The children were settled for the night, curled up in their beds. The younger ones had extorted an extra story from him with ease, using their petted lips and wide eyes as they insisted that they couldn't possibly sleep without that or a hug from their beloved Fraulein. Wanting Maria to have the opportunity to rest, Georg had allowed himself to be persuaded to read another fairy-tale.

After that he had looked in on the older children, Kurt was already asleep, sprawled on his front and snoring and Friedrich looked as though he would soon be following him into the land of nod. In the girl's room Brigitta had been curled on her side, her attention barely lifting from her book at his presence, whilst Liesl and Louisa spoke in hushed whispers. As he had leaned over to switch off their lamp, Brigitta had given a soft sigh of annoyance, grumbling, "I had almost finished my chapter."

Georg had stifled his laugh, kissing her forehead, and telling her softly, "It will still be waiting for you tomorrow."

The truth was he had been relieved that they had been so easily soothed, all of them had been rather sombre at dinner, missing Maria's cheering presence and they weren't the only ones. He knew that he enjoyed dining with her, but he hadn't quite realised how much until she was no longer there. He had felt off kilter, frequently finding himself drumming his fingers against the tabletop, only stopping when he noticed Max smirking at him.

Truth be told he was agitated; his heart had jumped into his mouth and his stomach had plummeted when he had seen her slam onto the ground with a squeal of shock. He had been so worried that she was severely injured or that she had hit her head that he hadn't given a thought to his lack of clothing. He had wanted to be the one to care for her, had wanted to ignore the impropriety of the situation. He was unsure if he was irritated or relieved by Max's forceful intervention. Irritated, he decided grimly, he should have been relieved but all he had wanted was to bundle her up and check over every inch of her to make sure that she really was well and whole.

It hadn't only been Marta who had been keen for an early end to their lesson, the anxiety had clawed at his chest, made his heart thump and his stomach twist. When they had returned to the house, it had taken all his effort to get properly dressed, to smooth back his hair and present the image of implacable aristocrat. He had given Max enough already to speculate on.

He wondered if his relief when he saw Maria perched in the armchair, her leg elevated and her hand resting on Brigitta's shoulder had been palpable, it certainly felt that way. He had been able to feel his fingers twitch at his side as he fought the urge to embrace her. There had been a moment as he stared into those guileless blue eyes, saw the quirk of her lips as she teased him, and it was like everyone else in the room had melted away. Those moments between them were becoming increasingly frequent, he wanted time alone with her and yet he knew it was the absolute last thing he should be looking for.

Georg whistled from between his tightly clenched teeth, his fingers furling and unfurling against his palm, restless, his skin prickling. He had wanted to be the one to help Maria up the stairs to her room after Frau Schmidt had bandaged her ankle, but Max had swept in and quickly convinced Kurt and Friedrich to play knights in shining armour. His sons had agreed readily, giving mock bows and helping a giggling Maria to her feet, their laughter growing more raucous as they attempted to make adjustments for Kurt's difference in height. Georg had been proud of his boys, but God help him he had been slightly jealous as well, he wanted to be at her side, he wanted her smiles, her laughter.

His heart thumped harder in against his ribs, his chest ached with a feeling he wanted to ignore but couldn't. He stood in the hall, peering down the corridor as his thoughts thundered in his ears, her room was only a few doors away, he could check in on her. He swallowed against the nervous lump in his throat, his hands felt clammy, and he wanted to curse at himself, he was acting like a nervous schoolboy, not at all like himself. He had always prided himself on the collected demeanour he portrayed to the outside world, to the women who hung off his every word, fluttering their eyelashes at him. It disturbed him to realise that even with Agathe, he had never felt so adrift, so unsure of himself. He could be perilously close to looking like an old fool.

Tapping his foot against the thick carpeting, Georg told himself that he was simply being a good employer by checking on Maria. He would just be checking that she had received the tray of food he had asked to be sent up and that she did not require any painkillers. She had insisted that she hadn't hit her head, but surely you couldn't be too careful. His mind made up, he turned to stride down the hallway when he heard the sadly now all too familiar sound of Max clearing his throat from the double doors that led into the children's wing. He reluctantly turned on his heel to find his friend giving him a knowing grin, his eyebrow quirked as he remarked wryly, "I am aware that you have seven children to say goodnight to, but I felt you were taking a while and I simply wanted to check all was well."

