Chapter 26: When all things good turn bad
Maria came back downstairs after saying goodnight to the younger children. Marta and Gretl were practically asleep on their feet as Nanny Jones got them ready for bed; the excitement of the evening had exhausted them both.
As she entered the ballroom, she glanced around the room looking for Georg. Maria saw Liesl dancing with Daniel in the center of the ballroom, and to Maria's surprise, she also spied Louisa dancing with a young man who looked only a few years older than Friedrich. Louisa caught her eye and gave Maria a happy wave from the other side of the room. As Maria's eyes continued to scan the room, she saw Friedrich standing next to Georg, looking very serious and proud as his father introduced him to several business associates. Maria was about to cross the ballroom to join them when she heard her name being called.
"Maria! There you are!" Lady Whitehead swept towards her, two flutes of champagne in hand. "Did you get the children off to bed?"
"Yes, with Nanny Jones's help," answered Maria.
"Good," Lady Whitehead said smoothly. "Maria, I am so glad you convinced me to allow the younger children at the party. It really was a wonderful idea of yours to include them in the festivities."
"Thank you…" Maria replied hesitantly. She was surprised at Lady Whitehead's sudden warmth towards her after a day when all she seemed to do was argue with the older woman.
"The children were no trouble, like you said. And so well behaved! They certainly are a credit to Georg," Lady Whitehead gushed before adding, "oh and to you of course, my dear."
Maria didn't quite know how to reply. Lady Whitehead's attitude towards her had changed dramatically, and it was puzzling. Maria just gave her a weak smile in response.
There was an awkward pause as the two women stood next to each other. Then Lady Whitehead broke the silence. "Liesl looks lovely tonight, doesn't she?"
"Yes she does," Maria agreed.
"This really has been a successful party," Lady Whitehead continued, inclining her head towards all the guests out on the dance floor. "All that work and effort, not to mention the time and planning this party…" The older woman stopped and flicked her eyes towards Maria, almost prompting a response from her.
"Yes, you did a marvellous job Lady Whitehead," Maria acknowledged. Lady Whitehead returned Maria's compliment with a broad, somewhat fake smile.
"Well, I feel like this calls for a toast. To celebrate," Lady Whitehead declared as she offered Maria one of the flutes of champagne from her hand.
Knowing the effect champagne usually had on her and remembering Georg's earlier warnings, Maria tried to wave the glass away. But Lady Whitehead was rather insistent. "Maria, this is a party. Please, I insist." Not wanting to offend Lady Whitehead, or get into another argument with her, Maria reluctantly took the flute of champagne. "To the party!" Lady Whitehead announced, raising her glass to her lips and taking a sip. Feeling pressured, Maria did the same but she only took a tiny sip of the bubbling liquid. But as she tilted her head back slightly to swallow, Maria missed the gleam of triumph in Lady Whitehead's eyes.
However, Lady Whitehead had also noticed how little champagne Maria had actually drunk in that sip. Although the drug was potent and fast acting, she knew Maria would have to have more than one tiny sip for the drug to take effect. Lady Whitehead needed a plan.
But just at that moment, Lady Whitehead saw Lady Prudence Crawford coming towards them. "Prudence," Lady Whitehead called out, beckoning her over. "Have you met Maria yet?"
"Yes, yes, I had the great pleasure earlier tonight," Lady Prudence replied smiling at Maria. "But we didn't get to finish our conversation as you were whisked away to dance by that incredibly handsome husband of yours. Tell me dear, what was that lovely dance you performed?"
"It was the Laendler, an Austrian folk dance," Maria explained. "It was such a nice surprise having the children arrange for us to dance it again together."
"And you performed it beautifully," Lady Prudence complimented her warmly.
As Maria thanked Lady Prudence, she didn't notice Lady Whitehead scowling behind her. But an instant later, the scowl was replaced by another bright smile as Lady Whitehead declared. "Well, I suppose that's another reason to celebrate." Lady Whitehead lifted her glass. "To Maria and Georg and their lovely dancing."
"Yes, to Maria and Georg," Lady Prudence agreed as she swiped a flute of champagne from a passing waiter and look a large sip. Lady Whitehead did the same and once again, Maria felt obliged to drink from her glass.
