The Lonely Goatherd – Chapter 14

Maria stared at the same spot on the benchtop and scrubbed hard again although it was already thoroughly clean. Her mind was not on her task but elsewhere. She was thinking about Georg.

After he'd left the treatment room the previous morning, Maria had debated back and forth with herself for several minutes about whether to go after him but by the time she finally made up her mind to go after him, he had gone. Not knowing where he went, she first hurried down to the docks, then to the naval base but she couldn't find him at either place amid the mayhem and chaos after the explosion. Feeling desperate, she quickly walked to the only other place she thought he might go – The Lonely Goatherd.

The tavern had been all shut up for the night and she hadn't wanted to disturb anyone by knocking on the front door so Maria had gone around to the alleyway behind the bar to go in the back way. But as she was doing so, she heard someone coming so she'd hidden in the shadows. Maria wasn't surprised to see that it was Georg since she'd thought he might have gone there, but what surprised her was to see him stride purposefully upstairs and go straight to Elsa's room.

She had watched, from her position hidden in the shadows, Elsa answer the door dressed in revealing and skimpy lingerie before inviting Georg inside. When Georg went into her room, Maria's heart had sunk. While she had always known that they'd had a close and special relationship, after the initial miscommunication about his relationship with Elsa, Maria had always believed Georg when he'd told her that there was nothing going on between them.

But seeing Georg go into her room with Elsa dressed the way she was, Maria couldn't deny the seemingly obvious facts that had been laid before her: Georg had run off into Elsa's arms barely an hour after her devastating argument with him. She had the sinking feeling in her stomach at the realisation that her relationship with Georg was over.

Maria squeezed her eyes shut and let out a deep breath before resuming her scrubbing. Oh, why had she been so stupid as to let her mouth run away from her? Asking Georg all those questions about his past and his intentions… Questioning his honour like that? Maria shook her head in frustration and scrubbed harder. No wonder he left – she drove him away, and straight into another woman's arms!

After she'd seen Georg go off with Elsa, Maria had returned to the hospital and to her room to get some sleep as she was exhausted. But try as she might, she hadn't been able to sleep. All the thoughts of Georg and Elsa and imagining what they would have been doing were all whirling around in her brain. She had tossed and turned in her bed for hours praying for sleep and if, by some miracle, that she was wrong about Georg and Elsa. She wanted to be wrong, she wanted to trust Georg and everything they had shared together, but she still had that niggling feeling of despair that everything between her and Georg was over.

Sleep hadn't come at all and so it seemed easier just to get up and start her next shift at the hospital that afternoon. At least, Maria had supposed, that the work might take her mind off things, however, the mindless cleaning tasks Sister Berthe assigned her just gave more time for her mind to analyse and micro-analyse every aspect of her argument with Georg and what she'd seen outside The Lonely Goatherd earlier that morning.

Her shift had ended and Maria had found herself with nothing else to do except to continue to stew over Georg. It really wasn't like her to react like this and be consumed by insecurity. But, after worrying all day about it, Maria decided it would be better to know definitely, rather than continue to wonder where she stood with him. So she made her way down to the naval base to find him. However when she'd arrived, Maria was turned away by the guard at the gate saying that no civilians were allowed into the base following the events of the explosion the night before. Maria tried to be insistent and ask specifically to see Georg, she was then told that the Captain was busy and could not be disturbed.

Maria had felt at a loss. She definitely didn't want to venture back to The Lonely Goatherd and run into Elsa after what she'd seen that morning. Maria then thought about talking a walk along the beach, but the beach brought back memories of her night with Georg when he'd declared his love for her. Normally she loved thinking back to that night, but now, memories of what once was only felt painful, so she just went back to her room and tried to get some sleep. But once again, all she did was toss and turn in her bed for hours, kept awake with all her worries and concerns. Then when exhaustion finally overcame her and she dozed off, Maria was plagued by fitful dreams of her Captain and the beautiful Baroness together. So when she finally rose from her bed the following morning, Maria felt even more exhausted than the day before, if that was at all possible.

