't be doubting him or how he felt. He had been nothing but kind and patient with her the night before. She had seen the care in his eyes. She had seen the want he had for her. That was enough, right? They said they would go slow. Her feelings might have accelerated, but his might not have. She would have to treat him with the same patience he treated her with.
She was just about to the kitchen, the glass pitcher held delicately in her hands. Perhaps when she ventured back outside, Georg would be waiting there. The thought brought a smile to her face. Just as she was about to turn into the kitchen, she heard a voice.
"Maria!" Maria stopped in her tracks and turned to find one of the maids skipping down the hall. She recognized her as Heidi, one of the newer maids. She was around Maria's age, and she had always been nothing but kind to Maria, if not a little chatty at times. Maria didn't often mind though; it had been nice to have an ally at the beginning of her stay in the von Trapp house.
"Heidi, how are you?" Maria asked, greeting the girl with a smile. Heidi returned her smile, a beaming grin on her face.
"You'll never believe what I found in the Captain's room this morning while cleaning up," Heidi exclaimed. Maria's blood turned to ice for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. Had she left something behind in Georg's room that morning? Had they been discovered? Maria stared blankly at the girl in front of her. Words seemed to completely escape her in that moment.
"Take a guess," Heidi said. The girl was practically vibrating with excitement. Maria shook her head, trying to collect her thoughts. Her mind kept wandering back to his room, and whether or not she had forgotten something there.
"I wouldn't have a clue," Maria replied, her voice wavering slightly. She covered it by clearing her throat. If Heidi noticed, she didn't seem to care.
"A ring!" Heidi exclaimed in an excited whisper. Maria was taken aback by that. She hadn't known Georg to be a ring man. But then again, she figured there were probably several things she didn't know about him; one of which could have been that he was inclined towards rings. Though, she noted, he had never worn one.
"A ring?" Maria asked, an eyebrow quirked. She let herself feel relief flood through her veins. Her heart started beating normally again. At least, she hadn't left anything behind that would indicate she had been there. Though she doubted the importance of a ring in his room. Why would Heidi be telling her about it?
"An engagement ring, silly," Heidi said. That stopped Maria's heart entirely. She didn't have much time to process the words engagement ring before Heidi was speaking again. "He's finally going to propose to Mrs. Schraeder!"
Maria felt as if she couldn't breathe, as the words struck her square in the chest. He wouldn't… Would he? He had told her that his and Elsa's relationship had been somewhat casual over the years. He had told her that he didn't see Elsa in his future. He had told her it would be over with Elsa the moment she returned. But why on earth would he have an engagement ring? There has to be a logical explanation, she told herself.
"Maybe you're mistaken," Maria said weakly. The girl had to be mistaken. Perhaps she had found Agathe's engagement ring in his room. Or maybe there was a different explanation entirely. Heidi shook her head at Maria.
"I thought that at first too. I thought it could have been his first wife's, but then I remembered that her rings, along with his wedding band, were kept in the attic. Mrs. Schmidt warns all the maids never to go snooping around up there because all his wife's stuff is up there. It must be for Mrs. Schraeder! And good riddance. I hear he was a bit of a cad before he met her," Heidi said. Maria stilled, her hands gripping the glass pitcher in her hands just a little tighter. That was new information.
"I didn't picture him as that sort of man," Maria replied quietly. Georg had assured her the night they met that he didn't often go around picking up women at clubs. She had no reason to doubt him in that regard. Or did she have reason to doubt him? He had spoken about the utter and complete loss he had felt after his wife had died, but he had never gone into detail about what he had done in the years after her death before he met Elsa. She shook her head of the thoughts. She shouldn't question him. She trusted him.
"Oh, yes. Mrs. Schmidt told me that after his poor wife died, he would get into these drunken stupors and sleep around. I think it was because he couldn't handle the pain, but once he met Mrs. Schraeder, they were nearly attached at the hip. One time, he spent three months in Vienna without returning," Heidi informed.
Maria's heart seemed to stop beating. She felt her faith in Georg waver. Had he lied to her? If he had, she supposed it hadn't been any of her business really, but the fact that he had told her that he didn't do that sort of thing stung deep in her chest. Perhaps she really had just been a woman in a club he was trying to pick up and take to his bed.
She wasn't sure if the lying stung more or the way Heidi spoke of him and Elsa. Maria had never seen Georg be overly warm towards Elsa, nor had he told her that he felt anything more that fleeting attracting towards Elsa. She had assumed that Elsa and Georg were distantly involved in a casual way. Had she been wrong? Had she misread Georg's feelings entirely?
