Disclaimer: Must I say it again and remind myself of the fact that I own nothing?
Author's Note: As I stated last chapter I have no idea where I am going with this story, so please bare with me. But here it is, Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Maria woke with a grin on her face. As she stretched and looked at the ceiling she couldn't help but feel the happiest she had felt in a while. Sure, she was sorry that the Captain and the Baroness had to call off their engagement, but the man she loved was no longer engaged. Though she knew nothing could truly happen between herself and the Captain, it was still very nice.
Turning on her side and looking at the clock Maria nearly hit the ceiling as she jumped out of bed. It was 11:00! Rushing, Maria got dressed and sprinted from her room.
"Father?" Gretl's tiny voice filled the relaxed atmosphere of the sitting room.
"Yes sweetheart?" The Captain asked as he looked at the little girl sitting in his lap.
"Where's Baroness Schraeder?"
Immediately all seven children were looking at their father. The Baroness was usually up by now, asking their Father what he was planning on doing that day, or sarcastically arguing with Uncle Max.
"Well, Baroness Schraeder left for Vienna this morning."
"She did?"
"Yes."
"When will she be back."
"Actually, children, Baroness Schraeder will not be returning."
"Really?"
"But why?"
"Well, last night, after you went to bed, the Baroness and I decided that it was best if we called off our engagement."
Silence filled the room as the children took in the news, and tried to suppress their grins.
"Father?"
"Yes Gretl?"
"Does this mean that we're not going to have a new mother?"
The Captain looked around at all of his children, all of them knew the answer except for Gretl and maybe Marta. As his eyes made their way around the room they came to a rest on the door, where Maria had just appeared. She was standing there out of breath and red in the face from her short sprint. Her short hair was a mess and she was trying to smooth our her dress. He caught her gaze and found his breathe quicken.
"For the time being, yes."
Maria hated her luck. She had asked the Captain to speak with her after dinner, as she was taking the children on an outing. Which wasn't a lie, she really had planned an outing with the children, but she was planning on using that time to come up with good answers to the questions the Captain would be asking her. But here she was, walking along the dirt road, away from the villa with the Captain at her side. The Children had insisted that their father come with them, which she didn't mind at all. But with him being so near it was hard to come up with a reason for her sudden departure. All she could focus on were thoughts of him.
"Captain, I must apologize for sleeping in today. I'm sorry." She managed to say.
"Fraulein, it is no problem at all. In fact, I was the one who told the children not to wake you. You were, after all, up late last night."
"Thank you, Captain." Maria replied shyly, eyes locking on the ground below her.
"It was trouble Fraulein. Besides, you need your rest, looking after seven children day in and day out, who..uh..wouldn't?"
Maria could only smile in return.
Once again the family found themselves sitting on their spot on the mountain, and this time they had their lovely Fraulein with them.
Kurt and Frederick were once again playing ball with their Father. Brigitta was caught up in the fantasy world of her book. Louisa and Lesil were playing a card game and listening to Maria play the guitar and sing with Marta and Gretl.
"So, a needle pulling thread." Maria chimed.
"La, a note to follow so!" Gretl responded.
"Ti, a drink with jam and bread." Marta joined.
"That will bring us back to DO!" The three finished as Marta and Gretl immediately found themselves in fits of laughter.
"Marta!." Gretl jumped up from the ground, "Let's go pick flowers." Pointing to a spot a few meters away.
"Ok!. Will you come pick flowers with us Fraulein Maria?" Marta said as she stood too.
"Why don't you two go on ahead, and I'll set up everything for lunch. I'll call you over when everything is ready."
"OK!" Together Marta and Gretl skipped off to the little pasture of flowers hand in hand.
"And what are you two lovely young ladies doing?" the Captain had seen Marta and Gretl skip by himself, Kurt, and Frederick, grinning from hear to hear and wondered what they were up to.
"Father! We're picking flowers! Would you like to help?"
"Of course Marta."
After picking a few flowers the trio heard Maria's voice fill the mountain air.
"Children! Captain! Lunch is ready!"
Flowers in hand and his two daughters at his side, the Captain went to eat lunch.
Maria and the Captain were both propped up on their elbows, basking in the sun. Enjoying the silent company of one another.
"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" Georg asked, turning on one elbow, towards Maria, while twirling a flower in his fingers.
"Yes, it is." She said turning her head to look at the Captain.
Their eyes locked and everything, along with the children's screams of laughter, ceased to exist.
"Absolutely perfect." And before the Captain could stop himself, he placed the tiny flower in his hand behind the governess' ear.
Maria could only blush under is soft gaze and touch.
Author's Note: Well there you have it, Chapter 10. Just a little fal-di-ral and fiddle-ly-dee. Sorry it wasn't up sooner. This past week as been hectic. I'm in band and we had student leader ship interviews and drum major auditions for next season. I'm so excited because I am one of the Drum Majors! Yeah! Plus I just found out that WICKED in coming to my town! Whoot! Anywho, enough rambling!
Singoncemore: I again apologize for any mistakes. I have a really bad habit of not rereading the chapter I just wrote to make sure there are not mistakes. I habit I am trying to break. )! Thanks for the review!
Lindainsweden & LizzyM87: Thank you so very much for the wonderful reviews!
More to come soon!
The Lonely Goatherd.
