Now, Maria had her own errand to run. She was the owner of a pretty bathing suit - she had tried it on right away and had to admit that her Captain had chosen well. The color was perfect and the cut wasn't as skimpy as she had first feared. He seemed to understand that she had to get used to some of the ideas that were just normal for many other women, wearing a garment that revealed a lot of skin, in this case.
Well, not only was Maria not "many women", but she was a postulant still - even though she had bid farewell to this idea a while ago. Since she had been in Georg's employ, she had made several dresses for herself, all of them with pretty material that he had given to her. Up until the pale pink dress that she had finished a few weeks before, her dresses, skirts and blouses had been made for playing and running around with the children. They had to be practical.
The pink dress, however, was a slightly different style for her. It was a little shorter than her usual dresses, the neckline was a little lower. It also had some more detail - which was more difficult to make, but resulted in a better fit. All in all, that dress was a pretty dress for a woman who did not want to hide behind sturdy clothes any longer.
Georg liked the dress, a lot. He had actually asked her to wear it to dinner that night. Maria blushed when he whispered in her ear how beautiful she looked in that particular shade of pale pink, and how he would love to kiss each and every freckle that was revealed when she wore that dress. Well, she decided, that dress would surely make it into her luggage for their honeymoon. The idea of being kissed by him for hours did appeal to her a lot – he had no idea how many freckles she hid under her garments!
But that didn't solve her problem for tonight. Her fiancé wanted to take her for a swim. Well, she couldn't wear one of her dresses over the bathing suit nor could she wear her nightgown. So she needed some sort of shift to wear. She remembered that she had bought some floating, lightweight material in an off-white color the last time she was at the craft store in town. Just because she liked it and had figured she could probably make another nightgown for herself.
Thinking back to last night, she remembered the shirt that Georg had worn with his riding breeches. Long, light, comfortable - it actually stuck to his wet skin when he'd put it back on after their swim in the lake. That was what she was going to make for herself!
She looked for one of the patterns that she had drawn up for making a blouse and found some paper to alter it in order to make it longer and wider. Just when she was about to cut the material, there was a knock at her door.
"Maria, are you ready to go?" she heard the Captain's voice on the other side of the door. The picnic! She had totally forgotten why she went to her room after she'd found the gifts. Apparently, the family was ready to go. And she was running behind, again.
She took a deep breath and went to her door. Opening it quickly, she took Georg's hand, pulled him inside her room and closed the door behind him. Throwing her arms around his neck, she looked deeply into his eyes and kissed him. If he was surprised, he didn't show it. He leaned back against the door, pulling her into him by the waist and deepened their kiss even more. After the finally came up for air, he looked at and grinned.
"What was that for?" he asked.
Maria blushed but refused to look away.
"Thank you, Georg", she said, suddenly becoming aware that she stood before him in her shift. That was all she had put back on after having tried the bathing suit on. But in all honesty, she didn't care. He had seen her in less clothing last night. He still held her in his embrace and she liked the feeling of his strong arms around her.
"What for?" he asked, trying to look innocent.
Maria loved this mischievous side of him, the fun-loving man who looked so much younger than the stern Captain. He was wearing another loose-fitting shirt today and had left the top buttons open. Maria craved to feel his skin under hers just like she had last night by the lake. So, she looked at his neck intently, brought her hands up and quickly opened two more buttons. She kissed his shoulder and pushed her hands underneath the fabric, stroking the warm skin she found there.
"For something I never got in my life. Love. Roses. A bathing suit."
His look became even more intense than it had been before and he pulled her to him once more. But instead of the passionate kiss she had expected, he held her tightly and kissed her just as tenderly as he had the night before on the warm rocks by the lake.
"Maria, I am so lucky to have found you. I love you with all my heart, and I will show you every day for the rest of my life how much you mean to me."
With tears in her eyes she leaned into him and just enjoyed being there, with the man she loved. Who gave her strength. Who appreciated her.
All of a sudden, he broke their intimate connection, took her by the shoulders and said: "Now please, put a dress on and don't let our seven hooligans wait any longer in front of your door."
"What?!" Maria exclaimed, now blushing again and running to her closet to reach for the orange dress she had worn regularly when she went on excursions with the children. Georg's eyes lit up when he saw what dress she had chosen.
"Georg, why didn't you tell me you brought them with you?"
How was she going to explain to the children why she had pulled their father into her room so abruptly? After she had buttoned up the dress and put the apron what went with it around her waist, Georg took her hands in his.
"Breathe, Maria. They are waiting outside and they will be happy once we start our excursion. And don't forget your shoes!"
He gave her a quick peck on the nose and pulled her to the door. Once he had opened it, the children waited for him to say something - so he did.
"Let's go!" was all they needed to run to the front door and pile into the car that was parked there. Maria grinned at him, and they followed their brood in a more sedate pace.