Maria stood quietly as Lady Whitehead and Lady Prudence chatted amicably about the party. As the other ladies were engaged in conversation, Maria took it as her cue to leave them and find Georg, However Lady Prudence suddenly turned to Maria and started gushing about the children to her. "Oh Maria, they were just delightful, especially the littlest one. What's her name?"
"Gretl," Maria told her.
"Lovely! But you must have your hands full with the seven of them. Seven children! Lord help you," Lady Prudence roared with laughter then took another large gulp of her champagne. "I hope you like children Maria…"
"Yes, I do."
"But with seven of them already," Lady Prudence continued. "I can't imagine you wanting to extend your family further."
At once Maria's heart skipped a beat at the mention of more children. Over the past two months, Maria had been so unhappy at the manor that the idea of a baby had been the furthermost from her mind. Yet over the past few days since her reconciliation with Georg, she had been thinking about the possibility of a baby more and more. She hadn't had a chance to speak to Georg about it, but her longing and desire for a child of her own was growing by the day.
"Actually, I would love to have a child with Georg," Maria told Lady Prudence with a blush. "But it's early days, you see. We haven't been married that long." Maria's face was turned slightly away from Lady Whitehead so Maria didn't see the look of disgust on Lady Whitehead's face.
"Well, I hope you shall," Lady Prudence declared, patting Maria on the arm. "You seem like a lovely woman, as for that husband of yours…" Lady Prudence gave Maria a wink. "Quite the male specimen, if I do say so myself. I'm sure you'll have no trouble enjoying yourself in the process of baby making."
The blush on Maria's face deepened as the older woman roared with laughter before she took another large gulp of her champagne. Lady Whitehead looked aghast and cleared her throat. "Ahem, Prudence!"
Lady Prudence immediately stopped laughing, looking slightly flustered. "Yes, well. Uh… Perhaps this calls for another toast, Maria? To your future children?" Lady Prudence raised her glass. At once Lady Whitehead joined her in raising her glass for the toast, pleased that somehow unwittingly, Lady Prudence was also coaxing Maria into drinking her champagne. Lady Whitehead felt jubilant as she watched Maria once more join in the toast and drink the drugged champagne.
From the other side of the room, Georg glanced around the ballroom looking for Maria. He knew she had gone to take the children to bed, but she had promised to return as soon as possible. It had been some time since she had left and he hadn't seen her. But then, he saw her on the other side of the ballroom deep in conversation with Lady Whitehead and another lady. He frowned to himself when he saw Maria with a glass of champagne in her hand. He watched Maria join the other ladies in drinking their champagne and immediately he felt irritated with her. Maria knew the effect champagne had on her, and he had even warned her about drinking the stuff, but there she was drinking from the flute of sparkling liquid in her hand!
He made an attempt to break away from the group of associates he had been talking to and make his way over to Maria, but the moment he did, he got pulled aside by an old family friend of the Whiteheads who was determined not to let him escape. Knowing that it would be at least a few minutes before he could break free and save Maria, he helplessly took one last look at Maria, hoping that she would have enough sense to stop drinking the champagne.
XxXxXxXxXxXx
Back on the other side of the room, Lillian Collins had joined the group of women. But as the conversation progressed, both Lady Whitehead and Lady Prudence kept finding more things to make toasts to. From the lovely flowers, to the music, to some of the other guests. And even though Maria only took tiny sips of champagne for each toast, her glass was almost empty.
Maria listened to the three other women chat; smiling and laughing with them at the appropriate times, but she was struggling to keep up. They were speaking in English and normally Maria didn't have much trouble quickly translating into her native tongue in her head to understand what they were saying. But at that moment, she felt sluggish and slow, and every word sounded strange and foreign. Her head was swimming and each time she moved her eyes, there seemed to be a second or two delay before she was able to re-focus.
Maria kept smiling as she tried to appear attentive to the other women's conversation, hoping none of them would notice how increasingly wobbly she had become standing in her high heels.
Concentrate Maria…
"And you Maria? What do you think?" said a voice suddenly cutting through Maria's thoughts.
"Sorry, what?" Maria stammered as she looked around searching for the owner of that voice. She saw Lillian Collins looking at her expectantly.
"Liesl and Daniel. Don't they make a lovely couple?" Lillian clarified inclining her head towards the young couple as they finished dancing. As Maria turned her face to follow Lillian's gaze, her entire head felt heavy on her shoulders.
