The next morning at the breakfast table, Georg announced that he and Uncle Max needed to spend the morning in town to accomplish some business.
"Is that why Uncle Max is actually down for breakfast?" Kurt teased.
"Actually, I wanted to see if the food was actually better with you lot, or whether the cook saves the best bits just for me," Max shot back.
"I thought I'd instructed you just get leftovers," the Captain snarked as he folded his newspaper, and set it beside him at the table.
"Hah!" Max exclaimed. "Like I'd let that happen! And anyway, I've been called into town this morning to pick up a new libretto for my consideration."
"But why do you have to go with him, Father?" Marta pipped up, with a small confused frown. Having thoroughly enjoyed not just their afternoon together the day previous, but the increased time he was spending with the children overall the preceding weeks, Marta and a few other children were a bit deflated to hear about their father's morning away.
"Because there is no way I'm letting Uncle Max anywhere near the keys to my car. And I have a few things I need to take care of, sweetheart." Georg smiled tenderly at his second youngest child. "I promise I'll be back later in the day, and will be certain to spend some time with you all, if you'd like."
Marta grinned and nodded at her father, before tucking into her breakfast. Georg chanced a glance down the end of the table at Maria, as she helped Gretl. Sensing his gaze, Maria looked up to find him intensely staring at her, and she fought hard as she felt the color rising on her cheeks. She bit her lower lip but couldn't break away from his gaze, his eyes dark with desire.
Max discreetly cleared his throat, snapping them back to the present. Georg, who had momentarily lost control of his thoughts, shot Max a perturbed look before returning to his own breakfast, as Maria tried to refocus on the question Gretl had asked her. Max grinned at having caught the undisguised moment between the two. True, it was no different than some of the looks they had exchanged over the previous weeks, but Max knew that now they'd admitted their feelings for each other. He also knew that Georg was up to something. Something that would change things a great deal for everyone sitting at the breakfast table.
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The drive into town was relatively easy, and the two old friends bantered and chatted comfortably. Max was more than thrilled to have such a jovial Georg back in his life. For his part, Georg was not only happy with almost all aspects of his life, but was glad that his friend knew and accepted his beloved. After all, he'd known Max for most of his life, and Max knew him better than most.
"So," Max broached, finally steering their conversation to the lovely young woman they'd left back at the house with the children, "I know you mentioned having a plan for this evening, and that you needed my help, but how exactly am I assisting? Do you need me to pass her a note, asking if she will marry you, check 'yes' or 'no?'"
Georg rolled his eyes. The two men had spent the better part of yesterday afternoon on the terrace watching the children and Maria play, discussing the events that had led up to Georg finding Maria in the garden the night of the party.
"You've already helped in providing a bit of an alibi this morning, actually. True, I have some errands myself, but it looks much less suspicious for you and I to go together. That, and this evening, you can help by making yourself scarce." He quickly shot Max a meaningful glance before returning his eyes to the road.
"You mean, I'm merely your smoke and mirrors? Pity, I fancied myself a bit more useful than that," Max quipped. "Ah well, it is better than playing a bloody mailman, I suppose."
Georg rolled his eyes again, but couldn't help feeling grateful to his friend for his intervention. However, now Georg had a firm grasp on the situation that was his relationship with Maria. He'd decided yesterday morning on his plan of action for today and this evening. Now he just needed to accomplish his errands. Truth was, he couldn't wait for the evening. Not just because he planned on spending it in the company of Maria, but because of what he hoped it would mean for the two of them. Well, the nine of them, really.
"You can also help by sticking around for the next few weeks." He threw a meaningful glance at Max before quickly returning his eyes to the road. "I'll need a few chaperones. And since you're already here, you're a decent start."
"'Decent?!' Just 'decent?!' And here I thought you actually enjoyed my company!" Georg snorted in response. "Well, at least I can count that as an actual invitation this time." Neither man could help the smirk that arose on their respective faces.
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Maria descended the stairs after bidding the younger children one final goodnight, to find Georg standing in the foyer, staring at the doors to the ballroom absentmindedly. Indeed, he didn't seem to register her approach until she had made it all the way down the stairs. Upon finally seeing her, his eyes lit up, and a warm, genuine smile appeared on his handsome face.