It took a little longer to reach the mountain that they had decided to go to today, and the children were happily chatting in the backseat. Georg had taken Maria's left hand into his and put it on his thigh, stroking her fingers tenderly. Maria felt so loved and she was so very happy that Georg did not insist on hiding their affection behind closed doors. She liked being touched and she liked to be free to touch him whenever she felt like it.
As soon as they reached the parking lot, they started hiking up on the path that led them through dense mountains. The air was refreshing under the roof of the trees, and they all liked the leisurely exercise. The boys were carrying their picnic baskets, Louisa had a blanket under her arm and Martha walked between Maria and Georg, content to look around and see the pretty flowers along the way.
When they reached the top of the mountain, the children found a spot under a large tree and set up their picnic. They were all ready for some cool drinks and lunch, before they dozed a little in the shade. Georg sat against the trunk of the tree and watched his children in silence. How lucky he was, to have such beautiful and smart daughters and sons. How glad that Maria came into their lives and saved them all from his sadness and despair over Agathe's death. How happy to be part of a big, loving family. He hoped that he and Maria could add some children of their own to the mix in the future.
Maria. His Maria. His fiancé. He looked forward to his life with her by his side – even though he knew that that life that he knew was bound to chance drastically sooner than later. He resolved to speak with her, about the options that they had once the German threat became too great. He knew that she was very reasonable and would weigh the options just as carefully as he had. He had no desire to make the decisions about their future by himself. He wanted her to be his equal, his partner.
"Walk with me?"
Maria had come up to where he was sitting against the tree and held her left hand out to him. She had silently cleaned up the remainders of their lunch and put them in their baskets, ready to be eaten later or taken down back to the villa when the time came. Looking for Georg, she saw him sitting against the tree, contemplating and looking deep in thought. She wanted to talk to him, to be alone with him even for a few minutes. And she craved his kisses, as new as the experience was for her.
Georg got up from his sitting position, took her hand and kissed it tenderly. "Of course, I will, my love", he said and winked at her.
They started to walk into the woods on a gravel path, his right arm around her shoulder and her left around his waist. It felt so good to Maria to be in his embrace.
"Georg, I know this is very new for us – but I love being so close to you." She stopped while she spoke to him, looking deeply into his dark blue eyes that held nothing but tenderness for her. Her Captain enfolded her in his arms and brought her head to his chest, caressing her tenderly.
"This is what was the hardest after Agathe passed away", he admitted. "We've always had a very physical relationship, we would touch and caress the other. Discreetly, of course, but we didn't like the idea of behaving as if we are strangers in public. Even if it was frowned upon in society. Agathe's parents were appalled by this, especially her mother tried time and again to get her to behave more demurely, I suppose. But we never did. We always did what we felt was right. And since we were so much in love, we did not want to be apart."
Maria sighed against him. "That sounds like a fairy tale, too good to be true. But I believe you, because I see how you are behaving with me, and we've only just admitted our feelings. And for the record: I love it. I couldn't bare not to be able to touch you or be close to you, innocent as our contact may be. I have craved all my life to be close to someone, to be loved unconditionally by someone."
"You are, Maria. You are. I love you. I adore you. I want you, more than you can imagine. But more than that, I want to see you happy and content in your new life."
She smiled up at him and tilted her head up a little, so their lips could meet in a tender kiss that became passionate rather quickly. Georg eventually broke their kiss and looked at her intently.
"Maria, there's something I need to talk to you about. Something you should be aware of if you are going to get married to me, to us."
"Georg, you scare me", she answered, looking at him. "What is it?"
"Come, let's sit down for a little while", he said, leading her to a mossy clearing where he once again found a tree to lean against. He pulled his fiancé between his legs and enveloped her in his arms tenderly.
"Maria, you knew that you came into the house of a sea captain, even if you don't think I look like one." Maria grinned at him at this observation. "And you know that I was knighted and honored for some of the things that I did during the Great War." Maria nodded.
"You will be in danger if the Anschluss comes, right? What will the Germans most likely do?" she asked.
Georg was astonished that she had thought so far ahead – even though he knew that she read the papers every day and listened to some of the broadcasts on the radio, he didn't know she followed politics so closely.
"It's my home country, too, that's about to disappear", she said to him and he had to agree.
"I believe that they'll want me in their navy, in whatever capacity I may be useful for them", Georg said.
Maria felt the blood drain from her face. That was her worst fear.
"But I can't, Maria. I can't and I won't become one of them. I won't even pretend to go along with them or wear their uniforms."
Maria was relieved. And she was scared. What did he mean by that? How could he avoid being recruited by the Nazis once they'd taken over?
"What does this mean for our family, Georg?" she wanted to know.
