To the Victor, the Spoils...
"Well, none of these will do," Maria muttered to herself, eyebrows furrowing as she cast a curious glance over her shoulder at the Baroness standing in her doorway. She had been startled to hear the illustrious Elsa Schrader call after her on the steps and inform her that she would be happy to help her find something to wear. Did she think her so incompetent that she couldn't dress herself? Probably.
Blowing her bangs up out of her eyes she had forced a grateful smile on her face and thanked the Baroness for her offer. What she truly needed was not help dressing, but a moment alone to still her hammering heart and to splash some water on her blooming pink cheeks. Even as she had stood accepting the congratulations of strangers after the children's farewell song she could feel his eyes on her, the unfinished conversation from the terrace hanging between them.
One minute she had been chuckling her way through avoiding being stepped on by Kurt and the next thing she knew his white gloved hand was being held out to her.
She took it.
And everything changed.
Whatever else happened in her life after that moment, she had danced with the prince at the ball. It made no difference that she hadn't arrived in a carriage and that no godmother had gifted her with glass slippers to dance the night away. She had become the fairy tale for a moment in his arms.
She wondered if Cinderella had barely drawn breath the entire time she was swirled about?
If her skin had tingled every place he touched?
Wondered if her heart was threatening to beat out of her chest as her eyes dilated under his fierce gaze?
Wondered if she had been tempted to take a step closer rather than back and press her lips to his throat, his jaw, his mouth?
Realizing that she had been staring into the middle distance and sweeping her fingertips along her lips as she imagined his kiss she turned and gave a rueful smile to the Baroness and shrugged as she stood back to let her gaze at the contents of her closet. It felt singularly odd to watch this glamorous lady give her and her paltry wardrobe a once over.
She couldn't recall a single moment in the past weeks where they had had a conversation as women, just the two of them. Their only words had been exchanged in the chaotic company of the children and the men. Maria shrugged off the odd tingle she felt between her shoulder blades, the same tingle that she would feel when she knew Sister Berthe was critically observing her. Waiting for her to make a mistake. Again.
"I don't think I have anything appropriate for this," Maria said, gripping the sleeve of the brown dress she had made with her own hands. All these dresses that she had been pleased and proud to wear just hours before all of this, whatever this was. They had been some of the prettiest things she had even worn, and she was hard pressed to look at them now, feeling the sting of shame at their not being good enough for this party. Pride goeth and all of that, she thought, hearing the echo of Sister Berthe berate her. She could feel the Baroness walk up behind her in a crinkle and swish of fine material and she had the sneaking feeling that the Elsa Schrader knew she was feeling ashamed.
Knew she had no clothes fine enough to join the glittering swell below.
Knew that she was not fine enough.
You were fine enough just a half an hour ago, she heard the small voice of her confidence whisper. Fine enough for him to ask you to dance, it admonished. Chin up girl! Maria took a deep breath and started to disrobe in front of the other woman, refusing to feel self conscious in front of her, plain cotton underthings and all. She doubted the baroness had worn cotton underthings in her entire life. She looked as though she had been born swathed in chiffon and diamonds.
"Now, where is that lovely little thing you were wearing the other evening?" Elsa said, rifling through her scant collection with just the tips of her fingers, as though her fine gloves might be soiled with the grime of daily living that might be lurking in Maria's closet.
"Ah, it was this one," she said, plucking it out of the bureau with a swirl, "This adorable little blue one you wore, when the Captain couldn't keep his eyes off you," she gave a little smirk but didn't manage to keep the sting of her jealousy out of her tone.
"Couldn't keep his eyes off me?" Maria, asked, hoping she sounded as though she had no idea to which night the Baroness was referring. As though she had not spent every night since then replaying the moment when he had looked right at her from across the room. Her heart had most certainly not skipped a beat and she hadn't felt any unexplainable breathless ache in her chest or twist of her stomach in his presence since then...not once.
"Come, my dear, we are women," she gave Maria a hard look, as though she didn't believe anyone could be so without artifice. "Let's not pretend we don't know when a man notices us, especially a handsome man," Elsa admonished lightly, her eyes following Maria's reaction with keen interest.
"Impossibly handsome," Maria whispered too quietly for the other woman to hear.
