Disclaimer: I do not own TSOM except for on DVD and an old vinyl record
Chapter Two
Sights and Sounds
In which our Fraulein annoys our Captain – Gone – A Girl – Measurements
The storm raged on outside Georg's window, he could see the flash of lightening as it illuminated the blackened sky while he paced avidly in his room. He wished he could be like the storm and just let loose, raging down upon the world. This morning had started out so promising and then, poof – all promises broken. The new governess, Fraulein Maria, had been the exact opposite of what he had expected. She had been young when he expected old, been a postulant when he had expected a full-fledged nun, been far too outspoken when he expected someone reserved and been attractive when he- Wait. No. No, no, no, no. He cursed inwardly at the thought. Well okay, he told himself, it's perfectly fine to accept she's attractive. The point was she had been the exact opposite of what he had anticipated.
Her face had been an open book, every expression blossoming on it; it had been startling and highly frustrating. She seemed to say whatever popped into that blonde head and delighted in taking him off balance. Georg liked to consider himself a patient man, he had to be when it came to being a captain in the Imperial Navy, but his patience had been rapidly lost after spending less than half an hour with some novice nun.
"You don't look at all like a sea captain, sir," she had said. What the devil was that supposed to mean. And why had she gone into a room that had clearly been shut, when she had been told by Franz to wait in the foyer. Georg pinched his brow as he felt the anger return. That ballroom had meant so much to Agathe, and so of course it meant the world to him. He hadn't been in there in years and as soon as he'd slammed the door open and seen the pathetic excuse for a governess in there, the memories had come back.
It was a late autumn day and the afternoon sun was streaming through the large glass doors. Georg had moved the piano down into the ballroom after Agathe became pregnant with Liesl so he could play for her, as it was her favourite room, and save her having to walk up and down the stairs.
They were both seated at the piano and he had one hand gently fingering the ivory keys while the other had his hand on her stomach. She also had her one hand play as her other hand gently rested over his. He made a wrong note and she laughed, the tinkling sound making his heart thud.
"Oh, Georg, my sweet," she laughed, "I think you need some more practice."
"Hmph," he replied, stopping and facing her, "I play a lot better when I am able to use both my hands you know."
She smiled at him, her face glowing, "I am sure, I guess my fondness for your hand will have to get me through your less than skilled performance. I just don't want you to offend the baby."
"Never, my love," he laughed, "I want to see if the baby will kick when I play – you did say the baby moved while you played yesterday?"
"Yes, she did!" Agathe said, her voice full of excitement, "It was so wonderful, I just know she will be a most musical baby."
"She?" he asked.
"Yes, of course it is a she," his wife said matter-of-factly.
"Care to explain?" Georg asked, a smile on his face.
"Oh Georg, I thought I made myself quite clear when we met," she teased.
"Oh?"
"I never explain anything."
Georg could hear the sound of her laughter even now. He sighed to himself, feeling the anger drain away to be replaced by something worse, his grief. It was so much easier to just be angry, to get mad and bark orders. Georg had forgotten that particular memory until now; he'd locked it away in his mind somewhere with the rest of them, still torn between trying to forget and trying to remember. How dare this nun come along and remind him of something so precious that he had lost. In his foul mood, Georg had been very tempted to call the Nonnberg Abbey and demand to speak to the Reverend Mother about this poor excuse for a governess he had been sent. She had told him that this Fraulein Maria would be a great addition and would solve his problem. But he hadn't called; he had been too irritated and knew he would need to calm down. After he had calmed a little, he realised he wasn't going to put off going back to Vienna because of some silly slip of a thing. He would stick with it and see how she went; anyway, his children were sure to do something even if Georg didn't.
"Everyone makes mistakes, Georg, just give her another chance, my sweet." Agathe's voice whispered in his inner mind. "First impressions can always go wrong after all."