"I thought the two of you were rather close. I thought he might have mentioned something to you about Mrs. Schraeder," Heidi said. Maria blinked twice before looking back up at the girl.
"Erm, no," Maria replied, trying to still her rapidly beating heart. She could see why Georg wouldn't be entirely forward with the pieces of his life where he had felt broken and perhaps desperate for the physical closeness of another person. He had made mistakes that he was likely keen to forget – that she could understand in a sense, whether she liked it or not. But it didn't explain the rest of it – the engagement ring for one.
Had she horribly misread Georg's intentions? He had said that he didn't want a future with Elsa, but two years was a significant amount of time to spend with someone. Elsa likely knew Georg better than Maria did. What if she had been wrong? What if Georg really did love Elsa? He had told her that he didn't, but could he be in denial?
"Maria, you're quite pale, are you all right?" Heidi asked. Maria brought herself from her daze to force a weak smile.
"Yes, I'm fine. Would you mind bringing this pitcher to the kitchen to be filled?" Maria asked. Heidi gave her a skeptical look but took the pitcher from Maria's trembling hands.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Heidi asked. Maria nodded, but she didn't feel okay. She felt dizzy from the never-ending questions flying through her mind.
"Yes, I think I've got a bit of a headache today is all," she replied, her voice sounding foreign to her ears.
"Okay, I'll see you later," the girl said in her typical whimsical fashion, before continuing down the hall towards the kitchen. Maria took a shaky breath as she processed the information that she had been made aware of.
An engagement ring didn't necessarily mean anything, did it? Georg had to have a reasonable explanation. She had no reason to doubt him. Besides, what did Heidi really know? Maria couldn't help but feel a nervous tug at her stomach. Something didn't seem right. She felt as if her sanity was crumbling with all the unknowns that were suddenly so present before her; the unknowns she had failed to consider earlier.
She needed to talk to Georg. Surely, he would explain things. Surely, he would calm her increasingly frantic mind of the doubts that began to fester in her head. Surely, he would tell her that there was no reason to be upset, right?
She made her way down the hall. Where would she find him? Elsa had whisked him off for a conversation, but he couldn't have gone too far. She walked towards one of the sitting rooms where she could hear muffled voices. He was still talking to Elsa. She took a deep breath. She certainly wouldn't interrupt them, but perhaps she could wait until he was done to speak to him.
Discreetly, she walked towards the room. Her curiosity got the better of her, as it often did. She expected to see a fuming Elsa, or at least a visibly upset Elsa. She expected to see an awkward and strained exchange between the two. However, as her eyes landed on the two figures in the room, her eyes just about popped out of her head, her mind feeling as if it were collapsing in on itself.
As she peered in past the door, she saw Georg with his arms wrapped around Elsa in a tight embrace. Her arms were around him in turn, her hands smoothing over the planes of his back. She pressed a kiss to his cheek before whispering something in his ear. She heard Georg let out a laugh at whatever Elsa had whispered to him before he moved his head back to look Elsa in the eye, fixing her with a fond smile. Elsa smiled back as her eyes scanned Georg's face.
Elsa certainly didn't seem upset, and she definitely didn't look like a woman who had just been told the man she had been seeing for two years didn't see a future with her. No, Elsa looked oddly at peace, and it made Maria's gut twist as the doubts formed back in her mind twice as strong.
Maria felt her heart sink. Had she been so wrong? So foolish to think that Georg would break things off with Elsa to be with her? She had this foolish notion in her head that she and Georg might have been heading towards something real, something serious. But in that moment, she realized that he had never made her any promises.
He had been kind and hopeful in his words, yes. He had told that he had feelings towards her, but he had never made any claims for their future, besides saying that he hoped she would be in his and the children's lives for a long time. Thinking about it, that could have meant something entirely different from how she received it. Perhaps, she thought with a sinking feeling, he had only said it in the moment to satisfy her question in the moment.
She walked away from the door, not wanting to witness anymore of what seemed like an intimately private moment. She wasn't entirely sure where she was going. Her feet carried her blindly. She just knew that she had to get away. She had to get away from him. She had to get away from the situation. She needed to get away and just breathe, but her lungs felt as if they were being filled with water rather than air.
She found herself walking towards her room, her mind racing with thoughts. She began to decompartmentalize everything that happened between her and Georg.