"What was that dear?"
"Oh, I said, the captain notices everybody and everything."
"There's no need to feel so defensive, Maria," she gave a delicate sniff, "You are quite attractive, you know," she offered, obviously trying to manage to sound gracious, but Maria caught the trace of something else in her tone and she narrowed her eyes as she tried to identify it.
Elsa gave an elegant shrug and turned to look at herself in the little mirror of the dresser, smoothing a stray hair back into place with practiced ease, she found Maria's eyes in the reflection and gave her a smile, "The captain would hardly be a man if he didn't notice you. And he is definitely a man."
"Baroness, I hope you're joking," Maria blutered, horrified and embarrassed.
"Not at all," she said, the 'I wish I was' left unsaid but heard just as clearly.
Shocked, Maria sputtered, "I've never done a thing to-"
"You don't have to, my dear. Nothing's more irresistible to a man than a woman who's in love with him."
"In love with him? I barely know him," Maria exclaimed, feeling the traitorous blush creep back into her cheeks at her own lies. She hadn't any experience with love, but she felt something for him. Something she knew she shouldn't, but it persisted, no matter how many times she told herself she was imagining things. Was this what love felt like?
"Of course, in love with him! What makes it so nice is he thinks he's in love with you."
"But that's not true!" Maria snorted and covered her mouth to stop the bark of laughter that welled up.
"He has already sacked me once, you know. We rarely agree. Why Captain von Trapp and I have chased you and Herr Detweiler out of the room more than once with our, what did you call them? Lively discussions."
"Foreplay," Elsa snapped back, enjoying the confused look on Maria's face as she tried to work out the meaning of that word. "Surely you've noticed the way he looks into your eyes. And you know, you blushed in his arms when you were dancing just now," she added silkily.
Giving Maria a patronizing little pat on the bare skin of her shoulder she gave her a knowing smile, "Don't take it to heart. He'll get over it soon enough, I think," she simpered, running her eyes over Maria's body with clear disapproval, "Men do, you know."
Maria turned her head away to look out the window, recognizing that hard edge to the Baroness's tone, the underlying jealousy in the other woman's voice. "I can't imagine the Captain acting that way…"
"Can you not? What about that little episode we just had on the terrace? He favored you then but dismissed you easily enough afterward."
"Oh, well, it was only a dance."
"For him it was," Elsa offered confirmed icily. "Nothing more. You're nothing more to him than a passing fancy, girl."
"Then you should have nothing to worry about, Baroness," Maria shot back. "If I didn't know better I would say you sounded jealous."
"Jealous? My dear, I am worried for you. So young and so innocent. You'd be tossed aside when he tired of you, I assure you," Elsa's eyes flashed hard and cruel for a moment before she seemed to remember herself.
"Men only like the conquest, the chase. Your untried and untouched and it makes you practically irresistible, even if those are your only charms. I simply wanted to offer you my warning, I have seen it time and again."
"And this is the type of man you believe the Captain to be?"
"All men dear, all men."
"And yet you'd be willing to marry him?"
"Absolutely."
"Believing the worst of him? That he would use me, or any other girl, for sport?"
"They can't help their nature. Georg is a man without equal in our circles. Handsome, charming, and witty."
"He is all of those things. But he wouldn't lower himself to any of those dishonorable pursuits you accused him of. It's just as you said, it was only a dance for him, a kindness, he was just demonstrating for Kurt."
"Demonstrating?" Elsa snorted. "That's a new word for it. Truly Maria, I am trying to do you a favor. Your embarrassing and fawning behavior will only lead you down a path you will want no part of in the end. He will break your heart if you let him."
Maria closed her eyes against the threat of humiliation tears. The words stung because they were true. Had she not been daydreaming about what his kiss might feel like just moments ago? Did she not often forget who and what she was in his presence?
Drawing a deep breath she squeezed her eyes until she was certain they were clear. She would not offer this woman the satisfaction of crying. "I will admit to having no idea how most of your social world works. I realize I am poor, I chose to be. All those who serve God at the Abbey give away their worldly goods. But I'm not as naive as you think me to be and just because I haven't known a man doesn't mean I can't recognize an honorable one when I meet one. You're wrong about the Captain," she said, relieved that her voice was calm and steady, despite her clenching the material of her dress until her knuckles bleached.