He reminisced about when he had first met Agathe and he had certainly made a less than honourable impression on her, but being the wonderful woman she was she had given the young Georg von Trapp another chance. Sitting down on the edge of his bed, he dropped his head in hands and tried to ignore the way his heart felt when he heard her voice in his head. It still hurt. It had gotten easier, Elsa and Max were to thank for that, but the guilt he felt was still there. And it was guilt; a horrible mixture of feeling like he had failed her and their children. But it wasn't enough to stop the way he treated his children, each and every one of them a reminder of his loving wife. Liesl was the most painful though; his poor daughter had been the one to contract the fever and had then passed it on to Agathe as she had nursed her back to health. Liesl with her eyes burning bright just like Agathe. Liesl growing up and becoming a young lady, he was reluctant to admit she wasn't his little girl anymore. He knew he shouldn't be treating her the same way he treated the other girls, she would be seventeen soon.
The image of the young telegram delivery boy swam in front of his vision; Georg had noted that the boy had a habit of hanging around the villa. Honestly, he didn't want his daughter anywhere near the boy, not even a continent would be enough distance. He knew far too well what boys his age were like. The thought of telegrams sounded an alarm in Georg's mind and made him realise he hadn't seen Liesl since dinner, well actually; he hadn't seen her since he had received the telegram from Elsa asking him to return to Vienna for some party he'd promised to attend. Standing up, he threw on his evening smoking jacket and tie, leaving his room and crossed the wide corridor over to the children's quarters. Liesl was the only child who had her own bedroom, since she was the eldest. Entering the bedroom he saw that Liesl's bed was still made and the room itself was completely empty. Next he went to Louisa and Brigitta's room and saw that while their beds had been slept in, there was no sign of any of his daughters. Panicking, he went to the next room, Friedrich and Kurt, still nothing. Lastly he went into the nursery, which was the largest chamber comprising of two rooms: a schoolroom and the bedroom of Marta and Gretl. Neither of the girls was there; let alone any of his other children. He walked back out of the bedroom and into the schoolroom. The nursery schoolroom had three doors: the door to the bedroom that Georg had come through, one from the inner part of the wing and another that led onto the gallery that overlooked the foyer downstairs. He walked out the latter and looked over to the other side of the house where the guest and governess wing was. He crossed over and was walking through the open double doors when he heard it over the sounds of the storm; singing. Georg paced quickly but lightly down the end of the corridor, stopping short at the open door and listened.
"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens.
Brown paper packages tied up with string,
These are a few of my favourite things!"
The governess had his children in her room and they were singing. Hadn't he told her the children were to go bed strictly on time? His anger was coming back, for what had to be the millionth time today, how dare she defy his rules. Although a part of him, the same part that noticed her attractiveness, noted that she had a lovely voice. Such a shame that most things coming from her mouth were insubordinate remarks, he thought and then shook his head in an attempt to dislodge it. Georg listened further to the mutiny happening in the room and heard the sound of someone, or multiple somebodies, jumping on a bed as the governess continued to sing.
"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes,
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes.
Silver white winters that melt into springs,
These are a few of my favourite things!"
Deciding he'd heard enough he walked into the room and the governess nearly crashed straight into him, midway through song. Georg noted with delight how flustered she looked as she trailed off looking a little unnerved. Yes, you are in trouble, Fraulein, he felt like saying. She was wearing the ugliest nightgown he had ever seen a woman wear ever; it was like she was wearing a cream sack. If he threw her in the lake it would probably balloon up and keep her afloat.
He was distracted from his thoughts when she offered a breathy, "Hello," which he chose to disregard while he surveyed the children who had lined up hastily upon his arrival.
"Fraulein," he said sharply, still not looking at her, "did I not tell you that bedtime is to be strictly observed in this house?"
"The children were upset by the storm so I thought that if I-" she stopped as he slowly turned his scrutiny onto her. "You did, sir," she acquiesced.
"And do you or do you not have difficulty remembering such simple instructions?" he asked coolly, not betraying the fury he felt boiling underneath.