Breathe Maria, just breathe…
"Yes," Maria managed to say as she watched Daniel, seemingly in slow motion, kiss Liesl's hand and leave the dance floor just as Liesl's next dance partner claimed her for the following dance.
As Maria turned back towards Lillian, the woman was looking at her strangely. "Are you all right, my dear?" Lillian asked.
Maria blinked several times then tried to smile. Why did it hurt her face to smile? "I'm fine," replied Maria, her tongue feeling thick in her mouth. Concentrating hard, Maria tried to enunciate each word slowly as she continued to speak. "And yes, they do make a lovely couple. Daniel is a fine young boy, er… man."
As Maria was speaking, she hadn't noticed Lady Whitehead scrutinizing her closely. The old woman was leaping inside with glee. Her plan had worked! The drug was taking effect upon Maria! But Lady Whitehead knew she needed to remove herself from Maria's presence before Maria completely embarrassed herself.
"If you ladies will excuse me," Lady Whitehead announced. "I've just seen someone I've been wanting to speak to all evening." And with that, Lady Whitehead left the group promptly.
After Lady Whitehead left, Lady Prudence and Lillian resumed talking with each other. Maria closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. Even with her eyes closed she could still feel the room spinning. Her heart was thudding loudly in her chest and she sensed a sort-of tight squeezing around her head, which make her feel almost claustrophobic. She knew there was something seriously wrong with her and the only thing she could think about was that she needed Georg.
Opening her eyes, it took several seconds for her eyes to focus on the room in front of her. There were many groups of people mingling everywhere but where was Georg? Maria took one step forward away from Lady Prudence and Lillian but found herself swaying to once side. She quickly managed to regain her balance just as Lillian caught her arm. "Maria? Are you sure you're all right?"
Maria blinked slowly once and sucked in a breath. "Yeth," she slurred. "I uh… just need to find my huth-band…"
Maria pulled her arm roughly from Lillian's grasp as she took another step forward, her eyes sluggishly scanning the room for Georg. She saw Louisa and Friedrich standing together on the left side of the dance floor, while Lady Whitehead was in a heated discussion with Daniel on the right. Then across the other side of the room was Georg! He had his back towards her and was in deep conversation with a man she hadn't met before. All Maria needed to do was to cross the dance floor and she'd reach him.
Concentrating as hard as she could, she clumsily began to make her way past the various couples dancing in the center of the ballroom.
Five steps, four steps, three steps…
Maria tried to count the number of steps until she would reach Georg.
Steady Maria… Focus…
She kept her eyes focused on Georg, blocking out everything else in the room as she moved across the ballroom. But as she walked, the room began to spin more and more.
"Georg…" she tried to call out, her voice barely a whisper. Georg didn't turn around.
"Georg…" she called out again but louder this time, however Georg still hadn't heard her.
"Georg!" she cried once more, her voice sounding strangely unlike her own. This time Georg heard her cry and looked up to see her staggering towards him. Immediately he sprang towards Maria and caught her just as she stumbled forward, knocking into a passing waiter. At once, the waiter dropped the tray of drinks he had been holding. CRASH!
Instantly there was a flurry of activity around Maria and Georg. Everyone in the room had looked up in their direction the moment the sound of shattering glass was heard. A couple of other waiters arrived to quickly clean up the mess and several people flocked around Maria asking whether she was all right or not.
When Georg had seen Maria staggering towards him, his worst fears were realised knowing that he'd seen her drinking champagne only ten minutes earlier. Then along with her flushed face, slurred speech and glazed over eyes, he had no doubt that she was intoxicated. But the last thing he wanted was for anyone else to realise it. Quickly thinking on his feet, he remembered Elsa describing the waves of dizziness that would overcome her when she was struck down by a severe migraine: something about not being able to see clearly due to flashing lights and auras?
"Yes, yes. She's fine," Georg reassured several people standing nearby as he helped Maria to her feet. "My wife suffers terribly from migraines, you see," he explained, lying through his teeth. "They always come on suddenly and it makes her a little unsteady on her feet, that's all." A couple of the women around them nodded sympathetically.
Georg wrapped one arm firmly around Maria's waist. "Now, if you'll excuse us, I think my wife needs some fresh air." Georg flashed the guests a half-smile before he quickly escorted Maria from the ballroom.