"We can't stay in Austria, it'll be too dangerous. We'll have to flee." There. He said it. It was the only solution and his worst nightmare. He loved his home country dearly, had fought for the empire. But the empire was no more, hadn't been for a while.
"Where? Where will we go?" was Maria's only question.
"Well, first I thought Switzerland would be safe enough. It's famous for being neutral and resilient in light of the dangers. But frankly, it's too close for comfort for me. All the other European countries will somehow be involved in the war sooner or later, either because they'll work with Hitler or they'll fight against him. So, the only solution I have come up with is either Canada or the United States. We'd travel there from Southhampton in England by ship. That way, the children could see their grandparents before we go and I could right some wrongs with them. We don't know if we'll see the Whiteheads again, as it is."
Maria exhaled deeply. That was a lot to take in. England, North America. While she was a rather free spirit, she had never been out of the country. Now these countries required crossing oceans, a different language that she only had a basic grasp of. Georg could see the wheels turning in Maria's head. He hated to have to worry her with this situation, but he wanted to be honest from the very beginning, tell her that the life she'd agree to would be very different from the one they were leading now.
"Maria, our lives will change in the future. While we won't be poor, we will not be as wealthy as we are right now. And we will go in an uncertain future, with a war coming and living in a country very far away."
"Georg, you know me well enough to realize that I don't care about your money. While it's good to know that there will be a roof over our heads, food on the table and clothes to wear for everyone, I can easily do without the balls and jewels and some other senseless past times that the Austrian high society is so fond of. But America! It's so far away! I will have to improve my English skills. We will have to find a way prepare for our travels without arousing suspicion. We can't trust people anymore, can we?"
Georg pulled Maria tightly into his arms. This woman was just amazing! He doubted that Elsa, or any other woman, for that matter, would have sat calmly with him, listen to what he had to say and agree to leave her glittering salons for an uncertain life in a faraway country.
"Maria, I love you. And I promise you I will be with you and our family for every step of the way. We will plan this together, and we will decide where we are going to live together. I have a few ideas as I have some relatives that live across the Atlantic. But it will be a decision of the family where our new home is going to be. But Maria, it is your decision if you want to leave everything you know and come with me and the children."
To say that Maria was overwhelmed was somewhat of an understatement. Life as she knew it was about to disappear. But not only if she decided to go with the von Trapps, but also if she stayed in Salzburg. Georg was sure that a war was coming. And while she hoped that that wouldn't be the case, there were to many signs pointing in that direction.
"I knew something like this would happen. My life will change dramatically, because our future has become unpredictable. But I don't see my life at the Abbey any longer, I haven't for a while, to be honest. And I want to be with you and the children, Georg. I have found love and a home with your family, for the first time in my life I feel like I belong somewhere. And that doesn't have to do with a villa or wealth or things. It has to do with who you are and what you make me feel."
And with that, she leaned into her fiancé and kissed him. Their kiss deepened quickly as Georg gently explored Maria's mouth with his tongue. She responded right away, their tongues starting to dance slowly and sensually. Maria wanted to show him that she would stand by him and support whatever it was that would come up in the future. Georg pulled her even closer, and she turned around and straddled him as they were sitting there, on the ground in the forest.
Georg ran his hands along her waist where he held her to him, caressing her sides and lower until he grasped her backside. Maria moaned into his mouth, feeling him becoming aroused underneath her. She was so focused on kissing her fiancé that she didn't even feel his hands stroking her calves until he reached under her skirts. Both were breathing heavily as they slowly separated, knowing that they had to stop, especially with the children so close.
"Maria, you are part of the family. Have been for a long time, you know that. Nothing could make me happier than your understanding and your coming with me. This situation is totally out of my hands, I would never choose to leave the country if I saw any other way. But unfortunately, there isn't."
"I know, Georg. Let's not dwell on all the might-have-beens, but look forward, to our future. We'll have to plan for our departure, silently but quickly, I suppose."
"Maria, I want to marry you as soon as possible. I want you to be my wife, in every sense of the word."
He grinned at her, and Maria blushed. But, honestly, she wanted that too. She was curious what it was like to be one with him, in mind, body and soul, to feel even more connected to him.
"But more than that, I want you to be my lawfully wedded spouse in these crazy times. I want you to be safe should anything happen to me and I want to make sure that the children and you cannot be separated."
"I want that, too, Georg. I need to go to see the Reverend Mother anyway and talk to her. Do you think you might accompany me and we'll talk to her about the wedding?"
"Yes. Let's telephone her tonight and set up a meeting with her. I know how much she means to you and I also know how much it means to you to get married in church. However, I think we should forego a large wedding with lots of guests and just make it an intimate affair with some close, real friends."
Maria wasn't surprised by that. And while she had no desire to participate in the high society circus, she came up with an idea that might getting out of the country a little easier.
