Thunderstorm
Frau Schmidt stood outside Maria's door. She wasn't sure Maria heard her knock; the storm had come up quite rapidly; the wind and the rain were pelting the villa from all directions. She held in her arms three bolts of fabric.
She was recalling the first time she met the Captain. It was shortly after the start of the Great War; he was home on leave. Frau Schmidt had witnessed a loving reunion between husband and wife. Everyone always said their marriage was a model for all time.
The older woman had been with Agathe when she stood with pride as her husband received the Maria Theresa Cross for heroic deeds. She remembered how their life soon changed; the Austro-Hungarian Empire was defeated. The decorated Naval Captain had lost his Navy.
She remembered the second blow to him came a few years ago; the great scarlet fever epidemic that took his beloved wife from him. She witnessed his withdrawal from the family and almost a change in personality as he sought to distance himself from his children; all of whom reminded him so much of their mother. He kept that distance by treating them as military recruits.
A day didn't go by that Frau Schmidt didn't pray for a savior who would show him how to be a father again. Those were her thoughts when she heard Maria's words. "Come in."
Maria was delighted to see her. She addressed the older woman with an uplifting voice, "Frau Schmidt."
Maria had noticed the bolts of fabric she was carrying. The Captain really wants me to make a new dress soon, she thought. Just as she suspected, Frau Schmidt had just received them from the delivery boy. Maria was sincerely thrilled with them. "They will make the prettiest clothes I ever had."
Maria wasn't only thinking about herself; she wanted more fabric for the children. "I want to make them some play clothes."
Frau Schmidt had to tell her about the Captain. "Ever since the captain lost his poor wife, he runs this house as if on one of his ships; whistles, orders, no more music, no more laughing; nothing that reminds him of her; even the children."
Maria was beginning to understand. She knew grief could be very powerful. She had to find a way to help the Captain. When the two women talked about his trip to see the Baroness, Maria thought she might be the answer. Frau Schmidt's comments were most unusual, but Maria didn't notice the inflection in her voice as she told Maria that the Baroness may be the Captain's next wife. Maria was thrilled, "the children will have a mother again."
"Yes, well, good night."
"Good night." Frau Schmidt closed the door.
Frau Schmidt had a friend in Vienna; she had told her all about Elsa Schraeder. She wished she could have told Maria that she was not the motherly type. She won't think she's so wonderful once she meets her.
Maria took off her robe; placed it on a chair; then knelt down by her bed with her back to a still opened window. She began to pray. "Dear Father, now I know why you sent me here. To help these children prepare for a new mother."
She went on with her prayer, until she forgot one of the boy's names. "Well, God bless what's-his-name." Her prayer included every one at the Abbey and the Captain. Maria wasn't the least bit surprised when she saw a dripping wet Liesl try to walk by her unnoticed; she knew she had been outside and got caught in the rain.
"And now, dear God, about Liesl; help her know that I'm her friend. And help her tell me what she's been up to."
"Are you going to tell on me?" Liesl knew all the other governesses had always told her father everything.
"Shhhh, help me to be understanding so I may guide her footsteps; in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost Amen."
As soon as Maria finished Liesl began with her made up story. "I was out walking and somebody locked the doors early. I didn't want to wake everybody, so when I saw your window open – you're not going to tell Father, are you?" Liesl sensed that Maria didn't believe her.
Maria looked out the window; all she saw was the side of the villa covered in ivy. "How did you climb up here?"
"It's how we always got in to play tricks on the governess. Louisa can make it with a whole jar of spiders in her hand."
"Spiders?"
Oh good grief, not spiders, she thought and then prayed mutely, please dear God.
In a more serious tone Maria asked Liesl. "Were you out walking all by yourself?" Maria cocked her head as if to say, tell me the truth Liesl. She watched as Liesl shook her head. That's better, Maria added silently.
