Chapter 12 Honeymoon

Walking in the door, Maria went straight to the sofa to collapse, flopping her feet upon the other side while kicking off her shoes with a dramatic sigh. In two days, she was certain that they had walked a million miles around the city. It was everything she had dreamed it would be and we would not dream of complaining. That morning they had crepes with café lattes and walked through a museum with so much art and history, it was awe inspiring. She could hardly stop talking about it as they saw fountains and monuments around the city.

Georg chuckled and followed her once the door was firmly shut. "Alright?"

Her eyes crinkled with her grin as she looked over her shoulder at her husband. "As much as I run around with the children, I cannot believe how much my feet are aching from walking today."

"I knew we should have taken that trolly instead of walking down every street. We have plenty of time to see Paris, Darling." He moved her feet to sit beneath them in his lap. "Hum, perhaps we should have some soft leather shoes made for you," he said kissing one of her toes before rubbing one between his palms, digging his thumbs into the knots at her arches. "I would like to take you dancing one of these nights, and it will not be half as pleasant with blistered toes."

His heavenly ministrations made her moan in gratitude. When she could bring herself to open her eyes and thank her husband for making her feet relax, she was captivated by the smoldering, devilish look in his eyes. "Something on your mind, Captain?" she teased.

"As a matter of fact…" he said as his hands wandered up her leg to roll down her stocking in a slow caress causing a different sigh to fill the room, one of desire and anticipation.

Maria wandered around the trees, walking aimlessly and swinging herself from oak to oak. The sun was setting and she just needed a moment to clear her head. Earlier in the day she had met with the Reverend Mother for council and to discuss her wedding. It was a wonderful morning and she was grateful that she was able to pray with the sisters before Georg picked her up.

She paused in her movements to admire the ring on her finger. It sparkled in the evening light and reminded her of her promise. Her heart was so full as she thought on her intended and the conversation she had with the Mother Abyss about the importance of communication, and honesty, in a relationship. She had been feeling guilty for not openly discussing her reasons for leaving, though Georg had not pushed her.

Finding a grassy spot to look out at the lake, Maria kicked off her shoes and watched the movement in the water. She was ready to have the conversation, though it felt like a lifetime ago.

"There you are!" Georg said as he approached with a smile. "I didn't see you from the veranda."

"I'm sorry. Is everything alright? I can come back inside; I was just enjoying the quiet." She said, patting the space next to her in invitation.

He waved off her question with a chuckle. "No, no. You are perfect right there. The crew just went upstairs to ready themselves for bed. After Marta's doll was decapitated, I don't blame you for needing some solitude." He laughed. "They will be fine until we are ready to say our 'good-nights'." He situated himself and reached out to give her hand a kiss. "What has you so deep in thought?"

"Oh, I don't know. Just some things. I'm getting married, you know!"

"Really? Anyone I know?"

Her laughter danced around them like fairies. "Perhaps. Let's see… he is tall and handsome." At his raised eyebrows, she leaned away from him. "It's true! His eyes are wonderfully expressive and he says he loves me as much as I love him."

Georg swallowed his emotion and grinned shyly, "Then he is a very lucky man. I am certain that he knows it too." Maria could not stop the tears that filled her eyes. Unable to stay away from him another moment, she reached out to cup his face before her lips found his in an ardent, unhurried kiss.

When they finally parted, Maria was happy to find his arms around her so she could snuggle in close and breath him in. Her fingers stroked his neck and played with his collar as her face rested naturally in the arch of his neck for a moment before she interrupted the sounds of nature. "This is my favorite place."

He kissed her temple and looked around, "It is lovely."

She giggled and pulled him closer. "That's not what I mean. I mean here, in your arms. I feel so loved and safe. It is not a feeling I have been accustomed to. But I like it."

"I mean to hold you for the rest of my life. I'm honored to be one of your favorite things."

Instead of the laugh he anticipated, Maria sighed, "Georg, can we talk about … things?"

Her tone surprised him after their light-hearted banter. He tried to move away in concern, but she held him tightly. "What is wrong, Love?"

She shook her head and moved away to see his face and reassure him that all was well. "Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to talk to you since I have avoided the subject long enough." With a breath for courage, she admitted she was ready to talk, "About the night of the party."

Georg looked into her serious eyes and nodded, unwilling to interrupt her train of thought. He was curious what had caused her to flee when she insisted it was nothing that he had done, and he was certain that his children were not to blame either.

"It probably seems trifling now, with all that has happened since I returned. But I was so confused and naïve and scared. I really don't know if I can explain how I felt." Georg reached for her and again silently telling her that whatever she had to say, he would listen. "Georg, after the children sang, I was planning to change for the party—I had nothing to wear, really—but I did not go upstairs intent on packing. It was the Baroness –"

"Elsa?" Georg exclaimed. As he said her name, he realized that, there could be no other explanation. He just hoped she did not harm Maria physically because he did not think he could restrain himself from speeding to Vienna to confront her.