"Ah! There you are! Did they finally get to bed?" He asked as she crossed the floor to him. He had helped bid the children goodnight as was his new custom, but when the little girls required a bit more persuasion to go to bed, he had politely excused himself and disappeared down stairs.
"Yes, finally. Just a little over tired, which led to them being more resistant, I believe." As she approached him, she hesitated a little. Deep down, she wanted nothing more than to fold herself into his embrace, to bury her face in his chest and inhale his comforting scent, to feel at ease, and comforted. But they had agreed to continue to interact formally in the public, so she slowed her steps, intending to stop a proper distance from him.
But to her surprise and delight, he extended his arm towards her, in a welcoming gesture. She accepted, and tried to suppress her giddy grin as he drew her towards him and pulled her close, draping his arm across her shoulders. He squeezed her to him briefly, then allowed his hand to trail down the back of her arm to the small of her back, gently drawing circles there as he steered the both of them away from the stairs and towards the salon. Maria briefly shot him a questioning look, but his only response was a small, reassuring smile.
As they neared the salon, Maria felt a ripple of uncertainty. Normally, they had spent their time together in his study, or outside on the grounds. But the times she had spent in the evenings in the salon had been in the company of the children, as well as his houseguests. And last night, she had turned in after putting the children to bed, finding herself exhausted from little sleep due to all the turmoil of night of the party. This was the first evening they would have the chance to spend together since all that had transpired at the party.
Upon reaching the salon, they were met at the doorway by Max.
"Ah, there you both are! I was coming to make my apologies for being unable to dazzle and entertain you with my wonderful company this evening." He grinned mischievously at the pair, and made no comment or acknowledgement of the fact that Georg's hand still rested comfortably on the small of her back, much to her relief.
"Oh, no. What ever will we do?" Georg deadpanned, shooting Maria a tiny, conspiratorial grin.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll manage," Max returned with a cryptic smile. "Now, if you will excuse me, I will take this lovely nightcap to my room and begin sifting through that rather intriguing libretto I received today." Max raised his glass in farewell to the pair, and exchanged a quick wink with Georg that went unnoticed by Maria, who was momentarily distracted by the thought of being alone with Georg.
"Good night then, you two," and Max strode away towards the stairs.
Georg ushered Maria into the salon, but only so far as the doorway. He paused there, and looked down at her.
"Would you care for a drink, darling?"
"Oh, um, no, thank you." While it made her feel warm and fluttery inside, she still was a bit taken aback by how natural the endearment felt, and how easily he had said it.
"You sure? Well please don't think badly of me if I have a small one," he responded, with just a hair of uncertainty and….nervousness? Was that nervousness she detected in his demeanor? How could this great, handsome, confident man be nervous around her?
He walked over to the sideboard and poured himself a quick drink before returning to her side. She stood awkwardly in the room, unsure as to what she should do. Her eyes drifted to the spot over in the room where one of her most cherished memories occurred: the night he'd sang to all of them. To her, it had felt like. That night, she swore she'd felt time stop as she had been absorbed by his intense, breathtaking gaze. It had felt like they were the only two in the room. In the world.
He placed his arm around her waist and drew her closer to him, placing a gentle kiss on her temple before quietly saying in her ear,
"You know, that night is now my favorite memory in this room."
Maria's gaze snapped to his face with a searching, questioning, surprised look.
"What?"
"That night, that moment. Something changed. Did you feel it, too?"
She stared at him incredulously for a moment, before slowly shaking her head. "I didn't know what I felt at the time, honestly. But yes, I felt something was different. It was…"
"Confusing," he supplied. She nodded. Georg smiled. "It was the same for me. I knew I felt something for you more than simple respect and regard. But I admit that I had long ago given up hope on feeling again what you stirred in me that night." He grazed his lips across hers before he whispered against her lips.
"I love you."
The kiss was chaste, but full of such tenderness and promise that Maria felt her stomach flip and her breath catch. She could just barely taste the alcohol on his lips, but when it mixed with the smell of him, it was such a heady experience that she felt almost overwhelmed with her emotion.
Georg pulled back and smiled lovingly down at her, then took a small step back and proffered his arm. "Would you care to go for a walk, my love?" The smile he gave her further stoked the warmth in her belly, and she was sure she could feel a blush creep up her face, but she eagerly threaded her hand into the crook of his proffered arm and nodded.
