Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
Author's Note: Thank you, everyone, who's read and reviewed this story. This chapter doesn't have too much Georg/Maria interaction but the next one will have more. Enjoy!
Something Good
Chapter 4
He supposed, afterwards, that it would have been too much to expect that the almost angelic behavior of his children and the idyllic happiness of the summer days could continue on. And yet, when the idyll was broken, he still found it startling. As if he were surprised to discover that his children were, after all, normal children and not angels.
It was raining that morning and so the children had to stay indoors which undoubtedly added to their restlessness.
"I wanted it to be sunny today," Marta said rather fretfully during breakfast.
"I wish you wouldn't whine, Marta," Brigitta scolded. "We all wish it was sunny."
He opened his mouth to chide Brigitta for her tone but Fraulein Maria spoke up first.
"Brigitta…"
There was just enough disapproval in Fraulein Maria's voice to make Brigitta look up and then flush with some regret and she reached over and squeezed Marta's hand in silent apology before looking back up to meet Fraulein Maria's slight smile and nod.
Georg relaxed as peace seemed to be restored but it didn't last.
"May I dance at the party, Father?" Liesl asked.
"Absolutely out of the question," he responded immediately, rather amazed that Liesl would even ask. She was only sixteen!
"But, Father, I'm sixteen now!" she protested with some heat, surprising him. She never would have questioned one of his decrees so openly before. "I'm not a child." She abruptly turned to Fraulein Maria. "Fraulein Maria, will you tell Father--" she began.
Fraulein Maria looked up from where she'd been helping Gretl, her eyes fleetingly meeting his before she looked at Liesl. "Now, Liesl, you must behave like an adult if you want to be treated like one," she said quietly.
Liesl flushed a little. "Please, Father, may I dance even once?" she asked with scrupulous politeness.
He met Liesl's eyes. "No, Liesl," he said, more gently but firmly enough that she knew he wasn't going to relent, and Liesl was silenced, although, he noticed with a small, inward sigh, the rather mutinous set of her lips and chin afterwards.
The rest of breakfast passed quietly enough but without the usual cheerful conversation.
He glanced at Elsa, who was watching the children with an odd expression on her face, part curiosity and part surprise, as if she hadn't realized that the children who had been almost uniformly cheerful for her visit so far, could be so silent for so long. He wondered what she was thinking to put that expression on her face—was she trying to imagine herself their mother? The thought was a little startling.
"Would you like any help with the last preparations for the party, my dear?" he asked, mindful of his resolve to spend more time with her.
She turned to smile at him. "If you have time, I would love to have your opinion on some things."
He returned her smile. "For you, I have all the time in the world," he said gallantly.
He was rewarded for this with another bright smile and his mood lightened somewhat as he studied her lovely features.
Another silence settled over the dining table, although this one was a little more peaceful than it had been earlier, until it was finally broken by Fraulein Maria.
"Children, come along, it's time for your lessons."
The children grumbled and seemed to drag their feet as they stood up with palpable reluctance and discontent.
"Oh, must we, Fraulein Maria?" Kurt asked plaintively.
"Now, Kurt, you know you have to," Fraulein Maria reproved gently as she ushered each one out the door.
"But Fraulein--" Kurt began.
Fraulein Maria gave Kurt a very expressive look and said, "Kurt," in a low but very firm voice and Kurt subsided, closing his mouth and following after Brigitta.
Georg watched this with some interest, realizing with something like surprise, that for all her laughter and all her affectionate nature, Fraulein Maria could also keep his children in order surprisingly well. It wasn't anything he'd particularly considered before, perhaps because of the very mildness of her discipline, but he realized now that Fraulein Maria did keep order in her own way. His children listened to her, followed her instructions, as they had now, even when it had been clear that none of them wanted to start their lessons for the day. He suddenly remembered one of the former governesses—he could not remember her name at the moment—and how that lady had had to physically push the children out of the room when it came time for lessons and how, one morning, Brigitta had quite deliberately spilled her drink soaking both herself and Louisa in the process in an attempt to put off their lessons, much to that lady's anger.
