Sipping at his brandy and feeling its warmth nipping at his throat, Georg still found himself seething silently, the hushed conversation and glamorous surroundings for once doing nothing to soothe his rattled nerves. He simply couldn't help but wonder whether or not the young Fraulein was following his instructions with regards to his children – he had the most uncomfortable feeling that she was not and for once he was unable to push thoughts of home from his mind.
"You are brooding, my dear," Elsa's cool voice remarked, interceding on his thoughts.
Glancing up he gave her a short smile. "Merely thinking," he tried to reassure her.
From the chair opposite, Max gave a small shudder. "Why would you want to think tonight? The whole point of evenings spent away from home is one escapes their responsibilities, of which you have many," he teased. "Seven if one wishes to be precise."
Georg couldn't help but focus on the annoyed twitch of Elsa's cheek, he knew she wasn't keen on children, and he knew he was asking a lot of her to take on seven. However, he honestly believed that she would be a good, calming influence on them, that she would be able to guide them on their expected role in society, they didn't need another mother, not really, they'd had that. Still a small part of him wondered if she simply viewed his children as more of an irritation than anything else. She composed herself quickly, taking a sip of her wine before asking, "How are the children?"
Max gave an inelegant snort accompanied by a rather amused chuckle, "More to the point how is your new governess faring?"
"I can only assume well as I've not heard anything to the contrary."
Max laughed again, swirling his wrist, the amber liquid in the cut glass tumbler, sloshing against the sides. "I do find it quite delightful you know, the thought of your children scaring off one formidable old crone of a governess after another. So do tell, where did you find this one? Surely word of their...exploits has closed a few doors."
Georg felt his teeth grit together at the reminder, feigning a casual air even though he knew that his answer would amuse his friend greatly, he replied, "Nonneberg."
It was a bark of laughter that escaped Max this time round. "A nun," he remarked, his face creased with amusement. "What chance does a nun have where all those despots have failed?"
"The nuns of Nonneberg are renowned for their control and discipline, second only to the Navy and as that isn't an option..." he tailed off before adding, "Regardless she isn't a nun, she's a postulant, she's yet to take her vows."
Elsa gave a small, elegant shudder. "Why anyone would want to take a vow of poverty and chastity is beyond me."
"They devote themselves to a higher purpose," Georg reminded her, sipping at his drink once more.
"Is there really a higher purpose in life than to enjoy one's self?"
Georg merely raised an eyebrow at her response, he may not follow their way of life, but he had an immense respect for their dedication and purpose. "Perhaps not for everyone," he remarked.
Elsa's cheeks flushed very slightly at the barb, she'd noticed that Georg was in an odd humour tonight but had chosen to ignore it, to tease him as she always had. And yet tonight he did not react the way he always had, he did not tease her back, instead his eyes were dark and almost inscrutable. He certainly did not look amused by her comment, and she wasn't sure she liked him in this mood. Brushing an imaginary piece of lint off her skirt, she got to her feet, deciding that she had tolerated enough of it for one night. Hopefully, a new day would improve his mood. "Yes, well I feel that this conversation is becoming far too serious and so I am going to retire for the night." She inclined her head elegantly at both of them, offering a coy smile, "Goodnight gentlemen."
"Goodnight," Max smiled, waving his hand airily. Georg did not react, still scowling into the flames as she left the room.
Max turned his attention to his oldest friend. "So... you have finally solved your governess problem," he remarked lightly.
Georg gave a snort. "Not for long, she's very obviously unsuited to the role, she's not disciplined enough."
"I thought she was from an institute that was, wait a moment until I get this right, renowned for their control and discipline."
"They are, but for some reason they have seen fit to send me their black sheep."
"Oh, how marvellous," Max chuckled, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "Not only do you have seven hellions to contend with but also an unruly Nun."
"Postulant," Georg felt compelled to correct him.
"Same difference surely," Max replied. "Will she still be in residence when we visit?"
"I do not remember issuing any invitations," Georg remarked dryly.