"Georg, you know that I couldn't care less about hundreds of your acquaintances at the cathedral and a big reception afterwards where I will be scrutinized by most of them and their wives. But wouldn't it be smarter to do what is expected? Have the big wedding and go on some outrageous honeymoon? That way, we can bring all we need and have the children come somewhere with Max a few days later?"
"You are amazing, you know that, my darling? I could have used more people like you on my ships", he said, smiling at her. "Yes, that's what we will be doing. We'll travel to Paris, just the two of us. For a week. And then we'll go to Calais where we'll meet up with the children. And Max. There we'll board a ship to England and meet the Whiteheads in London. Hopefully we'll be out of imminent danger by then. And then we'll have to find out when the next passage to America will be."
So it was settled. They would set their plans in motion starting that night with a call to the Mother Abbess. Georg was glad to have shared his worries and plans with her, and even more that she hadn't run for the hills, quite literally, but would be with him every step of the way.
They returned to the children hand in hand, both feeling that they had come even closer. They played with them for a while before starting down the mountain to the car and drove back to Aigen. It was still very hot when they came down from the mountain, but the family agreed that they would have dinner first and then go down to the lake to put their feet in and cool of a little.
Maria excused herself from that little adventure, she had a project to finish. "I'll put them to bed", Georg said when she started for her room. Pecking her cheek, he leaned close to her ear, "and then I'll fetch you for our swim, alright?" Maria nodded her agreement and made her way upstairs quickly.
She took the fabric and her pattern and went to a nearby, formerly unused room where she had set up a sewing machine and a large table. She cut out the pieces and started making her shift, all the while concentrating on making the garment and forbidding herself to think about her date with her handsome Captain.
Finally, she was done – and she was quite proud of her product. It was a gently floating mixture of a blouse and a dress with a split neckline that went quite low in her opinion. She had also made a belt from a piece of the fabric that she could wrap around her waist to give it a little more shape. With her new shift in hand, she hurried back to her bedroom, freshened up and put her bathing suit.
Never having had a mirror in her cell at the abbey, she took a good look at herself in the full-length mirror that was inside the door of her closet. Maria wasn't vain at all, but she liked what she saw reflected back to her. The suit had a beautiful color and a cut that was revealing for someone who had only ever worn a habit or dresses made from sturdy fabrics. But it covered everything that she wanted covered and still displayed her assets. She slipped on her new shirt and grabbed a towel - and then she had nothing to do but wait for Georg.
She didn't have to wait long before she heard someone gently knock on her door. She opened it to reveal her captain, dressed in a casual pair of pants and the light shirt that he had worn on their hike earlier in the day. When he looked at Maria in the soft light that the setting sun sent through her windows, he was speechless. Never had he seen her in such a short outfit, and with her backlit in the room, he could just imagine her beautiful body underneath.
"You are breathtaking, my darling", he said, walking into her room and taking her in his arms where he proceeded to kiss her, slowly, deeply. Maria was surprised that such a simple garment could provoke such a response from her Captain, but who was she to complain about his kisses?
However, it was quite warm in her room and getting hotter by the minute, it seemed. So, they broke apart and made their way out of her door toward the basement of the villa hand in hand. Where Maria would have picked up her rusty bike, Georg led her to another door and they exited the house on the far end where two bicycles stood on a gravel path, waiting for them. Maria looked at him with a question in her eyes. "I haven't ridden my bike in the longest time, and this is the one that you've used with the children", he explained, having gotten them out of the shed before he picked up his fiancé.
"We don't have any towels, Georg. I forgot mine in my room", she said, turning back toward the house before he caught her arm.
"Don't worry, Maria. I have taken some things down to the lake this afternoon", he said. "Come on, let's go!"
Maria smiled at him and wondered what "things" would be waiting for them and when he had time to do that. But she climbed on her bike and off they went. Both enjoyed the cooler night air as they rode their bikes towards the shore of the lake where Georg had found Maria the previous night.
When they arrived, Maria was at a loss for word. Not only had he brought towels for them to that little patch of grass where she had swum several times in the previous weeks, but he had also laid out a large picnic blanket and some pillows, had a bottle of wine chilling and some tidbits to eat. But he had also set an incredibly romantic atmosphere by lighting many candles in larger and smaller glasses to protect them against the wind.
"Oh Georg, I feel like a princess in a fairy tale", she said between the tears that had started running down her cheeks. She secured her bike and stepped up to him, caressing his cheeks with her hands and pressing her lips to his...
- SCHNIPP -
So, it has been a while. Real life and all that. And then these chapters start galopping away with me. If you are still with me, please review - and let me know what you think where their little adventure by the lake should go. Will they stay chaste or will they move the wedding night forward?
Unfortunately, I still don't own TSOM ;)