'You saucy little minx.'

Elsa gave him a forbidding look. She hoped that nobody could hear them.

'I have no idea to what you are referring to.'

'Nonsense. You look like the cat who has got the cream.'

Elsa tutted.

Max was delighted with the turn of events.

'I like that young lady. She's just what you need.'

They had been late to rise, Maria's fingers still entangled in the other woman's hair. She had marvelled at the unpinning, performed when Elsa was sitting astride her with not a stitch on. Maria thought she looked glorious, like Lady Godiva. In Elsa's arms, it felt like a silken blanket brushing her skin, making her shiver. Maria had never spent a night like this, not in her wildest dreams. She'd never spent the night with anyone in that way before and hadn't thought about what to expect. Elsa was still sweetly asleep, as Maria watched her, she murmured a snuffling sigh and burrowed into the pillow, hair shining in the morning light, freckles peeking from revealed swathes of skin. Maria hastily clothed herself, abluted and pressed a kiss on Elsa's forehead, exiting to procure morning coffee. As uninhibited as she had been in the dark, she wasn't used to feeling another person's skin on hers and was feeling decidedly bashful once she realised the extent of her nakedness in broad daylight. Max had seen her from the next villa but had wisely kept his distance, preferring to grill Elsa on the subject when Maria would be out exploring. Elsa had woken to coffee and a smile and promised that she would take her guest to the town soon. Meanwhile would she consider making use of the bicycle that Elsa had hired for her for another hour? Maria eagerly acquiesced, leaving Max free to interrogate. He graciously greeted her and sat down with breakfast.

'I don't know what you mean by that.'

'You seem rejuvenated with her around. Rescue her from the clutches of the convent and make her your own.'

Elsa shook her head.

'I couldn't take her away from the mountains' she fretted.

'My goodness, you do care about her. Well, make it long distance and hurry up before someone else snaps her up. It's all very well her wooing you with flowers, but you have the money, my dear. I have no doubt you've been very chivalrous but you must be even more so. Don't let her go. You can't turn back now. She won't be satisfied with less. She's a determined little thing.'

Elsa didn't need telling twice. As with everything she did Maria had been vigorous and joyful last night.

'I don't know how long we could reasonably do this. Live this life. Even if she leaves the abbey, I'm sure that she would want to marry sometime, have children. I couldn't compete with that.'

'You make it work, with all those nieces and nephews of yours' Max pointed out. Elsa did have the presence of children in her life, even though they were fast growing up now. He had never said a word about the barrenness of her marriage, knowing that she would only speak if she wanted to. And she had never wanted to. From the occasional bouts of absence from society life over the years, he could only imagine how she felt on the matter.

'She loves the company of children. She makes it seem effortless. It's a quality I lack' she said quietly, a flash of distress in her eyes. Max saw the pain of rejection loud and clear.

'Then she can enjoy all of the offspring that your family possesses. In time. If she is agreeable, there is no reason why you should have to enlighten anyone about your arrangement as long as you are both happy with it.'

They were thinking of Elsa's motto, never complain, never explain. It had served her well over the years and Max told her that in no uncertain terms must she break it now.

'You are altogether too respectable, my dear. If you and Georg refuse to commit to each other then…'

'I have a reputation to uphold.'

'You crave company. It's only natural. It's not as if you have no options. It's either Georg or Maria. Choose one and find a way to make it work. You'll just have to work harder when it comes to Maria. You're clever at concealment. Most women are. I take it I was right when in predicting her reaction?'

Elsa suddenly smiled. He wasn't sure if it was relief or joy but he knew that despite attempting to deny herself, she was happy. And judging by the humming from the courtyard earlier, Maria was too.