This chapter is split in 2, I'll post part 2 after at least 6 reviews.
(Hopefully more)
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Maria was peacefully asleep, when the door suddenly open slammed of her bedroom.
"Fraulein, wake up!"
Gretl and Marta ran through her room and jumped up her bed. It wasn't difficult to wake up with all that excitement around her. She opened her eyes and saw Marta and Gretl bending over her. With a very weary voice she wanted to know what was going on.
"What is it?"
"Please wake up Fraulein!"
Little Gretl answered. She didn't understand, normally she was up in time. 'Did I oversleep?' With trouble she tried to see clear.
"What time is it?"
"7 AM."
'Did I hear Marta right? 7 AM? Good heavens!'
"Come on Fraulein, we're going away today, remember?"
"But we won't leave till 10.30 ..."
Maria had been awake for most of the night, cause she was thinking of so many things. The children, how adorable they were, how glad she was to have Chris back in her life, but mostly she thought of the captain and her departure. She would miss him so! So the night was almost over when she finally fell asleep.
"But what if we were all up this early, maybe we'll leave earlier too! Please? Everyone else is awake too. Pleeaase?"
She heard the enthusiasm in Gretl's voice. 'It must really mean a lot to her.'
"Alright, I'll be up in a minute."
But as soon as the 2 had left the room, she let her eyes close again. She was still too tired to wake up. Her head felt lighter, her eyelids became heavier. Meanwhile the others started to wonder where their governess stayed. A quarter went by and Kurt thought something wasn't right. She had to be ready by now. It was taking him way to long, so he went to her room and walked in without permission, when he saw she was still in her bed with her eyes closed.
"Fraulein!?"
He shouted to wake her up. After hearing someone shouting Fraulein, she jumped up in her bed, opened her eyes and murmured:
"I'm up! I'm up!"
'Damn! I've probably fallen back asleep.' Kurt saw she was far too weary to get up all by herself. He went back to the nursery where the rest of the children were, and called Louisa. They hurried back to Maria's room to help her out. She was still sitting in her bed, trying to get fully awake. Kurt grabbed her hand and pulled her out of her bed. Then he pushed her into the bathroom. Louisa opened her closet and went through all of her dresses. She finally found the one she wanted. The lovely blue dress. It was going to be a warm summer day and the light material was perfect for it. Kurt and Louisa were patiently waiting for her to finish in the bathroom. Not much later, she finally came back into the bedroom.
"Here, Fraulein, put this on and we'll see you in 10 minutes at breakfast."
With that they left the room. All the children were so enthusiastic. She would've been too if she hadn't been up for most of the night. She dressed and made her way to the hall, where Louisa was waiting for her.
"I thought you were gonna wait at breakfast for me?"
"Well, I had to make sure you would come too."
"So am I that unreliable?"
"We had to come and wake you up for the second time. That isn't usually like you. Is something wrong?"
They were still standing in the hallway. Maria was quite surprised with her question. Nothing seemed wrong, just her departure was bothering her.
"No, I'm fine. So why are all of you in such high spirits today?"
She was wondering that since the moment Gretl and Marta jumped up her bed.
"Dad is taking us to this really nice place! We used to go there as children. Plus the company is the best! Dad, you and my siblings ... It couldn't have been better."
"Ah I see, well I have to agree on that one. And your father, did you have to wake him up too?"
They finally began to move downstairs.
"Oh no, Frau Schmidt said he had woken up at 6 and couldn't sleep no more."
'Couldn't sleep no more?' Maria shook her head a bit unconsciously in denial. 'Probably just coincidence. Wake up! He's your employer!'
When they arrived in the dining room, everybody was waiting for them. Georg was the first to greet them.
"Good morning."
"Good morning captain, children."
Maria sat down and noticed all the smiles on everybody's faces. Even on Georg's.
"Father, everyone is up now, can't we go earlier?"
He broke his gaze at Maria to respond to Liesl's question.
"We better don't go to early, or the grass will be still wet due to the dawn. Let's say we'll leave an hour earlier. It gives everybody time to prepare."
His eyes were back at Maria. She still looked very tired. He wanted her to rest some more before leaving, otherwise the day would be ruined.
