So here's chapter 19. Fraulein Hendrika, the servant from the last chapter,
is actually Frau Schmidt's daughter here, I thought you might want to know
that to avoid any confusion. Tell me what you think! (as usual 6 reviews at
least please ... .)
----- ----- -----
It was a great afternoon. Only now and then a single cloud drifted by. A light summer breeze blew, making it nice to sit outside in the warm sun. Chris had suggested to go for a swim while it still was good weather.
"But what about the little ones?"
"We'll keep an eye on them, don't worry. After all, it isn't fair when the rest can go swimming but little Marta and Gretl have to sit aside, now is it?"
"No, but there's a good solution for it, all of us won't go swimming." Maria said.
"Oh but we really want to go swimming Fraulein. Please?" Brigitta pleaded.
She looked at the children and understood how much they wanted to go swimming, even Maria herself was in the mood for splashing in the water and things like that.
"Only if someone else keeps an eye on them as well, since Chris and I won't be able to watch them every second."
"Well, we can always ask Max, their father or Elsa ..."
When the children heard Chris say the name Elsa, every one of their faces twitched.
"No baroness! Definitely not!" The children exclaimed.
"Then who else? Max and the captain are in the city right now."
"What about Frau Schmidt or Hendrika?"
"We can always ask them. But don't be disappointed when they have other things to do." She pointed the children out.
"We won't."
"Alright, I'll go and ask them. You stay here. Chris, keep an eye on them please."
Maria disappeared in the house, while Chris and the children were cheerfully chatting. Once inside, Maria didn't know where to go. She could check the kitchen, but it would be highly unlikely they sat there at this time of hour. Another possibility was their room, although Maria thought it would be awfully rude to barge in and ask them if they could watch the children, while that was supposed to be her task. Yet she had promised the children. She went upstairs, first to Frau Schmidt's room. Softly she knocked and waited for a reply.
"Come in."
Frau Schmidt answered as friendly as always. Maria walked in while she felt her cheeks redden.
"Oh hello, Fraulein Maria."
With a kind smile Frau Schmidt greeted her. She and Hendrika sat down on the bed, playing a game of cards.
"Hello. May I ask you something?"
Maria didn't know why she was so shy all of the sudden. She, Frau Schmidt and Hendrika had talked a dozen times before.
"Of course you may."
"It's such a lovely weather outside, and the children wanted to go for a swim. Including Marta and Gretl. And I was wondering ..."
"If we could watch the little ones also." Frau Schmidt ended her sentence.
"I would be happy to do it." Hendrika smiled at Maria.
"So would I."
Maria's face brightened at once.
"Thank you so much!"
"It's our pleasure. That way mother and I can spend some time outside too."
"Oh most definitely." Maria answered. She thought it would be terrible to sit inside while outside was so wonderful.
"When should we come?" Hendrika asked.
"Well, now would be fine if you want to. I tell the children so we can change now. Thank you again."
Quickly she left the room to tell the others. In no time everyone was inside changing. Of course Maria and Chris were the first who were ready. Chris went already outside, while Maria helped Gretl. A few minutes later, they gathered up in the hall.
"Has everyone got their towels?"
7 heads nodded in agreement.
"All right then, let's go outside."
Outside, on a spot in the direction of the gazebo, Chris was talking with the 2 ladies who had agreed to come outside for the little ones. The children walked towards them, laid their towels on the grass and sat down before attacking the water. As soon as Chris had seen Maria, he stood up and moved until he was standing a few inches away from her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to the water. On this side of the shore, the water became slowly deeper, with the same effects as a beach. He pulled her onto the wooden jetty that ended in a deeper part of the lake, but Maria fought back. When she was almost loose, Chris lifted her into his arms and walked to the end of the jetty.
All the children were laughing and saying to throw her in the water. Frau Schmidt and her daughter were looking amused at the 2. It was hard to throw her in, because she kept struggling to come free. At last Chris found a solution to throw her in the water. He simply had to jump with Maria in his arms. He hopped into the lake with Maria who had lost her battle. When they came back above the surface with their heads, Maria hit him on the shoulder.
"I'll get you for this!"
"Oh come on, you've enjoyed this as much as I did."
Chris knew he was right the minute he saw that smile appear on her face.
"You see, I knew it!"
Maria walked out of the lake to sit down on her towel.
"So how is the water?" Hendrika asked jokingly.
"Oh quite alright."
She dried her face a bit and looked at the 2.
"Why won't you swim with us?"
"I don't know."
"Go on Hendrika. And have a great time!"
"Okay, I'll be back in a minute."
And off she went back to the house.
"What about you, Frau Schmidt?"
"Oh no, I'll stay here and keep an eye on everyone."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
Next Maria felt Gretl pulling her hands.
"Come Fraulein, I wanna go in the water too!"
Maria stood up, while holding little Gretl's hand. All the others were already diving into the water, while Chris was holding Marta. Maria and Gretl joined them and went till the water came under the little ones their shoulders. They were having a marvellous time. Both Maria and Chris sat down on their knees, so they were about the same height as Gretl and Marta. While splashing around with Maria and the 2 little ones by his side, he started thinking. 'Look at us, like a little family.' Maria's face had the brightest smile as she was enjoying doing these things with the children. 'She's so beautiful. And one day we'll have all of this too ...'
Hendrika came back, and sat on the towel next to her mother. She was about the same age as Maria and Chris. And the 3 of them had became close friends.
"Come on Hendrika!" Maria shouted. "The water is wonderful!"
"I thought you said it was quite alright." She replied with a smile forming on her lips.
"Just come in here!"