"That sounds wonderful." He knew she felt more in her element outside. Realizing he didn't want to carry his glass all over the garden, he awkwardly paused.
"Actually, ah, let me…" he downed the rest of his drink in one, and set the glass on a nearby side table. He suddenly seemed oddly uneasy. Tentative. It was unlike him to be like this, she pondered. Was he having second thoughts or doubts about the revelations they'd shared the other night?
He placed his now free hand over her hand that was in the crook of his arm. His palm was slightly clammy, but remembering the drink he'd just finished, she attributed it to that.
Reaching the French doors to the terrace, and garden beyond, Georg took a deep breath.
"Shall we?" His eyes sparkled in the moonlight as he glanced down at her. She smiled back and nodded, and held his arm a little tighter. They descended the stairs in step, and as they reached the bottom, he steered them straight ahead, towards the path that led to the lake, before it wound back into the garden.
"Do you remember that afternoon," he asked her as they made their way towards the gates to the lake.
Maria felt her cheeks redden again as she vividly recalled their most infamous incident on this landing.
"You mean the afternoon where I completely forgot my place and my manners, and shouted you down, while dripping wet after almost drowning your children? The one where I couldn't believe you didn't fire me the moment I admitted to letting your children run through Salzburg in my old drapes?" She grinned at him, as his low chuckle turned into a real, mirthful laugh that made him look so incredibly handsome, his dimples on full display.
"Well I was going to say the afternoon you put me in my place with a ferocity the likes of which I hadn't received since I was a wayward young sailor," his laughter finally calming.
"I still can't believe I yelled at you," she admitted. "I mean, I'm outspoken and seem to always say whatever is on my mind without thinking, but,"
"But you did exactly what needed to be done," he interrupted. "You said what needed to be said, whether I wanted to listen or not. I will never stop thanking you for that. For my children. For myself. You opened my eyes to everything." He tenderly ran a finger down her jawline, and leaned down and kissed her.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear before he drew back.
They continued to amble through the garden, hand in hand, enjoying the cool evening air, and the company of the other. After weeks of angst and uncertainty, mixed with some confusing yearning, both were contented to be able to freely talk and embrace each other. They talked about all kinds of things; he told her stories and exploits of his childhood, and the children's, she told him about some of her time at the Abbey. As they rounded a corner, the pathway split. He steered them towards the path that led away from the gazebo, she noticed, a little surprised. She vaguely knew this pathway wound back towards the other side of the house, but she had never really been down it before. Sensing her slight hesitation, Georg squeezed her hand reassuringly and smiled at her. She returned his smile, and relaxed, trusting him. It was his house after all. Eventually she realized this was a pathway that led through the hedgerow of the garden and to the courtyard behind the ballroom. She'd not been down this route, but was familiar with the hedgerow and courtyard from playing and practicing with the children. And the night of the party, as well.
As they arrived in the courtyard, Georg walked them to the middle of it, and pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"I would ask if you remember our dance we shared together here, but somehow I don't think that's an event either of us is ever likely to forget," he laughingly said.
"No, I'm quite sure that is an experience I will never forget." She giggled in spite of the nervousness and timidity she remembered feeling as their steps had slowed to a halt at the end of that dance. She'd felt so exposed in that moment. So vulnerable.
"I could hardly breathe, you know," he confessed softly.
"You?!" She interjected indignantly. "I could hardly breathe!" He grinned back at her, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.
"I thought you just weren't used to dancing?" He teased her, receiving a scowl of mock exasperation in return.
"In my defense, it isn't every day that I share a dance with anyone, let alone a handsome, heroic retired Captain of the Imperial Navy who also happens to be my employer, and father of of the children who had stolen my heart as well."
"You mean I didn't get there first?" He teased her again.
"Of course not." She cocked a mischievous eyebrow at him. "The children had my love long ago."
"And yet I seem to remember someone saying something about everything changing the moment I caught her in that ballroom only minutes after entering this house," he retorted, with just a slight edge of wounded pride in his voice. "Or perhaps, you merely acknowledged your love of the children first?"