He had seemed evasive of the Elsa topic whenever she brought it up. He wouldn't ignore the question, but he had typically brushed it off with a vague answer rather than talking more about it. She thought of their conversation the night before.
"What are you going to tell Elsa?"
"I'll tell her the truth. I'll tell her that it's not working and that I can't go on living a lie. I'll tell her that it's unfair to the both of us. I'll also have to confirm her suspicions about us."
If Georg had told Elsa that, she didn't wear any indication of it on her face. In fact, Elsa looked blissfully happy. Did he tell Elsa a lie? Or did he not have the heart to tell her the truth due to some sense of loyalty to her? Or worse, some semblance of love for her?
Maria let her mind run away from her as her feet carried her to her bedroom. She closed the door behind her, leaning against the wood for support as her legs began to feel as if they were about to give out on her.
Georg wouldn't have lied to her, would he? Then again, Heidi's words echoed through her mind.
"Mrs. Schmidt told me that after his poor wife died, he would get into these drunken stupors and sleep around."
If he hadn't been honest that night, had he been dishonest about anything else? She began to question how well she really knew Georg. They had rushed into their feelings. Once they had expressed their mutual attraction towards one, they acted on passion rather than sense. While they had taken the time to talk about their pasts, they hadn't really discussed the futures, and now that she thought about it, most of their conversations had ended with more kissing than words.
Not once in the time that they had spent together did Maria consider Georg to be untruthful, but then again, they had rushed in headfirst in a way. Maria had thought she had addressed the situation with Elsa, but clearly, she hadn't addressed it enough. Clearly, she didn't know what lay between Georg and Elsa in the two years that he had been involved with Elsa.
Maria wanted to believe that he was being completely honest about his feelings towards her, but there was something that seemed to be off about the situation. The engagement ring for one. Elsa's blissful state as she spoke to Georg for another. He had been quite vague when he spoke to Maria about the future as well. He had never made any promises or claims. He admitted to wanting to be with her, but had he also wanted to be with Elsa at the same time?
Hadn't Mrs. Schmidt even told her on her first night that she expected Georg to propose to Elsa by the end of the summer? Maria shook her head, her eyes clamping shut as she remembered the words of the housekeeper.
"I shouldn't be telling you this, but I trust that you won't say a word to anyone, I've got my money on the fact that he will propose by the end of the summer!"
Would Mrs. Schmidt have been so wrong? She had known Georg for a number of years. While Maria had only heard Georg's side of things, she couldn't attest to the nature of his relationship with Elsa. Perhaps there was more going on that Maria hadn't seen. Perhaps she had been wrong in believing Georg.
Her heart fell in her chest. She didn't think Georg was a liar. She trusted him with a capacity she had never known. She wanted to believe there was a good explanation for everything, but her mind was blanking on all the reasons she could use to prove her doubts wrong. All the new information and doubts began to overwhelm her. What if he really did intend on proposing to Elsa and she had played the fool, falling into his bed without a question? If he had been a cad before, what meant that he wasn't still one?
She thought about all the things Georg had told her.
"Is it so outrageous that someone may actually care about you and give a damn about what happens to you?"
"You've done more than you can imagine, Maria. From the moment I met you at that ghastly nightclub, you made me feels things I wasn't sure I would ever be able to feel again."
"What I didn't realize then was that you were it. You were the light in the dark."
Had it all been a lie? Some cruel ploy to get her into his bed? While Georg didn't seem cruel, Maria couldn't tell anymore. Somehow, everything had become completely and utterly muddled in her mind. She couldn't be sure of what was the truth and what was a lie.
She opened her eyes, realizing a solitary tear had fallen down her face. She wiped it away with the back of her hand. She wouldn't cry, not over this.
She contemplated what to do next. Logically, she knew she should talk to Georg. She should figure out the truth. She should let him defend himself from the growing doubts in her mind. But Maria didn't always like logic. She couldn't face him, not like this. She needed to think about things. She needed to not see him. She needed to get away so that she could breathe again.
Without much thought, Maria's feet took her to her closet. She grabbed her bag and began stuffing clothes in. For a moment she wondered what the hell she was doing. She couldn't leave like this. She had made a commitment to stay until the end of summer. Wasn't that more important than whatever doubts she was feeling about Georg? The answer should have easily been yes, but there was a selfish part of her that screamed for her to leave, to escape the clutches of darkness her mind had spiraled into.