"The Reverend Mother told me about him before I came here. How courageous he was, the sacrifices he made for his country, and how dearly he loved his wife. He adores his children, deeply. He can be strict but he is worthy. And yes," she snapped, feeling the anger replace the hurt, "the Captain was kind to the orphan girl and offered her a dance. But I am fully aware there was nothing more to it for him. He was only being kind. You needn't have come all this way to scare me off, Baroness. I know my place."
"I only wanted to offer you advice Maria. After all you'll be gone with the summer, will you not?"
"I will. Thank you for the advice, baroness," she bit out, reaching for the blue dress out of spite and stepping into it.
"If you'll excuse me I have to dress. I am certain the Captain is missing you downstairs," Maria quipped icily, not looking up from her buttons as the Baroness left the room in a snit of cloying perfume.
Maria heard muffled voices in the hallway and hurried over to shut her door. Standing there and staring at the clothes tossed onto her bed she drug a hand through her hair and huffed out a breath of frustration and anger and shock. As soon as the Baroness reported this little outburst to the Captain she was going to be fired. Again.
What was she to do now? Head back into the party as though nothing had happened? Feign an illness? Sneak into the children's rooms and ask them to pitch a fit for her so she wouldn't need to return? Just as she had decided to sneak over and ask Louisa for advice she jumped at the sudden rap on her door.
Without thinking she jerked open the door, half expecting Elsa to have come back for another round of 'stay-away-from-my-man'.
"Captain! I wasn't expecting-I know what this." Maria took a deep breath to curtail the babbling. "I am sorry to have kept you all waiting."
"Not at all. I came up after you and Elsa disappeared."
"Oh," Maria responded mechanically before his words registered and she blanched, "Oh! How long?"
"Long enough."
Maria closed her eyes, "You heard most of it then," she stated, embarrassed as she recalled some of the things she had said. She had called him handsome and brave and he had heard every single word. Biting her lower lip nervously she braved a glance at him under her lashes and found him giving her a knowing smile.
"Umm hmm," he hummed, leaning his shoulder onto the door frame. "I was going to announce my presence, and rush to your defense as you had already gallantly rushed to mine, but," he gave a chuckle, "I admit, I was enjoying the show. I hadn't the heart to interrupt you. I'm not sure Elsa has ever had such a talking to."
Maria sighed. This was how the story ended wasn't it? Cinderella forced to leave the ball one way or another. Resigned she stepped back from the door and ducked out of site to retrieve her bag from underneath her bed.
Yanking it open she started piling things into it, "I should start packing my things then. It's late, but perhaps one of your guests or Franz could take me back to the Abbey tonight?"
Georg pushed his shoulder off the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest, pinning her with a black look, "Are you under the impression that I am going to let you go?"
"Yes, of course, sir, you'll have to fire me this time. I just insulted the woman you plan to marry, during a party in her honor. I am sorry, you know I'm far too outspoken, and it was so, so stupid of me to-"
Georg shook his head, "Elsa was the foolish one tonight, Fraulein."
"No, I should never have-"
"She should never have. And Elsa learned her lesson about you I dare say. She realized just how formidable you can be under that pretty face. And she isn't the only one."
"She isn't?" Maria asked, meeting his eyes and feeling that familiar coil of anticipation tighten as she watched his eyes go impossibly dark blue.
"Don't pack your things, Maria. I have no intention of letting you go," he whispered, ghosting two fingers over her cheek before he turned and walked off down the hall.
To be continued...
Was doing a re-watch of SOM, like you do, and as I watched Elsa manipulate Maria into leaving the villa I suddenly disagreed. Here is a woman who went toe to toe with a man infinitely more intimidating than this skinny minny-who probably hadn't eaten in twelve days to fit that dress properly. If Maria had seen through her faster-well she could have taken her out, should have taken her out-and wouldn't that have been fun. So basically this is wish fulfillment run amok! And I'm fairly certain I'm not the only SOM writer to have done a version of this so apologies for any similarities therein.
Apologies for the blatant lifting of some dialogue, it was rather unavoidable.
And apologies to the darling members of the Baroness Fan Club. I am certain that this story will black ball me from your ranks forever...