Thankfully Sister Berthe had given her cleaning tasks again, so at least she didn't have to put on a pretence for patients. Finally deciding that the spot on the bench was actually quite clean and didn't need to be scrubbed any further, Maria straightened up and looked around the ward. The only other person in the room with her was Margaretta. Margaretta had been set cleaning tasks as well, and while she seemed more rested than Maria, she looked as despondent as Maria felt. Obviously what Maria was going through with Georg was nothing what Margaretta was experiencing and at once Maria felt bad for over-accentuating her own woes to herself. But since they'd been together in the room cleaning, Maria hadn't spoken to Margaretta at all about her pregnancy or her terrible situation as the whole thing seemed so hopeless and Maria didn't really know what else to say to her.

But feeling like she should say something to her friend, Maria was about to go and speak to her when she heard a loud, animated laugh coming from outside the ward. Looking up through the window and into the main corridor, Maria could see that owner of the laugh was Elsa.

Maria's jaw dropped open when she saw that Elsa was with Georg. Elsa was dressed in a stunning long, deep crimson dress with a high-top collar that rose high behind her neck to almost encapsulate her head and a deep plunging neckline that accentuated her bulging bosom. And with her platinum blond curls piled on top of her head and a fascinator hat placed at a slight tilt, she was a vision! But what shocked Maria the most was the way that Elsa was clinging lecherously to Georg's arm as they sauntered down the main corridor of the hospital. Georg was now clean shaven and dressed in his full naval uniform and he didn't even turn his head her way as they passed by.

Maria's heart sank again. As much as she'd hoped and prayed that she had been wrong about Georg and Elsa, it seemed as though she'd been right all along: Georg was with Elsa now and Maria's relationship with Georg was over. But what was the final knife through the chest was the fact that they were flaunting it in front of her – in her hospital! Maria felt such a mixed lot of emotions that she didn't know whether she wanted to shout or cry.

Maria didn't know how long she stood there lost in her thoughts and misery but suddenly the door opened and it was Sister Berthe.

"Margaretta," she called out to the other nurse, her voice shrill. Margaretta let out a squeak then immediately swept down to the floor, kissing it.

"I need you to come with me to my office immediately," Sister Berthe instructed. Margaretta rose to her feet then dutifully obeyed and began to walk across the room towards the open doorway. While she was waiting for Margaretta, Sister Berthe glanced at Maria who was still standing by the window. "Maria, I'd like you to come as well."

Maria was startled to be summoned too but she followed Margaretta and Sister Berthe to the matron's office. When Sister Berthe opened the door, Maria was even more surprised to see Elsa sitting perched on the edge of Sister Berthe's desk. But one peeved look from the elderly matron caused Elsa to go bright red and immediately hop down from the desk and take a seat on the other side of the room. Maria wondered why Elsa, of all people, was there in Sister Berthe's office.

But then as Maria entered the room, her heart began to thud loudly in her chest as she saw that Georg was there too. He was standing with his back to her over at the window and clearly agitated as his fingers on his left hand were wriggling nonstop. As she closed the door behind her, he turned around and his eyes met hers. His eyes were intense and piecing, but his expression was unreadable. Maria's heart raced even more as he stared intently at her. She swallowed against the hard lump that had formed in her throat.

Georg opened his mouth to say something but before he could speak, Sister Berthe started talking as she closed the door behind Maria. "Now that everyone is here, Captain, would you like to begin?"

Georg turned to Sister Berthe in surprise. "Me?"

"Well this is all your doing, sir," she remarked dryly as she crossed the room and sat down at her desk. "I have nothing to do with it."

Georg nodded. "Very well then." He stepped forward and started to pace back and forth across the room as he talked, his fingers still wriggling in agitation. "Margaretta, Maria told me about your troubles…"

Immediately Margaretta gasped and shot a horrified look towards Maria. "Maria!" she hissed. "You promised you wouldn't say anything! I can't believe that you would have…"

"No," Georg quickly interjected. "She was right to tell me," he stated. His tone was soft, but firm and at once Margaretta was quiet.

