"Kurt… you need to wait."

The boy was staring at his salad as if it was a treasure. Reluctantly, he put down his fork and looked up at his father. "But I'm starving."

Georg's eyebrows rose. "Even after all those berries you ate?"

Kurt's cheeks flushed, and he fidgeted with his napkin.

Max checked his watch and grinned. "Come now, it's only been two minutes since we sat down."

"Since you sat down, Max," Elsa said, sauntering over to her place next to Georg. Her red gown sparkled in the light, and she sipped her wine. "You're just as incorrigible as the children, right Darling ?" Georg didn't reply. She switched her glass to her other hand so she could brush his shoulder. It jolted him out of his thoughts and he blinked up at her.

"Yes?"

Her smile was wide. "I said Max is in a rare form tonight," she said, still standing above him.

His eyes flickered to hers for a split second before turning to his children. "It's been a day."

Max studied his friend in that impressively-cut red dress and his host who'd barely glanced at her, and he struggled to hide his smirk.

"Where is Fräulein Maria?" Gretl asked.

"She's late again!" Marta added.

"She was late on her first night here too," Louisa said.

Georg chuckled. "Yes she was."

Elsa didn't so much sip her wine as she took a longer gulp as she sat next to Georg. She placed her hand on his. "Perhaps she is still unpacking…"

Liesl cleared her throat. "Shall I-"

But her offer to find the governess was cut short at the sound of rushing footsteps. They all turned as Maria entered, a blur of blue and slightly breathless.

Georg froze.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" she said in a breezy tone. She dashed across the room to her place. "I..uh…was busy sorting through some things." She paused and smiled at the children. "Good evening, children." She half-expected that mocking sing-song return they had chorused on her first evening there, but they all simply welcomed her, sincere love in their voices. She pulled out her chair and paused with a grin. "No gifts on my chair, I see."

She heard a deeper laugh mixed in with the children's, and she pointedly did not look toward its source.

"Now can we eat!?" Kurt asked.

"Kurt, we have to thank the Lord," Georg said and cast a glance at Maria who was not looking back. But he could see her smiling. The silverware clinked back to the table as all hands were clasped together. Georg continued to watch the far end of the table as he said a quick prayer.

The children, finally allowed to eat, were almost ravenous. Maria gave them an odd look. Her eyes met the Captain's for a moment. His gaze was unwavering, and Maria's pulse quickened, and she went back to her salad. Elsa sat up straighter and tugged on her bolero. Georg didn't notice. Max plopped a tomato into his mouth.

"I love that dress, Fräulein Maria," Liesl offered. The other girls nodded.

Her cheeks flushing, Maria's smile was small. "I was happy to see it and the others were still there."

"We couldn't part with them," the teen-ager replied.

Maria started to look over at the Catapin, but stopped herself. But she did catch a brief, sharp expression from the Baroness, and her stomach twisted. The Baroness had been the one to point out the significance of the dress, and suddenly Maria was mortified. Did the Baroness think she chose the dress…as a challenge? Breathless, she reached for her water.

"May we go to the mountain tomorrow, Fräulein Maria?" Gretl said.

Maria nearly choked. "Oh, um…I think I should see how you've all been doing with your lessons."

Georg gave his children an amused arch of his eyebrow; their lessons had been all but forgotten.

"They have been gloomy for the past week," Max said. He gestured at the governess. "It was as if the sun had set. And now it is shining brightly!"

Flattered, Maria turned to the children. "Well then we have to catch up, don't we?"

"Well then can we sing tonight after dinner?" Gretl asked, determined.

"I thought you couldn't sing," Kurt challenged.

"I can now!" the child replied.

Maria reached over and patted Gretl's hand. "Then I think we should! I'd love to hear you sing."

"Excellent!" Max said, turning to his host. "It will be so nice to hear music again, won't it Georg?"

Startled, Georg blinked at his friend. "Yes… yes it would be."

Keeping her gaze on her food, Maria willed herself an appetite.

"Why did you just leave a note?" Louisa asked.

Maria's eyes widened. She knew this question would be asked, and she knew it would be Louisa who'd asked it. Shame washed over her. The children had deserved more than a cowardly note from her. She took a breath, ready to apologize.

"That is in the past, Louisa. Let us not dwell on it," the Captain said.

Maria's shoulders relaxed, and she almost thanked him. But she caught herself again and remained silent. The children exchanged looks but obeyed their father. They continued to pick at their salads, and Max took a healthy swig of wine.

"Can we put on another puppet show?" Brigitta asked.

Maria frowned. "Well, that will take time, Brigitta."

"But you've returned!"

Elsa lowered her water. "Fräulein Maria's return is only temporary."

The children's surprised dismay was immediately expressed, and Georg shot a displeased glare at his fiancée. Maria's shoulders dropped at the revelation. The children all looked between their beloved governess and their father. Neither said anything.

Not seeing Georg's expression, Elsa smiled. "Yes, I'm afraid so. It is sad, but we shall make the most of the time we still have Fräulein Maria with us!" She turned to Georg who was staring at the far end of the table again. Elsa pursed her lips.

Maria's heart sank. She'd wanted to tell the children herself, and after she'd apologized to them for leaving with just a note in the first place. All she could do was offer a contrite smile at Liesl.

"Oh, that is a shame," Max said. "Georg, surely we can convince Maria to stay."

But Georg didn't hear him.

"Why are you leaving again?" Friedrich asked.

Maria placed her glass on the table and took a deep breath. "Well, I…" But the words fell away as she caught seven pairs of eyes looking back at her. And as much as she tried to resist, her gaze extended further, and she met the Captain's eyes. Her stomach tightened. "I…um…"

Finally Georg cleared his throat. "Let us not pester Fräulein Maria any further," he said. "She is here, and let's be thankful for that." He tried once again to capture Maria's attention, but her gaze had fallen to her lap, and he frowned.

Elsa smiled at her soon-to-be children. "Yes, let's have a happy evening."

"As long as we can sing," Louisa said.

"Of course, dear!" Elsa said. "We shall have a lovely little concert." She placed her hand on Georg's arm again. "Won't that be nice, darling?"

Georg's smile was tight as he nodded.

Max grinned. "I am looking forward to it. You can pretend you're singing at the festival!" At Georg's direct glare he raised his wine glass. "Pretend, Georg." The Captain didn't smile back. Max's eyes flickered to Elsa, and he felt a ping of sympathy for her.

The maids emerged from the kitchen to clear the salad plates. Maria felt another tug of remorse at her wasted food, but she couldn't eat. Her earlier resolve had been tenuous, and now it was starting to fade away completely. She longed to escape, to run to her room or to the lake.

New plates were placed in front of them, and Max clapped in appreciation. "My compliments to the cook," he said to the maids. "I do love schnitzel." He looked at his host and then to the governess at the opposite end of the table. They remained silent, and he winked at the children. "So, what do you want to sing tonight?"

Immediately they answered, and the room was filled with joyful chatter again. Max smiled, knowing the singing was by far the second most amusing aspect of the evening.