Georg looked meaningfully at his watch. "I do not believe that I have been away any longer than I normally would at this time."

Max leaned casually against the doorframe. "Perhaps now I no longer have Elsa to keep me company I am simply more aware of sitting by myself."

He barely suppressed a growl of annoyance at that smug smile. "You live by yourself," he almost snarled. "One would have thought you'd be used to your own company."

Giving a casual shrug, Max replied, "You are correct, but it is nice to have some…interesting conversation for a change." His mouth twitched as he struggled to contain his mirth. "Unless of course I am disturbing you from more…pressing matters."

His fingers furling back into his palms, nails biting into his skin for a second before he forced himself to unclench them, Georg attempted to inject an air of casualness into his tone. "I thought it would be wise to check on Fraulein Maria."

"Did you now?"

"Don't give me that look Max," he hissed, irritated by his friends rather obvious amusement. "I simply wanted to make sure she didn't need anything."

Max's eyes met his in a silent challenge as he replied calmly, evenly, "Frau Schmidt is downstairs, I am sure that she would be happy to check how the young Fraulein is. Particularly if it saves you creeping into her bedroom in the middle of the night."

"It is early evening." Georg snapped as he stalked up to the top end of the corridor where Max was standing surveying him. "And I was not creeping." He drew his shoulders back, affecting his best disdainful look. "I am simply making sure one of my employees does not need for anything."

The look that had quelled dozens of recalcitrant sailors, sadly had no such effect on Max, who asked mildly, "And if it were one of the laundry maids who was bedbound for an evening, would you be rushing up to the staff quarters to check on her? Or would you be leaving her care in the hands of more…appropriate caregivers."

"The laundry maid would be unlikely to injure herself when providing care for my children."

"Knowing your children and their tricks as I do, I would not rule out the possibility entirely," Max chuckled. "Now, do stop acting the fool and come down and have a drink, you look in need of one."

Georg eyed the door to the bottom right of the hallway but was aware that his friend had effectively blocked any attempt he might have been able to make to realistically see her without it being completely out with the bounds of propriety. "Very well, but after I have spoken to Frau Schmidt."

It was as though he had blown out her signal on his infernal whistle, as Frau Schmidt seemed to appear as if from nowhere, her sharp gaze flickering between the two men. Georg stifled a wince as he watched her purse her lips together suspiciously as she asked, "Is there anything I can help either of you with?"

It was Max who answered, his voice smooth as he remarked, "The Captain was just saying goodnight to the children and I was coming to beseech him to help me drink a very fine port that I procured." His grin widened as he added, "From the wine cellar here of course."

Georg couldn't help but notice the way her eyes drifted between him and that damned door. "That sounds a very pleasant way to spend the evening," she replied after a moment. "I thought I would just check whether Fraulein Maria needed anything."

"Most thoughtful of you," Max chirped, he gave Georg a quick, sharp elbow to his side. "Well as that is all sorted, we shall get on our way, shan't we?"

Unable to think of any appropriate excuse for accompanying his housekeeper, Georg simply mumbled his agreement and reluctantly followed his friend downstairs into the sitting room. He watched through narrowed eyes as Max pulled out two glasses and tipped a generous measure of port into each. When Max pressed one glass into his hand, Georg took a large mouthful in an attempt to calm his frazzled nerves.

"You are welcome, by the way," Max told him dryly.

"It is my bloody port," Georg muttered mutinously, glowering into his glass.

"Oh, I didn't mean for that. No, I was referring to the fact that I stopped your housekeeper from catching you sneaking into the governess's bedroom."

"For the last time, I was not sneaking!" Georg bit back in exasperation.

"I very much doubt she invited you" Max dropped into an armchair and sagged back into it, his posture making him look deceptively relaxed, although his gaze remained sharp. He took a sip of his port and asked, "Do you remember me telling you not to do anything foolish?"

"Exactly just what do you think I have been doing?"