"Only during thunderstorms, sir," said the insolent governess, not succeeding in hiding the smile that tried to break across her face, her silly wholesome face.
Her eyes were shining bright, and Georg saw they were an inviting shade of blue. What was wrong with him, who cares what colour the silly little nun's eyes are! Breaking eye contact, he shifted his scrutiny to the children once more as Kurt giggled.
"Liesl?" he snapped.
"Yes, Father?" she said, looking nervous.
"I don't recall seeing you anywhere after dinner."
"Oh-oh, really?" Liesl fumbled, "Well, as a matter of fact-"
"Yes?" he interrupted.
"Well," Liesl begun and she kept glancing at Fraulein Maria as she stuttered, "I-I was...was..."
"What she would like to say, Captain," said Fraulein Maria hurriedly, coming to the rescue, "is that she and I have been getting better acquainted tonight. But it's much too late now to go into all that. Come along, children, you heard your father. Go back to bed immediately."
Georg watched dispassionately as they all rushed out of the room, and then spoke to the governess.
"Fraulein, you have managed to remember that I'm leaving in the morning?"
She nodded and he noticed she had picked up an equally ugly dressing robe and was clutching it to her chest in some unconscious act of modesty. Though what she thought he could see through that nightdress was beyond him. It really was awful.
"Is it also possible that you remember that the first rule in this house is discipline?" he asked.
She once again said nothing and just nodded.
"Then I trust that before I return, you will have acquired some?" Georg said sardonically and turned sharply to leave.
"Captain!" she said, Georg stopped and turned to face her again as she continued, "Uh, I wonder if, before you go I-I could talk to you about some clothes for the children, for when they play."
He sighed exasperatedly, "Fraulein Maria."
Was she serious? Georg could not believe this girl; no wonder the Reverend Mother sent her here. He could not for the life of him picture this…this…young woman in full mantilla and habit, silently and reverently walking through the hallowed vestibules of Nonnberg Abbey. She just didn't listen.
"If I could just have come material-" she continued to plead, clutching at the dressing robe.
"You are obviously many things, " Georg said, cutting her off, "not the least of which is repetitious."
"But they're children!" she exclaimed, her eyes were bright and her face was starting to flush.
He felt like she was either going to cry or throw the damned gown at him. Maybe both. It was slightly amusing, only slightly though.
"And I'm their father," he said, his tone final, "Good night."
He made a point to shut the door carefully and went back to his room. He'd won this round, he was sure.
XXX
The next morning, Maria walked into the dining room where all the children were already waiting to begin breakfast. She quickly checked her chair and saw it lacked any pinecones and sat down.
Casting a glance at the empty chair at the opposite end of the table she asked, "Where is your father?"
"Father left for Vienna early this morning," said Liesl, giving Maria an encouraging smile.
He didn't even say goodbye to his children, Maria thought. She had expected him to at least be at breakfast and wish his children goodbye if he was going to go away for such a long time.
"He always leave early," said Louisa darkly, looking down at her plate.
Maria frowned briefly and then, smiling, said, "Oh well, probably for the better. I am sure he wouldn't want to know about what I have planned for today."
Still smiling she said grace and tucked into her breakfast. She noticed the way the children seemed to perk up at the sound of doing something their father would disapprove of. After last night, she and the children seemed to have formed a small truce of sorts. The younger ones, Marta and Gretl, certainly seemed to have become fond of Maria. They were so young, Maria thought, they probably don't even remember what it's like to have a mother. Not that I am, she added hastily to herself. But it had struck Maria as a little saddening that the children had come running to her room on the other side of the house when they were frightened and not gone to their father. While the man had certainly been severe and unrelenting in his desire for order, Maria was intrigued despite herself to know more about this sea captain. He was so puzzling. What kind of man has seven children but barely spends any time with them? It offended Maria's sense of family.
