Part 5
Maria did not sleep much that night after Agathe's secret visit. Her mind had been plagued with forbidden and confusing thoughts. Maria knew what she felt but was it aloud?, of course it wasn't. And what confused her more was that only the other day had she had a similar pleasurable feeling when the Captain had been near her. She shook her head as she dressed in the changing rooms. She didn't have time for this, she had a job to do, her mind could not be plagued and unruly distracted by such un-important things.
As she walked out she found Leanne tying her apron.
"Good morning!" she said happily and Leanne turned around and smiled back at her.
"Well good morning to you too, what got you so happy so early?" she said as she walked over to where Maria was collecting the clean laundry for the beds.
Maria smiled and shrugged "I have decided that today is a new day, from now on I will be happy and everything bad that's happened will be swiped clean. New day, new clean slate! It would be rather depressing if every day I thought about what I had done wrong so I'm not going to, I will try and think positive. I'm sorry if none of that made any sense!" she chuckled.
Leanne smiled at her happy friend "No it makes perfect sense, I'm glad you're here. I must say it was getting god damn depressing lately, all the others are just so… I don't know but I any case it's good to have someone new… and happy" she said as she picked up the laundry with Maria.
Maria smiled "Well I'm certainly glad to help" she replied back.
Margret who was equally happy that morning snuck into the kitchen, Maria and Leanne oblivious to her until she squeezed the girls hips, both of them jumping up and screaming as Margret stood laughing. Maria who was laughing and trying to catch her breath watched as Leanne snatched a towel from the side and whipped Margaret playfully on the leg.
"You scared the hell out of us!" Maria said laughing.
Margret giggled "Oh goodness it was so funny to see you two girls scream in fright!" she laughed and Leanne whipped her again.
"It was not!" protested Leanne, but the little smile that graced the end of her lips gave her away.
Leanne shook her head "That's it Margret, game on!" she teased and Margret chuckled before going to the stove to make breakfast.
Maria and Leanne soon left and headed upstairs to change all the sheets before breakfast. Getting to the top of the stairs Leanne stopped and spoke.
"Okay I'll do the children's rooms and you do the Captains and Baroness, then next time we can switch" she said and Maria's heart stopped.
"What? Wait, wouldn't it be better if you did theirs, I mean I coul…" Leanne smile and interrupted her.
"Don't worry you will be fine. Just be polite and work around them, pretend you're almost not there" she said before walking off leaving Maria terrified.
Maria slumped and hung her head back. She felt like she could throw up. Not only did she have to change theirs sheets in their room but both of them would also be there. Which meant possibly being shouted at and having the almost electric tension between her and Agathe, all in one room.
Taking a breath she walked towards their bedroom and took Leanne's advice. She could do this. New day, clean slate.
As she walked in she breathed a sigh of relief. There was no one in the main part of the bedroom at that moment in time, probably in the bathroom she thought as she walked over to the bed, stripping the sheets as quickly as she could.
She stripped them quickly and was almost finished with the big quilt when she heard someone walk in, their footsteps alerting her of their presence. Suddenly they stopped and Maria stiffened, her back to whoever it was.
"Oh, er hello" they said and Maria relaxed as she turned to look at the Captain.
Smiling slightly she bowed "Good morning, I hope you slept well?" she said before returning to her job.
"Er yes, I slept well thank you. And er… you?" he said and Maria smiled at his attempt to make polite conversation as they moved around each other.
"Well thank you sir" she replied as she chucked the big quilt sheet to the floor before continuing with the pillow cases.
As Georg put on his tie his gaze couldn't help but drift to Maria. Every movement seemed graceful like a piece of art yet for all her feather light touches and movements the edges around her seemed unsmoothed and clumsy, an enchanting delightful mixture of both.
He chuckled to himself at his stupid reverie and Maria looked at him with a peculiar look of wonder and something he couldn't describe.
Suddenly a voice from the bathroom cut through.
"Darling could you come here and help me for a moment?" Agathe's voice drifted through and Maria quickly turned away focusing on her job as much as she could. Her whole body seemed to go on hyper alert and she couldn't help but feel her stomach flutter with strange nauseous feelings.