"Now," Georg began again as he continued to pace. "I've managed to track down that weedy, arrogant little tool of a man who did this to you and we've come to an, uh, arrangement. He has promised to give you a small percentage of his wage each week to help support you and the baby."

Maria gasped and her hands flew to her mouth in disbelief. That was not what she had been expecting. Georg quickly flicked his eyes in Maria's direction before looking back at Margaretta. "I'm afraid that's all he's willing to give you, I mean he's refused to marry you, but considering the type of man he is and what he did to you, I think you're much better off having as little to do with him as possible."

At hearing how Georg had tracked down Rolf and forced him to help her, tears sprang into Margaretta's eyes. "Oh Captain, thank you!" she gushed, looking like she was about to throw herself on him in gratitude.

"Wait, there's more…" Georg stopped her. "He's also given me his solemn promise that nothing like this will happen again or else he'll be facing a court martial. I'll be keeping a very close eye on him in the future." Margaretta nodded. Although it wasn't the kind of justice that she might have hoped for, at least it was something.

Georg then inclined his head towards Sister Berthe. "I've also had the opportunity to speak to Sister Berthe and inform her of the whole story about the assault and the truth about how you got into this predicament." Margaretta spun around to check with Sister Berthe who bowed her head faintly in acknowledgment. Georg continued. "While she still does have to uphold the values of this hospital and the nurses under her care, she has agreed to let you stay at the hospital for a little while longer, at least until your condition starts to show in a few months' time and then…"

"You can come to live at The Lonely Goatherd," Elsa suddenly spoke up brightly from her place on the other side of the room.

"Yes," Georg said tersely, giving Elsa an irritated look for interrupting. "Elsa and I have spoken and she's agreed to give you a home there."

"It won't be much but it'll be sufficient to make a comfortable life for you and your child. However, there are a few conditions that I'll expect you to keep," Elsa explained. "Firstly, you'll have to work for your room and board – nothing glamourous, I'm afraid, a little cooking and cleaning and bits and pieces around the place. Secondly, and most importantly, I won't babysit. I'm not motherly, nor will I change nappies or play peek-a-boo or silly ball games with your child, so don't ask!"

Margaretta was now weeping tears of joy. She laughed through her tears. "I won't ask, don't worry! Thank you so much Baroness!" She flew over to Elsa and embraced her.

Elsa laughed merrily and gave Margaretta a casual flick of the hand. "It's nothing really. And don't thank me, this was all Georg's doing. Thank him."

Margaretta turned to Georg. "Thank you Captain, for everything," she gushed. "I don't know what to say." Margaretta made a move to give Georg an awkward hug but she saw Maria quietly watching the scene unfold out of the corner of her eye and she stopped abruptly. Instead, she did a quick curtsy and offered her hand out for Georg to shake.

Sister Berthe cleared her throat and rose from her desk. "Now that that has all been sorted out, I think it's time for everyone to be getting back to their regular duties. Besides," she tutted, looking over at Elsa with her lips slightly pursed in disapproval of the woman. "I don't wish to keep you any longer from your business." With that, the matron opened the door and swept out of the room. Margaretta quickly and obediently followed her.

Maria was going to follow but she felt compelled to stay for a moment longer to thank Georg for what he'd done for her friend. But when she turned to him, she saw that he had now joined Elsa on the other side of the room. He leant down and whispered something in her ear. Elsa nodded and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Maria felt her face begin to burn and she blinked away several tears that had formed in her eyes. While she was grateful that Georg had gone out of his way to help Margaretta, seeing him with Elsa was just too much to bare. She turned away and was about to flee the room when a voice behind called out, stopping her in her tracks. "Maria."

Maria turned back around to see Georg looking at her intently. Elsa squeezed his arm then quickly brushed past Maria out of the room.

There was an awkward silence as Georg walked over to the door and closed it. Maria swallowed hard since it was the first time they had been alone since their argument the previous morning and the tension between them felt like it could have been cut with a knife. After everything that had happened since then, Maria knew what about to happen next: Georg was officially going to end his relationship with her.

After a few more long agonizing moments of silence, they both spoke at once.