When her parents had been alive, she'd had a loving and caring home. While the court appointed guardian hadn't been horrible, he hadn't exactly been the loving family she yearned for. He'd been a farmer on the outskirts of Tirol and he had treated her more like an employee than anything else. He'd been kind in a way, but nothing more so than what was politely necessary. But for a poor mountain girl with no parents, she'd been grateful for his hospitality. These children however, may have lost their mother but they still had a father. Yet, it was clear they were orphans just like her. In losing their mother, they seemed to have lost their father too. It made her heart ache for these poor dears. Maria then remembered what Frau Schmidt had said last night to her, about the Captain remarrying. Yes, she was going to help this broken family be one again and prepare them for their new mother, just like she had prayed. Firstly, she would start with something simple and that was the "marching and breathing deeply".
The small voice of Marta broke through her thoughts, "Fraulein Maria, what are we doing today?" She gave Maria a small toothy smile.
"I am going to see how you measure up," Maria said simply.
XXX
"And so our gallant hero returns from battle!"
Georg had just arrived back at Elsa's home and had been greeted by Max as he came through the door.
"Hello, Max," he replied, passing his luggage to the nearest housemaid.
"So, how did it go?" Max asked, "Were the children terrified into submission?"
Georg sighed and waved his hand dismissively at Max, "I don't even want to talk about it."
Max clearly did though, delighting in Georg's distress, "Oh, but I do! She must have been truly a sight to be behold."
"You have no idea," Georg said and then he added, muttering to himself, "That insolent girl."
"Girl?"
"The governess."
"The governess is a girl?"
"Yes."
"What about the old nun?"
"The nun is the girl."
"How can a girl be an old nun?"
"She's a trainee nun. A postulant."
This back and forth was ended as Max said slowly, "So, let me get this straight. You sent for a governess from the Nonnberg Abbey and they sent you a young nun in training?"
"Yes," was Georg's terse reply, he was getting sick of Max's endless questions about the stupid governess.
"Ooh, what fun!"
Rolling his eyes, Georg walked through the large ornate hall and out onto the terrace. Unfortunately Max hadn't finished and followed him.
"And?" Max wheedled.
Sighing in resignation, Georg gave a quick recap of the events that had happened yesterday. He didn't bother to describe her though; Max did not need to know what the young Fraulein looked like. The image of those bright blue eyes radiating righteous indignation at him when he refused her material for the children last night was still burned into his brain.
"Sounds like you got yourself a winner there, Georg!" Max said, "Imagine having a young nun living in your house, ha!"
"Who has a young a nun living in their house?" came a female voice, sounding scandalised.
Georg turned and saw Elsa standing in the doorway to the house, she was impeccably dressed in a vision of sapphire blue. She walked over and grabbed his forearm, her questioning gaze on him.
"Why that would be our dear Georg," Max answered, delighted at being the one to share the news.
Elsa's features rearranged themselves into a frown and then she gave a nervous laugh.
"Ha-ha, very funny, Max."
"While it is true that I am very funny, I am not joking. Georg has found himself a trainee nun to look after his children." Max said by way of explanation.
"Oh, the governess!" Elsa said, "Of course, I hope this one will be better than the last, darling."
"Hmm, we shall see." Georg replied, he had not desire to talk about the governess further. "Anyway, enough of that, Elsa do tell me what you have been up to. Hopefully not missing myself too much?"
He shot her a smirk and she laughed at him, still holding onto his arm.
"Not too much," she replied demurely, shooting a glance at Max. "I have prepared for us to go on a ride soon, Joseph has started getting the horses ready. I will just go change and meet you at the stables?"
Riding sounded like a great idea to Georg, he hadn't bothered keeping horses at the Villa since his wife passed away. Having the chance to do so here in Vienna was great, he knew it would help clear his head.
"Sounds wonderful, Elsa."
XXX
An hour after breakfast, Maria came walking into the nursery schoolroom with the old drapes from her bedroom in her arms. The children were busy with some reading Maria had assigned them but they stopped to watch her as she dumped the material in a corner. Liesl had been sitting with Marta, helping her read, when she walked over to Maria.
