The next morning at breakfast Georg announced that he had some errands to run. He departed as soon as breakfast had ended, and since the children were occupied with their studies, Maria was left to amuse herself.

First off, she decided to review her wardrobe, since she needed something to wear to the ball. She knew Georg wouldn't mind in the slightest what she was wearing, but she was certain that she would need something more appropriate; more elegant.

After checking the wardrobe twice over, she came to the unfortunate, but expected conclusion that she really didn't have anything that she would be able to wear for the ball. Feeling slightly sad, she decided to turn to the one thing she knew would cheer her up; music. She retrieved her guitar and went over to the bed to play and sing to herself.

When Georg arrived back home, just before lunch, he went straight to his bedroom. He smiled at his reflection in the full length mirror, before drawing a small object out of his jacket pocket. He flipped the box open and stared at the ring inside.

'Yes, it's perfect for her,' he decided, thinking about what his seven-year old daughter had whispered to him after she somehow manage to discover what he was going to do today.

As he left the bedroom and began to make his way over to the dining room just in time for lunch, he heard a voice coming from upstairs. He could immediately tell who it was. It was her voice.

Once again mesmerised, he found himself climbing the staircase without being fully aware of what he was doing, and before he knew it, he had arrived at Maria's bedroom door.

He knocked twice, but entered before she said anything. She was sitting on the bed absently strumming her guitar and singing softly to herself.

"Have I ever told you I think your voice is the happiest sound in all the world?" he asked her.

"No," she smiled at him, shaking her head.

Well, I do," he said as he kissed her forehead. "What's that beautiful song called?"

Maria smiled up at him. "'Whistling Away The Dark'. I can't even remember where I first learnt it; it seems like I've known it forever."

Georg sat down beside Maria on the bed and watched as she carefully put her guitar down on the floor.

"I missed you," she said, leaning over and capturing him in a kiss.

That simple action was enough to start a fire burning in Georg. Good God, what did this woman do to him? He was old enough to be her father and yet he had fallen head over heels in love with her, in less time than it had taken him to fall in love with Agathe. He deepened the kiss and subconsciously reached his hand up Maria's skirt, clutching at her thigh.

She stiffened and quickly broke off the kiss, backing away. Her cheeks were red and Georg was sure he'd blown it.

However, before he could say anything, she spoke. "No, don't apologise Georg. I'm just still very new to all of this, but by no means did I not like it."

"Well that's good news," Georg said, exhaling deeply. For Maria to simply say that, it showed just how much more comfortable she was becoming with their relationship. That made him so happy.

But when he looked up at his fiancée again, he saw that she was blushing again. "What is it?"

"This just proves that I'm going to make mess of things at the ball," she said, starting to sob. "And – oh Georg, I don't even have a dress to wear."

Georg put his arm around her. Already his mind was turning with a way to fix her problem. "Don't worry darling," he said. "I may have just the thing. But we'd better go now, or we'll be late for lunch."

After, the children approached Maria and begged her to come and join them in whatever ridiculous game they were off to play. However, before she was able to respond, Georg caught her eye and shook his head very slightly. She didn't see Marta glance at her father expectantly, who nodded in response.

"What was that about," she asked him when the children had finally been persuaded to go off and play their games without their governess.

"I want to show you something," he smiled.

"I've already been in here Georg," she teased when they arrived in the courtyard where they had danced the Laendler.

"I know," he smiled. "But it occurred to me that I never proposed to you officially. And I figured here would be the best place, since the night of the party was the night I figured out I really was in love with you."

Maria gasped as Georg dropped to his knee and pulled the engagement ring out of his pocket. It was a slim gold band, with a diamond in the centre, flanked on either side by a small stone of rose quartz.

"Oh my goodness"

"Maria," Georg said. "I love you more than I ever thought I could again. Will you marry me?"

"Yes, yes," she choked out, feeling her eyes well with tears as she let Georg slide the ring onto her finger.

"Marta mentioned that pink was your favourite colour too," he said, as he stepped back to watch her admire the ring in the sunlight streaming through the windows.

Maria couldn't help but grin even more. Then, remembering what he had said before lunch, she turned back to Georg. "What did you mean when you said that you had 'just the thing' to fix my wardrobe problems?" she asked.