In the end, her impulses won out. She had heard about the fight or flight response, and in that moment, her response seemed to be flight. She hated herself for it. She had always prided herself on being a fighter. She fought for what she believed in and for what she thought was right. Why couldn't she now? Why couldn't she stay and confront Georg the way she knew she ought to?
She gathered all of her clothes into her bag, along with the few personal items she had. She stilled when her eyes landed on the shirt Georg had given her to wear that morning hung up in the closet. Tears began to form in her eyes once again, but she would not let them fall. Her hand reached out to stroke the material with her fingertips. She felt a pang in her heart as the material slipped through her fingertips.
She let her mind travel back to that morning. He had been so sweet and tender, and there was a look in his eyes that had made her feel like she was the most beautiful woman in the world. How could that man be untruthful? It wasn't possible was it? For a moment, she wondered if what she was doing was crazy. Perhaps she was being too rash.
She pictured the way he looked; his head against the pillows, his hair sticking out of place, the light smile on his face nearly as radiant as the morning sun filtering in through the drapes. Maria had never seen so much beauty before her. She was sure, for a split second, that she wouldn't mind waking up to that image everyday for the rest of her life.
But perhaps it had been too good to be true. Perhaps she had been too hopeful, or too naïve, or too foolish. Perhaps she had misread his looks of want for that akin to love. Tears prickled at her eyes once again as the word crossed her mind. Love. She had to be delusional if she had thought for a second that he might have loved her. She had to be delusional if she thought she had belonged in his life. After all, weren't they as different as two people could be?
Yes, she thought, she probably was being rash and impulsive, but she couldn't stay here. Not while her mind was a wreck trying to process everything. She wouldn't be able to look at him without the doubts creeping from the corners of her mind. She wouldn't be able to handle it if he confirmed the doubts that were weighing heavy on her heart.
She turned away from the closet abruptly, her eyes landing on the pad of paper and pen that lay on her desk. She walked over, picking up the pen in her hand and staring at the piece of paper. Her hand came down, and two solitary words were scribbled across the paper.
I'm sorry.
Two words. That's all she could manage without letting the tears fall over. She knew if she cried, she wouldn't be able to stop. She couldn't afford to cry right now. God forbid someone find her. Those two words didn't seem to say enough, but it was all she could muster. She didn't quite know what she was sorry about. Was she sorry about leaving? Was she sorry that she doubted him? Was she sorry that she needed to leave rather than talk to him, lest the doubts crush her very soul? She wasn't quite sure; she only knew that she was sorry that this was the way it had to be in the moment.
She placed the pen down before gathering up her bags. She took one last look around the room she had become so fond of. She pictured the children jumping on her bed the night of the thunderstorm, watching and laughing while she sang to them.
The children. How could she leave them? Each and everyone of them had left an imprint on her heart. She had come to care about them more fiercely than she could have ever imagined. In her own way, she loved those seven children with all of her heart. She briefly considered what she was doing. Would it crush them? Could she bear to cause them that sort of pain?
She shook her head. She couldn't stay, she knew that much. As much as she loved the children, she knew they could handle it. She wasn't their mother; she was a governess. She would have had to leave eventually, and they knew that. She was just leaving a little earlier than expected. Besides, with their relationship repaired with their father, she was sure they wouldn't need a governess soon enough. They had their father now, and that, Maria believed, was enough. It was all they had ever wanted.
She stopped her thoughts. She didn't want to think about the way she might cause the children pain with her absence. If she stayed, she would only be causing her own pain. With a sigh, Maria turned, opening the door gently, before walking out the door and off to make her exit.
Georg had been wary about entering the house with Elsa. After experiencing an entirely blissful night and a peaceful day, Elsa and Max's entrance had put a slight damper on his mood. He hadn't missed the way Maria's eyes had flashed with anxiety as he entered the house. All he could do was give her a weak smile before he was whisked away to what he assumed was going to be a very painful conversation.
Elsa had led him to one of the sitting rooms, and his nerves began to stand on end. How should he start? Should he just come right out and say it? Should he ease into the conversation? He was at a loss with how to start a conversation of such a nature. His mind flashed back to Maria and the perfect way she had looked in his arms that morning. He needed to do something. He needed to say something so that he could wake up like that everyday; with her in his arms and his heart so full that it could burst with the love he held for her.