"What are you doing, Fraulein Maria?" Liesl asked, watching as the governess then grabbed a pencil and a piece of paper.
"I am going to make you children some play clothes while I make myself some new dresses," she explained, pulling a tape measure out of her dress pocket.
"But we have our sailor suits," Friedrich said, looking up from the book he was reading.
"Hmm yes, but I don't think your father would want those getting dirty," Maria said.
"Ha, you bet he doesn't," Louisa piped up, walking over and eying the drapes. "These are old curtains."
"Yes they are, Louisa," Maria replied, "And since they are old you will be able to do whatever you please in them! You can climb trees, roll down hills and do all sorts of things."
"Climb trees? But father says we have to walk around the grounds, I don't think he'd want us to climb trees," said Liesl hesitantly.
"Well father isn't here and he did put Fraulein Maria in command. Right, Fraulein Maria?" asked Louisa; she seemed to have brightened at the mention of climbing trees.
"Right!" Maria said, picking up the tape measure, "Now I will need to measure you all so I can get started. Measurements can tell you a lot about a person."
"Oh, really?" Louisa asked suspiciously, "Like what?"
"All right, you first then, Louisa," Maria said.
Louisa stood still as Maria quickly pulled out the length of the tape measure and placed one at Louisa's feet and measured to the top of her head.
"A-ha, just as I thought," Maria said, feeling mischievous, "'Extremely stubborn and suspicious.'"
Louisa's eyes widened and she pouted, "Hey!"
Kurt had burst into giggles, earning him a scowl from Louisa.
"Your turn then, Kurt," Maria said as she went over and measured him, "'Rather inclined to giggle. Doesn't put things away.'"
It was Louisa's turn to laugh, "Ha, Kurt!"
"Now, now, enough of that. Let me measure you properly."
As she measured each child, taking note of their measurements, she got talking to them. And goodness, did they want to talk. She learnt that Liesl was overly romantic, a typical teenage girl. Friedrich was interested strongly in the submarines his father had commanded and loved to read anything about the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Navy. Definitely no planks on a submarine, thought Maria as she recalled about her earlier imaginings. Kurt mostly thought about food and would love to learn how to make a cake himself. Brigitta loved reading, especially adventure and romance novels. Marta, apart from a love of pink, had a fondness for kittens and tea parties; Maria had been cordially invited to one. And little Gretl just wanted someone to braid her hair and tell her stories all day long.
Then there was Louisa; she noted that the second eldest girl was a lot more reserved than her siblings, hardly saying anything of much importance. She reminded Maria strongly of the Captain whenever she would scowl at one of her siblings. Maria had learnt from Kurt that it was usually Louisa who found all the creepy crawlies that they used to play tricks on the governess. She wasn't going to worry over it though; she had plenty of time to get to know them all. Maria was just grateful they had put aside the tricks and were actually working with her instead of against her. While the children continued with their studies, Maria helping as required, she begun cutting out the fabric so she could start sewing it later. She would have to ask Frau Schmidt if she could borrow a sewing machine and made a mental note to ask the housekeeper later.
"Fraulein Maria?" asked Gretl.
"Yes, Gretl?" she replied, still cutting the drapes.
"I don't want to read anymore, can we play a game?" said the little girl, her pudgy little hands clasped in front of her.
Maria smiled, "Your father's schedule says we must study this morning. We can play a game after lunch."
"You promise?" Gretl asked.
"I promise."
A/N Thank you to everyone that has reviewed and followed, I appreciate it so much! Every time I get an e-mail saying someone has reviewed I get so excited! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Not sure when my next update will be as I am returning to TAFE and so will be getting busier with both it and work so updates will probably take a little longer.
Also, yes I shamelessly quoted Mary Poppins twice - I couldn't help myself. It just kind of happened though!
