Thank you for reading my story, your reviews mean a lot to me! I promise to update more often but the chapters will be uploaded without having been read by my beta and I apologise if I made mistakes concerning the use of words etc. Enjoy! 

/Linda

Chapter 3

Maria lay awake in her bed wondering what her feelings meant. Was she really in love with the Captain? 'No, I can't be. I'm sure it's just an infatuation that will fade away eventually.' She got out of bed, far to alert to sleep, and looked at her watch.

"Hmm, two in the morning. The party must be over by now. I'm sure no one would notice me sneaking downstairs for something to nibble on." Maria put her robe on and went to the kitchen.

"Now, where does Frau Schmidt keep her delicious bread?" She searched everywhere and eventually found the right box at the top of a shelf which she just couldn't reach no matter how hard she tried. When stretching out for the fifth time trying to get hold of it she felt a warm body being pressed to her back and saw an arm coming over her shoulder to take the box down for her. She stood frozen, inhaling the masculine smell of the person behind her as she closed her eyes.

"Thank you." she whispered, knowing exactly who her savior of the day was.

"You're welcome Mar.. fräulein." the Captain answered in a husky voice. 'How can this be? I have been thinking about her all night and here she is, two in the morning, looking as stunning as ever in nothing but her nightgown and robe.' Maria opened her eyes and slowly turned around to face the Captain.

"You couldn't sleep fräulein?"

"No. I guess the party wound me up a bit as well as the children."

"Would you like to join me in the study for a nightcap?" Maria was surprised at his question but thought about it for a second or two before answering.

"I suppose one couldn't hurt. I'm not keeping you from anything if I accept, do I?"

"Not at all fräulein. I would be delighted if you joined me."

"Then I think I will. Thank you Captain."

In the study the Captain motioned for Maria to sit down on the couch.

"Make yourself comfortable." She sat and immediately relaxed against the soft cushions. The Captain poured two glasses of whiskey and walked over to Maria, gave her the drink and sat down next to her. Maria blushed at the closeness of his body but didn't feel intimidated by it at all, as she expected she would've. She lifted her glass and smiled.

"Well, cheers Captain."

"Cheers... Maria." Marias face got beat red when the Captain called her by her first name but he seemed oblivious and just raised his glass before taking a swig of the whiskey. Maria did the same but started coughing as soon as she had swallowed the beverage.

"Easy..." Georg patted her back gently with a smile on his lips.

"I guess I'm not used to drinking whiskey." She cleared her throat and started to breath normally again. Georg subconsciously left his arm on the back of the couch behind Maria. They drank again and this time Maria sipped carefully instead of taking a gulp but she didn't quite manage to stifle another fit of coughing. The Captains hand shot up to fondle her back and this time he didn't remove it when the coughing subsided. Maria tensed but after a couple of minutes the whiskey started to effect her and she relaxed lightly into his touch. All of a sudden the Captain started chuckling, making Maria puzzled.

"What is it Captain?"

"I was just thinking about what Gretl and Marta were asking. You know, about us?"

"Yes. Well, they're just children Captain. You can't blame them for having a vivid imagination."

"Fräulein?" Maria looked into his lovely eyes and felt her heart melt.

"Yes?"

"It's ok to call me Georg when we're alone like this. I'm not really in for the titles anyway, despite what you might have thought before."

"Ok... But if I get to call you... Georg... I insist that you call me Maria."

"I'd love that." Marias eyes widened.

"You would?" Georg realized his slip and blushed.

"Erm.. Yes. It's a lovely name." He bent past her to reach for the bottle of whiskey, trying to amend this awkward situation, and accidentally brushed over her breast on the way back, causing Maria to gasp.

"I'm so sorry Maria."

"It's ok Georg. You'd better get used to my face being the same color as a ripe tomato though. Now, how about another drink?" Georg grinned at her question and raised an eyebrow.

"I thought one was enough for you." Maria giggled nervously at his comment.

"I'm a big girl, I can change my mind can't I?" She smiled and held her glass up for him to pour some more in it. They both sat there, silently drinking the whiskey and thinking of each other. Simultaneously they turned, ending up face to face with their noses almost touching. Georg could feel Marias leg pressed against his own and got very aware of the fact that he was only a few inches away from kissing her. 'Should I? What if I scare her? What if we get too carried away?' Maria could sense his line of thought and decided, as hard as it was, to leave him for tonight.

"Georg?" she said with a rasp voice. He looked deep into her eyes and she nearly changed her mind.

"I think I need to go to bed now. As lovely as it is sitting here with you, I have to take care of seven wild children in the morning."

"Oh." Georg felt his heart sink and sadly watched Maria stand up. The combination of lack of sleep and whiskey had its effect on Maria though and her legs suddenly gave way.

"Maria!" Georg jumped up and caught her before she hit the floor.

"Are you alright?"

"Just a bit tipsy I guess. Thank you for saving me."