Chris chuckled. As soon as Hendrika was playing with Marta, he dived further in the lake, where he had a water fight with the rest of the children.
-----
Elsa had searched all over the house for Georg and Max, but had found neither of them. She decided to check outside as she heard the children cheering. Once outside, she followed the laughing and came out to the place where Frau Schmidt was sitting. All the children were in the water, joined by Maria, Chris and Hendrika.
"Excuse me." She turned to Frau Schmidt. "Do you know where Georg and Max are?"
"Yes baroness. They're out in the city ever since 12:30."
It was almost 4 PM and Elsa was wondering why she didn't know of their little outing. Since there was nothing else to do, she might as well could stay there.
"Would you mind if I sit down here?"
"No, not at all." Frau Schmidt answered.
Elsa sat down on the towel of Hendrika. She stared a while at the children. All by all they were quite alright. She even began to get used of their laughter all the time, their singing ...
Maria had spotted Elsa sitting there.
"Why, baroness Schraeder! How nice of you to join us!" Her voice filled with excitement. "Come for a swim too."
"Oh no dear." Elsa replied with a kind smile. "I'm afraid the water is too cold for me."
Elsa had tried to hate Maria, but she had found she just couldn't hate such a high spirited girl who didn't mean to harm anyone. What happened had happened, and Maria couldn't have done anything about it. She knew that soon she was going to have to leave as she didn't belong there. 'It's probably for the best.'
Marta and Gretl walked out of the lake and took place on their own towels, not far away from Elsa and Frau Schmidt. As the others were calling for Maria and Hendrika to join them into the deeper water, both of them raced to the others. Maria won, but as soon as she got there, the children were already on their way to push her under. The same happened with Hendrika. Chris was helping the children. He dived and grabbed her ankle. Then he swam further pulling Maria under water.
Elsa and Frau Schmidt watched from the shore. Gretl took her towel and wrapped it around her, as she moved to sit by the 2 adults. Marta soon followed her example.
"Did you have a great time?"
"Oh yes! I love to play in the lake!" Gretl responded to Elsa.
"Oh that's nice. Will you be going back?"
"Uhuh. But first we'll let Fraulein Maria and Fraulein Hendrika have a great time!"
Elsa spotted the beautiful bracelet on Gretl's arm.
"Oh dear, you'd better take that off before you'll loose it in the water."
She helped taking it off and laid it then on her towel.
Frankly, Frau Schmidt was surprised Elsa even bothered to talk with the children. She guessed Elsa wasn't exactly who she thought she was.
It were more Chris and Maria who kept pushing each other under then anyone else. Every time Maria wanted to swim to the others, Chris came after her, pulling or pushing her under water, which she of course had to pay him back. At last, when Chris was getting tired, he sat down on a less deeper part near the shore, just watching the others. Gretl and Marta threw off their towels and went to sit with Chris in the water, while Maria had Louisa on her shoulders and Hendrika was carrying Brigitta, so they could have a fight above the water. At first, Brigitta and Hendrika went down. But the second time Maria lost her balance by Brigitta's push against Louisa. Both fell down in the water. They were having such a great time.
Meanwhile Chris sat there, his arms around the little ones. Suddenly he moved his hand into the water and splashed the 2, again starting a water fight, but now only between him, Gretl and Marta.
What they and the 2 out of the water didn't notice, was that the group of older children, Maria and Hendrika had gathered. They weren't playing anymore.
"We have to do something, so that mother and the baroness won't be the only dry ones anymore."
"Yes, but what?"
"I have an idea. But I sure hope the baroness doesn't have expensive clothes on." Brigitta added.
"Well, why won't I go and ask her about her clothes?" Liesl asked.
She swam for shore immediately. Once out of the water, she took her towel and dried herself a bit. Next she sat down in between of the baroness and Frau Schmidt. In the meantime, Brigitta explained her plan to the others.
"Such a lovely weather, isn't it?
"Yes indeed. I can't believe I almost sat inside the entire day!" Frau Schmidt sighed.
"A good thing we went swimming. But why won't you come outside on your own?" Liesl asked, completely forgetting why she had come out of the water in the first place.
"I'll be coming out a lot more now, don't worry."
She gave a blink at Liesl, who remembered what she had come for.
"My, that's a lovely outfit you're wearing, baroness."
Elsa looked down at her ensemble, the same she had worn the day of the puppet show.
"This old thing?"
"Yes, really lovely!"
Liesl was lying through her teeth. She found her skirt rather terrible. She couldn't understand how a woman of her class could wear such a thing.
"Well, I'm off again. It's been nice talking to both of you."
A second later, Liesl was already back into the water, heading for the others. She quickly said what the baroness had told her, followed by Brigitta who explained her plan.
Louisa and Brigitta swam towards the jetty, pretending they were racing, while the others kept behind, acting as if they were playing. When almost having reached the wood, all of the sudden Brigitta cried of pain. Quickly Louisa took her and swam further to the jetty. Frau Schmidt and Elsa had heard her, as had the rest. The others were swimming in full speed at the wounded girl. Elsa and Frau Schmidt hurried themselves onto the end of the jetty, where Brigitta was holding her tightly to the side. Elsa reached out her hand to pull her up, which Brigitta and Louisa were counting on. Both grabbed her hand and pulled her into the water.
"Auw ... I'm really hurt." Brigitta tried with Frau Schmidt.
"I'm not gonna fall for that." She said chuckling while walking back to her sitting place.
Elsa hit the surface again. She wiped her hair out of her face.
"You little devils!" She said without even trying to hide her smile. "Alright you've got me!"
She walked back to land, soaked to the skin. Her skirt was sticking to her legs. As she intended to go back to the house, Maria came running out of the water.
