Chapter 5

"Let them eat cake."

The rumored quotation rang through both Maria and Georg's heads as they walked towards the Château de Versailles. Georg had jokingly graced the end of their lunch with this when some little pastries and coffee were brought to them. Maria only rolled her eyes and chuckled, as she had become well-acquainted with his small banters over the past two and a half weeks.

Although Maria was positive from the moment she realized it that she loved Georg, with each passing day she had a new reason to give for why she did so much. From day one she was aware of his ease with playfulness, regarding their intimacies at least, and as she grew more comfortable with him, she only found it more endearing. But what lay beyond their wedding day, Maria had had to wait patiently to discover.

Their intimacy was an obvious source for her ever-growing emotions. But you would also have to consider the little things, the ones that are over-looked when staring at a bigger picture. She loved the way he grumbled at the first sight of morning rays, or made a spectacle out of splashing her with water from the shower (on the occasion that they weren't in there together). Georg had a way with words - eloquence - she would never be able to explain. He told stories and immediately opened his world up to her, and she was the same with him.

But something was there that Maria never expected. She trusted that they would have a safe, comfortable, and beyond loving relationship. There was something else: she felt as though Georg had been there all her life. She felt as though he fit so well into her life, so quickly, that it was as though he had always been there. And maybe he was. Not literally, of course, but he was always a part of her life because he was always meant to be there. It was something that she would never be able to put her finger onto, but knew it was never needed.

"Darling? You're rather quiet. We haven't gotten close enough to the palace to be dumbstruck by it's beauty," Georg said with a chuckle. "Is anything bothering you?"

"No, no, of course not," Maria replied, squeezing the arm she was holding onto slightly. "I was only thinking about how happy I am. I think that every day, really, but every time I have a new reason to be on top of the world."

"And what would be today's reason?"

"You." Maria slowed down their stride and turned to look at him.

"And the day before that?" Georg pulled her closer.

"You." She cocked her head to the side and looked upwards. "It was you the day before that one, too. You, you, you!" She wrapped her arms around Georg's back, squeezed him, and kissed his chin. "It's always you, and always will be. It's something new every day, but it always comes back to you… And I love it that way!"

"Well, Baroness. That is quite the testimony! But I'm glad you mentioned it, because I feel the exact same. You are my world, and I would never do anything to change that." He reached down to rest his forehead against her's, and lightly kissed her lips.

"Mmm. I really wish you wouldn't be so forward in public, Captain. It's very distracting and all it makes me want to do is run back to our room." Maria smugly looked into his eyes, smiled, and grabbed his hand to pull him towards resuming their path.

As they approached their destination, the entrance to Versailles grew bigger and bigger. The sun was shining brightly and proudly over the Sun King's palace, making its radiance even more breathtaking. Maria was absolutely in awe, and Georg, who had seen it before, was struck by its magnificence once again.

There were a good amount of people there, so Maria and Georg had a chance to admire the front of the courtyard beyond the main gate, lined with gold, standing tall like the rulers who occupied its palace once had. Georg looked down at his wife, who wore a whimsical look on her face. "My darling, I didn't think anything would leave you speechless, but I must congratulate Louis on doing so," he quipped.

"Oh stop, I don't want to ruin its grandeur essence by chatter." Maria smiled up to Georg and wrapped her arm around his waist, while he subsequently held onto her shoulders. They continued to exchange smiles and point out a few details of what they could see of the landmark so far.

In the mean time, Maria noticed, as the line began to curve around behind them, across their way there was a woman with some children she was apparently looking after, but they were chattering amongst themselves. She looked a bit worn, but was polished enough, in Maria's opinion, but not quite up to the women Maria had encountered in their circles in Salzburg and around them in Paris. But this woman seemed to be staring in Maria's direction, and she couldn't understand why. It was a bit annoying to her. In Salzburg she was eyed because of gossip, and now the same thing was happening here. When Georg gave her a questioning look, Maria knitted her eyebrows and gestured with her eyes towards the woman.

"Oh, Maria, don't worry about her. She's just bent out of joint."

"Georg, don't say such things! I'm sure that's not the case. I just can't understand why I'm so interesting to look at. In Salzburg, I suppose I understood, but here too nonetheless!"

