Chapter 3:
They were all there, lined up on the couch. Gretl on Liesl's lap, then Marta, Friedrich, Louisa, Brigitta, and Kurt, and they all sat with expectant eyes. The Captain looked across each of their faces, which all seemed pleasant, and were waiting to be delivered news which they seemed to already know was good. Maria looked at the floor, tracing an invisible pattern with the toe of her shoe.
"Well, children," Georg began, "I suspect most of you have an idea of what you are about to hear." The children excitedly smiled at each other. "The point of this meeting," he paused and looked at Maria. "Is that I would like to request your permission, to take this wonderful lady," he grasped Maria's hand and kissed it, "as my wife."
"You're asking us?" Brigitta spoke after a few seconds. Georg smiled.
"Well, of course!" Louisa chimed in, and the rest of the children excitedly agreed.
"Finally." Georg raised his eyebrows and Friedrich, and opened his mouth to speak, but Liesl did first.
"We won't be seeing any more of the Baroness, will we Father?" she asked in a sarcastic tone that surprised her father, and Kurt laughed.
"No," Georg said. "No, you will not." More cheers from the children.
"Now then," Georg turned to Maria, who had yet to say a word. He smiled and bent down on one knee. "Would you do the honor of being my wife, Maria?" he asked as he pulled a small black box out of his pocket, and opened it towards her.
"Oh, yes. Yes!" Georg saw a tear fall from her eye as he slipped the ring onto her left ring finger, and then kissed her lips, small and sweet, as appropriate as he could make it for in front of the children.
"Oh darling," Maria wrapped her arms around Georg once the children had gone in the dining room for breakfast. "How did you manage? I mean, only last night.."
"I sent for it after you went to bed, and it arrived moments before you came downstairs." Maria fingered the white gold ring. It had 3 diamonds in the center, the middle one larger than the other two, and a small cross on either side, embedded in with tiny diamonds.
"It's beautiful. I love it." She softly kissed her fiancee's lips.
"Only the best for you, my love,"
Maria smiled, wondering how she could be so fortunate, to be in the arms of this wonderful man, whom she felt that she didn't deserve. Georg ran his fingers gently through her hair and placed a small kiss on her temple.
"What do you say we go in and have breakfast with the children, love?" Maria just grinned as Georg led her into the dining room.
They took their places at the table, Maria blessed the food, and they began to eat.
"What are we going to do today, Father?"
"Well Kurt, to start maybe you should get the egg off of your face," the Captain responded, and everyone laughed.
"What else?" Gretl spoke with the sweet and innocent voice only one of so little years could posses, and one couldn't help but smile at.
"I was thinking a picnic would be nice, or a trip into town. Whatever you like, Maria," he smiled. Truth be told, he didn't care what they did, as long as he was with her, and likewise for Maria.
"I think a picnic sounds quite lovely. It is so wonderful out side, don't you think?"
The children excitedly agreed.
"This day," Georg thought aloud, "couldn't be any more marvelous." He looked down into Maria's eyes; clear blue and sparkling. The Captain was sitting on a large blanket spread out on the grass, leaning slightly to one side, propped up on his arm, and Maria's head rested on his lap. The weather was perfect, the boys were playing catch, Louisa and Brigitta were playing cards on the blanket, and Liesl was picking plowers with the two younger girls.
Maria closed her eyes as she felt Georg begin to trace her face with his index and middle finger. Along her forehead, down her cheek, along her jawbone, across her lips. She instinctively kissed his fingers as they ran across her lips, and opened her eyes, and her gaze was met by his. She sighed softly and closed her eyes again, but Georg couldn't break his eyes away from her. He couldn't help but notice her radiant beauty, which seemed to shine from within her and make the rest of her glow. He ran his fingers through her soft hair, and before realizing what he was saying, he spoke.
"You're beautiful." She looked up at him and laughed softly. Unaware momentarily of anyone's presence but each other's, he leaned down and softly kissed her lips. They were simply captivated by each other. She slid her arm up and placed it on his neck.
Gretl, who had walked up without either of them noticing, hands full of flowers, looked at her father and governess, and thought them to be quite strange. Her head was on his lap, and he was bent down kissing her, so they were upside down to each other. Gretl turned her head sideways to try to find a view that made sense.
"Engaged people sure are funny, right Louisa?" Louisa and Brigitta laughed, and Maria gasped softly as the couple broke apart from their strangely positioned, but romantic kiss.
"I suppose they are, Gretl," Louisa replied, laughing as Maria felt the blood rush to her cheeks, and the captain grinned. Seeing Maria's embarrassment, he couldn't help but smile.
"Well I think that young ladies who embarrass their parents are funny!" he said, reaching over to tickle her, but she laughed and jumped out of the way, knowing well that he wouldn't get up. He continued to joke with the children, but Maria was still playing his words over in her mind. "Her parents." She was one of the parents of these fine children, or would be soon. Maria couldn't think of anything that would make her happier: being the mother of these wonderful children and being the wife of this amazing man.