"Well if your intentions to Elsa are honourable then the next step would be to introduce her to your little...darlings," he settled on, shooting his friend a wry grin before continuing, "And that would require the services of a chaperone. I am of course the obvious choice. And before you ask, I would be more than happy to assume that role."
"How generous of you."
Max gave a small shrug. "You know how I live to give."
"Yes, I've often noticed that about you, and I suppose the free room and board means very little."
"Nothing at all."
"Good, you won't be to put out when you receive your bill then," Georg replied, a smile finally tugging at his lips.
"Ah how you wound me, although I suppose that's what I get for trying to do an old friend a favour." Eyeing said old friend speculatively he paused for a moment before asking almost hesitantly, "You do intend to propose?"
"That is the idea, yes."
Max's expression relaxed. "I shall make sure I have champagne on ice then."
"No doubt one of my bottles," Georg grumbled half-heartedly before warning the older man, "Do not get ahead of yourself, Elsa has to meet the children first, she has to know what she's getting in to and until that happens nothing is set in stone."
"It will all go swimmingly I'm sure," Max batted back confidently. "And we shall have the added entertainment of your rogue postulant, although you must enlighten me about her beforehand."
"There's not much to say," Georg answered, unsure as to why he was lying, there was plenty that could be said about that girl after all. "She is simply unsuitable in the fact that she cannot follow an instruction to save herself."
"That's all," Max looked disappointed at what he'd thought to be a big reveal moment. He gave a sigh. "So just another frumpy, miserable governess then," he remarked. "Just with a habitat and an obedience problem. Still," he gave a small shrug. "I suppose Elsa meeting the children shall be entertainment enough for my summer." His devilish smile curved his lips again at the thought of Elsa managing seven children, and he chuckled into his drink, yes that would certainly provide some light relief.
Georg rolled his eyes at his friend, turning his attention back to the dancing flames as he tried not to dwell on why he had chosen not to correct him about the young Fraulein.
"What do you think she has planned?" Kurt asked his siblings in a hushed whisper as they watched their new governess practically skip away from them and back into the house.
"I don't know, but I don't like it," Louisa grumbled. "She's smiling too much, remember that time Fraulein Helga was smiling?"
"That wasn't pretty," Friedrich agreed. "But Fraulein Maria doesn't seem like the rest of them, she's always smiling, and she's been really nice so far."
"I really like her," Gretl chimed in, Marta nodding along her agreement with her younger sister's statement. "She reads us stories every night."
"She's only been here three nights," Louisa replied, her face still set in a scowl. "She could easily stop, she might just be trying to get us to trust her, then she'll pull the rug."
Liesl shook her head, her voice quiet as she tried to placate her sister, telling her, "She doesn't seem like the others, although I agree that she is definitely up to something."
"I just think it's odd that she's pretty much left us to our lessons in the morning and then let us do what we want to in the afternoon," Brigitta finally offered. "And now she's banished us outside."
"Father wouldn't be happy if he knew we weren't marching," Kurt announced. "Or if he knew that she doesn't use the whistle."
Friedrich rolled his eyes and smacked his brother's shoulder. "Well, we're not going to tell him, are we?"
"Course not," he snapped back, rubbing at the sore spot. "I was just saying!"
"Well don't, because it's not helpful."
"Are we just going to stand here all afternoon?" Marta asked quietly, looking between her siblings somewhat anxiously.
Liesl patted her shoulder. "Of course not. Now since it's your birthday you can choose what we do." It was the most she could offer the young girl, ever since their mother had died birthdays were no longer celebrated, she vaguely wondered if Marta even remembered having a fun birthday – she knew Gretl certainly wouldn't.
Marta beamed up at her, taking Liesl hand in hers she told her, "I don't mind what we do, but I want it to be fun."
The older five shared a look, they'd do their best as they always did to please their little sister and to do that, they'd just have to leave the spying and figuring out their new governess until later.
Smiling triumphantly to herself, Maria walked out of the patio doors and leaned on the stone balustrade as she stared out into the grounds, looking for her new charges, her eyes narrowing slightly as she realised that they were nowhere in sight. Stepping off the patio and onto the soft grass, she called out, "Children! Children!"
