Summary: Agathe and Georg are or at least were happily married but when a young new maid arrives Georg isn't the only one falling for her irresistible charms.

Maria sighed as she sat on the bus. She couldn't believe it, she couldn't believe she had been sold. Sold! She thought in shock. In some ways she was happy but in others it was almost shameful and embarrassing, to think that she had meant that little to her uncle that he had sold her. She was not a slave, she wasn't a piece of property, yet here she was being shipped off to some big posh house. She didn't even know who had bought her all she knew was that when she had come home yesterday she was no longer her uncles, she was owned by someone called Von Tromp or something or other.

She didn't even know what she was being sold for; her uncle had just given her the address of the house and put her on the bus. SOLD! She felt like nothing, just a mere piece of dirt that anyone could stand on or kick carelessly. The bus slowed and she looked around realising this was her stop. Gathering her few items she got off the bus begrudgingly.

She walked slowly contemplating if she should run away but quickly discarded the idea. Where would she go? She didn't have any money or much clothing or even food, she would probably be killed before she could even find shelter. No this was her best choice. She sighed and started humming to comfort her and soon she was smiling fully, hope in her heart and a possible bright future ahead of her. She was free, well maybe not completely free but she was away from her horrid uncle for good and that was indeed a cause for celebration she thought as she skipped down the lanes.

She spun round and suddenly stumbled to a stop as she saw the huge gates in front of her. She gulped and stepped forward hesitantly. Oh god, oh god, oh god she thought as her shaky hand opened the big intimidating well-oiled gates. She shut it behind her and walked up the stony gravel. She took out the piece of paper her uncle had given her and read it carefully, remembering something about going in a back door or something.

'Go through the back door located around to the right of the building, there you will report to Frau Schmidt' it said her eyes scanning over the neatly written writing, so unlike her uncles.

She folded it back up and put it in her pocket and went round to the side of the building, so completely unaware of the delicate blue eyes that watched her from above.

Maria's heart sped up as she approached the big door at the side. Clanging of pots, pans and voices could be heard coming from the gap in the big house. Maria stepped back and squealed as a young scrawny man was thrown out, followed by a big tall bald man.

"You want to stay here you do your job, not follow the Captain's daughter around like a lost puppy!" the big man yelled and a plump woman came out next to him.

"Oh Victor, don't be so harsh on the boy" she said her warm voice calming him and Maria for that fact.

Victor huffed and went back inside as the scrawny boy with brown hair ran off past Maria. It was then that the middle aged plump woman saw Maria and smiled gently "Oh hello, you must be the new maid!" she said and Maria smiled back hesitantly.

"Yes, hello I'm Maria" she said shaking the woman's hand.

"And I'm Margret the cook, please come in!" she said going back inside.

Maria felt her heart drop, the thought of the man, she had just come to know as Victor, being inside. Margret saw Maria's hesitation and smiled "Oh come now, don't you worry about victor, he seems tough and mean on the outside but I assure you he's as soft as a pillow on the inside" she said taking the girls hand and leading her inside.

Maria smiled at Margret's motherly charm and followed her in despite her doubts.

Maria stepped inside and watched as maids and chefs ran around the kitchen most cooking and some collecting clean sheets and other bits and bobs for around the house. All of it together was quite overwhelming and Maria had to catch her breath a little as Margret led her into a huge hallway. Maria's eyes widened as she looked around, doing a 360, trying to take in the magnificent part of the building, which she had no doubt probably offered much, much more.

Margret chuckled at the young girl's stunned face "It is quite a picture is it not?" she said as she looked around herself.

Maria nodded, speechless to say the least.

Margret smiled "Wait here, I'll go find Frau Schmidt" she said leaving Maria in the huge expanse of the beautiful hallway so beautifully unaware of the blue eyes that had watched her through the window now watching her from the landing above.

Maria couldn't believe she was here, in this beautiful house, it was like a dream come true. She smiled and walked around the hallway a few steps. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the big double doors, gold lacing the edges making it enticing and alluring.

She walked towards it when…

"What do you think you are doing?" a woman's voice called making Maria spin around and look up as if she had been caught in headlights.

"I ugh… I wa… i…" Maria couldn't find her words and just stud there stunned and very much scared.

"Well?" she said her voice warm yet firm.

Maria gulped watching as the beautiful woman with dark hair came down the stairs "Forgive me" Maria rushed out.

The slim lady stepped off the last step her shoes clicking across the pristinely polished marble floor, her cream lace dress just touching it with grace "May I ask what you are doing in my house?" she asked.

Maria nodded "I'm the new maid" she said quietly and curtsied politely.

The lady nodded "Ah the young girl we bought" she said dismissively.

Maria narrowed her eyes at her, her feelings hurt at the way she thought she was just a mere piece of property but before she could say anything the lady spoke.

"I'm Agathe Von Trapp, but you will call me Baroness, or Baroness Von Trapp, which ever. Now are you not supposed to be with Frau Schmidt?" she said her perfect features frowning with confusion.

"Um well I, um I mean Margret went to fetch her, and so she told me to stay here" she said putting her bag down.

"Yet you felt the need to wander?" she said her voice un-approving and Maria didn't know whether to just cry or run.

Her breath caught and she stuttered "I didn't mean to, it's just that your house is so beautiful and i just… I" she sobbed trying to explain herself quickly.

The Baroness stepped forward quickly and touched her arm "Oh my dear I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you so, it seems my anger gets the better of me these days" she said pulling out and handkerchief and handing it to her.

Maria whispered a thank you and wiped her tears, the events of the past few days catching up on her "I'm sorry Baroness" she said and the baroness shook her head.

"No I think it's me who should be apologising" suddenly the footsteps of Frau Schmidt and Margret interrupted them and the Baroness smiled "You are in good hands now, so no more tears?" she said gently.

Maria smiled and the 30 year old woman and bowed in thanks.

The baroness finally nodded and left heading back up stairs.

The woman whom she assumed was Frau Schmidt walked up to her "Well its seems you've gained The Baronesses favour already, though you shouldn't really talk to her, we are below her. Mmm" she said and Maria followed her but her eyes never leaving the sad vision that walked across the landing above them.

0o0o0o0o0

Agathe stopped for a moment and turned watching as the pretty young girl followed Frau Schmidt. She sighed and rubbed her temples ignoring the strange effect the young girl had on her. Maybe it was just the sight and presence of a new person that over whelmed her, for she was long overdue for an evening out. Her husband had been un-attentive lately and seemed to be drifting away. They had been so happy and in love once but now he just brushed their children off and only spared her a quick kiss on the cheek. Before he used to kiss her fully almost unwilling to leave her, now he just couldn't seem to get away from her quick enough, always out on business or constantly in his study.

Agathe sighed and entered her room, she just didn't understand it she thought as she looked at herself in the mirror. She scrutinised her reflection and traced a few faint lines on her face, she wasn't ugly, she had been told many times that was quite beautiful and she didn't have any grey hairs though Georg seemed to be gaining a few, but then again he was a god 10 years older, she was only 32. She ran her hands through her long dark curly hair and bit her lip. if he found her so unappealing then why did he brush his children off? She closed her eyes, no, she just didn't understand it at all.

Authors note: Hello dear readers yes a new story! Don't worry I have not abandoned the other. Anyway I've been toying with this idea for some time and have decided to just do it! Please review and tell me if you like it and what you think of it seeing as it is yet another risky story, it would be much appreciated, thank you! :D