Her Father's Daughter
by Bluebird88
Disclaimer: The Sound of Music is the property of Rodgers and Hammerstein, 20th Century Fox, and various script writers and producers. No copyright infringement is intended. Several lines from the movie are quoted at various points throughout the story. If it sounds familiar, it probably isn't mine.
Chapter 1: A New Governess
"Hurry, Marta!" Louisa urged her younger sister. "You know Father doesn't like us to be late for meals!" Louisa grimaced to herself, thinking that that was a bit of an understatement. Her father, a retired naval officer, insisted that his children be punctual in all things. If there was one thing that was sure to incite his anger, it was arriving late for breakfast.
"I'm trying!" Martha's voice was muffled. The little girl was lying on her stomach, searching under her bed. "I know I took my shoes off right here last night, but one of them's missing, and I can't find it anywhere." She shuffled out from under the bed and looked up, chewing nervously on her lip. "Father's going to be angry with me, isn't he?"
Louisa hesitated, knowing that the answer was most likely yes. Not wanting to upset her sister further, though, she declared in a determinedly cheerful voice, "No, he won't, because we're going to find your shoe quickly, and race downstairs, and still be on time for breakfast. Come on, now. It can't have gone far. You look under Gretl's bed, and I'll look in the wardrobe."
At that moment, Louisa's oldest sister poked her head in the younger girls' room. "Are you two ready? We need to go downstairs now, or we'll be late!"
"You and the others go ahead," Louisa decided. "No reason for us all to be late. We'll finish up here as soon as we can, and then come down. Maybe Father won't notice."
Liesl looked uncertain for a moment, but then she nodded. "All right. But hurry!"
Louisa heard clomping footsteps in the hall as the rest of her siblings went noisily down to breakfast. She renewed her search, opening the wooden wardrobe and beginning to rifle through the clothes inside, looking for the lost shoe. Just when she had begun to consider advising Marta to just go down to breakfast in her stockings, she heard her sister's excited cry. "I found it!"
"Good. Put it on quick, and let's get downstairs. And next time, leave your shoes where you'll be able to find them!"
Louisa watched as Marta stuffed her foot into her shoe, then grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the room. Together, the two girls raced down the large staircase and across the hall, slowing to a walk as they reached the door to the dining room.
Uh, oh, Louisa thought. Her other siblings were sitting quietly in their places, hands in their laps, but Father was resting his chin in his hand, tapping a finger against his cheek and looking impatient. When the girls walked in, he simply raised an eyebrow at them. Marta's eyes went wide, but Louisa managed to meet his gaze long enough to explain, "We're sorry, Father. We didn't mean to be late. We just…" Louisa hesitated. She didn't want to tell him that it had been Marta's fault, but she didn't have enough time to think up a believable excuse, either. "We didn't realize how late it had gotten," she finished lamely.
The Captain gave both his daughters a stern glance, but said only, "Well, come sit down. Let's not waste any more time." Louisa obeyed quickly, deliberately ignoring the exasperated look Friedrich was giving her.
They ate in silence for some time, until Father looked up from his breakfast to announce, "Children. I've found a new governess for you. She will be here this afternoon." He paused, then continued significantly, "I trust that this time I will have no complaints about your behavior."
The von Trapp children exchanged glances. Louisa saw Marta look across the table at Liesl with wide, nervous eyes, and Gretl immediately reached under the table to grab Brigitta's hand. The youngest girls were always nervous when their father appointed a new governess. She saw Kurt wearing a scowl to match her own, and Friedrich, too, looked angry, but it was Liesl who finally spoke.
"But Father," she protested, "I don't see why we need a governess at all! Friedrich, Louisa, and I are far too old for one, and we can certainly help Frau Schmidt with the younger children!"
Captain von Trapp's eyes narrowed dangerously, but Friedrich ignored this, and joined in in support of his sister. "Liesl's right, Father. I know we could do it! Couldn't we please try?"
Louisa shook her head. Her brother and sister might as well save their breath, for all the good their arguing would do them. She knew there was no way Father would let them be without a governess for any longer than was absolutely necessary. As long as someone else was in charge of his children, he wouldn't have to be bothered with them.
Sure enough, when he spoke, it was to announce, "Absolutely out of the question. My children will not roam about the house unsupervised all summer like a bunch of ill-brought up urchins! You will meet your new governess, and you will treat her with the utmost respect and civility, and that's all there is to it."
"But Father –" Liesl wasn't ready to give in, not yet. Louisa silently wished her sister would just keep her mouth shut. It would do no good to argue, and she was only going to make Father even angrier.
"Enough!" The single word was spoken so sternly that Louisa was impressed with Liesl's ability to hold Father's gaze.
She seemed to realize that she'd been defeated, though, and said quietly, "Yes, Father," before going back to her breakfast with a bit of a frown still on her face.
Louisa began buttering a roll so viciously that she cut clean through it. She hated it when Father replaced governesses so quickly. Why couldn't he look after them himself? But oh, no, Captain von Trapp was far too busy to be bothered with a bunch of children. She knew she wasn't being entirely fair, but she was too angry to care. They were on their twelfth governess, and their father still didn't seem to realize why his children kept driving the women away! Well, she thought to herself, I suppose we'll just have to break our record.
She almost smirked at the memory. Their most recent governess, Fräulein Anna, had only lasted two hours, thanks to one of Louisa and Friedrich's most brilliant collaborations. Father had not been pleased. Louisa glanced sideways, trying to catch Friedrich's eye. When he looked in her direction, she quirked a mischievous eyebrow, and allowed the corners of her mouth to twitch upwards. Her meaning was clear, "How shall we get rid of this one?" Friedrich bit his lip and hurriedly looked down at his plate, trying not to let his smile show.
Louisa went back to her breakfast, feeling much better about the whole thing. She and her siblings would simply work together to get rid of this one, too, just as they'd had all the others. It should be easier than ever, now that they'd had so much practice.
"Father?" Brigitta spoke up cautiously.
"Yes, Brigitta?" Louisa was relieved to hear that her father sounded a bit impatient, but not particularly annoyed any longer.
"Who is she? The governess, I mean?" All the children perked up, eager to hear what their father would have to say about this latest addition to the household.
"She is a postulate at the convent. She comes to us on the recommendation of the Mother Abbess."
"What's a postulate?" Gretl asked, pronouncing the strange word carefully.
"It means she's training to be a nun," Liesl told her.
Louisa and Friedrich exchanged delighted glances. A nun? This was going to be easy! Louisa grinned slyly and held up one finger. She knew Friedrich caught her meaning when he hastily faked a cough in order to cover his laughter. One hour, she thought. Just one hour, and we'll be rid of another one!
Perhaps the Captain had noticed a bit more than he let on, for he saw fit to warn them again, "I mean it, children. You're to behave yourselves this time. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Father," all seven children chorused, and Louisa tried hard to look innocent. Somehow, though, she didn't think he was quite fooled.
A/N: Feedback is very much appreciated!