"Fraulein Maria, are you sure you're all right?" asked Liesl hesitantly as they walked past the fountain in the plaza.
Maria couldn't help but smile at what a compassionate creature Liesl was. "Positive, Liesl," she replied, squeezing her future daughter's hand. "I just . . . didn't get a lot of sleep last night. You know how that is."
"Well, hopefully, this meeting will give you new excitement," said Liesl, smiling. They were going to downtown Saltzburg to be fitted for their gowns. Maria returned the smile, glad of the distraction this outing would provide for her. Already, just being out in the fresh air was soothing her raging and sore mind.
An hour later, both Liesl and Maria walked out of the designer's shop with broad smiles on their faces. The gowns were nearly finished, and both were very pleased with the results. Liesl's maid of honor dress was simple and very pretty, suiting her very nicely. And Maria's wedding gown, however simple and modest the design, was stunning on her and she couldn't have been happier about it. Both felt so satisfied that they decided to stop in a very nice café for a celebratory tea and treats.
But what was meant to be a peaceful celebration was anything but, for the group of aristocratic ladies that were sitting quite near to them were gossiping at full force and volume. Much as they tried to talk to each other, it was always interrupted by some shrill laugh or exclamation from the nearby table. Liesl rolled her eyes at Maria with a funny expression, and Maria covered her giggling mouth. "Shall we get back home, Liesl? Or do you need more time to finish your tea?"
"It's cold, anyway," said Liesl. Just as they were about to get up, one of the ladies said something that made both freeze.
"So, what about Captain von Trapp sleeping with his children's governess?"
Liesl managed to stifle a gasp as she looked at Maria, who practically collapsed back into her chair, her face pale as death.
Another woman spoke. "Oh, what a shame! He used to be a man who valued reputation above everything. Now he's gone and thrown it all away just for the lust of some young tart."
"And a postulant to boot! Some postulant indeed! Look how much she valued her vows."
"You can hardly blame her. After all, Georg von Trapp is a very charming man. Even after seven children and a world of grief, time has been kind to him."
"Still, this was a man who put his reputation before anything else, then along comes this young nun and he's throwing it away! A person cannot change that quickly that fast. And now that little slut has ensured a place in our society by getting pregnant, forcing him to marry her! No way he would do this if it weren't absolutely necessary."
Liesl, at this point, quickly got up to pay at the register, so they could leave as quickly as possible. Maria, meanwhile, was still frozen in her chair with that dead look on her face. But one could tell she was listening by the burning and the tears in her eyes.
"Oh, it's sad, but it won't keep me from going to the wedding."
"Yes, I want to see how far along she is. Can't exactly hide it with a white dress and an ivy wreath."
"Fraulein," whispered Liesl, coming up to Maria and taking her arm. "Come on, let's just go home."
The sound of Liesl's voice seemed to allow Maria to move, and both left the shop as quickly as they could. The whole way home, Maria and Liesl said nothing to each other. Liesl felt as if someone had taken her heart and shaken it – she was not used to hearing such cruel words about anybody, much less her family. She made no attempt to try and cheer Maria up, because she could think of no words that could possibly reassure her future mother.
Upon reaching the house, Maria spoke in a dead, hollow voice that cloaked a storm. "Liesl, please tell Dominik to meet me in the music room. Keep an eye on your brothers and sisters in the schoolroom while I speak with him."
"Of course, Fraulein," said Liesl, hurrying ahead to obey her future mother's request.
Five minutes later, Dominik entered the study with a worried expression on his face. He found Maria pacing back and forth at a rapid pace, hands behind her back, her posture stiff. It wasn't unlike her Captain's posture when he was angry. When she heard the door close she stopped and looked at him. "Please play something, something angry."
"Of course." This was bad, he could already tell. This was not the first time he had seen Maria angry, but it was the first time he had seen her hurt. Quickly going to the piano, he played the most soothing music he could think of, and watched as it worked its magic on poor Maria. She bent all the way down until her upper body rested on the top of the grand piano, so she could feel the vibrations like a physical thing go through her body. They helped to sooth her, which was Dominik's intent. By the time Dominik's fingers ceased, Maria didn't move from her position, but was silently weeping.