"Aren't you going to stay here?"
"Oh no dear, I think I'd better go and get dried off."
"Why won't you change in your bathing suite? You're soaked already, so it won't matter that much if you'd join us. Please?"
Maria thought she really wasn't as bad. And since that she and Georg had been together for a long time, she thought it probably would be better if she got her involved with the children.
"Alright. I'll be back in 10 minutes."
Both smiled. Maria returned to the water, where Louisa was waiting for her. Then they both raced back to the others. Elsa walked back to the house. Maria had convinced her to stay. She was still astonished she had given in when she walked back in her bathing suite with a towel over her arm. She hadn't even bothered to put on a bathing-cap, since she was 'soaked' already. Everyone sat the same when she arrived at the place. Frau Schmidt was still gazing at her daughter, Maria and the children, while Chris was being attacked by the 2 little ones.
"And you Frau Schmidt? She asked when she sat back down again.
"Me?"
"Yes, you should come too. I'd hate to leave you here alone. It will be fun."
Elsa wasn't at all who she thought she was. It had been the first real time Elsa ever had spoken to her.
"Oh no, I rather enjoy sitting back here watching the others."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes, thank you, baroness."
Gretl and Marta had spotted Elsa in her bathing suite.
"Yay, another adult to play with!"
Gretl ran out of the water to Elsa and took her right hand. Marta followed her sister and took the other hand. Then both pulled her into the water.
"Come on baroness." Gretl cheered excitedly.
They reached Chris and started splashing each other again.
-----
Georg and Max finally arrived at the house. Ever since he had bought the ring, they had been talking about Maria, Chris and Elsa, until Georg couldn't take it anymore. Max had driven him crazy ever since he had brought the topic of Chris and Maria up. Of course it was true what Max had told him, and he knew it. Neither one of them had spoken after Georg had shouted he didn't want to discus it anymore.
"I'll see what happens! If she doesn't love me back, fine! But just stop talking about it, ok!?"
Even when they had arrived home, nothing was there to talk about. Inside, no one was there. Only Franz passed the hallway once. No sign of the children, their governess, Elsa, Chris or the servants.
-----
"I'm getting hungry." Kurt said.
"Yeah, me too."
Both Kurt and Friedrich swam towards Maria and asked her when they could eat. Then the 3 of them made their way back to the shore to ask Frau Schmidt.
"Well, I can serve dinner out here, that is if it's alright with the captain."
A second later Georg and Max walked towards the cheering group of people. By now Maria was already back into the water, because Hendrika had been calling for her. Friedrich and Kurt ran to their father and immediately started pleading for dinner outside.
"Please father?"
"We had breakfast outside, so why not dinner outside?"
"Oh alright. But just this once!"
Quickly the boys jumped into the lake to tell the others the good news. This was Hendrika's cue. She walked out of the water and went with her mother inside to prepare the meal.
Gretl and Marta ran excitedly towards Georg and Max.
"Daddy we had such a wonderful day!"
"So I gather." He replied, finally relaxing after a dreadful afternoon.
Maria came back to shore as well, with Chris right behind her.
"Good afternoon captain." She greeted him when she took her towel and folded it around her.
"Good day Fraulein." He replied. "What a wonderful idea."
"Oh it wasn't mine." Maria said while looking at Chris.
It was the first time Georg had seen her in a bathing suite. Just by looking at her, he got light-headed. Yet he had to tear his eyes away from her as she saw a drenched Elsa walking towards him. 'How on earth did they get Elsa to swim too?'
All sat down on their towels, watching the older children having fun in the lake, till Georg said they had to get out for dinner. Everyone who still had been in the water, was now on land getting dried. 10 minutes later, Frau Schmidt and Hendrika walked outside with the dinner. As they left each meal on a tray, Georg suggested they could come and join them too. Franz was welcome as well.
"Thank you, sir. I'll go ask him."
Some time later they came back, Franz not with them.
"He felt more comfortable eating inside." Frau Schmidt told Georg.
When dinner was finished, everyone waited about an hour before returning into the water. Meanwhile the most of them lay down, getting some more energy for later. Georg had taken place next to Maria, with Elsa on the other side. Georg couldn't find anything to talk about while all the others were lying so closely near them. And Maria was too busy resting a bit to notice that both Chris and Georg were dreaming away, probably about her.
Once the hour had passed by, nearly everyone jumped back into the lake. They had still an hour before having to go back inside. Maria quickly went for another simple lap with Louisa, Chris and Friedrich. Once it was 8:30 PM, the air had cooled down, as had the water. Maria, Chris and Louisa were the only ones left in the lake. The others had left the water almost 20 minutes ago, as it was getting to cold. The 3, who were in the middle of the lake, quickly swam back to the shore where the rest were waiting for them. On shore, they folded their towels around them and with the group they went inside. The children went upstairs, followed by Maria and Chris. After the children had been all dried off and put on their night-clothes, Gretl came to the conclusion that she had forgotten her bracelet. Therefore Maria and Chris went back to search for it. Outside, the breeze had become chillier too, making Maria and Chris shiver for a minute, while still in their wet clothing. As it was nearly 10 to 9, they had found it and headed back to the house.
When they were back in the main hall on the stairway, Chris stopped for a minute after he had seen Maria smiling at him. He had an urge to kiss her. So he embraced her, placing his lips on hers. The captain, who walked out of the hall on the 1st floor had seen it. His heart just froze when he saw Maria kissing him. Heartbroken, he couldn't bear to look at them a moment longer and made his way back to his study. He just couldn't believe his eyes, and yet this was what Max had warned him for. As he was pacing up and down the room, he pulled out the ring out his pocket. He kept staring at it, knowing that he almost had gotten that far. This was the first time in many years he didn't know what to do. His hopes were slowly disappearing, to make room for anger and sadness.
