When The Lord Closes A Door

Chapter 4

Maria peered at her reflection in the mirror: her complexion was pale and she had dark bags under her eyes. She knew she looked exhausted as she felt. Ever since she'd bumped into Georg the day before, Maria's mind had been racing. She'd barely slept at all the previous night, tossing and turning in her bed continually until the new day came and it was time to get up.

While she had been bracing herself for months about the possibility of seeing him again, she hadn't quite prepared herself for the revelation that Georg loved her in return (even though she had stopped him from saying it directly). During all those months after learning of Georg's engagement and subsequent marriage, Maria had convinced herself that any attraction between her and the handsome sea captain had been only one sided.

Maria didn't know what was worse: believing Georg had no feelings towards her at all, or knowing the truth: that he loved her but was completely out of her reach as he was now married to someone else.

Everything about Georg and what could have been if only things had happened differently swirled around her mind. What if she hadn't seen the engagement notice? What if she had returned to the villa? What if Georg had ended his engagement with the Baroness and then came and declared his love to her in some romantic settling, like under the moonlight at the gazebo? What if it could have been her married to Georg right now rather than the Baroness?

Maria squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head in frustration. No, she told herself, there was no point dwelling on the 'what ifs' when there was no way to change anything now.

As she heard herself being called to by her charges to come downstairs and play with them, Maria splashed some water on her face and quickly combed down her hair. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror once more then sighed: oh well, it'll just have to do.

About an hour later, Maria was equipped with a list of errands her employers wanted her to do in town and the children had also requested that she take them to the park on the way home. Maria hadn't really wanted to go back into town, not after bumping into Georg the day before. But after not seeing him around town for months, the chances of running into him again two days in a row were pretty slim.

By around 10am, Maria had only completed about half of the errands she needed to do but the children were restless and whingeing to get taken to the park early. Maria couldn't blame them: she never really liked having to do errands either and would've much preferred to be running around the park too. So she decided to take a break from her tasks and go to the park first. Taking the children's hands, she ventured down a street that would take them in the direction of the park.

But suddenly she stopped up short for standing down the end of road on the other side of the street was Georg. He glanced down at his watch, looking like he was expecting someone and as he was standing outside a dress boutique, Maria realised instantly that Georg must be waiting for the Baroness.

She was about to turn and go back the way she'd come when a car pulled up outside the boutique. Maria recognised it as one of Georg's cars and she saw the sour face of Franz sitting behind the wheel. A moment later, the car door opened and the Baroness got out looking just as stylish and glamourous as Maria had remembered. The last time she'd seen the Baroness was in her governess's bedroom the night of the party having a conversation with her that Maria wished she could forget.

Maria watched, with her heart in her mouth, as Georg greeted his wife with a kiss on the cheek. He then handed the Baroness a brown paper package tied up with string as they started speaking with each other. Maria's stomach was in knots. Although she knew that seeing Georg and the Baroness together was something she would just have to get used to, the revelations from the day before made her pain feel very raw. She didn't want to remain there a moment longer.

Maria didn't think Georg had seen her and she didn't want him to see her standing right across the street from him, especially when he was with his wife. So, while he was preoccupied in conversation, Maria thought that it would be a good time to sneak away. Just then her youngest charge, a little boy called Jakob, started tugging at her skirt and reaching his arms up, demanding to be picked up. Quickly, Maria scooped the young child up onto her hip and hurried back down the street with the other two children at her heels.

As she got around the corner, she let out a sigh of relief. He hadn't seen her.

XxXxXxXxXx

Georg had gotten up early to get into town to pick up the fabric for Elsa. He hadn't minded the early start as it meant less time tossing and turning in his bed as thoughts about Maria and his guilt from his encounter with Elsa the night before swirled around his mind.

After he'd picked up the material, he stopped off for a quick coffee to clear his head before waiting outside the dress boutique for Elsa to arrive. He'd only been waiting a few minutes when Franz pulled up in the car and Elsa had gotten out. Handing the package of material to Elsa, they started to chat briefly before she needed to go to her appointment.

Just as Elsa was saying that she needed to go, Georg was distracted by the sound of a child crying out nearby. He looked up to see a young boy across the street reaching up to the lady he was with, demanding to be picked up. Although the woman's back was towards him, he would have known that crop of short, golden blond hair anywhere. And as she turned slightly, he caught sight of her iconic profile. It was Maria!

Georg watched as Maria quickly scooped the young boy up onto her hip before she hurried away down the street with two older girls following dutifully behind her.

As she disappeared out of sight, Georg let out sigh of disappointment. She hadn't seen him.

XxXxXxXxXx

Now that Maria had seen Georg with the Baroness and that her fragile heart had survived, she didn't feel nearly as worried about seeing him about town. She knew she had to move on with her life, like he had done, and just get on with things.

So she did.

Each day she took the three children she was governess for to the park, or up the Uttersberg or out into the town and she tried her best not to think about Georg. But it was almost like the more she tried not to think about him, the more her subconscious seemed to look out for him: on the street, in the shops, in the park. Her sharp eyes seemed to scan each and every man that she past, looking for his straight and stiff posture and aristocratic visage.

For the first few days since she had encountered Georg with the Baroness, Maria didn't see Georg in any of the crowds of people, but around a week later, she happened to spot Georg in the distance one afternoon. Then slowly as the weeks past, she spied him more regularly: sometimes coming out of a shop or business premises either alone or with a colleague, or walking down the street, or even as she strolled through the Residenzplatz.

