The days pass and everyone is busy getting ready for the wedding. Georg and I have been with each other everyday. We take long walks and talk about the future. The evenings are spent listening to the children sing. Max is still trying to get Georg to let the children sing in the festival. I think it is a wonderful idea but Georg still won't agree. It is five days before the wedding.
My dress is finished and I have taken it to the abbey. Reverend Mother has made arrangements for Georg and I to meet with the Bishop. The dressmaker calls the next day and says the girls dresses are done. Georg and I will pick them up after our meeting with the Bishop.
The Bishop explains the wedding ceremony. He also talks about marriage and the responsibilities that goes with it. "I can see you both love each other deeply and that is the most important thing in a marriage" the Bishop says. " I can see you will have a happy marriage".
We both smile at each other and Georg kisses my hand. We leave the abbey and go get the dresses. On the way home Georg looks at me and says" Only four more days." Are you getting nervous?
I look at him and say " a little, I get nervous thinking about walking down the aisle with everyone's eyes on me".Georg smiles and takes my hand" All you have to do is look up at the altar and you will see me." Just keep your eyes on me and you will be fine." I look at him and kiss him on the cheek.
The next couple days fly by . Everything is done. I count the number of guests that have responded and I'm astounded. Three hundred people. I don't know most of them. I just have to remember what Georg said and only look at him when I walk down the aisle.
Tonight we decide to have a special dinner. Tomorrow morning I will go to the abbey to prepare for the wedding. We all sit down and talk. The children are so excited that most of them don't finish their dinner. Georg and I ask the children if what they want to do after dinner. They whisper between themselves and they decide they want Georg and I to sing a song.
"We want you both to sing Edelweiss" said Liesl. Georg and I smiled and agreed. We walked into the living room and the children sat on the floor as Georg took my guitar and sat on the couch. I sat beside him and he started playing. He sang the first verse and then I joined him. I found myself looking into his eyes as he sang. He first looked at the children then at me. His eyes locked with mine and as we finished the song we couldn't stop looking at each other. The children clapped and we both smiled and looked at them.
"All right time for bed" Georg said. After some complaining the children kissed us goodnight and went upstairs." Let's take a walk" Georg said. He took my hand and we headed toward the lake. We both looked out at the beauty of the lake with the moon reflecting in the water. I looked at Georg and found he was staring at me.
"What are you thinking" he said as he put his arms around my waist. I turned to him and put my arms around his neck.
"I was just thinking about the wedding and being your wife. When I came here as the governess I thought I would be here only a short while. Then I came to love the children and I fell in love with you. Then I thought when I came back I had lost you. I never knew I could love anybody as much as I love you. Georg you occupy every part of my heart. I go to sleep dreaming of you and when I awake you are the first person I think of. When I am in your arms I never want you to let me go" I say as he smiles at me.
"Maria when you came here you stirred emotions in me that I have not had since my first wife died. I shut out the children and everything they loved to do . Until the day we argued. You gave my children back to me. I thought I loved Elsa but as the days went by I found myself falling deeper in love with you. When you left I thought you were gone for good. When you returned I knew I couldn't marry Elsa. If I had told you before you left that I loved you we would be married already and you could be in my arms all night" Georg said. He took his hands from my waist and held my face. He touched his lips to mine and my body trembled. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he drew me closer. His kisses feel like fire on my lips. I wanted him. These feelings are getting stronger the longer he kisses me. His hands roam over my body and I can feel his heart racing. My hands go to his chest and I hear him moan. He whispers my name in my ear " Maria." I feel his hands go to my sides and he slides them up to where he touches my upper body. His touch sends my senses reeling. I moan and call his name. He pulls away and I moan in protest.
" Maria as much as I want to make love to you, we have to wait" Georg says as he looks at me. I want you to be free to give yourself to me without reservation. I want our wedding night to be something you remember forever".
I realize he is right. I smile and we walk back to the house. We kiss goodnight and I go up to bed. I pack the things that I will take to the abbey. The last thing I pack is my nightgown I bought for our wedding night. I smile and think to myself" I can't wait till Georg sees me in this. I pack it and I go to bed.