"Maria…"

"Georg," Maria held up her hand to stop him. "Before you say what you're going to say, I need to say something first." The words began to tumble out of her mouth. "Thank you for everything you have done for Margaretta, I can't imagine the lengths that you went to make this possible and on behalf of Margaretta, I want to thank you …"

"If you want to thank me, let it be from yourself alone. For while I do care for your friend's wellbeing, I believe I only thought of you when I did it."

"Me?" Maria was confused.

"Yes, there were some things that you said yesterday that…"

"Oh," Maria groaned with embarrassment, interrupting him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things. I'm far too outspoken; it's one of my worst faults. I should never have…"

"But you were right!" Georg exclaimed. "I've behaved badly in the past and while I can't go back and change it, at least I can try and to fix what is happening right now." Georg stepped forwards and took her hands in his own. "Maria, you made me realise what things are right and wrong and what and who is important in my life…"

Obviously Elsa, thought Maria. Feeling her heart about to break, she pulled her hands from his and turned away from him. She didn't want to be facing him when he ended their relationship.

"Maria?" Georg asked, not sure what was going on.

"I understand," Maria replied through a stifled sob.

"Understand what?"

Oh was he going to make this torture for her? Maria swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "I understand that you've made your choice about who you want to be with."

"About who? What?" Georg scratched his head as he had no idea what she was talking about.

"Elsa!" Maria cried as she turned back around to face him. "I know you were with her yesterday morning!"

"Yes," Georg confirmed slowly, trying to piece things together. "I went to see her yesterday… But how did you…?"

"I saw you!" Maria cried out. "I was outside The Lonely Goatherd! I had gone to try and find you to apologise for all the things I said to you earlier and I saw you go into her room, with her barely dressed! Georg, it doesn't take a genius to work out what happened then in her room!"

"What? No!" Georg groaned before he shook his head as he realised what misunderstanding had occurred. "No, Maria, you've got it all wrong. I know how it looks, but I went to Elsa only to ask her to help Margaretta, nothing more. Elsa is well, Elsa with all her skimpy attire and flirtations, and our relationship has always been complicated and never been particularly normal…" Georg winced inwardly thinking back on Elsa's confession from the previous morning. "… but I assure you Maria, nothing happened."

Maria felt the blood drain from her face. "Nothing happened?" she repeated in a hushed voice. After feeling completely forsaken by him a moment before, in one fell swoop, he had turned her world upside down again.

When Georg confirmed it again, it was like a big weight had been lifted from her shoulders, however she felt terrible. "Oh, what an idiot I feel now. All this time… I'm sorry Georg, I don't know what to say. After our horrible argument and the way you left yesterday – you were so angry! And then seeing you with her at her room dressed like that, and then how you arrived at the hospital together in dramatic style and Elsa speaking to you just now, I don't know, I suppose I thought the worst. Please forgive me, I-I should have trusted you."

"Yes, you should have trusted me," Georg agreed sternly, his tone having an edge to it.

"I know, and I'm sorry," Maria whispered as she struggled to hold back her tears. "I think I knew deep down that I was wrong and I was being stupid. But the things I said to you yesterday… I really went too far. I thought maybe you wouldn't be able to forgive me for what I said, and that we were finished forever."

"Maria, it is possible for a couple to have a fight and still love each other and not end their relationship, despite everything that was said," he told her gently, but firmly. "It'll take a lot more that a heated argument to make me stop loving you. In fact, that's one of the things I love about you; that you have no hesitation telling me when I'm wrong or being an ass." He gave her a small smile. "But I am sorry that you felt so worried that I was going to end things with you. I came back here yesterday morning after talking to Elsa to see you and apologise for storming out on you and for our quarrel, but the ward orderly I spoke to – I don't even know her name – said you'd gone to bed. I even left a message for you that I'd been…"

"You did? But I never got it… I didn't even know you'd came to see me. I tried to find you at the naval base to apologise as well, but they wouldn't let me in. They said you were too busy and couldn't be disturbed."