"I can't Agathe, I have an appointment in town that I need to get to desperately, I told you, I can't even stay for breakfast. Don't worry Maria's here whatever it is I'm sure she can help you. I will see you later love" he said grabbing his jacket before he was out the door leaving both of the women in separate rooms, their hearts stopping in their throats.
For minutes, in both rooms, there was silence neither of them moving for fear of the others reaction or even their own.
Maria felt helpless, stuck no matter what she did. If she moved then she would be showing her presence yet as she stood still she showed the same fear and hesitation that she knew Agathe was feeling. Everything around her was her, her room, her scent, her place of refuge, she had no rights, this was Agathe's ground, her territory. If she asked her to leave she would, if she asked her to stay she would, anything she asked she would simply comply despite her unwillingness. Yes she knew she felt something for the woman, she did not deny it, but she had been here barley a week she could not entangle herself in such things. And so this morning she had wiped it all clean but it seemed destiny had other plans for her.
Slowly she heard light padding of feet before the slow creek of a door resounded throughout the room, the tension increasing tenfold yet at the same time dulling it somehow.
Turning to the door she saw a hesitant Agathe walk out clad in a loose corset and her dark wavy hair, usually drawn back, cascading down her back.
Agathe smiled gently and walked forward slightly. Maria immediately turned and carried on with her job before words from her lips so secretly treasured to even Maria came drifting.
"Maria" she said softly.
Maria's hands stopped her heart stopped as her skin burned the electrical excitement which she couldn't understand enveloped her.
She wanted so badly to walk to her and just hold her and say her name over and over but instead, she turned formally and the name both of them knowingly and secretly craved to hear was kept silent, in its place "Yes Baroness?" came falling from Maria's soft lips.
Though something in Agathe broke as those words came out of Maria's mouth she couldn't help but be thankful for them.
"Could you help me do up the rest of my corset?" she asked hesitantly.
Maris swallowed and nodded before she walked towards her, Agathe turning so she could do the rest.
A she came nearer Maria spoke, her throat clearing as she did so "You wear a corset?" she said as her delicate warm hands tapered gently across the firm material, collecting the soft string type ribbon and pulling on it gently.
Agathe chuckled "They're not worn so much now days but on days like today when I need to feel a little more prettier than usual or when we have a party I put this on. I've had seven children Maria my body is not a nice as it once was" she said as she held the corset, Maria tightening it.
"But…" Maria wanted so much to oppose Agathe's words, to tell her indeed how beautiful she was. She was still young in many people eyes, she couldn't be more than 35 at least but she bit her tongue.
Agathe heard her stop and sensed her hesitation as she felt her stop pulling at the ribbon "But what Maria?" she said quietly, craning her neck slightly but still looking ahead.
"Nothing Baroness" she said before tugging on the ribbons making Agathe gasp.
"Not too tight" she said she chuckled.
Maria smiled "Forgive me" she replied her words almost meaning more and then with the sweetest and gentlest tone Agathe replied back.
"There's nothing to forgive" she whispered back and Maria's hands stopped for a moment, her eyes drifting ahead and looking at their reflection in the window. Agathe's soft eyes were looking at her and her delicate smile showed a thousand truths.
Before they could even acknowledge it Maria had continued tying the corset and soon enough it was done. "There you go Baroness" Maria said simply and Agathe nodded her thanks. Maria was just about to leave having stripped the bed covers when Agathe called her.
"Wait, Maria!" she said turning and looking at her in her corset and underdress.
"Yes?" Maria said.
Agathe smiled. She didn't want to leave things unsaid and confused, she wanted a friendship with this girl "Will you come with me today?" she asked gently.
Maria frowned, confused "I don't understand" she replied.
"I was going to go to town today, on my own, but I would very much like your company. I don't have many true friends now days, but I can feel I can trust you, so please?" she said sincerely.
Maria was hesitant to say the least but she too wanted Agathe's friendship. Smiling she nodded "Of course Baroness" she said bowing politely.
Agathe smiled broadly "Thank you, I will see you in the hall after breakfast?"
Maria nodded before leaving.
Authors note: I know it's been a while since I've posted and for that I am truly sorry but I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I will get the next one up as soon as pos. As always please review, love to hear your thoughts and what you think thank you! :DDDDD