"Why shouldn't it be the case, my darling?" He squeezed her shoulders. "Let's think this through, shall we? You are breathtaking, youthful, and a weight is lifted off of anyone's shoulders who looks your way. Yes, you have a husband twenty-five years your senior, but he has not lost much with age…" He took a moment to admire Maria as she laughed at his self-complimenting joke and rolled her eyes. "I must say, we are very lucky. Not because of what we have, necessarily, but because of how we feel. I think I speak for both of us when I say that love is written in our features and if people can see that and think something else of it, who cares?"

Maria carefully thought over her husband's words for a moment. "I suppose you're right. And don't think I don't appreciate everything we have, emotionally and materialistically, because I do. But I don't see why that's of interest to anyone. It's our business. It feels strange to be watched."

"I know. I think it's a matter of getting used to, I'm afraid. Once everything gets settled and we've gotten into a comfortable routine together, instead of gallivanting all over France, it won't seem like such a spectacle. I can see where everything would seem to be, between a large wedding in a small city, a new society, new doting husband. I'm sorry for that. But just remember that I love you and at the end of every day, I'll be the only one staring at you." He gave Maria a smoldering look, which she returned with shining eyes.

"Well, if that's not the most promising prospect, I don't know what is!" Maria reached up and eagerly gave Georg a fierce kiss on the cheek, causing him to grin.

Within a few minutes, they were behind the gates, standing in the courtyard of the magnificent Versailles. Once they strolled into the actual buildings, Maria and Georg resolved to holding hands, but naturally staying near one another. They slowly wound their way through the grand parlors, stair cases, and chambers.

While standing in Marie Antoinette's chamber, Maria decided to linger at the rail facing her bed for a few moments. Georg stood behind her, but inched closer as he noticed this. His hands met Maria's in front of her torso, resting on the railing. "If I could make you Queen, I would," he whispered seductively into her ear.

"Then everyone would stare and we would never be alone. All I want is you," she retorted, with a small smile reflecting her growing confidence and amusement with his charade of gallantry. She made sure it was small enough for him to not notice.

"Good. Let them stare! Let them know that I hold the heart of the most beautiful, gracious, vivacious, and scrumptious Queen who has ever and will ever live!" Georg was sure to show the joy in his voice, reflecting his own jubilant feelings.

After a good laugh, they moved on through the rest of the exhibits, stopping in the gift shop, as they usually did for silly little mementos that either one of them thought funny or worth saving for another laugh later on, and for more thoughtful things that the children would enjoy. A dress for their dolls for Gretl and Marta, a French biography of Marie Antoinette for Brigitta ("She can exercise her school language and feed her own little heart's desire all at once!" Georg had proudly pointed out when originally coming up with the idea to get her some French books while they were in France), amongst other things.

The last leg of this trip would be the extensive gardens, adorned with trees, fountains, and exquisite landscaping. Both Maria and Georg took the opportunity to leisurely soak in the surroundings, as they thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in the greener nature.

"If you were King Louis, would you have your children 'marching about the grounds, breathing deeply?'" Maria asked, jokingly but not without mocking she and her husband's first meeting.

"Well, my grounds would be more extensive than usual," he turned to Maria. "But never, darling, of course not. I need to tell you, though." Georg placed his hand on the small of Maria's back and guided her to a bench in the center of the path where it branched off. They sat close together, hand in hand, facing the promenade. "I'm sorry that that is the way you first met me. If I could do anything to take that monster away from having been in existence, I would."

"My dear Georg, I would never want you to. Because it's only a reminder that you are human. You have worked to build up your children's trust and love, as well as mine. If you had put on a façade for me, I wouldn't have cared for that any more. You were hurt, and yes it wasn't fair, but it's fixed. The past is the past, and you don't need to apologize for it."

Georg had hung his head during Maria's proclamation. She brought her hand to his opposite cheek and gently guided his face down to her own. The kiss that budded covered the seed of their undying understanding for each other. It would forever be in the garden of Versailles. Surrounded by the strolling tourists, smiling warmly at the lovers or minding their own business. The sun shone down, illuminating the flowing waters, green shrubs and distant palace. But most importantly, it warmed the shared hearts of a love that left one of its remnants in that garden. A place they would return to with age, with their children, and with an all-new love each time.

I'm so sorry for this chapter taking so long. I was getting into a new semester and all that, so I hope the next one after this will come a little sooner! Regardless, I hope you enjoyed this one and you continue to read! :)