Chapter 10
I followed Artur into his tiny little cottage of a home. There are only three rooms, all quite petite. The first room is the kitchen, miniature in size, as well as a little sitting area. The two attached rooms are the Gedney's bedrooms, one for Herr and Frau Gedney and one for the brothers. There are only four windows in the entire house, two in the first room and one in each of the bedrooms. But they were so dusty that the glass was a sooty black colour.
I stood, squinting so I could see a little better, as the only thing lighting up the room was the tiny rays of light squeezing themselves through the darkened windows. Artur had walked into his own room, rummaged around it a little, before coming back out with two pairs of cotton rimmed, thick leather boots.
"I'll have my brother's, as they should be able to fit me now. You can have mine," he threw me a pair, which I caught rather clumsily.
"Where are we going?" I asked, raising an eyebrow as I slipped the boots onto my freezing, numb feet.
"You'll see," he smiled, walking out and holding the door open for me like a gentleman would.
"Why thank you, Herr Gedney," I thanked him in a very posh voice.
"My pleasure, Frau Von Trapp," he formally took my hand and kissed it. Then we broke down into pleasurable giggles.
After our little humorous moment, he gave a little cough, pointed to a path leading off up the mountain and then told me to follow him. Obediently, I trudged through the dirt, hearing the satisfying squelch of silt beneath my thick, water-proof boots.
Maria's POV
I watched Brigitta and Artur from the barn door. They had recently just gone into the Gedney's modest home and were coming back out again. Artur had held open the door for her and she had responded quietly. Artur then took her hand and kissed it, and I felt my husband freeze beside me. It wasn't until they began laughing at themselves did he finally breathe in relief, turning away from the scene as Brigitta and Artur left the village.
"They're growing up. All of them, they're going to go through this stage, you know that dear," I kissed his cheek sympathetically.
"I know, but I missed the whole 'overprotective father' thing with Liesl and Louisa, heck I don't even know if she loved a boy, but now it's Brigitta's turn and my, oh my, how unprepared I am," he sighed, sitting down on a hay stack.
"You saw them a minute ago, they were only messing around with each other. Brigitta is only ten, and yes, I know she reads a lot about that sort of stuff, but I doubt that child knows much about love," I reassured him, rubbing his shoulder.
Hell, if he heard the doubt dripping from my tongue then who knows what will happen. I'm not saying I'm lying, I do believe that this moment will pass, but I'm not saying that either children understand love. I have a hunch they've misinterpreted it, I think they only think that someone is in love if they kiss that person on the lips. I've watched them the entire morning, and I see no signs of that kind of love. But there is something there, and even if I am an adult, it doesn't mean I understand what exactly they're feeling. Only themselves ever will.
"Yes, I know Brigitta is young. But Artur is nearly Louisa's age. He's a smart boy, and he could've learnt a thing or two from his brother," Georg hissed.
"Now, Georg, you cannot go around blaming overs for something completely reasonable. For all we know, they could just be getting along well as friends. And if you're so worried maybe you should ask Brigitta herself about it," I scolded him, like I would with the children.
Georg gave a deep, grumbling groan, tapping his fingers against the smooth wood walls, eyes narrowed at the door. I sighed. The fatherly instincts were kicking in, it was only a matter of time before he would snap. I do understand him though, I'm pretty sure every father has gone through this with his children. I know mine did, that's for sure…