She nodded. She knew now she'd loved him longer than she had realized. It had been easy to admit to herself she loved the children. But admitting to herself, or anyone for that matter, that she was in love with him had been a much more arduous task. She looked into his eyes now, knowing she loved him, and able to admit it, but still overwhelmed by just how much she felt for him. And standing there, in the very spot where she had first truly been confronted not only with her feelings for him, but the fact that he might return those same feelings, she couldn't help but hold him a little tighter, and be grateful that they'd ended up together.
She reached up to place a kiss on his chin, then one on the corner of his delectable mouth, before kissing him fully on his lips. He returned the kiss with fervor, pulling her tighter to him.
"I love you," he breathed against her cheek as he threaded his fingers through her hair, then brushed it back down again, smoothing away the ruffles he'd made.
With a sudden mischievous glint in his eye, he grabbed her hand and headed towards the grand French doors that led into the ballroom from the courtyard. She shot him a questioning look at his actions, but received only a reassuring smile and nod in return. As they reached the doors he paused, hand on the door handle, and fixed her with that searching, penetrating, mesmerizing, consuming gaze that had so often held her captive since she had arrived. It was a look that always took her breath away, and she was sure that it always would. Georg swallowed, a hint of nervousness in his expression, but slowly a grin spread across his handsome face.
"Come on," he whispered, almost to himself, as he opened the doors and led her into the ballroom.
The scene that met her absolutely floored her. Expecting nothing but the dark ballroom she'd encountered in her first moments in the house, she felt her jaw drop as she absorbed the sight.
The grand room was awash in the gentle glow of the dozens of candles that littered the room. The flickering light danced across the glided and glittering surfaces like the glamorous dancers who had occupied the room merely a few nights previous. The grand piano that had been pushed against the wall now sat proudly in the middle of the grandiose room, and was covered in large bouquets in roses of white, pink, orange, lavender, and red. Maria wandered into the room, aghast. She turned back to look at him, as he lingered in the doorway watching her take in the scene.
"Do you like it?" His voice was hopeful, but laced with anxiety.
"What…..it's…this is…oh, Georg, it's breathtaking!" She turned back to smile at him, eyes shining. He beamed back at her, obviously relieved at her reaction.
"Good!" He stepped further into the room to join her, coming to stand beside her. While she continued to absorb the beautiful scene before her, he couldn't help but watch her, thrilled that she seemed to be so pleased. He noticed her slowly, wordlessly begin to count the vases containing the large, lush bouquets.
"Seven," he supplied, "one for each of the children." He nodded towards the smaller bouquet on the piano bench. "But that one is from me," he said proudly. It was only then she noticed the flowers on the piano bench: a lovely bouquet of edelweiss.
Maria blinked a few times in an attempt to keep the tears that had welled up at bay. "Oh, Georg…" she smiled, shaking her head at a loss for words, overwhelmed. "But, I don't understand…why…"
Georg reached down and took her hands in his, running his thumbs comfortingly over her knuckles.
"These past few weeks, my life has changed so much for the better. I had spent so long lost… adrift, without meaning or direction. But then something changed. It was like suddenly the storm receded, and the stars came out, and I was finally able to find my way again. I found my North Star, to set me on course and lead back to where I belong. You. You are the North Star, the compass, the wind in my sails. You are the sunshine that makes the day warm and glorious. You are the moonlight reflecting off the calm seas. The day I opened those doors over there, I thought I'd found yet another troublesome question. But instead I found the answer to prayers I hadn't even prayed yet. Maria, I love you more than I thought possible, and I'm still dumbfounded that you return my love. You deserve so much more than I can offer, but if you'll stay with me, I promise I will spend our lives making sure you understand just how much I love you. I love you deeper than any sea, and more vastly than all the oceans. I even love you higher than your beloved mountain, where that enchanting little flower grows. Will you do me the great honor of marrying me?"
Maria could hardly breathe. In her whole life, she had never expected to end up here, in this moment. Could this really be happening to her? She gazed up at the man in front of her through watery eyes, trying to blink back the tears threatening. His eyes shone with the emotion behind his words; she could see the truth of everything he'd said reflected there. Love, respect, admiration, desire.
"Yes, of course," she breathed, hardly able to form a coherent thought in the midst of such incredible, overwhelming emotion.