Once alone out in the grand hallway, Georg helped Maria onto a nearby chaise. Her head rolled backwards and she closed her eyes, half passing out. Georg gave her cheek a gentle tap, trying to rouse her. "Maria? Maria!"
Maria lazily opened her eyes and moaned, "Georg…" before closing her eyes again. Georg tried to rouse her again. "Maria? How much did you have?"
"How much?" Maria murmured, confused by his question.
"Champagne," Georg clarified. "I saw you drinking some from the other side of the room. How much did you have? Two, three glasses?"
"No, no, not glasses. Only a few sips I think. I forget," she muttered in a half whisper. "Toasts, so many toasts: flowers, music, people…" Georg shook his head as Maria continued to babble deliriously. She wasn't making any sense.
Just as he was trying to work out what to do with her, Lord and Lady Whitehead hurried out of the ballroom into the grand hallway. They both came up short seeing Maria passed out on the chaise.
"Georg," Lord Whitehead exclaimed. "We heard the commotion. Is Maria all right?"
But before Georg could reply, Lady Whitehead approached Maria and examined her carefully. Putting on the pretence that this was the first she knew of Maria's condition, she cried out. "Why, she's drunk!"
Lord Whitehead was shocked. "Georg, is this true?"
Georg took in a deep breath, wiggling his fingers nervously. "It does appear that she is. I'm afraid she doesn't have a very good head for champagne," he explained.
"This is absolutely disgraceful!" Lady Whitehead announced, looking over at the passed out Maria in disgust. "That sort of behaviour, in our house, at a party for your daughter, Georg, and embarrassing us all. I'm completely astounded that you could allow this to happen!"
"That I would allow this to happen? Elizabeth, you were with her. I saw you drinking champagne with her!"
"You're blaming me Georg?" Lady Whitehead replied in disbelief. "It's not my fault the girl can't handle her liquor."
"Elizabeth!" Georg warned as the two of them began a heated argument over Maria's condition.
"Enough of this," Lord Whitehead hissed, interjecting quickly. "Keep your voices down. We have dozens of guests in the next room. I don't want any more of a scandal tonight than has already occurred. Now I think we need to get Maria upstairs to her room, then do some damage control."
"Good idea," Georg agreed through gritted teeth. "I'll take her upstairs."
"No!" Lady Whitehead replied. "You need to stay here, Georg. I'll get Lloyd to call Hannah to help him."
"Elizabeth," Georg protested. "Maria is my wife, and I feel it's my duty to make sure that she gets safely up to bed."
"But Liesl is your daughter, and this is her party. Her stepmother disgracing herself at her party is already enough for Liesl to deal with. If you disappear as well, what will people think? No, Georg. You must stay for the party. I insist."
Although it was going against his better judgment, Georg reluctantly agreed. As Lloyd and Hannah arrived to help Maria upstairs, Georg went over to Maria and helped her sit up. She opened her eyes and looked at him hazily. "Georg?" she groaned in a half-whisper.
"Shh, darling," he soothed. "Lloyd and Hannah are here to take you upstairs. Sleep it off, I'll be up later." Georg watched as Lloyd and Hannah helped Maria to her feet and with Lloyd on one side, and Hannah on her other side, the three of them staggered upstairs.
After they went, Lord Whitehead spoke to Georg. "You know what these society gossips are like. We need to tell them something other than the truth. What should I say to anyone who asks about Maria?"
"Just tell them she has been struck down by a sudden migraine and she's retired for the evening," Georg responded.
"A migraine? Lady Whitehead repeated. "Surely you don't expect anyone to believe that story after they all saw her wobbling and stumbling all about the ballroom."
"Maybe so," Georg replied. "But it'll have to do." Lord Whitehead nodded in agreement before returning to the ballroom leaving Lady Whitehead and Georg alone in the hallway.
"Georg," Lady Whitehead began in an exasperated voice.
"Don't!" Georg cut her off furiously. "I'm not in the mood." With that Georg strode back into the ballroom. As soon as he entered, Liesl, Friedrich and Louisa stopped him straight away asking about Maria. Georg gave them the same story he'd told the other guests about Maria's supposed migraine then he ordered Friedrich and Louisa to go up to bed as well, although they protested profusely.