"How have you been, Georg?" Elsa asked, turning to face him as they stopped in the room. For all intents and purposes, she looked to be the ever-polite Elsa he knew but brewing beneath those blue eyes was something dark. He could see the suspicions and skepticism cloud her features. Georg swallowed the lump in his throat. He needed to say something. He couldn't just stand there like a deer in headlights.
"I've been well, and you? How is your aunt?" he asked, his voice surprisingly level. He supposed he would ease into the conversation.
"I've been fine. My aunt will be fine. She's in rehabilitation right now. She'll have to learn basic functions again, but she's alive," Elsa said. Her voice almost sounded bored. Georg nodded gently, a moment passing before he made his response.
"I'm glad to hear that she's okay," he said rather awkwardly. Elsa eyed him curiously, her gaze burning through him. He felt like she was seeing right through him, as if she already knew what he was about to say. He felt heat begin to prickle at the back of his neck as the silence stretched on. He knew he had to start the conversation, but he couldn't seem to figure out how. He had run the scenario over in his head several times, but now, his words escaped him.
"Have you thought about what we discussed before I left?" she asked, ending the several minute silence. Elsa appeared to have no problem diving into the conversation. Georg took in a shaky breath. He could hear the pounding of his heart in his ears. You have to do this, he told himself, for Maria.
"I have," he said. He wanted to tell her everything. Why couldn't he just tell her? For some reason he choked on all the words he needed to say to her. Elsa scanned his face with her eyes for a few long moments before looking down at her feet, a soft sigh escaping her lips.
"You want her, don't you?" she asked, her gaze coming up to meet his again. There it was. Georg gave a weak nod, still at a loss for words. He struggled to find something to say that would make the situation better. He doubted there were any. For a moment Elsa was quiet before she let out a dry laugh and turned away from him completely. "I asked you over and over if there was something going on, Georg, and you always told me no."
So, she was upset. Georg had expected this, he had run through the scenario in his mind, but he found himself completely unprepared. There was nothing he could say to justify his actions or his lies. Minutes passed before he found his words.
"Nothing was going on. Not at the time," he replied as gently as he could. It was a futile response, but it was all he could muster. He heard Elsa scoff, a sound that allowed the guilt to stir within him.
"But something is going on now?" she asked. Georg swallowed hard as he tried to push his discomfort away. She needed to know. He owed her that much.
"Yes," he said truthfully. Elsa was quiet for another moment as Georg regained his composure. He had to focus on why he was doing this. He let his eyes close as he thought of Maria. Telling Elsa the truth would set him free. He would be able to be with Maria without having to hide or feel guilt, and wouldn't that be worth it in the end? Of course, it would, he told himself.
"Two years, Georg. We've been seeing each other for two years, and you're going to let that all end over the governess?" she asked. Georg's eyes opened and he scanned the back of her head as he took in her words. While he understood she was upset, his blood began to boil at her use of 'the governess'. Maria was so much more than the governess to him. She was much more than a caregiver to his children. She happened to be the very being who had captured his heart.
"She's not just the governess," he stated, keeping the edge out of his voice the best that he could. Elsa turned back to face him. Her face was formed in a deep frown that he wasn't accustomed to seeing on her.
"Well, not anymore. I'm sure you've made certain that she's not just the governess," she said, the venom in her voice clear. Georg winced at the double meaning in her words. Could she somehow see on his face what had taken place the night before?
"It wasn't like that," he replied gently. As much as her words stung, he wouldn't react. He didn't want to make things worse than they already were.
"What is it like, Georg? A week ago, you were assuring me that nothing was going on, and now, all of a sudden, you're willing up to give up everything for her?" she spat.
"I don't know how it happened. All I know is that once I realized where my feelings stood, I couldn't lie to myself anymore," he replied neutrally. Elsa didn't respond right away. She shook her head. Her eyes scanned the rug as she seemed to think about what she would say next. After several moments with the silence suspending in the air between them, she sighed deeply before looking back up at him. Where her eyes had been filled with anger before, they had softened considerably.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get upset," she said, the cool grace of her voice coming back to her naturally. Georg's eyebrows shot up. She was apologizing? He had expected her to be upset, and he had expected her to stay upset. He had half expected her to start hurling things in his direction at the way he had practically wasted two years. He had not expected that she would become accepting at the flick of a switch. Perhaps he should have. Elsa had always been all grace and beauty above expressing her emotions outright.
"You have every right to be upset with me," he said. She gave him a weak smile, her face composed in a way that indicated no trace of hurt or anger.