He never seemed to notice her, except for one time when she walked directly past him. He was with another man, a business associate, she supposed as they seemed in deep discussion about something. As she past him, he lifted his head in her direction and for a moment their eyes met. Unfortunately he didn't stop, but just gave her a courteous nod and a half smile as he walked past. Maria had felt disappointed that he hadn't even stopped to say hello, but accepted that that was just the way things were to be between them.

Time past quickly and before she knew it, winter had faded and spring had arrived. Now that the weather was warmer, she wanted to make the most of the time she had off from her governess duties each week.

So early one morning, she made her way to her favourite pastry shop. It was crowded inside with many people wanting to purchase and taste their culinary delights. It took a while to squeeze her way to the front and wait to be served.

Finally, the shopgirl announced, looking around for the next customer: "Who's next? What can I get you?"

Maria took this as her opportunity. "Apfelstrudel," Maria called out quickly before anyone else could sneak in before her, but she wasn't quick enough as she heard a masculine voice call out at the same time: "Apfelstrudel!"

Maria spun around in surprise, searching for the source of the voice and found herself face to face with Georg. Her breath caught in her throat as, although she had seen in many times on the street, it was the first time since that day in the park that she'd been so close to him. Their eyes locked for a moment and she saw his lips curl upwards slightly into a small smile. He seemed pleased to see her. Maria felt like she could have stood there, lost in his eyes, for the next year or so, but the voice of the shopgirl cut through her thoughts.

"I'm sorry fraulein, sir," the girl apologised to them both, "but there is only one apfelstrudel left. I'm afraid you can't both have one."

Georg shifted his gaze from Maria to look over her head towards the shopgirl. "That's perfectly alright." He smiled and inclined his head towards Maria. "Lady's choice. I'll order something different."

"Thank you, sir," Maria muttered under her breath as she handed over some money and received her strudel wrapped up in a brown paper bag. Georg seemed to pay her no further attention as he began to peruse the selection of pastries trying to decide what to order instead.

Maria took that as her opportunity to make a fast exit from the store. Coming out of the shop, a gust of fresh air hit Maria in the face and she breathed in deeply. She turned back to look through the store window to see Georg still talking to the shopgirl and she wondered whether she should just leave or stay and wait for him. But if she stayed, would he even want to talk to her? Or would he just pretend they were virtual strangers like he had done in the past?

Maria paced outside the pastry shop for a few seconds trying to decide what to do before she remembered the Mirabelle Gardens where they had walked through before were only a block away.

So she hurried down to the main gates to wait. She was far enough away from the pastry store that if he decided to just leave he could do that, but close enough that if he chose to seek her out, that he would be able to see where she was immediately.

Minutes past before Maria saw Georg come out of the pastry shop. She watched as he stopped and looked down the street, this way then that before he finally saw her. Without hesitating, he quickly crossed the distance from the store to the gardens in a matter of seconds.

"Hello," he said, almost playfully. "I thought I just might find you here." He gave her a big smile.

"Was there something you wanted?" Maria asked innocently, with a hint of teasing in her voice.

"Perhaps your strudel?" Georg laughed.

"I'm sorry, you can have it if you really want," Maria offered with a giggle.

Georg shook his head. "No, no. I was just joking. I do remember how much you love apfelstrudel. You will appreciate it much more than me." He chuckled for a moment before he let out a sigh. "So how are you, Maria?"

"I'm fine, how are you?"

"I'm well." He smiled at her again, but there was a certain tension in the air being felt between them.

"Err," Maria tried to break the awkward silence. "I've seen you about town."

"Yes I know, I've seen you too," he replied. "In fact, I think every time I try and avoid you, I find myself running into you."

Maria's eyes widened. "You too?" Georg nodded sheepishly. Maria shut her eyes and let out a sigh of relief. "And I thought I was the only one struggling with this."

"No, not at all," he replied honestly. How could he truthfully tell her how he found himself wandering the streets in between business meetings and appointments in the hope of seeing her? Or that it was the highlight of his day just to catch a glimpse of her through the crowds, even if he was unable to talk to her?

She looked at him hard for a moment before she let out an exasperated huff. "Oh, this is just ridiculous! We are both grown adults and here we are trying to avoid each other like little children playing a game! Is there anything that says we have to stay away from each other?" Georg raised his eyebrows at her. "Well, besides the obvious," Maria concluded, her eyes falling to look at his wedding ring on his left hand.

"Maria…" he began.

But Maria wasn't listening as she was in deep contemplation trying to find a work-around to their problem. "You have friends, don't you?" she suddenly exclaimed.

"Yes, I do…"

"And there's nothing wrong with making new friends, is there?"

"No, I suppose not…"

"And having friends who are just friends and nothing more?"

"Yes, I suppose so…"

"Friends who spend time together?"

"Yes, but…"

"So?"

"What?" Georg was a little confused, not quite following her train of thought.

"Can we be friends?" she asked hopefully.

He paused for a moment before replying. Georg knew it would be a very dangerous game and he cursed himself for even considering it knowing how he felt about her, but he couldn't resist. "All right," he agreed. "I'd like that. Friends."

A/N: Thanks everyone for your reviews and continued support. It means a lot. Please send me a review to let me know what you thought of this chapter. So will Maria and Georg be able to be just friends, or will their feelings for each other get in the way? Stay tuned to find out!