"I am almost afraid to ask, considering that I returned to find you in a state of undress and manhandling her."

Georg felt his glower deepen, his bad mood tightening its grip on him. "It was not like that," he protested. "She fell."

"Hmmm, yes. Tell me Georg, how long do you plan on denying what is plainly obvious to every other adult in your home?"

"And just what is that?"

Max sighed irritably, "That you have developed an attraction for Fraulein Maria."

Georg wanted to tell his friend he was being ridiculous, wanted to argue that he was imagining it all, trying to create scandal where there was none, but he was weary of pretending. "Nothing will come of it," he assured him, his voice a low quiet rumble.

"I had expected it more difficult to wrangle a confession from you."

Pouring himself out another glass of port, Georg shook his head, the fingertips of one hand pressing into his temples. "For what it is worth I am well aware of how foolish it all is."

"Yes, well I certainly did not think I would see the day-"

"That I became perilously close to making a fool of myself over a woman," he interrupted.

Max laughed. "Oh, come now, you have definitely done that before, why I remember that young woman in Boulogne-"

"I don't think we need to relive that, but it was also very different, as you well know."

Max's smile faded slightly. "Yes, it was. I will admit that she is charming Georg, even I can see why you would be drawn to her…but…"

"She is almost twenty years my junior," he supplied easily. "Or perhaps the fact that her care has been entrusted to me?"

"Well, I was thinking more about the part where she is promised to God, but yes the above is also relevant."

"She has yet to take any vows."

"Oh well then," Max waved a hand, "by all means fondle away."

"Max," Georg grumbled warningly. "It wasn't like that."

"I think you will find that in our social circle what it looks like is often more pertinent than what it is." He sighed, taking a sip of his drink. "Do you know if she returns your feelings?"

Georg thought of her embrace only last night, of the way she would look at him, or at other times try to avoid looking at him. At times he found himself wondering if perhaps he wasn't being a ridiculous, aging fool, if maybe there truly was something between them. Wishful thinking. He slowly shook his head, "I highly doubt it."

"Hmmm, she is surprisingly difficult to read on the matter," Max mused. "Don't look so surprised," he told his friend. "You know I simply cannot help myself; I enjoy meddling."

"Well, I would rather that you did not meddle with this."

"And I would rather you allowed your children to partake in the festival, but we must play the cards we are dealt," Max shrugged. "So," his eyes narrowed speculatively, "If she does feel the way that you do, what next?"

Georg rubbed at his temples again. "Nothing Max, this is absolute folly. It is a passing attraction, nothing more." He got to his feet, placing his glass to the side. "You will excuse me; I fear I am not in the mood to socialise tonight."

He gave Max no chance to reply, although he heard his mutter of, "Of course, so long as you stay away from that room."

Georg couldn't help but make a point of slamming his study door in response.

Maria shifted in her bed, attempting and failing to make herself comfortable, her hip and ankle ached and anytime she shifted slightly, pain thrummed through both. The spectacular bruise that was blossoming across her hip meant that sleeping on her usual side was out of the question, and her lower back ached from lying in the same position for the last few hours.

She groaned, wriggling slightly against the mattress, she perhaps wouldn't mind so much if the pain at least distracted her from her thoughts, but it didn't. All she could think about was the Captain's touch on her leg, of his fingers threading through her hair. She could still picture the small rivulets of water that trickled down his firm chest, leaving a damp track as they slid down to his naval. She had tried to force herself not to look but it had really been to no avail, the temptation had been too great. She would need to confess of course, and her stomach cringed at the thought of admitting her sin out loud.

The door to her room suddenly opened with a small creak and Liesl's head peered around the frame, looking a mixture of abashed and hopeful. "Oh good, you are awake," she whispered.

Maria twisted herself into a sitting positioning, reaching behind herself to sort her pillows as she replied, "You should be in bed and you are very lucky that you just missed Frau Schmidt."

Liesl cringed slightly, but that didn't stop her from stepping into the room, closing the door with a quiet snick behind herself. "I just wanted to speak to you. I…I really missed you today."