"I knew. The way you looked at her, well, you never looked at me that way," she said, brief sorrow flashing in her eyes before it faded quickly.
"I am sorry, Elsa. I never wanted to hurt you," he told her sincerely. It was true, he had never wanted to hurt Elsa. He knew he didn't love her, and he knew he never would, but that didn't mean he didn't care about hurting her. He wished he could have avoided it, and in his heart, he knew he could have if he had been honest with himself earlier on. He would never stop feeling regret for that fact.
"I know," she replied. Georg offered her a sad smile. "We never would have worked anyways. You're far to independent. I need someone who needs me."
Georg let out a light laugh. He felt relief flood through him as she made light of the situation. After the twisting of his gut when they had entered the room, it felt nice to laugh.
"There's a lucky man out there who will need you desperately," he said earnestly. Elsa chuckled.
"Yes, I'm sure there is," she said. For a moment, they only looked at each other. Georg could feel the shift in the room as one thing began to end to allow something new begin.
"I'm sorry it had to end this way," he told her. Elsa only shook her head.
"You have to follow your heart. In the time that I've known you, you've never followed your heart," she replied. Georg gave her a smile, knowing the truth in her words. He had seldom done anything that followed the desires of his heart since his wife had died. He had done selfish things, sure, but he hadn't done a thing to bring himself happiness. Not until Maria, at least. "I do wish you every happiness, Georg."
He was humbled by her statement and the gracious way she seemed to handle everything. She stepped towards him, moving to wrap her arms around him in a hug. He was surprised but wrapped his arms around her in return. He would always value the time they had spent together, and the support that Elsa had given him through the years.
"Maria is a sweet girl," she said, placing a gentle kiss against his cheek. "And I think she'll be a wonderful mother to those children one day."
Georg let out a nervous laugh. Was he so transparent? He pulled back to look Elsa in the eye. He smiled fondly at her, admiring the way she was able to understand the situation.
"Thank you, Elsa. I do hope we can still be friends," he told her. Elsa let out a light laugh of her own.
"We must be friends, or else we will have to decide who gets custody of Max," Elsa said with a playful smile. Georg laughed, releasing Elsa from his grip.
"You're welcome to stay here if you'd like," he told her. While he knew Maria would be wary, it wasn't quite fair to expect Elsa to leave after she had made the long journey once already that day. Elsa only shook her head.
"Thank you, but I think it's best I go back to Vienna. My bags are still packed. If you could have Franz drive me to the train station, I'll be out of your hair within the hour," she said. Georg raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure?" he asked. She nodded.
"Yes. But if you don't mind, will you keep Max here? The journey here was tiresome. He won't stop talking about the upcoming music festival," she said, a smile on her face. Georg nodded.
"I'm sure I can keep him busy," he replied. Elsa flashed him a grateful smile before walking towards the door. He watched as she walked off, marvelling at the way the conversation had gone. He looked down to his feet, shaking his head. Elsa had let him off incredibly easy, far easier than he deserved.
"And Georg?" her voice caused his head to snap up to look at the door. Elsa stood there, a knowing smile on her face. Georg raised an eyebrow in her direction. "Just tell the poor girl you're in love with her already."
His eyes widened. Apparently, he was that transparent. He wondered how long Elsa had known where his heart laid. With that, Elsa walked through the doors and was out of his sight. Georg stood still as he stared blankly at the door.
His veins filled with adrenaline. He felt like a weight had been lifted off of him. His body felt as if it were buzzing with the newfound excitement that began to flutter in his heart. He was free. He was free to love Maria. He was free to tell everyone about the woman who had completely changed his world. He was free to be with Maria out of the shadows.
His feet were moving before his mind had caught up. He made his way towards the foyer, marching through the backdoors in search of her. He watched Max's head turn at his abrupt entrance.
"Oh, Georg, there you are," he said. While Max was typically a rather enthusiastic person, his expression seemed grimmer. Georg couldn't bring himself to be bothered by his change in mood. His mind had one path at the moment.
"Where's Maria?" Georg asked, his eyes scanning the yard where his children were playing tag. He looked for her golden hair but couldn't catch sight of her.
"She went inside to fill the water pitcher," Max replied. Georg nodded slowly, trying not to display his disappointment. Now that he was free to be with her, he didn't want to waste a second. In fact, he was ready to announce to the children then and there about what their governess meant to him, but he wouldn't do so without Maria.