Maria didn't know what was happening. One minute she was glad to be around him, happy she had found him back after all those years, that they were finally together again like in the old days, and the next she wished he'd never came back. She pushed Chris away from her.
"What on earth are you doing?"
"I love you, Maria! I've loved you since we were 15! When I moved away I tried to get on with my life, but I kept thinking of you, so I had to look for you! And I finally found you ... These past weeks have been the best of my life! I thought you felt the same ..."
He thought back of that moment earlier that day, when he imagined Maria and himself having a happy little family.
It took Maria a few seconds to realize what he just had said.
"Chris, I'm so sorry, but I'm not in love with you!"
He got quiet, looking in Maria's eyes with pain in his.
"I'm in love with someone else."
Suddenly she realized that it was the same as Chris and her. The captain loved Elsa, not her, just like Maria loved Georg and not Chris. To stay any longer in a house with the man she loved, but who didn't love her back was unbearable.
"I'll better leave than."
Off he went to pack his things. Maria simply stood there, thinking about so many things. Chris had just revealed his love for her. Never did she think he would have these kinda feelings for her.
"Fraulein Maria? Can you help me please to braid my hair?"
Her voice came from upstairs.
"Yes of course, Marta. I'll be up in a minute."
-----
After some thoughts, and the 10th time he had walked from wall to wall in his study, he decided to come downstairs, even if Maria and Chris were still there. She didn't love him back, so he considered to move on with his life, even though it would be the hardest thing ever! He placed the ring back in his pocket, thinking back of the wonderful moments they had shared.
As he walked down the stairs, he only saw Maria there just gazing at a certain point if front of her. No sign of Chris. Maria hadn't ever bothered to get changed or dried off, and was still standing there in her wet bathing suite with a not so big towel wrapped around her. When she noticed Georg coming downstairs, she figured the best thing to do was to get it all over with.
"Captain, can I have a word with you please?"
He was wondering what she wanted to say. He guessed it had something to do with Chris.
"I think I know what's it about. And I wish you and Chris all happiness of the world."
"Chris and me?"
"As I passed the hallway earlier, I saw you 2."
'Oh no, he saw Chris kissing me! Things couldn't get any more worse!'
"I think there's been a mistake, sir. What I wanted to say is that I'm leaving ... tonight. I'm returning to the abbey."
He realized that Maria had said the abbey. Clearly she couldn't go there when she was together with Chris.
"The abbey? You're not going away with Chris?"
He didn't know what he was hearing. 'If she isn't gonna leave with Chris, then why in heaven's name is she leaving at all?' His sadness and anger faded away, but were replaced with fear. He didn't want her to leave!
"No, sir, I'm not. Chris will be leaving to."
"But why are you returning to the abbey?" He asked, his voice filled with despair.
"Well sir, I can't stay here forever, and I miss my life in the abbey and I ... I just have to go!"
Maria started to cry. Then she ran up the stairs to her room, where she grabbed her bag underneath the bed and started to pack her things. Not much later the captain walked in.
"Maria, please don't go."
She hesitated for a minute, but then continued with packing her things, leaving the dress she had worn on the day of her arrival on her bed, as that would be the one she was going to wear while leaving.
"Why should I stay?" She asked him, still not having a clue he loved her.
"Because the children need you ... Because I need you."
Not knowing what he meant, she turned herself around, now facing Georg.
"I'm sorry, Maria. I thought you and Chris were together. When I saw you 2 kissing, something inside me snapped."
He was getting closer and closer, till he was standing only inches away from her. His hand caressed her cheek.
"I thought you were in love with him."
"But I'm not." She said practically whispering and closing her eyes because she was enjoying the touch of his hand on her cheek.
"If you leave, it would hurt so much. Please stay?"
"I'm sorry, I can't."
New tears started to form in her eyes. She wanted to walk backwards, away from him, but she couldn't go any further because of the bed. His hand slid down in her neck, which made it harder to breath for her, while his other hand wiped of her tears.
"I love you, Maria."
"You what?"
She had lost it. This was all a dream, one she never wanted to end. As they were standing there, she never knew his touch could be so soft and precious. Nothing else mattered anymore.
"I love you, and I can't stand the thought of you going away."
His head moved closer, pressing his lips gently on hers. 'Is this really happening?' She never thought she would ever be so close to Georg. Of course she had dreamed about it, but she never thought it would actually come true. Her knees grew weaker and she felt tingly all over her body, but parted from him as soon as Elsa came up in her mind.
"I love you too. But ... what about the baroness?"
"It is you I love!"
He pulled her closer, his hands resting on her sides. Maria was only relatively dry when Georg held her tightly, but he couldn't care less. While looking deeply into her eyes and their foreheads touched, he said:
"I'll tell her tonight it isn't her I belong with."
After he had told her this, she felt herself relaxing, like if it had made everything alright. She felt his hand moving towards her back, then it slowly caressed her side. Again they moved to each other, but as their lips almost touched a little girl interrupted them.
"Fraulein Maria, I thought you were gonna help me with my hair ..."
She didn't seem to be chocked by those 2 standing so close together, even when they almost had kissed. Maria pulled her head back.
"I'm needed elsewhere."
Georg, who didn't want her to go out of his embrace, gave her a little smile, telling her she should go although that was the last thing on earth he wanted. Marta was already back in the nursery.
"Don't be too long, ok?"
"I won't."
Georg gave her a sweet kiss on her nose.
