A/N: so this update was a little quicker than I expected, mainly because it's a little shorter than the rest. It was originally going to be a bit longer but this was the most logical point to break it. Plus, it's the delicious Christopher Plummer's birthday today, so I couldn't NOT post an update ;)
As always your reviews mean the world!
CHAPTER TWELVE: THE VISITORS
"Stay here," Georg commanded, his voice low and his eyes sharp as he padded on bare feet towards the door.
"Georg, wait!" Maria hissed from the bed, her voice laced with panic - but he was already slipping out onto the landing like a jungle cat on the hunt, finger pressing to his lips before he disappeared from sight.
Without so much as a single hesitation, Maria leapt to her feet, adorning her nightgown and robe before catapulting after him. By some miracle she managed to catch up with him just outside the governess' room, grabbing him by the upper arm and yanking him back with surprising strength.
"Wait just one second!" She hissed, ignoring the impatient roll of his eyes, "no one is supposed to know you're here, remember! What if it's one of Landa's men?"
Georg's expression became thunderous, "He'd have someone call upon you at this ungodly hour?!"
"He doesn't exactly follow the rules of convention!" Maria snipped, "besides, it's nearly sunrise."
"But-"
"If you go down there half dressed and half asleep at this time in the morning there'll be an awful lot of explaining to do, regardless of who is on the other side of that door!" She hissed, "I'll go."
Nostrils flaring, Georg's scowl shifted past the banister to the front door below them, before flitting back to her face, his internal battle evident. Eventually, he gave in.
"Fine," he snarled reluctantly, "but I'll be watching from right here," he pointed emphatically to the floor beneath his feet, "I don't want you out of my sight. Not when it could be dangerous."
"I'm sure it's nothing," Maria insisted impatiently, "just.. wait here."
The sharp knocking started up again and she hurried down the stairs before the sound could wake the children. Heart drumming on an off-beat in her chest, her fingers flew across the various locks and bolts, pulling the door back to reveal-
"Hans!" She bleated, her back ramrod straight, unable to mask the quiver of surprise in her voice.
"Good morning mein Schatz," Landa beamed pleasantly on the doorstep, "I trust you are well?"
Maria swallowed hard. Never before had he come to the house himself, always preferring to send one of his drivers or henchmen to pick her up and escort her to wherever he wished her to be. This time however, it appeared he'd come alone, for his only companions were the charming smile painted across his face and a large umbrella that he was clutching firmly in his hand to protect his impeccable uniform from the torrent of rain lashing down behind him.
"Wh.. what are you doing here?" she managed to stammer - but clearly it was the wrong thing to say because, quite without warning, the smile slid from Landa's face, his mouth morphing into a thin line.
"Do I need a reason to pay mein Süße a visit?" He asked icily, eyes flickering with something akin to malice.
Momentarily taken aback, Maria simply blinked at him several times while he raised an expectant eyebrow, waiting for some form of reply. The darkness in his gaze set her stomach roiling, lodging the words in her throat. But as quickly as it had come, all the danger suddenly disappeared from his face and he was chuckling playfully once again.
"As delighted as I am that my teasing renders you speechless, liebling, I was rather hoping you would do me the honour of inviting me in," he confessed, "if not for the pleasure of my company then at least just to offer me some shelter from this ghastly weather!"
"I..," Maria stuttered, attempting to gather her wits, "I'm afraid I'm not suitably dressed, Hans."
She clutched her robe closer to her chest but he merely gave a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Well you can change, I'll wait for you."
With that he shook his umbrella clear of raindrops and stepped into the house, wiping his boots emphatically on the mat on his way past her. Rather than scurrying off to dress however, Maria stood firm, reluctant to turn her back on this unwelcome intruder even for so much as a second, lest he were to discover something that was best left hidden.
Taking a curious look around the grand entranceway, Landa's sharp eyes scanned the banisters above them and Maria waited with her heart in the throat, praying that Georg was smart enough to have fallen back into the shadows. Then quite unexpectedly, Landa's piercing gaze locked with hers. He stared at her curiously for long seconds, making her skin prickle with anxiety, before eventually his face split into another charming smile.
