Chapter 3

As Maria clutched her small luggage, she began to walk away from the abbey. She was leaving her home, family, and everything she had know for these past years. She knew people had always told her she was a very energetic, lively person, but she didn't think that she was so bad she would have to be sent away.

Trying to gain some confidence, Maria started to do the one thing that she knew always comforted her. She began to sing. She sang her entire way to the Von Trapp villa, all through town, through the countryside, even on the bus that carried her a majority of the way. As she got off the bus, never stopping her song, she walked the rest of the way. When she got close enough to see the house, Maria was in awe. Maria stared at the villa. This was the most beautiful home she had ever seen in her life.

"Oh help." Maria opened the gate and started walking towards the house, continuing her song quietly. As she took a few steps closer, her confidence began to kick in and her volume increased and she ran the rest of the way to the front door. Once she arrived at the door, she rang the doorbell and rested on the side of the house until the door was answered. Very, very quickly, the door was opened and the captain was standing in front of her. "Hello, here I am." The captain looked very confused and rather off putting. Maria gave some clarification. "I'm from the convent, I'm the new governess, Captain." The older man looked back at her and looked her up and down. "I'm the old butler fräulein." Maria could feel a blush starting to form. How embarrassing that she had been here not even 5 minutes and had already managed to embarrass herself. She didn't let it show though. Maria just shook his hand and carried on as though it didn't faze her. "Oh. Well, how do you do?" The butler didn't respond, so Maria picked up her bags and walked into the house. As soon as she took a few steps inside, she stopped in her tracks to take in a good look at this beautiful home. It was no doubt more extravagant than anything she had ever seen before.

"Wait here." Maria turned around to face the butler as he was leaving, to retrieve the captain, Maria assumed. She knew she shouldn't wander around and look in any rooms, but once again, her curiosity got the better of her and before she knew it, she was peeking through a door, to reveal the most magnificent room she had ever seen in her life. It was gorgeous, with gold walls. Maria automatically assumed that this had to be the ball room, for what other purpose could a room of this magnitude hold? She also knew she shouldn't go into the room, but at this point, it seemed as though her legs were moving on their own accord.

"Excuse me, sir." Georg looked up from his desk to see Franz standing in the doorway of his study. "Yes, Franz?"

"The governess is here, sir." Georg looked down at his wrist and his watch, realizing that the day had been slipping away from him. He hated to admit that most of the day he had wasted daydreaming about his lunch date this afternoon. He couldn't explain what made him so impulsive, or what made him ask her to lunch, why he didn't even know anything about her. But he was star struck when he saw her and heard her voice yesterday in the mountains. He hadn't heard anyone sing so beautifully since his late wife, Agathe. She was the love of his life and he was so heartbroken when she passed. He didn't think he would ever be happy again. But he remembered, that even though he was hurting beyond belief, he had seven children who needed their father. He had to step up and learn how to run the house on his own. He inwardly cringed when he remembered how he had once thought of locking himself up in his study and running the house as if he was on one of his ships again. It wasn't that he didn't want music and laughter in the house anymore. It just brought him so much pain, and so many memories of Agathe. But, he was very thankful that he never did that. He and his children grieved their loss together. They found a way to keep the house joyful and to keep everyone's spirits high.

But he had to admit, keeping up with seven children was no easy task. He had to acquire a governess to help him with the day to day activities of the children, especially since he had decided that it would be best for the children to continue their studies at home. But, he was having a hard time focusing on anything other than Maria. She was so beautiful, and there was something about her that was drawing him to her. He had made sure he would have just enough time to show the governess around and make sure the children were in good hands before he left to go into town for his date.

Snapping out of his daydream, he looked up at the butler. "Thank you Franz, I'll be right out." Georg straightened up his desk, smoothed his jacket down, and looked at the collection of pictures framed on his desk. He had a photo of him and Agathe on their wedding day, a photo of them both with all of their children, and a photo of his father. Oddly enough, this was the only picture of his father he had, and he never had one of his mother. The only one he was able to find was of his father on his mountain with another man who Georg's father said was the boy from the story. He had always hoped his father's story was true. It just made the mountain even more special to think that there were only a handful of people that knew that place existed.

So Georg finished straightening up his desk and walked out of his study. When he closed his door behind him, he noticed two bags sitting near the steps. He also noticed that the ballroom door was cracked open. He realized this governess must have taken it upon herself to take a tour of the villa. Georg smiled and chuckled. He walked towards the ballroom and instead of bursting through the doors, he slowly opened one door and peeked in. He smiled when he saw a young looking woman dancing with an imaginary partner. He knew right then and there that this governess would get along wonderfully with his children. He stayed there for a few moments longer and watched in amusement as this woman continued to dance as though she was at a party. Finally, when her dance seemed to come to an end, Georg cleared his throat. "Excuse me fräulein, i hate to interrupt-" Georg stopped in the middle of his sentence when the women turned to face him. It was Maria, the woman he was supposed to be meeting for lunch in just a few hours. What was she doing here, in his house? how did she even manage to find him? he hadn't even told her his last name.

"Maria?" Maria was in shock. She couldn't believe that the man she had been so worried about standing up this afternoon, was standing right in front of her. "Georg?" Neither of them moved even an inch, both of them completely in shock.

"Maria, what are you doing here? Oh, don't tell me that you are the governess from the convent?" Maria was completely speechless for the first time in her life. She didn't even know what to say. Finally, she got some courage and responded. "Georg, I am the governess. I'm from the abbey, I'm a postulate."

to be continued...

I don't really know how I feel about this chapter lol. I have a tendency to write shorter chapters with more dialogue. Reviews are always appreciated and any advice is welcome.

disclaimer: I still don't anything.