"Well, this is the perfect time to tell Elsa, I guess."
Before parting Maria gave him one last kiss.
"Good luck."
----- ----- -----
It was a great afternoon. Only now and then a single cloud drifted by. A light summer breeze blew, making it nice to sit outside in the warm sun. Chris had suggested to go for a swim while it still was good weather.
"But what about the little ones?"
"We'll keep an eye on them, don't worry. After all, it isn't fair when the rest can go swimming but little Marta and Gretl have to sit aside, now is it?"
"No, but there's a good solution for it, all of us won't go swimming." Maria said.
"Oh but we really want to go swimming Fraulein. Please?" Brigitta pleaded.
She looked at the children and understood how much they wanted to go swimming, even Maria herself was in the mood for splashing in the water and things like that.
"Only if someone else keeps an eye on them as well, since Chris and I won't be able to watch them every second."
"Well, we can always ask Max, their father or Elsa ..."
When the children heard Chris say the name Elsa, every one of their faces twitched.
"No baroness! Definitely not!" The children exclaimed.
"Then who else? Max and the captain are in the city right now."
"What about Frau Schmidt or Hendrika?"
"We can always ask them. But don't be disappointed when they have other things to do." She pointed the children out.
"We won't."
"Alright, I'll go and ask them. You stay here. Chris, keep an eye on them please."
Maria disappeared in the house, while Chris and the children were cheerfully chatting. Once inside, Maria didn't know where to go. She could check the kitchen, but it would be highly unlikely they sat there at this time of hour. Another possibility was their room, although Maria thought it would be awfully rude to barge in and ask them if they could watch the children, while that was supposed to be her task. Yet she had promised the children. She went upstairs, first to Frau Schmidt's room. Softly she knocked and waited for a reply.
"Come in."
Frau Schmidt answered as friendly as always. Maria walked in while she felt her cheeks redden.
"Oh hello, Fraulein Maria."
With a kind smile Frau Schmidt greeted her. She and Hendrika sat down on the bed, playing a game of cards.
"Hello. May I ask you something?"
Maria didn't know why she was so shy all of the sudden. She, Frau Schmidt and Hendrika had talked a dozen times before.
"Of course you may."
"It's such a lovely weather outside, and the children wanted to go for a swim. Including Marta and Gretl. And I was wondering ..."
"If we could watch the little ones also." Frau Schmidt ended her sentence.
"I would be happy to do it." Hendrika smiled at Maria.
"So would I."
Maria's face brightened at once.
"Thank you so much!"
"It's our pleasure. That way mother and I can spend some time outside too."
"Oh most definitely." Maria answered. She thought it would be terrible to sit inside while outside was so wonderful.
"When should we come?" Hendrika asked.
"Well, now would be fine if you want to. I tell the children so we can change now. Thank you again."
Quickly she left the room to tell the others. In no time everyone was inside changing. Of course Maria and Chris were the first who were ready. Chris went already outside, while Maria helped Gretl. A few minutes later, they gathered up in the hall.
"Has everyone got their towels?"
7 heads nodded in agreement.
"All right then, let's go outside."
Outside, on a spot in the direction of the gazebo, Chris was talking with the 2 ladies who had agreed to come outside for the little ones. The children walked towards them, laid their towels on the grass and sat down before attacking the water. As soon as Chris had seen Maria, he stood up and moved until he was standing a few inches away from her. He grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to the water. On this side of the shore, the water became slowly deeper, with the same effects as a beach. He pulled her onto the wooden jetty that ended in a deeper part of the lake, but Maria fought back. When she was almost loose, Chris lifted her into his arms and walked to the end of the jetty.
All the children were laughing and saying to throw her in the water. Frau Schmidt and her daughter were looking amused at the 2. It was hard to throw her in, because she kept struggling to come free. At last Chris found a solution to throw her in the water. He simply had to jump with Maria in his arms. He hopped into the lake with Maria who had lost her battle. When they came back above the surface with their heads, Maria hit him on the shoulder.
"I'll get you for this!"
"Oh come on, you've enjoyed this as much as I did."
Chris knew he was right the minute he saw that smile appear on her face.
"You see, I knew it!"
Maria walked out of the lake to sit down on her towel.
"So how is the water?" Hendrika asked jokingly.
"Oh quite alright."
She dried her face a bit and looked at the 2.
"Why won't you swim with us?"
"I don't know."
"Go on Hendrika. And have a great time!"
"Okay, I'll be back in a minute."
And off she went back to the house.
"What about you, Frau Schmidt?"
"Oh no, I'll stay here and keep an eye on everyone."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
Next Maria felt Gretl pulling her hands.
"Come Fraulein, I wanna go in the water too!"
Maria stood up, while holding little Gretl's hand. All the others were already diving into the water, while Chris was holding Marta. Maria and Gretl joined them and went till the water came under the little ones their shoulders. They were having a marvellous time. Both Maria and Chris sat down on their knees, so they were about the same height as Gretl and Marta. While splashing around with Maria and the 2 little ones by his side, he started thinking. 'Look at us, like a little family.' Maria's face had the brightest smile as she was enjoying doing these things with the children. 'She's so beautiful. And one day we'll have all of this too ...'
Hendrika came back, and sat on the towel next to her mother. She was about the same age as Maria and Chris. And the 3 of them had became close friends.
"Come on Hendrika!" Maria shouted. "The water is wonderful!"
"I thought you said it was quite alright." She replied with a smile forming on her lips.
"Just come in here!"
Chris chuckled. As soon as Hendrika was playing with Marta, he dived further in the lake, where he had a water fight with the rest of the children.