"Could I possibly trouble your butler for a warming cup of tea?"
Releasing the breath she'd unknowingly been holding, Maria forced herself to return his smile, "I'm afraid he hasn't risen yet, but he and the rest of the staff will be awake in an hour or so. I'm terribly embarrassed not to have received you properly, Hans - do forgive me."
"Consider it forgotten, mein Schatz," he winked, "Though you're far too lenient with your staff if you allow them such a lie in. My own employees know to be up and ready for duty by 5am sharp and not a second later!"
He continued to prattle on about the importance of timekeeping as Maria led him to the drawing room - her eyes desperately scanning the floor for any signs of her and Georg's lovemaking only hours previously. Thankfully there were none - though the blood still continued to thunder through her veins. It didn't even bear thinking about how the colonel might react if he were to discover that she had let her estranged husband ravish her on the carpet beneath his booted feet.
"I'll make you a cup of tea myself," Maria offered, as Landa flung himself unceremoniously onto the nearest sofa.
"Danke. If it's not too much trouble."
With quaking hands, Maria managed to rush through the task of making a pot of tea in the kitchens, using the much-needed solitude to gather her frayed composure. There was nothing to fear after all - Hans was oblivious to Georg's whereabouts and there was no reason for him to suspect there was anything out of the ordinary going on. His visit was simply ill-timed, that was all. If she could only get through a refreshment with the man while keeping her nerves in tact, she would soon be able to send him on his way with him being none the wiser.
By the time she returned to the drawing room, her fingers had finally stopped shaking - much to her relief.
"Danke," the colonel beamed, taking the proffered cup of steaming liquid from her outstretched hand and lifting it to his lips. He took a long draught despite the fact that the drink was piping hot, his eyes boring into hers for interminable seconds over the rim of his teacup. Eventually he put the delicate china back on its saucer with a little clink, smacking his lips with a satisfied sigh.
"As delectable and sweet as you are, my dear," he purred, "Please," he patted the spot next to him with exaggerated gusto, "sit."
Gingerly, Maria did as she was told, trying her hardest to mask the revulsion she felt at the attention he was bestowing upon her.
"You have a wonderful home," Landa complimented, looking around the room nosily, "or rather, your ex-husband does!"
"Thank you," she smiled, "Fortunately though, I won't be living under this roof for much longer."
"Oh?"
"I've secured a teaching position in town," Maria revealed, "once I'm established I'll be able to find an apartment of my own."
A sickening grin broke across Landa's face and Maria was instantly filled with an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
"Marvellous," he simpered, his voice like treacle as he nudged a fraction closer, "I've always admired a woman who can stand on her own two feet. A woman who does not need a man, but rather chooses a man for herself."
A single finger grazed down her cheek and she inwardly shuddered with disgust at the sensation, as well as the unmistakable meaning behind his words.
"Hans," she chastised affectionately, recoiling a little from his touch, "you embarrass me."
"I assure you, mein Schatz," he murmured darkly, "embarrassing you is the least of my intentions."
With that, he took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, a small smirk playing around his mouth, his eyes ablaze like a hungry wolf's and his tongue darting out to wet his lips as he leant towards her. Preparing for the misery of his touch, Maria could only sit, dumbstruck, head spinning at his unwanted proximity. His breath was hot against her face, his fingertips rough against her skin. The scent of cigarettes invaded her nostrils and his mouth descended, mere millimetres away from-
A thundering knock at the front door threw the couple apart - and Landa's head snapped up, his expression shifting from one of surprise to one of undeniable irritation.
"Expecting someone?" He turned to her coolly, eyes narrowing.
Speechless, Maria merely shook her head, rooted to the spot, her gut still churning from their almost-kiss. When several seconds of silence passed in which she failed to move, the colonel gave an impatient raise of his eyebrow.
"Surely you don't want to leave your visitor waiting?"
"No.. no of course not," Maria swallowed, rising on jellied legs under his scrutiny, "please, do excuse me a moment."