"Georg," Max's voice brought Georg's gaze down to the seated figure. "Did something happen?"
"What makes you say that?" he asked, his heart rate increasing. How could Max have known?
"I was talking to Maria after you went inside. She turned crimson when I mentioned your name," Max stated. Georg sighed. He supposed there was no use in lying to Max. Georg moved towards the table, sitting in the chair next to Max.
"It's complicated," he started. Georg swore Max's eyes just about bulged out of his head.
"Does Elsa know?" Max asked. Georg nodded and watched as Max visibly relaxed a little.
"I just talked to her," Georg responded.
"And?"
"She was upset at first, but she took it quite gracefully," Georg replied, a smile on his face that he couldn't quite seem to wipe off. Max was silent for a moment, studying Georg carefully.
"And Maria?" Max asked. Georg's smile widened as he looked down at his hands.
"We're taking it slow," he said. Max scoffed.
"Slow my ass. You're wearing your 'I got laid' grin. And Maria couldn't even look me in the eye earlier," Max probed. Georg looked up at Max, unable to hide the smile from his face despite Max's comment. "I'm happy for you, Georg. Maria is a wonderful girl. I'm not quite sure what she sees in you though."
Georg shook his head, unable to even continue the banter. He was too happy in that moment to verbally spar with Max. Max flashed him a genuine smile before patting Georg on the shoulder.
"Father!" Louisa's voice forced his eyes back to the yard. "Will you join us?"
Georg smiled in his children's direction as he stood from his seat.
"Be careful out there, old man," Max jested. Georg looked over his shoulder to give Max a mock glare before continuing his path to the yard.
"Uncle Max! You can play too!" Kurt exclaimed. Georg heard Max give a hearty laugh.
"I think I'll have more fun watching," Max replied. Georg shook his head as he joined his gaggle of children. Instantly, Gretl ran up to him, her hand striking his thigh.
"You're it!" she exclaimed. Georg let out a laugh as he began to chase Friedrich, who was the closest target.
The game felt good to Georg. With his newfound freedom, he felt that he had energy to burn. However, he couldn't stop his eyes from travelling to the terrace. He kept hoping to see her figure emerge from the doors. He wasn't even sure what he would do when she would walk through those doors. His mind reminded him that he would have to stay calm, but a part of him deep in his heart told him to break out into a sprint and kiss her like his life depended upon it. That would be one way to tell the children, he thought as he ran away from Liesl, who was now it.
However, the longer the game went on, the more Georg noticed Maria's absence. He glanced at his watch. It had to have been nearly half an hour since he had come outside. She couldn't possibly still be filling the water pitcher. Georg stopped in his tracks. Something was beginning to feel off. Discomfort began to twist in the pit of his stomach.
"Children, I'll be right back," he said, his voice sounding distant. He heard a few moans of disappointment, but they ceased when Marta tackled Kurt before squealing that he was now it.
Georg hastily made his way across the yard. He walked up the stairs to the terrace, his eyes glued to the door.
"Everything all right?" Max asked as Georg walked past him. Georg stopped and looked at the man, who had grabbed a bottle of wine from Georg's cellar. If Georg wasn't so concerned about Maria, he might have found himself annoyed by Max's taking advantage of his hospitality. He couldn't bring himself to care in the moment.
"You didn't happen to see Maria while you were in there, did you?" Georg asked, his eyes returning to the door as if expecting to see her form walking through at any moment.
"I did not," Max replied, taking a sip of his wine. Georg acknowledged Max with a grunt before making his way to the doors. "Don't forget that it's almost dinner time, so whatever you're planning better be quick!"
Max's voice echoed behind Georg as he made his way into the house. He made his way to the kitchen, his heart beating a little faster with each step. His eyes roamed into each room as he passed them, hoping to see her blonde head peaking out of one of them.
He turned into the kitchen where his cook was working tirelessly over the stove. He spotted Mrs. Schmidt who was seemingly discussing menus with the cook.
"Mrs. Schmidt," he said, making his presence known. The woman turned towards him, her eyebrow raised in question. "Have you seen Maria?"
"Why, no. I thought she was out with the children," the housekeeper replied. Georg let a frown settle on his face.
"No, she seems to have disappeared," he muttered. Mrs. Schmidt regarded him with a look of confusion.
"Perhaps she went to her room?" Mrs. Schmidt suggested. Georg gave her a weak nod.