-----
Elsa had searched all over the house for Georg and Max, but had found neither of them. She decided to check outside as she heard the children cheering. Once outside, she followed the laughing and came out to the place where Frau Schmidt was sitting. All the children were in the water, joined by Maria, Chris and Hendrika.
"Excuse me." She turned to Frau Schmidt. "Do you know where Georg and Max are?"
"Yes baroness. They're out in the city ever since 12:30."
It was almost 4 PM and Elsa was wondering why she didn't know of their little outing. Since there was nothing else to do, she might as well could stay there.
"Would you mind if I sit down here?"
"No, not at all." Frau Schmidt answered.
Elsa sat down on the towel of Hendrika. She stared a while at the children. All by all they were quite alright. She even began to get used of their laughter all the time, their singing ...
Maria had spotted Elsa sitting there.
"Why, baroness Schraeder! How nice of you to join us!" Her voice filled with excitement. "Come for a swim too."
"Oh no dear." Elsa replied with a kind smile. "I'm afraid the water is too cold for me."
Elsa had tried to hate Maria, but she had found she just couldn't hate such a high spirited girl who didn't mean to harm anyone. What happened had happened, and Maria couldn't have done anything about it. She knew that soon she was going to have to leave as she didn't belong there. 'It's probably for the best.'
Marta and Gretl walked out of the lake and took place on their own towels, not far away from Elsa and Frau Schmidt. As the others were calling for Maria and Hendrika to join them into the deeper water, both of them raced to the others. Maria won, but as soon as she got there, the children were already on their way to push her under. The same happened with Hendrika. Chris was helping the children. He dived and grabbed her ankle. Then he swam further pulling Maria under water.
Elsa and Frau Schmidt watched from the shore. Gretl took her towel and wrapped it around her, as she moved to sit by the 2 adults. Marta soon followed her example.
"Did you have a great time?"
"Oh yes! I love to play in the lake!" Gretl responded to Elsa.
"Oh that's nice. Will you be going back?"
"Uhuh. But first we'll let Fraulein Maria and Fraulein Hendrika have a great time!"
Elsa spotted the beautiful bracelet on Gretl's arm.
"Oh dear, you'd better take that off before you'll loose it in the water."
She helped taking it off and laid it then on her towel.
Frankly, Frau Schmidt was surprised Elsa even bothered to talk with the children. She guessed Elsa wasn't exactly who she thought she was.
It were more Chris and Maria who kept pushing each other under then anyone else. Every time Maria wanted to swim to the others, Chris came after her, pulling or pushing her under water, which she of course had to pay him back. At last, when Chris was getting tired, he sat down on a less deeper part near the shore, just watching the others. Gretl and Marta threw off their towels and went to sit with Chris in the water, while Maria had Louisa on her shoulders and Hendrika was carrying Brigitta, so they could have a fight above the water. At first, Brigitta and Hendrika went down. But the second time Maria lost her balance by Brigitta's push against Louisa. Both fell down in the water. They were having such a great time.
Meanwhile Chris sat there, his arms around the little ones. Suddenly he moved his hand into the water and splashed the 2, again starting a water fight, but now only between him, Gretl and Marta.
What they and the 2 out of the water didn't notice, was that the group of older children, Maria and Hendrika had gathered. They weren't playing anymore.
"We have to do something, so that mother and the baroness won't be the only dry ones anymore."
"Yes, but what?"
"I have an idea. But I sure hope the baroness doesn't have expensive clothes on." Brigitta added.
"Well, why won't I go and ask her about her clothes?" Liesl asked.
She swam for shore immediately. Once out of the water, she took her towel and dried herself a bit. Next she sat down in between of the baroness and Frau Schmidt. In the meantime, Brigitta explained her plan to the others.
"Such a lovely weather, isn't it?
"Yes indeed. I can't believe I almost sat inside the entire day!" Frau Schmidt sighed.
"A good thing we went swimming. But why won't you come outside on your own?" Liesl asked, completely forgetting why she had come out of the water in the first place.
"I'll be coming out a lot more now, don't worry."
She gave a blink at Liesl, who remembered what she had come for.
"My, that's a lovely outfit you're wearing, baroness."
Elsa looked down at her ensemble, the same she had worn the day of the puppet show.
"This old thing?"
"Yes, really lovely!"
Liesl was lying through her teeth. She found her skirt rather terrible. She couldn't understand how a woman of her class could wear such a thing.
"Well, I'm off again. It's been nice talking to both of you."
A second later, Liesl was already back into the water, heading for the others. She quickly said what the baroness had told her, followed by Brigitta who explained her plan.
Louisa and Brigitta swam towards the jetty, pretending they were racing, while the others kept behind, acting as if they were playing. When almost having reached the wood, all of the sudden Brigitta cried of pain. Quickly Louisa took her and swam further to the jetty. Frau Schmidt and Elsa had heard her, as had the rest. The others were swimming in full speed at the wounded girl. Elsa and Frau Schmidt hurried themselves onto the end of the jetty, where Brigitta was holding her tightly to the side. Elsa reached out her hand to pull her up, which Brigitta and Louisa were counting on. Both grabbed her hand and pulled her into the water.
"Auw ... I'm really hurt." Brigitta tried with Frau Schmidt.
"I'm not gonna fall for that." She said chuckling while walking back to her sitting place.
Elsa hit the surface again. She wiped her hair out of her face.
"You little devils!" She said without even trying to hide her smile. "Alright you've got me!"
She walked back to land, soaked to the skin. Her skirt was sticking to her legs. As she intended to go back to the house, Maria came running out of the water.
"Aren't you going to stay here?"
"Oh no dear, I think I'd better go and get dried off."
