Maria was working on cutting a pattern for a new dress on the floor of her bedroom, humming to herself as she measured and marked the fabric. Georg had let her know that they would announce their engagement in the newspaper the following day, and then they would be required to attend a few parties to introduce her to society. While all of it scared her tremendously, she did find herself a bit intrigued by it all. It would be exciting to get dressed up for the occasion, she supposed. At the very least, it would be exciting to see how beautiful everyone looked in their formal party clothes.

A knock on the door brought her from her thoughts, and she called for whomever it was to come in. Liesl, Louisa, and Brigitta appeared before her, and she gave them a smile as they entered the room. The children had been ecstatic about the marriage, and she found they were seeking her out more and more in the past few days. As if she didn't already spend every waking moment with them, they had begun allowing themselves to get comfortable with her permanence in their lives, and she loved every moment of it. She couldn't believe she was going to be their mother soon, and the thought filled her with immense joy.

"Shouldn't you girls be in bed?" She began cutting a line of her pattern, Brigitta kneeling next to her to help hold the fabric straight. "Thank you, dear."

"We're too excited to sleep. Father told us we're going shopping with you tomorrow." She frowned at Liesl's words, not having the plan to do so at all. In actuality, she had hated shopping since she was a little girl, and she tended to avoid it at all costs.

"We are? For what?"

"For a party dress, of course. You'll need one soon."

"Oh, well, yes. I'm making this one though. Sorry to put a damper on the plans, but there's no need for us to go shopping." Georg appeared in the doorway, his arms crossed in disapproval of the girls being in her room at such a late hour, as well as the words he was hearing.

"No fiancée of mine will need to make her own party dress, Maria." She looked up to him from her place on the floor, ignoring the nerves of the girls who were concerned they'd be in trouble for being out of bed.

"Why not?" She thought back to the time Baroness Schraeder had told her she dressed like a child, and she immediately wondered if he thought that was true as well. She suddenly began to feel self-conscious.

"Because you're going to be a Baroness now. You can afford a new dress, I should think." She frowned, wondering if he realized she hadn't bought a dress in years. She truly had been making her own clothes as far back as she could remember. She did her best not to sound frustrated or troubled upon her response, but only managed to come off sounding a bit sad.

"I suppose if you prefer it." The girls jumped excitedly, loving the idea of going into town.

"Girls, you should try getting some sleep if you'll be going out tomorrow." They excitedly said their good nights and rushed back to their beds. She sighed, waiting until the girls were out of earshot before she spoke.

"You don't like the way I dress?" She sat back upon her feet, looking up at him curiously from her place upon the floor.

"I think you make beautiful dresses." He hesitated, and she rolled her eyes.

"But you think they aren't appropriate for a future Baroness to wear in public. Is that it?" He shook his head, obviously not knowing how to say the things he wanted to say to her. He clearly didn't want to hurt her feelings, but she also hadn't divulged her level of discomfort with her new role to him yet.

"It would simply be more suitable if you were to purchase some new clothes."

"What happened to just buying a party dress? Now it's new clothes?" She stood from the floor, crossing her arms over her chest. "Georg, I don't need a closet of new clothes. I'm still just going to be me, after all."

"Of course you are, and I love everything about you, darling." She scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, don't even. I'm not stupid, Georg." Her words held a layer of harshness, which he easily met in his own frustrated state. He couldn't decide how to make her understand what he was trying to say.

"Did I say you were?"

"At least be honest and tell me that I don't dress well enough for your standards." He moved forward and took her shoulders in his hands, looking into her angry eyes.

"Maria, I never said that. I simply would like you to buy yourself something for once in your life instead of feeling like you have to make it."

"Because what I make isn't good enough?" He rolled his eyes, releasing her from his grasp and walking toward the door.

"I'm not arguing with you about this."

"You damn well are! At least have the decency to tell me the truth." He turned on his heel, walking back to face her quickly. She nearly jumped at his proximity, feeling unarmed at his darkened presence.

"The truth, Maria, is that I love everything about you, including the lovely dresses you make for yourself. But how I feel will not matter in the least when you are in a room full of sharks who are looking for the slightest flaw or weakness to pick at and rip you to shreds." Her mouth felt dry. Would it really be like that, she wondered. "I would like you to buy a beautiful, expensive, brand-named dress, so there is one less way for them to tear you up, because, believe me, if you show weakness, they will."

"...perhaps we shouldn't go." She felt herself beginning to panic.

"We don't get a choice, this is how things work." She frowned, looking to the fabric on the ground that she was happily cutting only moments before. She realized, so suddenly, that no matter how much she wanted to remain true to herself, it was going to be impossible at times with the life she was marrying into.

"I...I don't know how to do this." She felt him pull her close, and she wrapped her arms around him in return. "I'm so worried I'll let you down."

"Never, Maria." He pulled back and placed a gentle kiss upon her lips.

"Everyone will know immediately that I don't belong. For Heavens sake, I don't even belong in a dress shop, let alone..."

"You belong with me."

"Maybe if we lived on a mountain or in seclusion somewhere." He took her chin in one hand, still holding her waist with the other. His eyes bore into her soul, as if he were reading all of her thoughts.

"Please don't feel insecure about yourself. You are everything and more than you need to be to navigate these silly parties and events. I'm just asking you to buy a new dress, that's all." She rolled her eyes, but was glad for his words. Wishing she could let go of her insecurities. It was easier said than done.

"I'm trying." He kissed her, giving her a smile as he pulled away.

"You don't even have to try, my love. You're perfect when you're simply being yourself." She returned his smile, feeling herself warming once again. Her nerves had made her quite argumentative and self-conscious for days, and she knew she needed to relax.

She moved to pick up her fabric from the floor, folding it and placing the pieces it in Georg's outstretched hands. He placed it all on her dresser before moving to turn down the bed, raising his eyebrows at her when she didn't follow. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked to the floor.

"I'm sorry. I'm being very sensitive, and I'm taking it out on you."

"This is a big change for you. I understand being shaken by it all." He moved closer once more, leaning down so she would meet his eyes. "Trust me. I'm never going to let you end up in a situation that I don't think you're ready for."

"You're making me go dress shopping." She scrunched her face, causing him to laugh.

"And I will not accept you returning empty handed. And do not ask about the price of anything. I'm afraid that's all the advice I have on that." She placed a gentle kiss upon his lips, smiling softly.

"More like an order."

"Then perhaps you should obey me." She scoffed, raising her eyebrows.

"Have I ever been one to obey?"

"No, but for the sake of my pride, would you pretend?" She laughed, finally feeling lighter from the prior conversation. He always had such a way of putting her at ease.

"I feel like you owe me for all this nonsense." He chuckled, wrapping his arms around her.

"Get your ass in that bed then."