She was about to start hollering out their names – the Captain would be appalled – when she saw a blur of grey streak out from behind some trees. It was Gretl, her chubby legs carrying her as fast as they could, and she was giggling as she flung herself into Maria. Smiling down at the little girl and brushing a damp tendril of hair off her forehead, Maria asked, "And just what have you been up to?"
"Playing," Gretl replied. "What have you been doing?"
"You're about to find out," Maria whispered back conspiratorially.
"Really!"
"Really, but only when your brothers and sisters get here as well." She looked up, squinting in the afternoon sun, relieved when she saw her six other charges head in her direction – albeit not as enthusiastically as Gretl had, but at least they weren't making her search for them. When they finally surrounded her, the older five stared at her suspiciously.
It was Gretl who broke the silence. "Fraulein Maria is going to show us what she's been doing all day."
"That's right," Maria replied, ruffling Gretl's hair. "But first you all need to go wash up, you're all looking a bit grubby." As expected, they all groaned in unison, protesting that they were clean. Maria simply pursed her lips together to keep from smiling and shook her head. "No, you're all doing that first, now come on the quicker you get cleaned up the quicker you'll get to see what I've been up to."
They all grumbled but did as they were told, simply because they were all dying to know just what their governess had been up to.
She was waiting for them all at the bottom of the stairs, whistling happily to herself. When she saw them, her smile widened as she took hold of Marta's hand, telling the little girl, "You're up front with me, the rest of you follow on."
Liesl and Friedrich shared a frown as they fell into step behind their unconventional governess, following her through the hallway and towards the dining room. "Ready?" Maria asked Marta who was clinging tightly onto her hand.
Marta nodded her reply, letting Maria's hand go so that she could step forward and swing the doors open, watching the look of surprise bloom across the children's faces. Marta gave a delighted squeal as she took in the balloons, the paperchains, the colourful painted paper banner and the tableful of food. "Is this for me?" She asked, her voice breathless.
"It is," Maria confirmed, dropping down so that she was at Marta's height and kissing her cheek, telling her, "Happy Birthday, Marta."
After the cake, Maria tapped the side of her glass with a spoon – the first piece of cutlery she could reach – and cleared her throat as the children turned to look at her. "Now as I'm sure you've all been aware, for the last few days I've let you have a bit of time on your own, but that is about to change." She saw the older three share a look of disappointment and her smile widened, they thought she was going to start cracking the whip. "But the reason for that is that I've been busy making something for you all-"
"What is it!" Gretl interrupted, looking enthralled at the idea.
Laughing, Maria replied, "Play clothes."
"Play clothes," Louisa echoed. "What do we need play clothes for?"
"The clue's in the name," Friedrich replied sharply.
"I know that, but we don't play."
"You have the last few days," Maria pointed out. "And I want us to do a lot more, I thought we could go into town, have a picnic in the mountains, and I don't want you ruining your uniforms."
"So, no more lessons?" Kurt asked hopefully.
Maria laughed. "You'll still have lessons but maybe not every morning and I'm thinking of ways we can make them more interesting." Her nose wrinkled, "After all sitting in the schoolroom for hours on end is not very interesting." She gave a small shrug. "Anyway, starting from tomorrow we shall be having daily outings, so what I want you all to do is think about places you'd like to go-"
The door creaked open and Frau Schmidt stepped into the room, smiling apologetically she told the group, "I'm very sorry to interrupt, but I just wanted to give Marta her present from the Captain."
"It's not a problem, Frau Schmidt, would you like to join us for some cake?"
The older woman gave a small shake of her head. "I can't I'm afraid, I must get back."
Maria nodded, turning back to look at the little girl who was tearing into the wrapping paper of her present. She let out a delighted gasp as she pulled out a pink parasol. "Look!" she squealed. "He remembered."
Maria couldn't help but smile at that, well well maybe she had dismissed the Captain too soon, he was obviously much more complicated than she'd ever dreamed.