After breakfast the children went upstairs to pack some necessary stuff. Maria was about to leave the room too when the captain called her.
"Can I have a word with you please, Fraulein?"
She walked back to the table, to the place where he sat.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you look very weary."
A smile appeared on her face. She had expected something far more worse by the serious tone in his voice.
"Yes sir, I haven't slept very well last night."
All sort of thoughts came into his head. 'Was it because of today? Perhaps she couldn't wait too.'
"I suggest to rest a bit before leaving. The day would be spoiled if our governess wouldn't be able to keep her eyes open."
"I will, sir."
"And don't worry, I'll wake you up in time and tell the children to leave you alone."
"Thank you."
She walked back upstairs, glad to be getting some more rest. The captain wasn't far behind her, to make sure the children wouldn't trouble her. His instinct told him right. Only 5 inches away from her door she was called by Brigitta. Even though she wanted to lay down, she turned around and listened to what she had to say. Fortunately the captain interfered seconds later.
"I'm sorry Brigitta, but Fraulein Maria has to rest now."
"Rest? Is something wrong? Are you ill? You're still coming today, right?"
Maria opened her mouth to reply, but the captain was faster.
"She's fine, dear. She's just tired and I'll wake her up in time to come with us."
He opened the door for Maria. Jokingly he said goodnight. After she was inside, he followed Brigitta back into the nursery.
"Children, I ask you to leave your governess for a while. I have told her to get back into bed."
When he saw all the faces, except Brigitta's, getting worried, he corrected himself.
"She's still coming with us. I'll wake her up in time."
Everybody seemed very relieved. He walked back out of the room, heading downstairs where Max was waiting for him.
"What will you be doing today, Georg?"
Not surprised with his nosiness, he just answered the question.
"I'm going to the hills with the children and Fraulein Maria. You know, that spot near that small lake where we used to go."
"Fabulous. Don't mind if I come too."
'Come too? What's he talking about!?' He wasn't sure he had heard him right.
"Come too, Max?"
"Yes, I thought it would be nice to come along with you since I have nothing else to do today."
'There goes my day!' He didn't like the idea at all. Max would ruin everything.
"It's quite impossible, you see. Eh ..."
Quickly he was searching for some excuses.
"... Elsa needs you here. Otherwise she'll be all alone here."
"No, she's going to shop again. And that isn't something I'd like to do. Besides, you know how Elsa is. She's better off without me."
No other excuse came to his mind, and he had no other choice to let him come too. If not it would be to obvious something was going on.
"Alright. Just put on something more suitable to go up there. We'll leave at 9.30. Be ready."
An hour and 45 minutes flew by. It was time to wake up Maria. He had been in the nursery, reading a children's book to Gretl and Marta, but the others were listening too to him because he didn't have anything else to keep him busy. Although he was enjoying this moment very much.
"If you'll excuse me, it's time to wake someone."
Normally they would hate him to stop being so fatherly, but now it meant the outing didn't take long anymore. Quietly he knocked on her bedroom door. No answer, so he just walked in. Maria was in a deep sleep and wouldn't respond to softly pushing. He kept trying, not being to firm. He sat down on the bed. The way she lay there made Georg tingly. 'Oh how I wish I could watch her sleep every night of the rest of our lives ...'
"Fraulein ... wake up, it's time."
His voice stayed gentle and silent. At last she was responding with a soft moan. As she opened her eyes, she saw the captain bended over her this time. Her first thoughts were how nice it felt and how gorgeous he was.
"Good morning. Are you feeling a bit less weary now?"
"I'm feeling fine."
She said as she sat up. When she had gotten back in her bed, she had left her dress on. So she would be ready when she was waken up. She stepped out of her bed into her shoes and walked downstairs with the rest of the family. Max appeared into the hallway with a basket in his hands. For once he had taken Georg's advice. He was standing there in some regular clothes. Max with this kinda clothing looked very ridiculous, but it was perfect for an afternoon in the nature.
"It's 2 hours walking, I believe. We better go now."
Maria took an apple out of the basket and lead the group outside. Once outside the children ran forward, pulling Max with them, leaving Maria and Georg behind, giving them a chance to talk.
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I guess everybody's thinking, why in heaven's name did she had to put Max in there too! Well, I need him in the second part of chapter 10, everything will become clear there.