"Oh, 'Ria," said Dominik, rising to go to her. Much as she had the previous night, he stroked her hair and embraced her to comfort her. Maria allowed herself to completely let go, clutching at Dominik and sobbing into his shirt. Both sunk to the floor and leaned against the large instrument, Dominik waiting for Maria to calm down. A quiet fear went through his mind; for as long as he'd known her, he'd never seen Maria so hurt before. He had seen her defiantly rhetort back to any teasing made towards her, and threaten to beat up anybody who teased him. When her sobs had calmed, she told him what had happened in town, and his own anger flared.
"How dare they! And when they don't even know you, how dare they! Oh, 'Ria . . ."
"I wouldn't have minded half as much if I'd been alone, but Liesl was there to hear that kind of talk against her father! And that they even talk about him like that! He's the finest, bravest, best of men, how can they talk about him like that!"
Dominik smiled to himself. So she hadn't really changed – it didn't matter what anybody said about her; it was when the people she cared about were the victims that she was affected. But the more he watched her, he realized that this time, she was at least hurt a little. "Ria, it's perfectly natural to be hurt, you have every right to be. Don't be ashamed of it. But why now? When Hanz and Reilik would tease you, the last thing you would to is take it to heart."
Maria had to laugh at those memories, those stupid heartless boys. "This is different, Dom. We aren't children anymore, and can't resolve things by chasing or beating someone in a game. Those women are part of the society I will be joining by marrying Georg. I'm, in a sense, joining their club, and will represent not just myself, but Georg and the family with them, just as he does with society. The last thing I want to do is ruin anybody's opinion of my family."
Dominik nodded in understanding, and squeezed her hand tightly when he saw new tears coming to her eyes.
"Oh, Dom, this is all so new! I'm leaving behind all I know to become part of this new society. Will I be surrounded by people like that for the rest of my life? Judging all I do without knowing all the facts? What if I make some horrible mistake? What if –"
"Shh," said Dominik. "Ria, listen to me. In every society, there are people like that. Even children, remember Hanz and Reikil? Or Petra, who always called you a tomboy?"
"Ugh," said Maria in remembrance of the girl with the pug nose and sour expression. "Yes, I do."
"In every town I travelled to, with every group of wonderful people I would meet would always be one or two that love nothing more than to gossip and make false accusations about others. It's their sick idea of fun. We have to just learn to ignore them."
Maria sighed. "You're right, I know you are. But there's another reason why I'm scared, Dom."
"Can I ask what?"
"I . . . " Much as she loved Dom, she couldn't tell him of her dreams and the new feelings that she was experiencing. If he were a girl, it might have been different, but he was a boy so she didn't feel comfortable. "I think this one is between me and God, Dom. It's much the same as the other: entering new territory and terrified of making a mistake."
"Well, may I make a suggestion? When your Captain comes home, don't be afraid to talk to him about your fears. I can see how much he loves you, and I'm sure he would never force you to do anything you're not ready for. Be open and honest with him, for, as good friends as we are, your heart belongs to him, and I don't think you'll feel completely better until you've talked to him."
Maria gave Dom a fond smile and kissed his forehead. "My wise friend, I'm lucky to have you."
"Touche," he replied with a smile. "Now, do you feel calm enough to rejoin the midgets?"
Maria couldn't help but giggle a little and nodded. "How do I look?"
"Much better," said Dom.
As they rose from the ground, Maria offered her arm to Dom and asked, "Will you do me a favor, Dom?"
"Sure."
"When Georg comes home, could you tell him of what's happened? I don't know if I can bear to tell it again."
"Of course I will."
So, her fears partly soothed, she and Dominik made their way to the children. At the same time, Maria felt both frightened and eager to see her fiance again in two days. As for Dom, his mind was already formulating a plan that would assuage Maria's insecurities forever, but he would need some help and a little inspiration . . .