"Perhaps," he mumbled before walking out of the room. He walked back towards the foyer. The sinking feeling began to deepen in his stomach. Something seemed entirely wrong, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what.
He reached the stairs, taking two at a time, the adrenaline pumping through his veins. He felt his pace quicken as her bedroom door came into sight. He stopped abruptly before it, raising his hand to knock. He waited a moment. No answer. He knocked again, more insistently. Still no answer. Georg frowned.
Tentatively, his hand reached out for the doorknob, opening the door slowly. He poked his head in but found no sign of her. In fact, he found no sign of her being there at all. Her bed was perfectly made, and the few personal belongings that had been on her nightstand were gone. Georg's blood ran cold. Something was definitely wrong.
He stepped further into the room, his heart thudding furiously. He could hear the blood pumping in his ears as he peeked into the bathroom. The door was open, but there was no sign of Maria. He felt his fingers twitch at his side. His eyes landed on the wardrobe. The door was ajar.
He felt the anxiety rise. He swallowed hard before opening the door wider. What he found there sent his heart dropping through the floor. It was empty. Her clothes were gone. There was nothing but the shirt he had given her to wear back to her room that morning.
Tentatively, he reached a hand out, his fingers brushing across the material. He swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat. He balled the sleeve of the shirt in his fist before releasing it, turning as his eyes began frantically searching the room for something, anything to tell him that his fears weren't true – that she hadn't, for some inexplainable reason, left him.
His eyes landed on the pad of paper on her desk. He could see something scribbled on it. He strode over to the desk, his eyes fixed on the paper. What he read made his heart feel like it was being ripped apart inside his chest.
I'm sorry.
Georg stumbled backwards until his legs hit the edge of the bed, landing on the plush mattress. His head fell into his hands. He shut his eyes and willed it to all be a dream – some awful nightmare that he was in the middle of. The way his heart felt as if it were being ripped out of his chest, proved to him that it couldn't be a dream.
He never thought he'd feel this again. His heart had been ripped from his chest once, but he never, not in a million years, believed that it could happen again. His mind began reeling with questions. Why did she leave? Did he do something? Was it because she had felt pressured the night before? Did she not feel the same way? Did seeing Elsa make her realize that she couldn't go through with it?
He rose his head again, half hoping that her belongings would have magically appeared again. They didn't. The room was as bare as it was before she had come to live under his roof, but it felt far emptier than it ever had.
He didn't understand. That morning she had seemed okay, pleased even. She had looked at him differently, he had even thought he might have seen love in her eyes. Could he have been wrong? Could he have misconstrued her fear or apathy towards him for love because it was what he wanted to see?
He let out a sigh as he felt his heart tearing itself up in his chest. He had grown up believing that each person got one love of their life. He had found that love in Agathe, and the years spent with her were some of the best years of his life. They had seven beautiful children together, and they were happy. When she died, he felt as if he were being torn up from the inside. He figured he had his one love, and the world took her away in some cruel act.
To find Maria had been a godsend. He believed he was incapable of that kind of love again because of how deeply he had loved Agathe. While it had been sudden, he knew he loved Maria more deeply than he ever knew was possible. It was the strangest thing, the way he wanted her with every fibre of his being, and the way he felt that his heart had been so entirely hers since he had met her.
Finally, he had been able to be open about his feelings. He was able to admit to himself that he was capable of love, that he wasn't completely broken after Agathe. He was able to find another great love in his life. While he didn't want to admit it to her quite yet, he had come to the conclusion that he was entirely and undeniably hers. He would have moved mountains for her. He would have gathered the stars from the sky if that's what she wanted.
Georg von Trapp, once broken over the first love of his life had been blessed with a second chance, and yet somehow, he had made a mess of it. After believing he would never love again, he had. Now she was gone, and the worst part was that he didn't know why.
A/N: Okay, so that was a lot. I hate great, big misunderstandings, but here we are. I'm sorry.
This chapter was confusing. We have this mysterious engagement ring, terrible gossip, things taken out of context. I suppose when all those seeds of doubt are planted in the mind, especially when it comes to matters of the heart, it can fester into something bigger than it really is. All in all, it was an awful chapter to write. I'm also not very happy with it. It's definitely not one of my better works.
I hope you can forgive me for this chapter, because the next couple of chapters will hopefully make up for this injustice.
Thank you to all of you who have read, favourited, followed, and reviewed. You are all incredibly kind, which makes me very sorry to have written this chapter for you.