A giddy grin lit up his face at her answer, and he was kissing her before he even realized it. It started as an expression of his happiness and relief at her answer, but quickly he found himself ravenous for her. Drawing her closer to him, he couldn't help the contented but hungry growl from escaping him as he trailed his attentions to the soft, delectable spot on her neck, just below her ear that he'd discovered the other evening. The sound of her quiet moan in response to his attentions spurred him on, fueling the fire that she had sparked to life all those weeks ago in this very spot in his ballroom. He hadn't understood it at the time, but standing here now, with her in his arms, he couldn't fathom how he'd ever tried to deny what he felt for her. His hands traveled down her back, gripping at her lower back just above her backside, pulling her towards him passionately. It was only when he felt her whimper as he kissed the hollow of her throat on the way down her collarbone that the rational part of his brain kicked back into gear.
"I'm sorry, my love. I believe I got a bit ahead of myself there," he lightly joked, and he pulled himself away from her, trying to wrestle his ardor back into control.
Reaching into his pocket, he found the ring that had been burning a hole in his pocket all afternoon. The morning after he confessed his love to her and discovered she loved him as well, he had called the bank to notify them of his intention to visit the safety deposit box he had there. After that call, he had gotten in touch with his preferred local jeweler, to let him know that Georg would be bringing a ring in for restoration and cleaning up, and that the man would be expected to work his magic with great expediency; Georg was not a patient man, especially when it came to his Maria. On his trip into town with Max that morning, he'd retrieved the ring and taken it straight to the jeweler, who assured him it would look better than the day it was created, and so Georg had left to visit the florist, his solicitor, and a few other errands, before anxiously returning to the jeweler. The ring had been his maternal grandmother's, and she had worn it every day of her life since she had become engaged. She had loved her husband, his grandfather, deeply, and everyone knew it. Georg had fond memories of sitting with her, watching her knitting needles clacking back and forth, ring gleaming on her finger. It was a platinum band, with a large opal stone, surrounded by aquamarine gems. She had left the ring to him when she had passed away, but being an arrogant young man he chose to purchase a new ring for his young first wife and leave the heirloom to sit in his safety deposit box. But as soon as he had found Maria in the gazebo that fateful evening, he knew this was the ring he wanted to give her to knit their lives together.
Maria, already having a hard time believing that everything happening was real, gasped as he presented the simple, yet stunning ring to her. Georg took her hand, and as he began to put it on her, explained.
"This ring was my maternal grandmother's. We often spent time with her while my father was at sea in my childhood. She and my grandfather were a bit of a rarity in that they truly loved and respected each other." His smile melted her heart, and she could hardly keep her hands from trembling. As he slid the ring into place, he raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it. She turned her hand to caress his cheek, at a loss for words, and hoping that he would understand how she felt. He then pressed a kiss to her palm, before meeting her eyes.
"I know, my love. I confess I find myself a bit overwhelmed as well." He pulled her into his arms and held her close, soaking in the feel of her willowy, strong, warm body against his. She closed her eyes and drank in the moment; the feel of his breath on her neck, the silky smooth luxury of his fine suit beneath her arms as they encircled his neck, the soft waves of the hair at the nape of his neck and she wove her fingers into it, the steady, reassuring drumbeat of his heart against her chest. She had never felt such contentment, such fulfillment, such utter peace. Being in his arms, beloved by him made her feel, for the first time in her life, complete and whole.
They stood there, entwined in the ballroom, entirely at peace. It was as if they'd both been holding their breath during the weeks of tension and confusion, building up to the gut wrenching night they'd found each other in the gazebo, and now they could finally exhale in relief and happiness. For Georg, even though he'd been fairly certain of her response, he had still been anxious and nervous about officially asking her to completely change her life's course and marry him. But now, he had the woman he loved in his arms, and could finally let his heart soar.
At length, he pulled back just enough to murmur in her ear.
"Would you like to retire to my study, my love? I stashed a bottle of champagne in there in hopes that we would be able to celebrate together." He winked at her.
She smiled, her eyes shimmering, and nodded. Yes, she would stay with this man. She would stay by his side for the rest of her days, and love him as fiercely as he loved her. Taking his hand as he led her through the ballroom towards his study, she squeezed his hand and knew she would always stay with him