After the younger children left, Liesl spoke to Georg. "Father, are you all right?"
Georg sighed. "Yes, I'm just worried about your mother, that's all."
"She will be all right, won't she?" Liesl asked, tears welling in her eyes.
Georg tenderly tapped Liesl on the cheek. "Of course she will. Now, I want you to enjoy your party." Liesl opened her mouth to protest. "No arguments," he commanded light heartedly. Liesl gave Georg a quick hug before Daniel came over to escort her away. He watched Daniel lead Liesl outside for some fresh air.
Feeling like some fresh air himself and not particularly wanting to continue celebrating the party anymore, Georg followed them outside onto the terrace. The terrace was now deserted as Daniel and Liesl had gone down into the garden below. Georg made his way over to the balustrade and he leant back on it, and looking upwards into the starry sky, the cold night air feeling refreshing on his face.
How could this have happened? Georg asked himself. Everything was going so perfectly. Liesl, the party, introducing Maria to so many important friends and associates, dancing the Laendler with Maria before kissing her on the dance floor. Georg shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingertips. How could Maria have been so foolish as to drink that champagne when she knows how it affects her?
But then the more he thought about the entire incident, the more something about it just didn't feel right to him. He had only left Maria for ten minutes, definitely not enough time for the alcohol to have that incredible affect upon her. And when he had questioned Maria about how much she'd had, she claimed to have only had a few sips of the drink. It didn't make sense that she would have been that intoxicated so quickly, even for Maria and her inability to handle champagne.
Georg was so deep in thought that he hadn't noticed someone else join him on the terrace.
"Tough night?" Camilla's voice roused Georg from his thoughts.
Georg didn't answer her. He just let out a deep sigh and shook his head slightly. Standing up away from the balustrade, he stretched then changed positions to place his arms on the railing and leant forward, looking out into the darkened garden.
Not being deterred, Camilla slithered up beside him, leaning her arms on the railing, mimicking Georg's actions. "I'm here if you want anyone to uh, talk to," she crooned seductively running her fingertips lightly up his arm.
At once, Georg shook her hand off his arm and moved further away from her. "Camilla, just don't," Georg told her wearily as he resumed gazing out into the garden.
Camilla just stood next to Georg watching him closely. This was supposed to be her moment, the moment where she was going to seduce Georg! But looking at him now, seeing the look of pain and anguish on his face, she knew it was never going to work. Camilla remembered the way Georg used to look at Agathe and she had seen the same way Georg had looked at Maria earlier that night when he'd danced with her. With a heavy heart, Camilla finally realised Georg would never look at her that way. It was no use. He didn't love her, and he was never going to love her. He was beyond her grasp and it was finally time to let him go.
"Georg, I'm so sorry about Maria," Camilla told him honestly. He looked up at her, surprised at hearing the genuine sincerity in her voice.
"It's alright," he told her, patting her on her on her hand. "None of this is your fault."
Camilla suddenly felt a wave of guilt because she knew exactly how and why Maria ended up in the state that she did. "Well, Georg…" Camilla stammered. "That's not entirely true…"
Georg looked at her sharply, about to ask her what she meant by her statement when they heard heated voices coming from down in the garden.
"Liesl! Come back!"
"Leave me alone!"
Forgetting Camilla for a moment, Georg turned around to see Liesl running along the path and up the stairs onto the terrace. Seeing Georg there, the young lady threw herself into his arms. "Oh Father!"
Georg held his eldest daughter to his chest for a moment before he pulled away from her. He held her shoulders. "Liesl?" he asked, confused about what was going on. "What happened…?" Georg stopped abruptly as his eyes scanned over his daughter's tear-stained face down to her dress noticing for the first time the puffed-sleave on one of her shoulders had been ripped from the dress. "How…?"
"He… he…" Liesl spluttered as she broke down in tears. Quickly Camilla stepped in the comfort the young lady as Georg turned around to confront Daniel who had just arrived back on the terrace.
"Young man," Georg bellowed. "What is the meaning of this?"
Daniel appeared so fearful of Georg that he looked like he was about to wet his pants. "C-Captain von Trapp…" he stammered. "I-I didn't mean to… I thought she wanted… But then she said no… I tried to stop her leaving…"
Georg took one step towards Daniel, his eyes blazing with fury. "You dared to touch my daughter?"