Giving her a soft smile, Maria patted large space next to her, reminded of the first night that a soaked to the skin Liesl had snuck into her room through the window. At the very least the door was safer. "Come on then, I suppose there is no harm in us having a catch up."

Rushing towards the bed, Liesl jumped up with a surprisingly ladylike hop. "How are you?"

"Bored," Maria admitted with a smile. "It is funny how quickly I have gotten used to the racket that you and your siblings make of an evening. I admit haven't quite known what to do with myself tonight."

Liesl frowned in concern at the white bandage that ran from around Maria's hand to the crook of her elbow. "Is it very sore?"

"Oh this, it looks worse than it is. Although I fear I might be forced to go shoeless tomorrow¸ my foot looks like a balloon."

Liesl couldn't help but giggle at the rueful expression on Maria's face and she brought her legs up so that she was sitting crossed legged on the coverlet. "So indoor activities only then."

"Yes, for a few days at least, although you can all enjoy the gardens." She reached out and brushed a the side of a finger lightly against Liesl's jaw. "I mean you are old enough that you do not require my constant supervision." Her smile became slightly melancholy as she added, "You really didn't need a governess."

"I did, but only because it was you."

Maria smoothed back the girl's hair as she felt a warmth spread across her at those words. "Well, I would like to hope we have also managed to become friends."

"Oh, we have," Liesl agreed, nodding eagerly. "In fact…that's why I wanted to talk to you tonight." She bit down nervously on her bottom lip.

Maria's head tilted curiously. "You can always talk to me; I hope you know that."

"I do, although I'm not sure…I mean…I really don't know what you would be able to do. It's just…well I can't talk to Father about it and Louisa would only make fun of me…"

"So, it is about the telegram boy then?"

Liesl fidgeted nervously, her nail picking and scratching against a loose thread on one of the blankets as she nodded. "Rolfe." Her gaze stayed fixed on that thread, her words falling out in a rushed tumble. "There haven't been any telegrams in an age and before…well before he would always find a way to see me. But now…" She tailed off and shook her head sadly.

Maria stroked over Liesl's dark hair. "Perhaps he has been busy, maybe if you give it a little time."

"He was never too busy before, but…well he's joined a youth group."

Her eyes narrowing suspiciously, Maria asked somewhat nervously, "What kind of youth group?"

Liesl looked up at her almost beseechingly, "There has been more and more pressure on the boys to join and Rolfe's father joined the main party last year, so really he would never have had much of a choice, it would be expected of him."

"The Nazi party then?" Maria clarified, although she really didn't need to.

"Yes, it's why I have always had to sneak out to see Rolfe, Father would never let me be seen with him otherwise." She gave a sigh. "At first Rolfe never really mentioned it, but recently he has been more…involved."

Maria knew she had to tread carefully. "And how does that make you feel?"

She shrugged. "Before I could just ignore it, I just don't think…" Her gaze flickered briefly back up to Maria's and then back down again as she admitted softly, "I don't think they are very nice people."

Maria felt relief flood through her at Liesl's words. "Perhaps then it is for the best that you are growing apart," she suggested.

Liesl gave a quiet sniff. "He isn't a bad person," she whispered. "He thinks that it is what is best for Austria, that it will help him get a better job, give us all a better future." She looked back up at Maria, asking her, "Have you ever been in love?"

Maria felt her stomach flip at the question, she was so unsure of her own feelings at the moment. She had assumed that it was simply lust she felt for the Captain, which for her had been an entirely new sensation in and of itself, but sometimes she found herself wondering if it might be more. Either way she could not confide in his teenage daughter and so she shook her head. "No."

"Oh…" Liesl looked abashed. "I just wondered if maybe, before you went to the Abbey, if…"

"If there had been a boy?" Maria asked, a small smile curving her lips now.

"Yes. I mean, surely a lot of girl's go there after they have had their hearts broken."

Unable to help herself, Maria gave a soft laugh as she teased. "I think I need to check over your reading material again." She ran her fingertips over Liesl hand in a comforting move. "They go there to answer a calling that they feel, to commit their lives to the service of the Lord, not to escape heartbreak."

"I have read so many things about what falling in love feels like, do you think that calling is similar, where you just know?"

