Chapter 2: Accelerated Plans
"Two hundred guests? Georg, how is it even possible for you to know that many people well enough to invite them to our wedding?" Maria was flabbergasted. She knew that Georg was a well-known and wealthy man, as well as an officer in the armed services. However, she was used to seeing him as just Georg, a man of simple needs – family, friends, honor. Sitting here with him on the couch in his study, life felt uncomplicated. Sometimes she forgot everything else that went along with marrying Captain Von Trapp.
"Maria, I must invite extended family members, friends, the regiment, fellow officers, business associates…" Georg looked over the invitation list again. There was no one that he felt could be excluded. This wedding had captured the imagination of everyone he knew – a widower with seven children marrying a former novice who had come to work as a governess and captured them all with the music and love in her heart. It was a story book romance. Georg looked at Maria and wondered again how he had gotten so lucky.
"Yes, I suppose you're right. And I don't mind sharing our wedding day with the whole world. As long as we pledge ourselves to each other before God, I will happily marry you no matter the circumstances or surroundings. It will just take some time to get used to doing things on such a grand scale." Maria reached over to squeeze Georg's hand. He smiled in gratitude and understanding and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. As he pulled back their gazes locked, and just that quickly she saw the smolder grow in his eyes. She swallowed hard, unable to look away. Georg took a deep breath, then turned back to study the invitation list once again.
Maria had noticed that, ever since the passionate embrace they'd shared weeks before on the back lawn, Georg had been more careful with her. It had made time spent alone with each other a bit more relaxed most of the time, but there were occasional intense moments when she knew they both craved more.
"Georg, Maria! How's the happy couple? Planning the big wedding, I see? I suppose you have half of Austria on that invitation list. Aside from me, though, who else do you really need to invite?" Max's exuberant entrance broke the tension.
"Max, didn't I tell you? You're not invited. How negligent of me to forget to mention it," Georg teased.
"Nonsense, Georg. If I'm not invited, who's going to sing the 'Ave Maria'?" Georg and Maria both laughed at the statement; Max was nothing if not tone deaf.
"Max, it's good to see you." Maria gestured for him to sit.
"And you, Maria. But before we talk more about the wedding, I have a telegram for Georg." Max handed Georg the telegram; he opened it immediately and began to read.
"Max, who delivered the telegram?" Maria asked, wondering if Rolf had been to the house. She and Liesl had talked often over the last several weeks about Rolf. He seemed to be more and more distant each time he delivered a telegram and no longer made the effort to seek out Liesl. The girl had cried many tears over the loss of someone she had grown fond of.
"It was that boy, what's his name…the blond boy. He approached the house as I was about to knock on the door and handed me the telegram. He seemed eager to be on his way."
Maria's heart broke for Liesl; it seemed that Rolf wanted nothing more to do with her. She looked over at Georg and was surprised to see him crush the telegram in his fist.
"What is it, Georg? Is it bad news?" Maria asked apprehensively.
Georg turned a stormy look in her direction and then began pacing frantically. Maria had not seen him so agitated for some time.
"Georg, what was in the telegram?" Maria's unease was growing by the second.
"I've been recalled to active duty. I'm to leave in the morning for four weeks of training maneuvers." Georg practically spit the words out.
Maria was stunned. He was leaving? But they were planning their wedding, how could he leave now? Would he be in danger?
"The Austrian government is close to securing an alliance with the Third Reich. These maneuvers must be in preparation for the advancing war. Filthy excuse for human beings," growled Georg.
"Georg, you must not say such things. At least not in public. You've already been entirely too open about your political position. People in power notice these things and can make life difficult for you." Max did not much believe in Hitler's principles, but he believed in survival. He feared for his friend.
"I will not be a tool of a crazed and evil empire!" Georg was gritting his teeth, he was so angry. Maria walked over to him and put her hands on his cheeks, making him focus on her.
"Georg," she began softly, "we need to think calmly about this. There must be something we can do."
Georg looked at her and, after a moment, wrapped his arms around her. He closed his eyes as she returned the embrace, and the two held each other, each thinking about how much they could lose to an insane war.
Max cleared his throat. "Forgive the interruption, but Maria's right, Georg. You must stay calm."
Georg released Maria and led her back to the couch. "You're both right. If we are to do anything, it must be carefully and calmly planned. There's not much that can be done by morning. I will have to report for duty."
Maria felt her stomach drop at the thought of him leaving so soon. She worried for herself and the children, but she also worried for his safety.