"I-I'm sorry," Daniel squeaked, clearly terrified of Georg.
"Leave now," Georg commanded in a voice that no one in their right mind would ever disobey.
As Daniel scurried back through the ballroom and out into the grand hallway, Georg saw Charles and Lillian Collins looking perplexed as they watched their son hastily leaving. At once they began to make their way out onto the terrace to speak with Georg.
"Father, I don't want them to see me like this," Liesl wept.
Georg placed his arm around her. "It's alright, sweetheart. I'll sort everything out." He flicked his eyes to Camilla. "Will you stay with her?" he asked.
"Of course," Camilla replied. Georg gave Camilla a nod of gratitude as he went to speak to Charles and Lillian Collins about their son's despicable behaviour towards Liesl.
Several minutes later, Georg returned. The Collins's had been very apologetic and vowed to speak to their son about his actions as soon as possible. They both left the party following their conversation with Georg.
Georg found Liesl still crying, her head on Camilla's shoulder. But as soon as she saw Georg, she threw herself back into his arms. Georg held her close, thinking to himself that although his first-born was all grown up and practically a woman, she would always be his little girl in his eyes, and he wanted to do everything he could to protect her. After Liesl's tears had stopped flowing somewhat, they all sat down on one of the benches and Georg asked Liesl calmly what had happened. Liesl, through heaving breaths, told Georg how Daniel had taken her to a secluded place in the garden and kissed her before trying to touch her breasts. When she had said no, he had gotten angry and ripped her dress as she tried to leave.
"I'm so sorry Liesl," Georg told her. "You know, not all men are like that."
"I know," Liesl sniffed. "You're not like that with Mother. You love and respect her, don't you?"
"I do," Georg agreed. "Very much." Camilla felt another wave of guilt about Maria rush over her as she listened to Georg declaring his love for his wife. The three of them sat in silence for several minutes, listening to the sounds of the quartet still playing inside.
"Father, I don't want to go back to the party," Liesl announced.
"Yes, it would be probably be a good idea if you go upstairs to bed. You've suffered quite an ordeal tonight." Georg looked through the open terrace doors through to the party inside. "Perhaps not the best idea to leave the party through the ballroom. How about we take the long route through the gardens and enter the manor from the other side?" Liesl nodded as they stood up.
"Camilla," Georg began, about to dismiss her but she stopped him. "Georg, please, I want to help." Georg reluctantly agreed.
The three of them walked through the darkened garden around the back of the house to the other entrance to the manor. Thankfully Georg had a key in the breast pocket of his jacket to let themselves back into the house. After a few minutes, the three of them had arrived at Liesl's bedroom. Georg went to follow Liesl inside but Camilla stopped him. "Please, allow me. I know you're her father but right now, this young lady needs another woman around." Georg nodded and paced the hallway outside Liesl's room for the next few minutes until Camilla returned.
"Well, she's all tucked up in bed," Camilla told Georg. "She's exhausted after a long night."
"Camilla, I can't thank you enough for your help. She really needed her mother tonight, but considering Maria couldn't be here, I'm glad at least she had you instead to take care of her."
Once again, another wave of guilt rushed over Camilla at the mention of Maria. Biting her lip, Camilla knew she had to tell Georg the truth. "Georg, there's something about Maria and her behaviour tonight. I know she didn't have a migraine…"
Georg closed his eyes and inwardly cringed. "I know, I know," he admitted with a sigh. "She was drunk."
"No Georg," Camilla disagreed. "Maria wasn't drunk, she was drugged!"
"Drugged?" Georg exclaimed sharply. "What?! Camilla, what do know about this? Please, you must tell me everything!"
Biting her lip again and trying desperately not to cry as she revealed her knowledge of the night's events, Camilla told Georg everything. From how Lady Whitehead put the hidden drug from her ring in the champagne, to how his former mother-in-law had commanded Camilla to use the opportunity of Maria being out of the way to seduce Georg.
Georg looked up at the ceiling and ran one hand over his face, not quite believing his ears. "And you're quite sure about this Camilla?" he asked her fiercely. "This isn't just another one of your stories to get attention, is it?"
"I wish it was!" Camilla wept, the tears flowing freely this time. "But it isn't. I feel terrible about my part in all of this!"