Maria hesitated as she realised that she didn't just know, it had been the safety and the closeness of the Sisters as she had watched them, perched high in a tree above, that had called to her, the thought of belonging. She had wanted to serve God, but the clarity that clung to so many of the other postulants had never quite come to her, at times it felt almost secondary to the need to belong to somewhere. She felt her stomach twist into an uncomfortable knot as she answered, "I think, much like falling in love it is different for everyone. We all have different paths to tread Liesl." She tucked a strand of dark hair that had fallen across Liesl's cheek behind her ear. "What I am sure of though, is that you should never have to compromise your principles and your beliefs for another. No matter the strength of your feelings, if they truly love you, they will never ask you to be less than you are."

Liesl's mouth quivered and she drew it briefly in-between her lips as though trying to stop herself from crying. "Perhaps I am just thinking about it too much, perhaps he is just busy, or his route has been changed."

"Perhaps," Maria agreed kindly.

Liesl's eyes lifted. "You won't tell Father, will you?"

"My darling girl, I can't promise you that, because what I want most is for you to be safe and happy and sometimes that will mean talking to your Father. But," she held up her hand to silence Liesl's protests. "For just now, I see no need to discuss it with him."

"He will be so cross; you know how he feels about…well…you know."

"I do," Maria admitted, deciding not to add that she was inclined to agree with him on that matter. "But you know that if he appears cross it is just because he would be concerned about you, about keeping you safe. These are unusual times Liesl."

"I know," she sighed as she dropped back onto the pillows, twisting her head to look at Maria. "You have really never been in love?"

Despite her previous concern, Maria laughed. "That is what is worrying you most now?"

Liesl gave a slightly abashed grin. "Well, it just seems so unfair. Every girl should get to fall in love at least once. Was there never anybody? I mean you are pretty you know."

"Looks aren't everything Liesl. But there was a boy…once, a long time ago."

Clapping her hands together in delight, Liesl crowed, "I knew it!"

"It was all very innocent," Maria told her quickly. "Erich used to walk me home from school, occasionally he would pick me wildflowers."

"What was he like?"

"Sweet, shy. We were really only friends."

Liesl looked disappointed. "So, he never tried to kiss you?"

"He kissed my cheek once." Maria's nose wrinkled at the memory of Erich's damp lips on her skin, his clammy hands clutching her arms as he pulled her to him. He hadn't been going for her cheek but there was no need to tell Liesl that.

"It doesn't look like you enjoyed it, when Rolfe kissed me-" She cut off abruptly when she realised what she had said, her cheeks turning bright red. "It was just a peck," she added quickly. "It was a second, maybe two, that was all, but it made me feel so happy."

Maria felt like she should tell the girl off, but her heart wouldn't be in it if she did. Erich had never made her feel like that. She thought of the looks the Captain would give her and she wasn't sure that happy was the word she would use for those either. They made her skin heat and whenever he touched her she felt as though he had set off a trail of sparks along her flesh. Yet when he had returned her hug she had felt oddly calm and safe in his arms. She forced herself to push thoughts of him to one side, now was most certainly not the time. "Just make sure you aren't letting him take any liberties," she warned finally.

"He really isn't like that, but I promise that I will be careful," Liesl replied. "Do you regret it?"

It took a few seconds for Maria to realise that Liesl must be talking about Erich. "There was never really very much to regret. I have to admit that I pushed him away from me, he fell onto his bottom and," Maria shrugged. "That was the end of it."

"But do you regret having never been in love?" Liesl persisted in asking.

A month ago, the answer would have been no, she wouldn't have even considered the question, but now Maria hesitated, unsure of herself once again. "There are different types of love. I might not have experience of romantic love," she told her after a moment. "But I have loved." She squeezed Liesl's hand. "I love you and your siblings very much."

Liesl's smile widened. "And we love you."

She rested her head against Maria's shoulder, falling quiet and Maria stifled a soft laugh as after a few minutes she realised that the teenager had fallen asleep, her breath falling in soft even snores. Maria placed a kiss to the crown of her head and tried to turn her own thoughts away from the rush of questions and doubts that rushed through her mind and to ones that might help her find some sleep.