"Wait right here," Georg said. He was out the door before he had finished the sentence.

Back up in his bedroom for the second time that day, he carefully opened his closet. Inside, at the very, very back was the dress he'd bought for Agathe just before she had died. It had stayed at the back of his closet, untouched for five years now. It may as well get some use.

He brought it back down to the courtyard, where he found Maria patiently awaiting his return, absently humming to herself.

"Ahem," he coughed, making his presence known and causing her to turn around. "Will this do?" he asked, holding out the dress to her.

Once again, Maria was rendered speechless as she took in the beautiful gown her fiancé was holding. It had thin straps and was covered with intricate gold beads halfway down the bodice, under which orange-red material floated to the floor, with a band of golden beads at knee height.

"I bought this for my wife to wear just after Gretl was born," Georg explained. "She may as well get some use out of it."

Maria knew that he was talking about his first wife in the first sentence, but she was clearly the person he was talking about using this dress, even though they weren't married yet.

She had never owned anything this beautiful before. True, some of the clothes she had made had been pretty, but this garment was something that would rival the Baroness' evening gowns. And here Georg was, willingly offering it to her.

"You want me to have this?" she asked him. "Really?"

"Of course I do," he replied. "Maria, I love you more than anything in world. You brought me back to life and I cannot do enough to repay you. And I think you will look amazing in this and that you should wear it to the ball."

He smiled that half smile that she couldn't resist and she raced over into his arms.

"So is that a 'yes'?"

She could only nod.

The next couple of weeks past by in a blur and soon the night of the ball had arrived.

The girls were all crowded in Maria's bedroom as they watched their governess get ready. Needless to say, Friedrich and Kurt decided they had better things to do with their time.

"Liesl, could you zip me up please?" Maria asked. Liesl nodded and walking over, pulled the zip up at the back of her governess's dress.

"What do you think?" Maria asked the girls, turning around.

"You look really pretty, Fraulein Maria," Gretl said softly.

"I think it was so nice of Father to give you a dress he bought for Mother," Louisa said.

Maria nodded as she picked up a small golden locket in the shape of an oval. Her mother had given it to her for her second birthday. She pulled it around her neck and latched the clasp.

"Can we see the ring again, Fraulein Maria?" Marta asked. Maria smiled as she held out her hand so the girls could admire the ring. Ever since Georg had given it to her two weeks ago, the children had been asking nonstop to see the ring, but Marta was always particularly interested. Maria supposed it had something to do with the fact she told her father what type of ring to buy.

She had never felt more like a princess, and although she was still terrified she would make a fool of herself tonight, the thought of being at a party with Georg thrilled her. With one final look at herself in the mirror, she waved a goodbye to the girls and left the room, shutting the door softly behind her.

She didn't hear the excited explosion of giggles from within.

Georg was waiting at the bottom of the staircase when she came down. He was dressed in the same suit he had worn on the night of the Baroness's party. 'He's so handsome,' Maria thought dreamily as she descended the last few steps.

'She does look gorgeous in that dress,' Georg thought as he saw her float towards him. She giggled softly and blushed when he kissed her lightly on the cheek.

"Well, shall we?" he asked, offering her his arm.

She simply nodded and smiled as she looped her arm though his and they headed out the door.

All too soon they had arrived at the Huber's villa. Maria's anxiety had only intensified on the journey and she was clutching at Georg's arm tighter than ever.

"Darling, you're trembling," said Georg. Then he pried his arm out of her grip and turned her to face him, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Maria, I promise I won't let anything happen to you tonight. Trust me."

Maria swallowed and nodded, grasping Georg's hand tighter than she had all night. Then together, they prepared to enter the ball.

Hope you enjoyed it. Sorry for those who were expecting the ball straightaway. For those who noticed, the 'Darling Lili' references were intentional, and there will be more Julie Andrews movie references in later chapters. And for those who haven't read 'Running Away From Memories', yes the 'trembling' line is a reference to when I met Julie (I just love talking about it, so don't be surprised if it comes up in my later stories).

Whistling Away The Dark was written by Henry Mancini for 'Darling Lili'

Please keep the comments coming; they make my day!