"Yes, unfortunately the base had been closed to all civilians following the explosion. That's why I tried finding you first as I knew I wouldn't be able to talk to you later. It's been insanity there since the explosion, I've only just managed to sneak away this morning. I've barely slept."

"I've barely slept too," Maria admitted. "I've been so worried about what was going on between us."

"Yes, you do look rather exhausted," Georg remarked, looking at her tired and somewhat bloodshot eyes. "I'm sorry that we had so many problems finding and communicating with each other. I never meant for you to feel so worried."

"So things are alright between us?" Maria asked hesitantly.

"They are," replied Georg talking Maria's hands in his again, "as long as you forgive me too."

"I do. Thank you again for everything you've done to help Margaretta," Maria said sincerely.

"I wish it could have been more," Georg told her honestly. "Maria, I don't deny that I've had a past, but you are my future. I don't want you to ever feel that I'd leave you alone, or unprotected. But you see, there is something that I realised through all of this about us. I thought that what we have together would be enough, and even the other night, as wonderful as it was, was not what it should have been…"

He paused and licked his lips nervously. "Maria, what I'm trying to say is when two people talk of marriage… if they love each other as much as we do, then nothing should be standing in the way of them getting married. I've been a fool to ask you to wait to get married until this blasted war was over. We need to take advantage of every moment we have together. So I think we should get married as soon as possible."

Maria stared dumbfounded at Georg. She didn't speak or blink but looked at him in shock. Georg narrowed his eyes and waved one hand in front of her face. "Earth to Maria? Maria? Did you hear what I said? I said I want to get married."

"What? Really? You want to get married?" Maria repeated in disbelief.

"Yes! What do you say? We can be married straight away. You know I, er, took the liberty of visiting the little church up on the hill earlier today and the priest there has agreed to marry us whenever we like. Umm, even as early as tomorrow morning, if that sounds all right to you."

"Tomorrow morning?" Maria gasped in surprise.

"If that's okay," Georg repeated hesitantly, suddenly feeling as nervous as a young school boy.

"Well," Maria shrugged noncommittedly. "I might have to check my diary to make sure I'm not already busy."

Georg was taken back at her reply. He furrowed his bow. "I beg your pardon?"

"Georg, I'm kidding!" Maria let out a hearty laugh. "I couldn't think of anything I'd rather do. Of course I'll marry you tomorrow!"

"Good!" Georg cupped her face with both hands then placed a tender kiss on her lips. As he pulled away from their kiss, he laced his arms around her waist and picked her up, swinging her around in a wide circle. "We're getting married in the morning…" He began to sing happily. "Ding-dong the bells are gonna chime…"

Maria laughed as he still twirled her. "What on earth was that? It sounds like it should be in a musical or something!"

Georg chuckled as he put her down, kissing her playfully on the tip of her nose. "Yes, it probably was, my fair lady. I love you Maria."

"And I love you too, Georg."

Maria leant towards him, about to kiss him again when she heard a brisk cough behind them. Maria spun around to see Sister Berthe standing in the doorway to her office, a serious, yet slightly amused expression on her face.

"I assume you got everything sorted, Captain?" she asked Georg, giving him a knowing look.

Georg smiled. "We did. All set for tomorrow morning, it seems." Georg turned to Maria who was looking a little confused at the exchange between him and Sister Berthe. Georg explained. "I, uh, also took the liberty of asking permission to marry you earlier too."

"Thankfully I approve," the older matron told them both, with a small smile. "Although, Maria, if I am going to give you time off from your duties tomorrow, you will need to get back to your shift now. Unless you wish to hear that lovely little song of mine about Climbing ev'ry mountain again?"

Maria laughed. "I've love to hear it again, but I think Georg and I have a few plans about tomorrow to make. Perhaps later?"

"Of course," Sister Berthe gave a little bow of her head. "Until tomorrow, Captain." Sister Berthe held out her hand for Georg to kiss.

"Until tomorrow," Georg replied with a smile as he led Maria from the room.

A/N: Thanks once again to everyone who has been sticking with this story and sending reviews. They are so appreciated! Still more to come!