His children's behavior with Fraulein Maria was in striking contrast to that. They obeyed her, not always eagerly but without any real fuss. She kept discipline, he thought, through her very gentleness. His children obeyed her because they wanted to, because they knew she cared for them and they trusted her.
He suddenly realized that he was thinking of Fraulein Maria again and hastily pulled his mind away, focusing instead on Elsa and her cool beauty. She was lovely, he thought in a rather detached manner, always a pleasant sight. He wondered what it would be like to see her every morning when he awoke; he had never seen her without her powder and other feminine beauty enhancers, never seen her anything less than immaculate.
She put down her napkin and looked at him. "My, but you look very serious, Georg. What is it?"
He blinked and smiled at her a little. "Nothing of any importance, my dear." He stood and offered her his arm. "Shall we?"
"Certainly."
"I have rather neglected you during your stay, haven't I?"
"Oh, no, Georg, not at all. It's been a wonderful visit so far."
"Even if I've been leaving you to the tender mercies of Max and his idea of fun for much of the time?" he asked with a slight smile.
She laughed. "Max is outrageous but you know he amuses me. I completely understand that you need to spend time with your children. They're absolutely delightful."
His smile softened automatically at the mention of his children. "They are incorrigible imps," he responded but knew he hadn't been able to keep the affection and the pride out of his voice.
She laughed softly, her eyes shining up at him, and he lifted her hand to his lips to kiss it in a gallant gesture.
"It is good to see you here, in your home, with your children, darling. You're much more at ease here than you are in Vienna."
"More at home with my children than with all your gossiping friends, Elsa? Why, whatever gave you that idea?" he quipped.
"I do wonder how you've managed to spend so much time away, Georg. It's so lovely here."
"Well, Vienna does have certain lovely distractions of its own," he made answer lightly. He did not feel comfortable admitting that for so long, all the beauty of his home, the company of his children, had meant so little, that he hadn't allowed himself to appreciate it all.
"I do hope I'm one of those distractions," Elsa smiled as she sat down.
"But of course you are," he told her truthfully.
She gave him another smile as she pulled out what looked like some pamphlets and other pieces of paper with her handwriting on it. "Now, these are the choices for the music and for the dinner menu. I rather liked this orchestra and this choice for dinner. What do you think, darling?"
He gave the papers only a cursory glance. He knew precious little about the different orchestras and even less about what went into a proper dinner menu for a party. "I am sure anything you choose will be just fine," he answered quickly.
"You haven't even looked at them," Elsa protested laughingly.
"I have every faith in your ability to organize a party and be a perfect hostess," he said lightly.
She dipped her head a little in acknowledgment, a pleased smile curving her lips.
The perfect hostess… He meant the words; she would be the perfect hostess. What he did not know and had not decided was whether she would be as perfect a wife—or a mother. He was aware that hosting this party and, moreover, permitting Elsa to act as his hostess in the eyes of society, would be sending a tacit message of his intentions to everyone. In hosting this first party since Agathe's death in Elsa's honor and in allowing Elsa to play the role of his hostess, a role that would, usually, be played by his wife, he would be seen as making an implicit announcement that Elsa was going to be the next Baroness Von Trapp.
Somehow, the title struck him with unwarranted force, giving him pause. Baroness Von Trapp—the title that had been Agathe's for so many years. Agathe's title, Agathe's name… Could he truly have Elsa take Agathe's name, Agathe's place in his life, by his side?
He was suddenly filled with a wave of doubt, stronger than anything he'd felt before in thinking about marrying Elsa. He cared for Elsa, even loved her in a way, he knew—but to give her the title that had been Agathe's… He couldn't imagine it, somehow.
Elsa was Elsa—Agathe had been… everything… his first love, his wife, the mother of his children… It wasn't that he expected to replace Agathe; she was, would always be, irreplaceable.