"But you went along with it. Why are you telling me now?"
"Because I saw just how utterly devastated you were after Maria was taken upstairs. And I realised you would never feel the same way about me that I feel about you."
"Oh Camilla," Georg sighed as he comprehended what she was about to tell him.
"Georg, I've been in love with you since the very first moment I laid eyes on you all those years ago," Camilla explained with a sob. "I watched you fall in love with my best friend and marry her, then marry again, and never once looking at me! And I so desperately wanted you to look at me the way you looked at Maria tonight. But it's never going to be, is it?" Georg shook his head. "You love Maria deeply and completely, don't you?"
"I do," Georg replied sincerely. "Camilla, when Agathe died, I never expected, or wanted, to fall in love in love again. But then Maria suddenly entered my life. She turned everything I knew and felt upside down, opened my eyes and my heart to things I'd forgotten… I never thought I'd feel that way again. I love Maria so very much, I can't live without her."
"I know and I can see that now. Georg, I'm so sorry for everything I've put you through since you've been back in England. The flirting, the lies, and now this! Please forgive me!"
"I do," Georg told her genuinely.
There was an awkward silence before Camilla asked Georg. "So, what are you going to do now?"
Georg flexed his jaw and gazed at the ceiling, wiggling his fingers in agitation. He was so furious he could barely think. Yet a decision had to be made: confronting Lady Whitehead or going to Maria. But in his mind there was no choice. "There will be time tomorrow to talk to Elizabeth about what she has done, but for now, I have to go and see my wife, she needs me."
Thanking Camilla once more, Georg left her and made his way back to his suite. The room was dark as he entered. "Maria?" he called out hesitantly. There was no reply. Closing the door behind him then switching on a nearby lamp, he walked through their small sitting room over to the bedroom.
To his surprise, the bedroom was empty. The bedcovers on the bed were ruffled, like someone had been lying on them, but no Maria. Glancing around the room quickly, he wondered where she could be, until he noticed the slit of light coming from under the bathroom door.
He knocked on the door, "Maria?" but once again there was no reply. Georg opened the bathroom door and straightaway saw Maria collapsed on the bathroom floor. His blood turned cold. He knew he should never have left her alone. Georg hurried to her and gathered her up in his arms. "Maria? Darling?"
She was breathing, but her skin was pale with an almost greyish tinge to it. He gave her a gentle shake trying to wake her. After a few seconds she opened her eyes. "Georg? Is that you?" she asked, her voice faint and weak.
"I'm here," Georg reassured her.
"I'm so glad," she murmured.
"You should be in bed."
"I was, but then I needed to be sick so I came in here," she explained weakly. "Then I couldn't get up. I had to lie down. And the tiles were nice and cool on my face…" Georg felt her forehead. She was burning up! He got a washcloth and sponged her face, cooling her down.
Then Georg lifted her up and carried her back into the bedroom. She was as light and floppy as a rag doll. After he laid her down on the bed, he quickly fetched her nightgown from the walk-in-robe as she was still dressed in her pale-blue ball gown. By the time he returned to Maria, she had passed out again. He woke her again and helped her to sit up, slipping the ball gown off her and re-dressing her in her nightgown.
As he laid her back down and tucked her up into bed, she opened her eyes again. "The party?" she asked.
"Don't worry about the party," he told her as he removed his tuxedo jacket, his medal and cufflinks. Georg unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt, rolled up his shirtsleeves and slipped off his shoes before he lay down on the bed next to her and wrapped his arms around her. Her body was shaking uncontrollably in his arms. He settled himself back on the pillows, in preparation for what he knew was going to be a long night ahead.
"I wasn't drunk Georg," Maria muttered sluggishly as her eyes closed again.
"I know, and we'll talk about that in the morning when you're feeling better." Georg lovingly kissed her temple. "Just rest. I'm here now to take care of you, and I'm never leaving you again. Nor will I let anyone hurt you ever, ever again."
A/N: So my longest chapter yet, but written in the shortest amount of time! Thanks to ThePoorDidntWantThisOne for reading it through and providing feedback and reassurance because I felt as delirious as Maria by the end of writing this chapter! As always, reviews would be very welcome. It's my birthday tomorrow so reviews would be a very nice gift to me! Thank you!