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Maria was peacefully asleep, when the door suddenly open slammed of her bedroom.
"Fraulein, wake up!"
Gretl and Marta ran through her room and jumped up her bed. It wasn't difficult to wake up with all that excitement around her. She opened her eyes and saw Marta and Gretl bending over her. With a very weary voice she wanted to know what was going on.
"What is it?"
"Please wake up Fraulein!"
Little Gretl answered. She didn't understand, normally she was up in time. 'Did I oversleep?' With trouble she tried to see clear.
"What time is it?"
"7 AM."
'Did I hear Marta right? 7 AM? Good heavens!'
"Come on Fraulein, we're going away today, remember?"
"But we won't leave till 10.30 ..."
Maria had been awake for most of the night, cause she was thinking of so many things. The children, how adorable they were, how glad she was to have Chris back in her life, but mostly she thought of the captain and her departure. She would miss him so! So the night was almost over when she finally fell asleep.
"But what if we were all up this early, maybe we'll leave earlier too! Please? Everyone else is awake too. Pleeaase?"
She heard the enthusiasm in Gretl's voice. 'It must really mean a lot to her.'
"Alright, I'll be up in a minute."
But as soon as the 2 had left the room, she let her eyes close again. She was still too tired to wake up. Her head felt lighter, her eyelids became heavier. Meanwhile the others started to wonder where their governess stayed. A quarter went by and Kurt thought something wasn't right. She had to be ready by now. It was taking him way to long, so he went to her room and walked in without permission, when he saw she was still in her bed with her eyes closed.
"Fraulein!?"
He shouted to wake her up. After hearing someone shouting Fraulein, she jumped up in her bed, opened her eyes and murmured:
"I'm up! I'm up!"
'Damn! I've probably fallen back asleep.' Kurt saw she was far too weary to get up all by herself. He went back to the nursery where the rest of the children were, and called Louisa. They hurried back to Maria's room to help her out. She was still sitting in her bed, trying to get fully awake. Kurt grabbed her hand and pulled her out of her bed. Then he pushed her into the bathroom. Louisa opened her closet and went through all of her dresses. She finally found the one she wanted. The lovely blue dress. It was going to be a warm summer day and the light material was perfect for it. Kurt and Louisa were patiently waiting for her to finish in the bathroom. Not much later, she finally came back into the bedroom.
"Here, Fraulein, put this on and we'll see you in 10 minutes at breakfast."
With that they left the room. All the children were so enthusiastic. She would've been too if she hadn't been up for most of the night. She dressed and made her way to the hall, where Louisa was waiting for her.
"I thought you were gonna wait at breakfast for me?"
"Well, I had to make sure you would come too."
"So am I that unreliable?"
"We had to come and wake you up for the second time. That isn't usually like you. Is something wrong?"
They were still standing in the hallway. Maria was quite surprised with her question. Nothing seemed wrong, just her departure was bothering her.
"No, I'm fine. So why are all of you in such high spirits today?"
She was wondering that since the moment Gretl and Marta jumped up her bed.
"Dad is taking us to this really nice place! We used to go there as children. Plus the company is the best! Dad, you and my siblings ... It couldn't have been better."
"Ah I see, well I have to agree on that one. And your father, did you have to wake him up too?"
They finally began to move downstairs.
"Oh no, Frau Schmidt said he had woken up at 6 and couldn't sleep no more."
'Couldn't sleep no more?' Maria shook her head a bit unconsciously in denial. 'Probably just coincidence. Wake up! He's your employer!'
When they arrived in the dining room, everybody was waiting for them. Georg was the first to greet them.
"Good morning."
"Good morning captain, children."
Maria sat down and noticed all the smiles on everybody's faces. Even on Georg's.
"Father, everyone is up now, can't we go earlier?"
He broke his gaze at Maria to respond to Liesl's question.
"We better don't go to early, or the grass will be still wet due to the dawn. Let's say we'll leave an hour earlier. It gives everybody time to prepare."
His eyes were back at Maria. She still looked very tired. He wanted her to rest some more before leaving, otherwise the day would be ruined.
After breakfast the children went upstairs to pack some necessary stuff. Maria was about to leave the room too when the captain called her.