"Why won't you change in your bathing suite? You're soaked already, so it won't matter that much if you'd join us. Please?"
Maria thought she really wasn't as bad. And since that she and Georg had been together for a long time, she thought it probably would be better if she got her involved with the children.
"Alright. I'll be back in 10 minutes."
Both smiled. Maria returned to the water, where Louisa was waiting for her. Then they both raced back to the others. Elsa walked back to the house. Maria had convinced her to stay. She was still astonished she had given in when she walked back in her bathing suite with a towel over her arm. She hadn't even bothered to put on a bathing-cap, since she was 'soaked' already. Everyone sat the same when she arrived at the place. Frau Schmidt was still gazing at her daughter, Maria and the children, while Chris was being attacked by the 2 little ones.
"And you Frau Schmidt? She asked when she sat back down again.
"Me?"
"Yes, you should come too. I'd hate to leave you here alone. It will be fun."
Elsa wasn't at all who she thought she was. It had been the first real time Elsa ever had spoken to her.
"Oh no, I rather enjoy sitting back here watching the others."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes, thank you, baroness."
Gretl and Marta had spotted Elsa in her bathing suite.
"Yay, another adult to play with!"
Gretl ran out of the water to Elsa and took her right hand. Marta followed her sister and took the other hand. Then both pulled her into the water.
"Come on baroness." Gretl cheered excitedly.
They reached Chris and started splashing each other again.
-----
Georg and Max finally arrived at the house. Ever since he had bought the ring, they had been talking about Maria, Chris and Elsa, until Georg couldn't take it anymore. Max had driven him crazy ever since he had brought the topic of Chris and Maria up. Of course it was true what Max had told him, and he knew it. Neither one of them had spoken after Georg had shouted he didn't want to discus it anymore.
"I'll see what happens! If she doesn't love me back, fine! But just stop talking about it, ok!?"
Even when they had arrived home, nothing was there to talk about. Inside, no one was there. Only Franz passed the hallway once. No sign of the children, their governess, Elsa, Chris or the servants.
-----
"I'm getting hungry." Kurt said.
"Yeah, me too."
Both Kurt and Friedrich swam towards Maria and asked her when they could eat. Then the 3 of them made their way back to the shore to ask Frau Schmidt.
"Well, I can serve dinner out here, that is if it's alright with the captain."
A second later Georg and Max walked towards the cheering group of people. By now Maria was already back into the water, because Hendrika had been calling for her. Friedrich and Kurt ran to their father and immediately started pleading for dinner outside.
"Please father?"
"We had breakfast outside, so why not dinner outside?"
"Oh alright. But just this once!"
Quickly the boys jumped into the lake to tell the others the good news. This was Hendrika's cue. She walked out of the water and went with her mother inside to prepare the meal.
Gretl and Marta ran excitedly towards Georg and Max.
"Daddy we had such a wonderful day!"
"So I gather." He replied, finally relaxing after a dreadful afternoon.
Maria came back to shore as well, with Chris right behind her.
"Good afternoon captain." She greeted him when she took her towel and folded it around her.
"Good day Fraulein." He replied. "What a wonderful idea."
"Oh it wasn't mine." Maria said while looking at Chris.
It was the first time Georg had seen her in a bathing suite. Just by looking at her, he got light-headed. Yet he had to tear his eyes away from her as she saw a drenched Elsa walking towards him. 'How on earth did they get Elsa to swim too?'
All sat down on their towels, watching the older children having fun in the lake, till Georg said they had to get out for dinner. Everyone who still had been in the water, was now on land getting dried. 10 minutes later, Frau Schmidt and Hendrika walked outside with the dinner. As they left each meal on a tray, Georg suggested they could come and join them too. Franz was welcome as well.
"Thank you, sir. I'll go ask him."
Some time later they came back, Franz not with them.
"He felt more comfortable eating inside." Frau Schmidt told Georg.
When dinner was finished, everyone waited about an hour before returning into the water. Meanwhile the most of them lay down, getting some more energy for later. Georg had taken place next to Maria, with Elsa on the other side. Georg couldn't find anything to talk about while all the others were lying so closely near them. And Maria was too busy resting a bit to notice that both Chris and Georg were dreaming away, probably about her.
Once the hour had passed by, nearly everyone jumped back into the lake. They had still an hour before having to go back inside. Maria quickly went for another simple lap with Louisa, Chris and Friedrich. Once it was 8:30 PM, the air had cooled down, as had the water. Maria, Chris and Louisa were the only ones left in the lake. The others had left the water almost 20 minutes ago, as it was getting to cold. The 3, who were in the middle of the lake, quickly swam back to the shore where the rest were waiting for them. On shore, they folded their towels around them and with the group they went inside. The children went upstairs, followed by Maria and Chris. After the children had been all dried off and put on their night-clothes, Gretl came to the conclusion that she had forgotten her bracelet. Therefore Maria and Chris went back to search for it. Outside, the breeze had become chillier too, making Maria and Chris shiver for a minute, while still in their wet clothing. As it was nearly 10 to 9, they had found it and headed back to the house.
When they were back in the main hall on the stairway, Chris stopped for a minute after he had seen Maria smiling at him. He had an urge to kiss her. So he embraced her, placing his lips on hers. The captain, who walked out of the hall on the 1st floor had seen it. His heart just froze when he saw Maria kissing him. Heartbroken, he couldn't bear to look at them a moment longer and made his way back to his study. He just couldn't believe his eyes, and yet this was what Max had warned him for. As he was pacing up and down the room, he pulled out the ring out his pocket. He kept staring at it, knowing that he almost had gotten that far. This was the first time in many years he didn't know what to do. His hopes were slowly disappearing, to make room for anger and sadness.
