'She has stayed longer than I expected her to.'
Elsa laughed.
'Is that the grudging sound of approval I hear, Georg?'
He glanced at her in the dusk. She was wearing a pale green ensemble, pearlescent in the fading light. She shimmered. He thought once again how several men would give their right arm to be in his position. And he wasn't one of them.
'She is erratic, unruly and the most belligerent creature I've ever met. Nevertheless, she does get results. Eventually. Even if her methods look like madness.'
Elsa chuckled but said nothing more on the matter. They watched the children play at camping, sipped their drinks and trawled their individual thoughts in silence. Even Max was busy, helping with the tents and pottering around. Occasionally Maria would turn and look towards the adults. Was the dress selection on purpose? The Baroness shone like a beacon. Maria tried to keep her mind at work and chivvied the children into their tents when it was time for bed. A lot of rustling, chattering and laughing was heard as they settled down for the night. Liesl who was sharing her tent with Maria, was looking very pleased with herself. She and Rolf had enjoyed a few minutes of their own as he stealthily crept into the grounds for a little light canoodling. Maria could sense the blush radiating off her and wondered once again, how it would feel to be in love.
The Captain wished all of them goodnight, nodded to Maria and he and Max disappeared into the house. Of the Baroness there was no sight. She'd left earlier and as Maria sat guard outside the tent, she wondered about how the other woman slept. Curled up on her side like a dormouse? Draped on the pillows reclining on her front? She had long hair, Maria knew that. Did she look like a mermaid? What colour was her negligee? Did she sleep peacefully or did insomnia plague her? What lay underneath that luminous cloak of finery she swathed about her?
Maria looked up at the windows, wondering which was her room. It wasn't long before the lady herself answered the question. A startling saffron number. She gazed across the garden, searching for what? Or whom? Maria hoped it was her. But she was invisible in her grey gaberdine.