"Come on, I'll walk you up to your room." He put his arm around her waist to support her up the stairs and all the way to her room. He helped her in and they ended up by her bed.

"Do you think you'll be ok from here Maria?"

"Yes, I think so. Beside, you should go. If anyone hears or sees you here in my room at this hour we might get into serious trouble." She winked and he couldn't help but smile at her.

"I'll go. See you tomorrow Maria. Sleep tight."

"You too... Georg." He left with a huge grin across his face and walked to his room, feeling as light as a feather. Maria laid down on her bed, letting out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. 'Oh Georg, why do you have to be such a wonderful person?'

Maria and the children had spent the day wandering around Salzburg and were now at home, finishing dinner. The Baroness and Max had decided to leave for Vienna in the morning and had excused themselves to go pack. It was quiet around the table for a change, due to the festivities the previous night.

"Fräulein Maria?"

"Yes Brigitta?"

"I can barely keep my eyes open. Would it be alright if we went to bed right after the meal?"

"Of course. I'm pretty tired myself actually." Maria stated, suddenly getting Liesls attention.

"Why? Did you not sleep well?" Louisa and Brigitta looked at Liesl and then at their father and fräulein with a knowing look in their eyes. Marias eyes met the Captains and her thought wandered for a moment as she was lost in his sweet blue ones.

"No. Maybe it was the heat." Georg smiled mischievously at her remark and then adressed the children.

"Are you all finished?"

"Yes father."

"Do you want me to help fräulein Maria to put you to bed?" Their faces, including Marias, lit up.

"Oh yes father!"

"Let's go upstairs then." They all left the room, Georg and Maria lingering until the children were on their way up the stairs.

"Shall we?" Maria asked, not able to hold her smile back.

"After you Maria." She felt giddy as a school girl when he spoke her name but managed to calm down until she felt his hand at the small of her back, guiding her upstairs. Maria felt lightheaded but somehow made it to the childrens rooms without causing the Captain trouble. When the children were all tucked in, Maria and Georg found themselves, once again, alone outside her room.

"Good night Maria. Sleep tight."

"You too Georg. See you in the morning." Maria slowly opened the door, not once breaking the eye contact with Georg. She stepped in and closed the door, leaving a wistful Captain outside.

Maria turned in her bed to glance at her watch again and was slightly disappointed, but not surprised, that it had only been five minutes since the last time she looked. Suffering from insomnia was not something she was used to and it started to annoy her pretty much since she was tired during the day but unable to sleep at night. The Captain and his kind manors, beautiful eyes and firm body was all she could think of and the not quite innocent thoughts she had about him occupied her mind constantly. She decided to go outside and take a walk in the garden to clear her mind and therefore got out of bed, put on her robe and proceeded to the veranda downstairs. With the door left open to make sure she could enter later, without having to wake someone up, she started strolling alongside the lake. Enjoying the time alone and letting her mind wander off Maria didn't hear the three girls following her and then hide in the bushes, waiting to see if their fräulein and father were doing more than they knew. Luckily, the Captain found it hard to sleep as well and with similar things as Maria in mind he noticed the open door and went outside. His heart began quickening it's pace when he saw the woman he longed for standing only a few feet away.

"Good evening fräulein." Maria turned around and smiled when she saw the Captain standing there.

"Good evening Captain. Are we alone?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Quite." She giggled and then spoke.

"So, Georg, what are you doing out here at this time of night?"

"Well, maybe I should ask you the same Maria?" The girls hidden in the nearby bushes gasped at the adults use of each others first names.

"Did you hear that!" Louisa whispered frantically to Liesl and Brigitta.

"Oh yes. That's got to mean something's going on." Liesl whispered back. Maria shuddered in the middle of a sentence, causing the Captain to feel concerned about her.

"Are you feeling cold?"

"A little." He stepped forward towards her and Maria started to breath faster because of the closeness of his body.

"Here, let me warm you." Georg shut his eyes as he went to stand behind her and let go of all thoughts of propriety as he hugged her sweet body tight to his. He could feel her soft skin against his own and his chin made gentle contact with her hair. Maria stiffened at first but soon relaxed and leaned in to him. Just standing there, silent, with his childrens governess in his arms made Georg all dizzy and he braced himself and tightened the hug slightly, almost causing Marias heart to stop. Suddenly they heard something rustle in a bush nearby, making Maria startle.

"Maybe we should go inside?" Georg asked while gently letting go of Maria, causing his heart to object wildly in his chest.

"Yes. I believe it's time for bed now anyway." Georg led the way inside and up to Marias room, too occupied with thoughts of her to notice the girls jumping at the door to stop it from closing. Sneaking inside they followed the two adults every step without getting caught, observing every look and move. Maria and Georg stood outside her bedroom, gazing into each others eyes, before Maria opened the door to enter.

"Good night Georg. Sleep tight." He leaned in and kissed her cheek swiftly.

"You too Maria." She closed the door, Georg left, and of course the children watched the entire scenario.