She wasn't sure it could have been called a date, but her drive into town and back with the Captain had been wonderful. To her, it had all the ingredients of a first date, minus the food or entertainment aspect of things. They learned a lot about one another, and even though she found it difficult to open up at first, she felt so close to him.

Her conversation with Reverend Mother had gone wonderfully as well. She offered her support for Maria's new path, and gave guidance when she expressed areas of doubt. Maria knew she was going to miss some aspects of her life at the Abbey, but she really did feel relief at putting that part of her life to bed. She certainly wouldn't miss the constant feelings of inadequacy she had while she was there.

The Captain didn't tell her what he had needed to do in town, but she had a feeling that the trip was mostly for them to be together without onlookers. It was true that finding a moment alone at the villa could be terribly difficult. With seven children, the Baroness, Max, and several employees, it was difficult to do anything at all without bumping into someone along the way.

"Fraulein Maria, she took my puppet!"

"I did not! You took it from me!"

"Now, now, girls. Please." She stood from her place on the floor and approached Marta and Gretl, who were arguing over one of the small puppets they were practicing with. "There is no need to fight. Look here, we have plenty to go around." She handed the second puppet to Marta, who smiled in excitement of having her own.

They were thankfully almost finished with their little production, otherwise she thought they would all lose their patience with one another. It would be a long time before she suggested making another puppet show, she thought to herself. It was exhausting.

She was pulled from her thoughts when one of the ballroom doors was flung open, slamming against the wall to reveal the Baroness, looking incredibly angry. Her eyes scanned the room, all attention on her, until she found Maria's eyes. She winced at the anger that was suddenly thrust upon her, and her first instinct was to run. The woman's train left that afternoon. She couldn't have just stayed in her room until it was time to say goodbye?

"Maria, I need to speak with you this instant!" Her words were just as angry as she looked, and Maria glanced around to the children who were looking at her in question. She shrugged, nervous and unsure of what was happening.

"Baroness, I apologize, but we are nearly finished in here..." She didn't have time to finish before the Baroness was at her side, leaning to whisper in her ear.

"You don't want the children to hear what I have to say." She began to leave the room, and Maria followed, another quick glance toward the children as if they had the ability to help. The Baroness led her outside onto the veranda, the rain having subsided for the moment, at least. "You little whore!" Maria gasped.

"What?!"

"You heard me! All of your innocent 'I don't know what you mean' and 'you must be joking.' I knew you were trouble from the moment I laid eyes on you." Maria didn't much like being mocked or accused in such ways, and she certainly hadn't the slightest idea what she had done to anger the Baroness so much.

"I assure you..."

"Don't patronize me, Maria! You and Georg the other evening in the kitchen. Doesn't that ring a bell?" Oh yes, she supposed she had done that. "And a little car ride together yesterday?"

"I...how..."

"There is no such thing as a secret."

"Max?"

"Max knows?" They stared at one another, Maria feeling her own blood boil at being found out. She would have never wanted the Baroness to be hurt by anything she'd done, no matter how little she cared for her. "I overheard a couple of maids gossiping whilst I packed my bags. Imagine hearing something like that from the help. About the help! You disgusting little cow."

"We never meant to hurt you, you must know that." The Baroness laughed, and she knew there was no smoothing things over at that moment. She took a step back as the Baroness moved closer, and then another until she was moving down the steps toward the pathway through the garden.

"So now you two are a 'we?' You couldn't even wait until I was gone. And, honestly, how could someone like you possibly satisfy him?" She backed down another step, but was surprised when she was given a harsh shove in the middle of her chest. She stumbled, but was able to catch herself on the railing.

"Don't touch me!" It took a long time for her to get there, but Maria was giving way to her own anger.

"Someone as pathetic and simple as you. You're a child! Do you really think you'll be interesting to him once he gets what he wants from you? Unless he's gotten it already?" She moved closer, but Maria had stopped backing away from her at that point. She didn't care who she was dealing with, she was unable to remain polite any longer. The Baroness stepped close enough that they were standing chest to chest. "He'll grow bored with you quickly."

