Chapter 3

"So darling, I was thinking about when you wanted us to get married..?" Elsa started to say as soon as they entered the dance floor.

The Captain, startled at this, quickly said, "Well, Elsa darling, I haven't really thought of marriage just yet. I plan on staying single for at least another six months, if that's alright with you." I can't believe she's thinking of marriage when I haven't even asked her yet! How dare she ask me such a question! He fumed.

Elsa sharply drew her breath at his obvious display of annoyance. "Oh, don't get mad at me, dear. I just assumed that since you invited me into your home, and hosted this ball for me, that we were going to be getting married soon…" Elsa batted her eyelashes flirtatiously.

Georg merely said, "It's alright, Elsa. I'm not mad." He sighed. No use getting mad at her now.

"Good! Glad to get that over with now." She steered him over to where Maria and the children were standing. "So, when are we going to get married, Georg?" Elsa made an effort to speak loud enough for Maria to hear. Hah…She noticed Maria looking a little pale at the corner of her eye.

Upon hearing those words, he completely lost it. "Elsa! I just told you that I'm not prepared to get married just yet! Did I not tell you that just a minute ago?" His voice was dangerously raising its tone of voice. Uptight. Cold.

Maria looked completely shocked at his tone of voice. Her first instinct was to grab his arm and calm him. But then she remembered that it was not her place to do that. Trying to stay in control, she stayed where she was and waited to see what would happen next.

Georg slowly let out a breath, trying to calm himself. He glared at Elsa, and walked away.

Elsa just stared at him, open-mouthed, her face red from embarrassment. The children were desperately trying to stuffle the laughter that arose from their throats, with little success.

Maria immediately scolded them. "Children! That isn't polite!" But she had to admit that Elsa deserved that. She had to keep herself from laughing as well. The Baroness glared at them, and walked away.

After a while the children calmed down, as did Maria. "Phew. I don't remember having this good a laugh in a long time!" Maria said breathlessly. Her cheeks were red from laughter.

"Me either" the children agreed. They started giggling again, but were soon interrupted by their father telling them to go to bed. The children groaned, but obliged. Maria started to go up to follow them, but the Captain laid his hand on her arm. Maria felt a tingle rise in her arm at his touch. She turned to him, and immediately felt her heart starting to pound like crazy. He was standing pretty close to her.

"Would you like to dance?" He asked her with a small smile.

Maria grinned in spite of herself and said, "Are you sure you don't mind having people see that you're dancing with a governess?"

Georg laughed at her comment and said, "They already think I'm crazy. It wouldn't hurt my self-image by dancing with a governess." He offered his hand to her, which she accepted. He then led her to the dance floor, where they began waltzing.

Maria felt a surge of happiness seep into her as she put her hand into his. His hand felt warm. It perfectly fit into hers, like it was meant to be there. When they began waltzing, Maria felt like she was walking on a cloud. Georg felt the same way, and they found themselves just staring at each other, instead of dancing.

Elsa had just entered the ballroom after she recovered from her embarrassment. She looked around the room hoping to find Georg. She knew that he was angry with her, but she also knew that she could probably find a way to get him to be on his good side again.

She frowned when she spotted him at last- with that lowly governess. They were standing face to face, apparently seemingly lost in the other's eyes.

After what seemed like ages, Maria came crashing back into reality. She realized what she had been doing for the past…I don't know how long. She flushed, and said, "Captain…I think that I better go upstairs to make sure that they got settled in ok." She quickly left before he could say anything in reply.

Elsa noticed Maria going up the stairs and was about to follow her to give her a piece of her mind, when Georg called her. "Elsa?" He had spotted her. Drats. I guess I'll have to give Maria a piece of my mind later. Reluctantly, she walked over to where he was standing.

"Georg? I know that you're probably going to say that I shouldn't have asked that even though I completely knew the answer…" Elsa let out the words in one breathe when Georg held out his hand to silence her.

"Elsa, since this IS your party and all, I'm not going to humiliate you by getting uptight about this whole thing." He paused. That was all the encouragement that Elsa needed.

"Oh, Georg, I'm so glad that you're not angry anymore! I'm so sorry. Really, I am." She gave him her charming smile, in hopes of getting a smile in return. She didn't get what she hoped for.

"I'm sure you are. But, I'm not finished yet." Georg said. Elsa got a worried look on her face. She waited for him to continue. "Although I'm not going to humiliate you, I think that it's best if we end the party now. I'm not in the party mood anymore, as I'm sure that you aren't either."

Elsa started to object. "But Georg, it's not even midnight! We.."

"No, Elsa! You obviously don't care about other people's feelings, and if we are to get married, that has to change! Which is my nice way of saying that it's highly unlikely that we'll be getting married."

Elsa gasped at those words. Georg ignored her. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm sorry to bear the bad news, but the party will have to end, as the Baroness and I are too tired to continue. Thank you for coming. God bless you all!"

The guests murmured confusion to one another, but didn't argue with the Captain. They slowly filed out, one by one.

At last, all of the guests had gone home. Georg sighed in relief, and turned to the Baroness, who just looked at him in disbelief.

"Go to your room, Elsa. We'll discuss this more tomorrow." With that, he turned and left the room, leaving Elsa all by herself.

Elsa stamped angrily to her room. On her way, however, she noticed that Maria's door was open. She peeked inside to see Maria saying her prayers. In a flash, Elsa knew what to do in order to stop Maria and the Captain from getting together.

She waited until Maria finished. When Maria finally said, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Amen", Elsa went into the room.

"Hello, my dear." Maria glanced at the Baroness warily.

"Hello, Baroness. What can I do for you?"

"I wanted to be the first to tell you that Georg doesn't approve of your praying. He thinks your crazy to do all that stuff." Elsa bluffed. She watched Maria's reaction.

As Maria heard these words, she found herself denying it. No, it can't be true. The Captain always prayed before the meals. That must mean that he does approve of prayer!

Maria shook her head. Besides, if he didn't like me, he wouldn't have danced with me.

"No, I'm afraid you're mistaken, Baroness. The Captain always says his prayers at the dinner table."

"That's true, but the only reason why he does that is because he needs you to stay! He can't find anyone else to look after his children! Why, you're the only one that stayed for more than a week!" Elsa laughed.

Elsa got into more detail of what the Captain disliked about her religion. As Maria absorbed these words, she found herself believing it. How dare he! What gives him the right to judge others based on their religion? She fumed.

"Why are you telling me this?" Maria asked her shakily.

"Because I thought it would hurt less coming from someone who you don't know too well, rather than from someone whom you care for." This is getting to be too easy! My my, she certainly is gullible.

"Well, thanks for your concern. I think that since the Captain doesn't like me and my "religion", then I will just leave and go where my religion is appreciated." Maria went over to her closet and began packing her dresses into the little bag that she came with. Elsa looked around, pretending to be concerned.

"Are you sure you want to leave?"

"Positive." Was Maria's answer

After a moment of silence, Elsa nodded and said, "Well, goodbye Maria. It was nice to have known you. I'm sure you'll make a very fine nun." With that, she closed the door behind her, and headed to her room, grinning all the way there. One down, one more to go..

There it is! Hope you liked it! R and R! )