Maria didn't know what was happening. One minute she was glad to be around him, happy she had found him back after all those years, that they were finally together again like in the old days, and the next she wished he'd never came back. She pushed Chris away from her.
"What on earth are you doing?"
"I love you, Maria! I've loved you since we were 15! When I moved away I tried to get on with my life, but I kept thinking of you, so I had to look for you! And I finally found you ... These past weeks have been the best of my life! I thought you felt the same ..."
He thought back of that moment earlier that day, when he imagined Maria and himself having a happy little family.
It took Maria a few seconds to realize what he just had said.
"Chris, I'm so sorry, but I'm not in love with you!"
He got quiet, looking in Maria's eyes with pain in his.
"I'm in love with someone else."
Suddenly she realized that it was the same as Chris and her. The captain loved Elsa, not her, just like Maria loved Georg and not Chris. To stay any longer in a house with the man she loved, but who didn't love her back was unbearable.
"I'll better leave than."
Off he went to pack his things. Maria simply stood there, thinking about so many things. Chris had just revealed his love for her. Never did she think he would have these kinda feelings for her.
"Fraulein Maria? Can you help me please to braid my hair?"
Her voice came from upstairs.
"Yes of course, Marta. I'll be up in a minute."
-----
After some thoughts, and the 10th time he had walked from wall to wall in his study, he decided to come downstairs, even if Maria and Chris were still there. She didn't love him back, so he considered to move on with his life, even though it would be the hardest thing ever! He placed the ring back in his pocket, thinking back of the wonderful moments they had shared.
As he walked down the stairs, he only saw Maria there just gazing at a certain point if front of her. No sign of Chris. Maria hadn't ever bothered to get changed or dried off, and was still standing there in her wet bathing suite with a not so big towel wrapped around her. When she noticed Georg coming downstairs, she figured the best thing to do was to get it all over with.
"Captain, can I have a word with you please?"
He was wondering what she wanted to say. He guessed it had something to do with Chris.
"I think I know what's it about. And I wish you and Chris all happiness of the world."
"Chris and me?"
"As I passed the hallway earlier, I saw you 2."
'Oh no, he saw Chris kissing me! Things couldn't get any more worse!'
"I think there's been a mistake, sir. What I wanted to say is that I'm leaving ... tonight. I'm returning to the abbey."
He realized that Maria had said the abbey. Clearly she couldn't go there when she was together with Chris.
"The abbey? You're not going away with Chris?"
He didn't know what he was hearing. 'If she isn't gonna leave with Chris, then why in heaven's name is she leaving at all?' His sadness and anger faded away, but were replaced with fear. He didn't want her to leave!
"No, sir, I'm not. Chris will be leaving to."
"But why are you returning to the abbey?" He asked, his voice filled with despair.
"Well sir, I can't stay here forever, and I miss my life in the abbey and I ... I just have to go!"
Maria started to cry. Then she ran up the stairs to her room, where she grabbed her bag underneath the bed and started to pack her things. Not much later the captain walked in.
"Maria, please don't go."
She hesitated for a minute, but then continued with packing her things, leaving the dress she had worn on the day of her arrival on her bed, as that would be the one she was going to wear while leaving.
"Why should I stay?" She asked him, still not having a clue he loved her.
"Because the children need you ... Because I need you."
Not knowing what he meant, she turned herself around, now facing Georg.
"I'm sorry, Maria. I thought you and Chris were together. When I saw you 2 kissing, something inside me snapped."
He was getting closer and closer, till he was standing only inches away from her. His hand caressed her cheek.
"I thought you were in love with him."
"But I'm not." She said practically whispering and closing her eyes because she was enjoying the touch of his hand on her cheek.
"If you leave, it would hurt so much. Please stay?"
"I'm sorry, I can't."
New tears started to form in her eyes. She wanted to walk backwards, away from him, but she couldn't go any further because of the bed. His hand slid down in her neck, which made it harder to breath for her, while his other hand wiped of her tears.
"I love you, Maria."
"You what?"
She had lost it. This was all a dream, one she never wanted to end. As they were standing there, she never knew his touch could be so soft and precious. Nothing else mattered anymore.
"I love you, and I can't stand the thought of you going away."
His head moved closer, pressing his lips gently on hers. 'Is this really happening?' She never thought she would ever be so close to Georg. Of course she had dreamed about it, but she never thought it would actually come true. Her knees grew weaker and she felt tingly all over her body, but parted from him as soon as Elsa came up in her mind.
"I love you too. But ... what about the baroness?"
"It is you I love!"
He pulled her closer, his hands resting on her sides. Maria was only relatively dry when Georg held her tightly, but he couldn't care less. While looking deeply into her eyes and their foreheads touched, he said:
"I'll tell her tonight it isn't her I belong with."
After he had told her this, she felt herself relaxing, like if it had made everything alright. She felt his hand moving towards her back, then it slowly caressed her side. Again they moved to each other, but as their lips almost touched a little girl interrupted them.
"Fraulein Maria, I thought you were gonna help me with my hair ..."
She didn't seem to be chocked by those 2 standing so close together, even when they almost had kissed. Maria pulled her head back.
"I'm needed elsewhere."
Georg, who didn't want her to go out of his embrace, gave her a little smile, telling her she should go although that was the last thing on earth he wanted. Marta was already back in the nursery.
"Don't be too long, ok?"
"I won't."
Georg gave her a sweet kiss on her nose.
"Well, this is the perfect time to tell Elsa, I guess."
Before parting Maria gave him one last kiss.
"Good luck."