Maria nodded, "Yes. You see, she said she wanted to help, but I know now that she must have felt threatened and was intent on having you to herself. She said that I loved you, and you thought you were in love with me." As she began explaining, she could not stop; her speech came out faster as her mind rebelled against the memory. "I denied that I had anything to do with it—of course, I could not explain how I felt, how could she possibly know!—but she was adamant that what I thought made no difference at all."

"Oh, Maria," Georg tried to sooth her.

Maria hardly heard him, continuing with a shake to the head, "The worst of it was that she knew that I was so muddled and had been questioning my life's path. I mean, being with you and the children here, felt more right to me than being behind the abbey walls. I was always in trouble for sneaking away to my mountain. I knew I would miss the children because I already knew I loved them. I just could not bring myself to believe that I had fallen in love with you too. She said that you couldn't keep your eyes off me and you thought you were in love with me, but not to worry because you would soon get over it. As if it was not real. As if it was that simple. What was I to think? And you were meant to marry her! I know now that I should have come to you, but I had to escape. I knew I would be safe if I went back."

Georg shook his head in compassion and understanding, inviting her into his embrace as she slowed the flow of words and began to calm. After a moment she continued, "I'm sorry, my love. I did not realize that this is where I felt the most safety. I did not know how to face you."

He rocked her silently and smoothed her hair while holding her close. "You have nothing to apologize for. I behaved badly. You were sent here to be under my protection as a young postulant and I could not bring myself to take you from G-d's path, if that was what you wanted. I was a coward to continue the façade with Elsa, especially when I realized that you controlled the light in my life."

She moved out of his embrace to look into his eyes when she said, "No, Georg. You did nothing wrong. What made me so conflicted is that I thought I had. You see, I was here on G-d's errand. To ask for your love seemed wrong."

"How could it be wrong, when it was given freely?"

She smiled feeling the weight of her confession lift to free her soul. "Yes. That is what the Reverend Mother helped me to see; that the love between a man and woman is holy too. What we have… G-d has blessed me with."

"Blessed us both, you mean?" There was nothing more to say on the subject and it was a relief to them both to find closure. Georg held Maria a few moments more before another thought occurred to him and he couldn't help wonder how it all could have ended differently. He did not know. "Maria," he started, his hesitation engaged her full attention. "What would you have said? If you had the courage to come to me after the party, what would you have said?"

Maria chewed her lip and thought about the scenario seriously. "Humm. I do not think I would have come to dinner in the state I was in. Perhaps I would come out here to think and really reflect on what she said and I what I would say to you. Did you go to your study after the party, or for a walk?"

He felt a little uncomfortable at the question and rubbed his neck. Looking away from her eyes he admitted, "I, ah… I went to the patio, actually. When I found your note, I felt the need for air but I went to the patio to replay our dance. I knew that I would never forget it."

Maria nodded, "Then I would have found you there and asked for—I don't know—your opinion, I suppose. I would have wanted you to deny it because it scared me so much."

Georg shook his head, "I wouldn't lie to you, but I hardly understood my feelings then either. I would have apologized for Elsa, that would only be the proper thing to do before I confronted her the next day. I would have asked you about your thoughts and… I might have asked you to dance again."

"Really?" She asked, her breath catching.

"Yes, really. It was the most incredible moment of the night for me. I would have wanted to be sure that what I felt and saw in your eyes had been real… then, after reading the truth in your eyes, I would have known how to act." At her questioning look, he replied, "To confront Elsa and tell her that I had no future with her. To court you and ask for your love; maybe even kiss you that same night."

"Oh! I am not sure what I would have done if you kissed me." She said with wide eyes.

"I would have used all my persuasive powers to convince you to stay."

Maria fiddled with his tie as her imagination played the scene. Pulling him closer she said, "May I have a demonstration? What 'persuasive powers' are you referring to exactly?" The combination of her innocent flirtation and alluring seduction was irresistibly appealing; she had the ability to take the breath from him without trying.

His grin was devilish as his eyes touched her everywhere before, much to her surprise, he held out his hand and helped her onto her feet before, he asked in a low, intimate voice "May I have this dance?"

The dance was slow. Their bodies were close. Their eyes were locked. And when the electricity was too much to bear, he lowered his lips to claims hers in a kiss that touched her soul and put all the past notorious kisses to shame. He tasted her sweet response and groaned when her hands tangled in his hair, bringing him as close to her as he possibly could be.

When they slowly came back to earth, breathing out of the fiery kiss, Maria could not contain the awe in her whispered, "Wow."

SOM

Thanks for reading! As I said before, the honeymoon era is really a blank slate for me (but I have a BUNCH of engagement time ideas!) so if there is a scenario you want to read about, let me know! I will consider adding it to this story. - Stephanie