"Can I have a word with you please, Fraulein?"
She walked back to the table, to the place where he sat.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but you look very weary."
A smile appeared on her face. She had expected something far more worse by the serious tone in his voice.
"Yes sir, I haven't slept very well last night."
All sort of thoughts came into his head. 'Was it because of today? Perhaps she couldn't wait too.'
"I suggest to rest a bit before leaving. The day would be spoiled if our governess wouldn't be able to keep her eyes open."
"I will, sir."
"And don't worry, I'll wake you up in time and tell the children to leave you alone."
"Thank you."
She walked back upstairs, glad to be getting some more rest. The captain wasn't far behind her, to make sure the children wouldn't trouble her. His instinct told him right. Only 5 inches away from her door she was called by Brigitta. Even though she wanted to lay down, she turned around and listened to what she had to say. Fortunately the captain interfered seconds later.
"I'm sorry Brigitta, but Fraulein Maria has to rest now."
"Rest? Is something wrong? Are you ill? You're still coming today, right?"
Maria opened her mouth to reply, but the captain was faster.
"She's fine, dear. She's just tired and I'll wake her up in time to come with us."
He opened the door for Maria. Jokingly he said goodnight. After she was inside, he followed Brigitta back into the nursery.
"Children, I ask you to leave your governess for a while. I have told her to get back into bed."
When he saw all the faces, except Brigitta's, getting worried, he corrected himself.
"She's still coming with us. I'll wake her up in time."
Everybody seemed very relieved. He walked back out of the room, heading downstairs where Max was waiting for him.
"What will you be doing today, Georg?"
Not surprised with his nosiness, he just answered the question.
"I'm going to the hills with the children and Fraulein Maria. You know, that spot near that small lake where we used to go."
"Fabulous. Don't mind if I come too."
'Come too? What's he talking about!?' He wasn't sure he had heard him right.
"Come too, Max?"
"Yes, I thought it would be nice to come along with you since I have nothing else to do today."
'There goes my day!' He didn't like the idea at all. Max would ruin everything.
"It's quite impossible, you see. Eh ..."
Quickly he was searching for some excuses.
"... Elsa needs you here. Otherwise she'll be all alone here."
"No, she's going to shop again. And that isn't something I'd like to do. Besides, you know how Elsa is. She's better off without me."
No other excuse came to his mind, and he had no other choice to let him come too. If not it would be to obvious something was going on.
"Alright. Just put on something more suitable to go up there. We'll leave at 9.30. Be ready."
An hour and 45 minutes flew by. It was time to wake up Maria. He had been in the nursery, reading a children's book to Gretl and Marta, but the others were listening too to him because he didn't have anything else to keep him busy. Although he was enjoying this moment very much.
"If you'll excuse me, it's time to wake someone."
Normally they would hate him to stop being so fatherly, but now it meant the outing didn't take long anymore. Quietly he knocked on her bedroom door. No answer, so he just walked in. Maria was in a deep sleep and wouldn't respond to softly pushing. He kept trying, not being to firm. He sat down on the bed. The way she lay there made Georg tingly. 'Oh how I wish I could watch her sleep every night of the rest of our lives ...'
"Fraulein ... wake up, it's time."
His voice stayed gentle and silent. At last she was responding with a soft moan. As she opened her eyes, she saw the captain bended over her this time. Her first thoughts were how nice it felt and how gorgeous he was.
"Good morning. Are you feeling a bit less weary now?"
"I'm feeling fine."
She said as she sat up. When she had gotten back in her bed, she had left her dress on. So she would be ready when she was waken up. She stepped out of her bed into her shoes and walked downstairs with the rest of the family. Max appeared into the hallway with a basket in his hands. For once he had taken Georg's advice. He was standing there in some regular clothes. Max with this kinda clothing looked very ridiculous, but it was perfect for an afternoon in the nature.
"It's 2 hours walking, I believe. We better go now."
Maria took an apple out of the basket and lead the group outside. Once outside the children ran forward, pulling Max with them, leaving Maria and Georg behind, giving them a chance to talk.
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I guess everybody's thinking, why in heaven's name did she had to put Max in there too! Well, I need him in the second part of chapter 10, everything will become clear there.