And yet…
He wanted a wife. He was conscious of that. It was… a lonely existence, even with his children. Just how lonely he had only recently realized along with his realization about how much he had closed himself off from his children these past couple years.
But did he want Elsa to be his wife, the woman to spend the rest of his days and his nights with?
He didn't know, the question leaving him in an uncharacteristic paralysis, indecisive and uncertain of himself in a way that was unprecedented for him. He was used to being in command, was not given to indecision, but in this matter, he was undecided, could not seem to decide.
He started a little at the rather distant sound of a door slamming and then running footsteps followed by indistinct shouting.
He suppressed a sigh and frowned a little as he stood up. "I'm sorry, Elsa, but it sounds like I need to see what my children are up to."
"Of course, darling."
He pressed her shoulder briefly by way of apology as he left, walking swiftly towards the children's schoolroom.
"Kurt Von Trapp, bring that back here!" Brigitta yelled.
There was the sound of running footsteps and then Kurt almost flew blindly past him and Georg reached out quickly, grabbing Kurt's arm.
"Kurt!"
His voice was unconsciously strict, harsher than it had been in weeks, the way he'd often spoken to them before, and the effect on the boy was immediate.
Kurt immediately straightened up, his expression sobering and—Georg frowned a little—there was the slightest flicker of… apprehension… in the boy's eyes.
The Captain felt a small pang; surely his children were not still frightened of him? He suddenly heard Fraulein Maria's voice in his head: They fear you too much.
He forcibly gentled his tone and released his grip on Kurt's arm. "Now, Kurt, what is all this?"
Kurt almost visibly hesitated before he opened his lips but before he could speak, Brigitta came running up, only to almost skid to a halt at the sight of her father.
"Kurt, you—Father!"
Georg gave her a brief glance before returning his attention to his son. "Kurt," he prompted.
"I- er- ran off with the book Brigitta was reading, sir," Kurt confessed bravely. "It was my fault."
Georg turned to Brigitta. "Brigitta?"
"Yes, Father. I'm sorry for shouting."
Georg flinched a little at how subdued she sounded, more subdued than she'd sounded in weeks, all her usual spirit quenched. And any annoyance he might have felt over her shouting died as quickly as it had been born. "It's not your fault, Brigitta. I confess I would probably have done the same in your situation," he added, trying to coax a smile from her.
Brigitta's eyes flashed up to his and he was amply rewarded to see the beginnings of a smile curve her lips.
"Now, Kurt," the Captain said, sobering.
Kurt needed no further urging and handed the book he'd been holding to Brigitta. "Here. I'm sorry for taking your book, Brigitta."
Brigitta smiled a little, accepting the book. "That's alright."
Georg gave his daughter a slight, approving nod and smile, putting his hand on her shoulder. "Now, where is Fraulein Maria in all this?"
Brigitta's and Kurt's relieved expressions immediately froze as they both looked up at him. "Oh, it's not her fault, Father!" they both burst out.
He glanced at them in surprise—not at how protective they were of their governess but at the fact that they still, apparently, felt some need to protect her, from him, at least. Clearly, they had no idea just how much Fraulein Maria had charmed him—even against his will—and how he was beginning to feel as if there had never been a time when she hadn't been there, could not imagine the villa without her now… "I have no intention of blaming her."
"Good," Kurt said stoutly and Georg suppressed a smile at his son's boldness.
He followed as Brigitta and Kurt filed back into their schoolroom.
Fraulein Maria was sitting by Gretl, with Gretl nestled up next to her governess, one hand being held in both of Fraulein Maria's—and, the Captain noticed, one of Gretl's fingers was bandaged which immediately answered his question of where Fraulein Maria had been.
"Kurt, I hope you--" she began and then looked up to see them and made as if to stand up but Georg waved a quick hand. "No, no, there's no need to stand." He smiled a little. "I just wanted to see what the children were up to."