"Is that how it happened with you? Did he find someone younger and more exciting because you couldn't keep up?" She didn't expect the slap that made its way across her face, but it only fueled her rage. Her cheek felt hot and the sting was harsh, the Baroness had hit her with all her strength, and she certainly felt it. "How dare..." Maria was interrupted with another shove, this time to her shoulders, and she stumbled backward.

"How dare I, what?"

"Do not put your hands on me again." She could feel her fingers twitching with anger, but she desperately did not want to lose control. The Baroness stepped closer again.

"Or what? I have all the power between us. No matter how sweetly you talk to him or how good in bed you are, you will never be enough. You will never be anything more than the help." She gave Maria one more shove, and she felt her blood burst within her veins.

"Bitch!" Maria shoved her back, knocking the Baroness off balance. It didn't take her long to regain herself and grab a handful of Maria's hair. She had never been more thankful she kept her hair short, for when she grasped the Baroness's hair in return, she was able to get a solid handful.

They pushed and slapped at one another, making their way further into the grass. Maria finally pulled her own hair free and shoved the Baroness away from her again, only to be rewarded with another slap to the face. She tasted blood and was enraged. She curled her fist and punched at the Baroness, unable to manage the full contact she would have liked to make, as the Baroness moved toward her again.

Maria found herself on the ground with perfectly manicured hands wrapped tightly around her neck. Was she trying to kill her now? She kicked and fought, finally able to turn them over. She straddled the Baroness's waist as she tried to pry her fingers away from her neck. Suddenly, she was lifted from the ground and pulled away. She struggled, quickly realizing it was Georg holding her back. Max was there doing the same to the Baroness, who still had murder in her eyes.

The women were screaming at one another, flinging profanities as if they were normal conversational pieces, and collecting quite the audience. Maria stopped herself quickly when she noticed the children in the doorway of the veranda, innocently attracted to the commotion. She couldn't believe she let her anger get the best of her. She had literally just told two of the children there was no need to fight before she came outside and did just that.

"That's enough!" Georg's voice stopped everything. He was gripping her so tightly, she was afraid to move.

"Yes, Georg, it is enough!" The Baroness pulled herself away from Max, straightening out her clothing the best she could. "I can't believe I had to find out about the two of you from a maid. Honestly!"

"Elsa..."

"And this ignorant twat has the nerve to play the innocent postulant, all the while seducing you behind my back."

"Are you quite finished?!" His words were loud and commanding, and Maria felt her body shake with each word. He still didn't trust her enough to release her, apparently. The Baroness held her hands up in defeat.

"It's obvious that I am." She walked away quickly, past the children and into the house to retrieve her belongings. Max followed after a moment, at least wanting to know that his friend was going to be okay. Georg finally released Maria, shooing the children inside with a raised eyebrow when they noticed he saw them.

"What were you thinking?" She looked into his eyes, residual anger doing its best to leap out again.

"What was I thinking? She attacked me."

"I know she's been baiting you for weeks, but..."

"No, physically attacked me. She pushed me down the stairs, and slapped me."

"And then what happened?"

"I fought back! I can put up with the verbal abuse from that woman, but I will not allow her to put her hands on me." He reached forward and gently touched her cheek, the one that had been slapped twice in the course of the past five minutes.

"Your lip is bleeding."

"I know." She shook off his touch, beginning to walk away. He followed her and grabbed her hand. "I need a moment alone."

He nodded and allowed her to take a walk, cooling herself down. She threw open the gates leading to the lake and stormed off toward the boat house. She took deep breaths to calm herself, finally making it to the doc and heavily taking a seat. She touched her lip, which felt swollen, and blood was on her fingers as she pulled it away. She looked down at her grass-stained dress and gave another angry sigh.

The nerve of that woman! She couldn't believe they had physically fought, she felt like a child. It was so improper, so foolish, and yet the Baroness had no issue starting the physicality of their discrepancy. Perhaps she didn't think Maria would fight back, or she wanted to tarnish her kind reputation before she left. In any case, she succeeded. Maria was sufficiently embarrassed by her actions...yet again.