Maria had been a mischievous teenager herself; she wanted to help Liesl. "If we wash out that dress tonight, nobody would notice it tomorrow. You could put this on." She took a nightgown from her wardrobe and handed it to Liesl. "Take your dress and put it to soak in the bathtub. Come back here and sit on the bed, and we'll have a talk."
"I told you today I didn't need a governess. Well, maybe I do." Liesl was speaking from her heart she really did like her and hoped they could be friends.
While Liesl was in the bathroom Maria did a lot of thinking. It seems that all these children needed was someone to show them attention and love them. Now how can I help the Captain; the man with the steel blue eyes but deep sadness behind them.
Maria was horrified of spiders; they were one of God's creatures that Maria didn't appreciate. She checked her bed as she waited for Liesl to come out of the bathroom; she was most relived to find nothing.
After a booming clap of thunder her door slammed against the wall; there stood a petrified little Gretl. The villa shook with the next crash of thunder. Gretl ran to Maria and grabbed her around her hips. Maria reached down to hold her close. "You just stay right here with me."
Neither Louisa nor Brigitta had fallen asleep; they both had heard the thunder. Louisa suspected that Liesl was stuck in the gazebo waiting for the rain to stop. She knew Gretl was terrified of thunderstorms.
"Brigitta, we need to check on Gretl." Quietly they ventured down the hall. They found the door to Gretl's room wide open. Marta was standing by her bed too scared to move.
"Come on you two, I'm sure she went to Fräulein Maria's room." The girls saw that her door was open. They ran to it and stood there. Their eyes held that wide-eyed look of fright. Louisa in particular was thankful to find Gretl safe in their governess' arms.
It seemed no one in the villa was asleep. The boys knew their younger sisters were all scared of thunderstorms; they walked past their sisters' rooms. They found them empty. They knew exactly where they were; their governess' room.
The other person who was not asleep either was the Captain. Maybe he considered himself to be on one of his ships and he had the night watch.
All the children were sitting on her bed. Maria tried to calm them by telling them she thinks of nice things when ever she was sad or scared; like daffodils, stars, and green meadows.
"Now you tell me your favorite things." She heard "pussy-willows," "bunny rabbits," and "no school." Liesl came out of the bathroom and added "telegrams."
A lively pillow fight began with several of the children jumping up and down on her bed holding Maria's hands. The near-by window came opened, forcing Maria to jump off the bed to close it. They began a rowdy fun time of singing and dancing all around the room.
The Captain was roaming the halls; he knew his children were afraid of storms. But he wasn't expecting to find all their rooms empty. He heard the singing; he walked straight towards the governess' room. He stood inside the opened door. Just as I suspected she doesn't follow instructions.
Maria was dancing and singing "Dog bites…." She suddenly stopped within inches of the Captain. What's the matter Captain? You don't like singing and dancing.
Maria greeted him calmly. "Hallo." He had no time for pleasantries but he did notice her eyes, why do they affect me so?
"Fräulein, did I not tell you that bedtime is to be strictly observed?"
Quickly Maria answered him, "The children were upset by the storm, so l"—
Maria thought about her answer and stopped in mid sentence. "You did, sir."
"Do you, or do you not, have difficulty remembering such simple instructions?"
Maria innocently answered, "Only during thunderstorms, sir."
The Captain again noticed her innocent look. He knew he had to stop looking at her. He looked down the line of children; he spotted Liesl. Why is her hair all wet? He asked himself.
He called her out. "Liesl, I don't remember seeing you after dinner."
Maria saved her; "….she and I have been getting better acquainted. You heard your father. Go back to bed, immediately!" Maria directed them out the door.
How many times am I going to need to remind this willow-wisp of a governess about behaving like one?
"Fräulein, you have managed to remember I'm leaving in the morning?"
She nodded.
"Is it also possible you remember the first rule in this house is discipline?"
Oh yes sir, I remember, military discipline. She nodded with that innocent look still on her face.
"Then I trust that before I return; you'll have acquired some?"
"Captain?" Now what?