He knelt down in front of Gretl, trying very hard not to notice how near this brought him to Fraulein Maria, as he focused all his attention on his daughter. "What happened to your finger, darling?"
"I cut it," she said simply, oddly matter-of-factly. If she had cried over it, clearly her tears were gone and she'd been adequately comforted.
"Oh." He took the hand which Gretl had freed from Fraulein Maria's to show him and kissed the bandaged finger. "Will you be alright, darling?"
"Yes, Father. Fraulein Maria made it all better."
He straightened up, although he kept his gaze on Gretl. "Did she?"
Gretl snuggled back against Fraulein Maria's side, slipping her arm confidingly around her governess. "Fraulein Maria makes everything better," she said simply.
He saw Fraulein Maria's arm tighten around Gretl and glanced up at her to catch the wistful, tender expression in her eyes as she looked at his youngest daughter and something about the look caught at his heart.
"Does she, indeed?" he murmured softly, half-absently. "Well, that's good then." He forcibly pulled his gaze away from Gretl and Fraulein Maria to glance around at his other children. "I hope you will all behave for Fraulein Maria."
"Yes, Father," they all chorused at the same time as Fraulein Maria spoke up. "Oh, I'm sure they will, Captain. They generally do."
"I am glad to hear it. If they continue to do so, they may take the rest of the day off from studying after lunch."
He sensed rather than saw the smiles dawning on his children's faces as he kept his eyes on that of their governess as she smiled, meeting his gaze as forthrightly as usual. "I'm sure they will enjoy that, Captain."
"Good." He gave her a nod before he walked out, after a last glance at Gretl and the utterly trusting way in which she was nestled next to Fraulein Maria.
It was one of the most touching images he could ever recall seeing. They looked like a mother and daughter, he thought with a surge of tenderness— and at the moment, he couldn't tell whether the tenderness was more for Gretl or for Fraulein Maria.
Gretl wouldn't remember Agathe at all, since Agathe had died when Gretl had been less than three years old. He was fairly sure that Marta would have some faint memories of Agathe but not Gretl. Gretl, alone, could have no memory of her mother, had only known governesses in her life—and for much of her life, too, had known very little of her father, he thought with a fresh pang of guilt.
He had been more indulgent with Gretl than he had been with his other children, because she had been the youngest, but even so, he knew he hadn't been the father he should have been to her. He was only fortunate in the resilience and innocence of her childhood that made her so quick to trust, so quick to forgive and forget the past years.
"Fraulein Maria makes everything better," she had said—and he suddenly remembered a time, years ago, when Liesl had fallen and scraped her knee and she'd gone running for Agathe, rather unconsciously rejecting her father in the process, explaining tearfully that her mother would make it better again.
Fraulein Maria had become, in many ways, the mother Gretl had never known. He suddenly wondered what would happen to Gretl when it came time for Fraulein Maria to leave—but then dismissed the worry. She would have all her brothers and sisters there and he would, of course, be there for her and he would be more involved in his children's lives. Gretl would be fine.
He didn't want to think about just why he found the thought of Fraulein Maria leaving so distasteful. It could only be a concern for his children's sake, he told himself. And yet…
And yet, he could not find his reasoning very convincing.
He had grown to like Fraulein Maria, entirely apart from his gratitude to her for how good she was with his children. He enjoyed her company, enjoyed her spirit and her humor; he liked her kindness and her honesty. He would miss hearing her lovely voice singing around the house, would miss her smile and her laughter…
He abruptly stopped his thoughts, realizing just where his thoughts had wandered—when he should be spending the morning with Elsa, no less.
Fraulein Maria was entirely too dangerous for his peace of mind. He should avoid her as much as possible—but how to do so without also denying himself his children? He couldn't. After all, his children were the most important thing and while he was with them, he would simply have to be more careful not to single Fraulein Maria out for any attention.
He would focus on his children—only his children—and treat Fraulein Maria with the same detachment as he had the other governesses. Surely that could not be so difficult to do.
~To be continued…