Hurrying to the front door for the second time in less than half an hour, her mind flipped frantically through the index of people that could possibly be paying her a visit - but she drew a blank. One thing was for certain however: whoever it was, Landa would surely be watching - and dread unfurled in a stomach at the potential danger she was putting herself in. The knocking continued however, becoming more and more insistent with every second that passed - and she knew she had no choice but to answer it. Her heart cantered against her chest, her head swam with unpleasant possibilities - but when the door swung open her shoulders sagged with relief, for was only-
"Max," She breathed, almost laughing with joy, "I'm so glad it's-"
But the words died in her throat when the impresario grabbed her arm and pulled her closer, his eyes wide and chest heaving, "Maria, listen-"
"Herr Detweiler," came Landa's low drawl, interrupting them both from his spot in the drawing room doorway, "how odd to see you here at such an early hour..."
Maria didn't miss the flash of panic that skittered across Max's face - but he managed to mask it as quickly as it had come, straightening up and greeting the colonel's glare with an unperturbed smile.
"Ah, Landa!" He chorused jovially, "Good to see you! I'm afraid I've always been an early riser, as it so happens. Can't seem to shake the habit from my navy days!" clearing his throat, he cast a sideways glance at Maria, "I was just in the area on my way to the Cloppman Monastery Choir breakfast rehearsals, funnily enough. I uh.. I just wanted to check you were all okay after the storm. Treacherous conditions out there."
His eyes burned into Maria's so pointedly that she could tell he desperately needed to tell her something. What it was however, remained a mystery to her.
"Is that so?" Landa purred in mock fascination, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning casually against the door jamb.
"Indeed."
A charged silence engulfed them, sucking all the air from the room. Fearful that Max's unannounced presence would provoke the beast and cause an altercation, Maria hastily tried to ease the growing tension between the two men.
"I'm fine Max, really," she tried to reassure him with a smile, "the storm did no harm," - but one look at the impresario's face told her he was still quite distressed. When Max showed no signs relenting, Landa took a calculated step closer.
"She said she's fine, Max," he repeated icily, in a tone that left very little room for argument.
Still the impresario said nothing, his eyes shifting uncertainly from Maria, to her breakfast companion, and back again.
"Perhaps I could join you for a spot of tea?" He eventually suggested, with all the charm a life alongside the aristocracy had taught him.
"With all due respect Herr Detweiler," Landa gritted, "it's abominably rude to invite oneself into someone else's home when they are already entertaining..."
"I'm afraid I'm just that abominably rude," Max quipped, making to step over the threshold. Instantly, Landa took a step closer, fists clenched, and Maria was quick to intervene.
"Really Max," she muttered, a palm pressed to his chest, "I'm alright.."
"Maria," the impresario implored quietly, "I really must insist-"
"She won't tell you again, Herr Detweiler," Landa threatened, his voice slicing through the air, "and neither will I. Leave us."
Desperate to diffuse the toxic situation, Maria offered the impresario a barely perceptible nod, her final gesture of unspoken reassurance.
Reluctantly, Max took a step back, his expression pained, "Very well.." he nodded, in a way that told Maria nothing was well at all. Quite clearly he needed to tell her something, something urgent that couldn't be said in company.
"Do you know where Georg might be?" he asked suddenly, the desperation evident in his voice.
Maria's stomach twisted in knots.
"I'm afraid not," she lied, all too aware of Landa's eyes burning into her back.
The impresario nodded again, his face a picture of torment. Just as he was turning to leave however, an idea flickered to life in Maria's mind and she hurriedly called him back.
"Max? If uh.. if you do happen to see Georg," she remarked emphatically, "will you tell him I've found a new... governess," she stressed the final word and shifted her eyes upward in the general direction of the governess' bedroom and the adjoining nursery, "a new governess for the children?"
The impresario simply blinked at her blankly.
Come on Max, she pleaded with her eyes, praying to God that he somehow understood her covert message. Georg is upstairs. As are the children!
His expression unreadable, the impresario eventually gave a slow nod - and Maria truly had no idea whether her message had hit home, "I'll be sure to find him..."
A/N: Next update on the way!