"Max, are you prepared to help us, to help Maria and the children?" Georg looked intently at Max, needing to hear the truth.
Max paused, looked at them both, and said, "I am. What do you propose?"
For the first time since he'd received the telegram, the hint of a smile appeared on Georg's lips. Maria was relieved to see it.
"Everyone already knows we're planning a wedding. I propose we accelerate our plans. We move the wedding date to the date of my return. Max, I'll need you to help Maria with the plans in my absence." Georg shot a guilty look at Maria. He hated to leave her alone, especially in these dangerous times. Maria shook her head; he had nothing to feel guilty about. They did not need words to communicate their thoughts.
"While you make plans for the wedding and honeymoon, I'll need you, Max, to make arrangements for the entire family to leave. I don't know how, but the children must be protected. If only I had more time to think…"
"The festival!" Max exclaimed.
"What festival, Max?" Georg asked.
"The festival I've been trying to convince you to enter as the Family Von Trapp Singers. The winners will be traveling across the country as part of a promotional tour for the government. If we enter Maria and the children in the festival and they win, I should be able to arrange a 'detour' in a city close to the Swiss border. With you and Maria marrying the day you return, we can combine the tour and the honeymoon. The country will be taken with your story; half of this city already is. The publicity would not allow the government to deny you the right to travel with the family, at least for a short time. All we need is the opportunity."
Maria looked at Georg; could it work? She could see him thinking through as many of the ramifications as he could.
"It will be dangerous, but we have no choice, we must try to escape. The Austria I've known all my life is about to become a ghastly nightmare, where brutality and death will reign. I will not serve it. And I cannot risk having the children stay here. Or you, Maria." Georg brought Maria's hand to his lips and kissed it.
"Georg, I will make this work." The determination in Max's eyes heartened Georg. He stood.
"I will tell the children what is necessary for them to know for the present. I will leave it to you, Maria, to decide when and how to tell them the rest. I trust your judgment and your wisdom." Georg's confidence warmed Maria's heart.
"I'll pack your things while you talk with the children," Maria said, with a strength she had not known she possessed. Georg looked at her with pride, kissed her gently, and left to find the children.
* * * * *
Only a few hours left before he had to leave. After talking for hours, continuing to plan, Maria and Georg had retired to their respective rooms, having decided to try to get some sleep. But sleep had eluded her, and she'd gotten up and made her way to the second floor balcony. The night was clear. The air felt cool against her skin. Maria stared at the stars and at the almost full moon. 'Georg will be able to see this same moon, even when we're miles apart,' thought Maria. A sudden breeze made her shudder slightly.
"You couldn't sleep either?" Georg came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. His warmth enveloped her and Maria felt safe, protected. She leaned back against his chest.
"How can I sleep when I know you're leaving in just a few hours? Georg, if anything were to happen to you, if our plans aren't successful…" She couldn't continue past the lump in her throat.
"Shh. It will be all right." Georg kissed her temple once, twice. "It will be all right." He ran his hands up and down her arms, trying to soothe her.
'I thought we were beginning a life together; what if that life is cut short?' Maria could not bear the thought. She turned suddenly in Georg's arms, surprising him.
"Georg, you must be especially careful while you're away. You must return to us. I will not lose you now." All of the love and longing she felt for him was radiating out of her, and Georg could not help but be moved by it. He had not held her like this for weeks. He traced her lips with his fingers and felt them tremble beneath his touch. It was enough to make him burn. He could no longer resist; he kissed her, devouring her, his tongue plunging into her mouth. Maria responded at once, her arms tightening around him, pulling them closer together.
Maria felt the heat all through her body, the cool night air forgotten. It was like a fever, and the corresponding chills moved up and down her spine. When Georg released her lips, she groaned in protest until she felt his tongue moving down her neck. She groaned again, this time with desire. She pressed closer and gasped when she felt him.
"Georg…I think we should…"
Georg buried his head in her shoulder, knowing they had to stop. This was not the time, although that did not make it any easier. He loosened his grip on her and made an effort to catch his breath. He could feel her chest heaving against his. It was too much; he was still too aroused, so he loosened his grip further. Several moments passed before either one could speak.
"We will finish this properly when I return and make you my wife, Maria. I know it's not what we originally planned, that it's much sooner than either of us expected. But I love you, I will always love you. I will return."
"I'll hold you to that, my Captain, my love."
