Yes, already an update! I have five chapters on my computer at the moment and since this one is number four you can do the maths for yourselves, one chapter to go before I have to type the rest of the chapters. At the moment the entire story is on paper but not on my computer.

Thank you for your kind reviews, they are most welcome!

/Linda

Chapter 4

During breakfast Elsa decided to get Georgs attention, notifying him that she was leaving for Vienna with Max at noon and that they planned on being away for a week or two. Georg didn't disagree in the slightest and Elsa felt a sting of jealousy in her chest when she saw the way he looked at the governess, with nothing but adoration in his eyes.

The day went by and the children were free to do what they pleased until lunch. Liesl, Louisa and Brigitta discussed the "forbidden romance" they thought existed between their father and fräulein Maria and couldn't stop giggling when the two of them were seen together or spoke to each other. Maria found this rather oppressive and started to blush whenever she saw Georg coming towards her, only adding on to the girls suspicion. Overhearing a conversation between the girls, Maria realized that they suspected a romance between herself and Georg. To take that off the childrens minds she suggested an outing to the mountain during the afternoon, making Georg interested in joining.

"Would it be alright with you if I came along as well?"

"Of course you can come Captain!" Maria gladly exclaimed, making the three girls titter.

Right after lunch the group left for the mountain with a basket filled with delicious food. When a good spot had been chosen the children all ran away to play, leaving Maria and Georg alone on the blanket. The three spies, as they referred to themselves, were actively looking and listening in on the conversation from behind some well located bushes. As soon as the adults were alone they started calling each other by their first names, looking very much like a couple in love. The girls were delighted and continued to watch as Maria picked up an apple and a knife from the basket. Suddenly she yelped, making the Captain speed to her aid.

"What happened Maria?" She hugged her hand tightly and Georg reached for it to examine her.

"I cut myself. I think it bleeds a bit." Taking a napkin from the basket Georg started to clean the bleeding wound with great gentility, feeling bolts of electricity course through his fingers when he touched her.

"There. Luckily it was not a deep cut but I recommend that you keep it clean to stop an infection from breaking out. Please be more careful Maria. You scared me."

"Sorry." He raised her injured hand to his lips and kissed it next to the, now clean, cut. They looked deep into each others eyes but were disturbed during their little moment by three laughing girls, who obviously couldn't keep from raising the volume of their voices any longer. Georg walked over to the talking bushes.

"For how long have you been hiding here?"

"Sorry, we just ehrm... overheard your conversation." Liesl tried to explain.

"Yes, that's it." Louisa and Brigitta agreed.

"And what, may I ask, was so funny that you nearly doubled over with laughter?" Georg raised his eyebrows with a questioning look at his daughters.

"What me and Mar... fräulein Maria are saying is none of your business actually." They all stood silent and uncomfortable for a moment before Maria saved them from this awkward situation.

"Liesl, get your brothers and sisters. It's time to eat." Maria let out her breath as the girls ran off to fetch the others.

All of them spent the rest of the afternoon together, enjoying various games and eating, much to Kurts delight. When the sun was on its' way down the horizon Maria decided it was time to go home.

"We should be going now children. Liesl, take the lead. I will walk back here with your father to keep us from loosing anyone." They all started walking in a row with Maria and the Captain at the end of it. Suddenly Maria tripped and the Captain quickly reached for her hand to keep her from falling.

"Thank you Georg."

"No problem dar.. Maria."

"What did you almost call me?" she asked, astonished by the presumed word.

"Oh, nothing..." Georgs face was beat red and he couldn't think of a moment when he had been more embarrassed. Unconsciously though he continued to hold her hand all the way home. The very observant girls saw it, of course, and started whispering about it immediately.

The children were finally put to bed after an exhausting day and Maria and Georg walked down the hall together to go to bed as well.

"Care to join me for a nightcap again Maria?"

"I'd love to, but only one this time Georg."

Maria and the Captain were silently chatting about everything and nothing, feeling very comfortable in the others presence.

"Do you think you could send your children away to a boarding school, just to get rid of them?"

"How can you even ask Maria? You know how much I disapprove of that. I want to be able to spend time with my children and help them with homework when they've had a tough day at school. What about you?"

"I love children, I would never send them away."

"Don't you think we had a wonderful day today?" the Captain asked Maria, feeling as if they were closer to each other than ever before.

"Oh yes, it was absolutely perfect."

"By the way, how's your finger?"

"Oh, it's fine now thanks to you." She smiled at him and he moved to sit next to her, their hips and legs touching.

"Let me see." Marias breathing quickened and she felt her cheeks getting warmer. Georg took her hand to examine it and then lifted it to his lips, kissing the injured area. Maria gasped and looked into his lust filled eyes, her heart hammering in her chest. They slowly leaned in to each other and, both ready to share the intimacy of a kiss. Suddenly a shriek could be heard from the hall with a wave of laughter following it. They got up to see what, or who, were causing the commotion. Walking out of the room they found three extremely excited children, whispering and gossiping with each other , and startled them severely with their appearance.

"What are you doing out here instead of being in your beds?" the Captain asked with a stern voice, watching the girls faces turn as red as tomatoes.

"We were... uh..."

"We were just going to ask fräulein Maria... eh..."

"If she would like to help us with something tomorrow!"

"But why didn't you just wait until then? Maria is entitled to some spare time as well."

"Some spare time spent with you?" Brigitta said without thinking and mentally slapped herself.

"Well, yes. Maria accepted my offer to have a nightcap with me."

"You two, alone, with a bottle of spirits, sitting together a wee bit closer than appropriate between a man and a woman with no relationship?" Liesl stated while raising her eyebrows. Both Georg and Maria reddened up quite a bit at her implication.

"I was only showing Georg my injury."

"Uhuh. And since when do you call each other by your first names?"

"I think it's time for you to go to bed now."

"Alright father..." The girls gloomed and went to their room, out of luck for tonight.

"Well, this night certainly took an interesting turn."

"Oh yes. Georg, maybe we should go to bed as well?" She almost felt like his wife when saying that to him, wishing to join him for the night. She reprimanded herself silently because of her not too appropriate thoughts about her employer.

"Maybe." He offered her his arm and they walked up to Marias room where he opened the door and led her inside. They turned to face each other and Georg took Marias hand in his own.

"Good night Maria."

"Good night Georg." He bended forward and kissed her cheek, lingering just a little too long before departing, leaving Maria with her racing thoughts for the night.