Maria begged him for some material to make play clothes. Doesn't she listen?
"But they're children."
"Yes, and I'm their father. Good night." He didn't even wait for a response; he abruptly closed the door.
Georg didn't go to his room immediately; he stood outside her door almost holding a laugh inside. He knew she was angry with him. In fact Maria was steaming mad. He heard her exclamation, "Oh you."
Of course he didn't know she threw her robe as far as she could before angrily taking a seat on the chair. Her eyes were drawn to the drapes; she had a realization. She knew the drapery material was perfect for play clothes. Maria felt the drapes, measured them and danced to the next pair which she draped on her head.
Georg faintly heard singing. He put his ear to her door and was able to hear her soft singing, "girls in white dresses…" and then it became louder, "I don't feel so bad." He walked back to his room wondering, why was she singing? Why was she so happy?
Maria didn't go to bed right away; she spent an hour or so sketching the designs for the children's clothes. The designs were simple with straight seams; easy and quick to sew together.
"I wonder when the drapes will be replaced. I hope it is soon."
By now it was quite late. It had been a very long day and she hadn't slept well last night; her images of the Captain had kept her awake. The soft sound of the rain was almost like a lullaby to her; she slept well.
Georg couldn't wait to leave for Vienna; he was ready to leave by daylight. But he was not leaving his thoughts behind. Why can't I get her out of my mind? What was she singing? Why was she so happy? Who is she that she keeps invading my mind?
The road had changed to steep hills and turns. Georg scolded himself. "I must concentrate on my driving; the last thing I need is an accident."
Elsa's palace was just on the outskirts of Vienna. It stood on a plateau 1000 feet up the side of a mountain. The end of the winding road brought Georg to the front gate. There was no one there to open it; he was earlier than expected. He opened it himself.
Siegfried the butler was standing at the front door. "Good day Georg, I'll take your bags to your room. You may go in."
Elsa was no where in sight; but someone else was. "Camping out again Max?"
"Georg, now why do you greet me that way? I can't help it Elsa enjoys my company almost as much as yours."
"Ho, ho; you think so Max?"
"Of course I do Georg. How's everything at home?"
"Oh just fine; the children have a new governess."
"Another one Georg and you thought it safe to leave?"
"She's from the Abbey, Max. I'm sure everything will be just fine." Silently he added. I can't let on I left because she has touched a nerve. She intrigues me – that's all. But I do wonder what she and the children will do. I'm sure Frau Schmidt will call me if she steps out of line.
Max doesn't seem to have a permanent home. Max had been staying with Elsa for several weeks; she enjoyed his witty conversations and also primed him with questions about Georg's life since Agathe died. Elsa had laughed many times as he told her all about the tricks the children had played to get rid of the women he had hired as teachers or governesses.
Max had free use of Elsa's driver; he was frequently gone during the day; leaving Georg and Elsa alone. Today she found him sitting on one of the balconies that overlooked the valley below.
"You seem to be in deep thought Georg." He couldn't get Maria's innocent look and her expressive blue eyes out of his mind.
"Not really darling, only enjoying the view."
"We have parties almost every night Georg. My friends are anxious to see you again."
"I'm no different from any other man you've dated. It must be my military bearing they enjoy; I don't slouch or find my tux too tight in places."
"Georg, you are attractive, but you are so much more."
"Excuse me Georg."
"What is it Siegfried?"
"You have a phone call sir."
"Did the party sound urgent?"
"Not at all sir."
"Hello."
"Captain."
"Oh. It's you Frau Schmidt."
"I wanted to assure you the children are having a marvelous time. I've never seen them happier."
"What about their studies?"
"Maria has them studying; you needn't worry."
"Thank you, call me if anything changes."
"I will sir; goodbye." He heard the click but he clunked his phone into its cradle rather firmly.
"Are you finished Georg? Is everything all right at home?"
"Everything is marvelous." Max looked at him strangely. That's an interesting word.