Chapter Fourteen
Libertango
- Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla

"Oh, you look so lovely!" squealed Liesl.

The seamstress gave Maria a prod to put her arms up so she could pin the side of the dress. Sneaking a glance at her reflection Maria tried not to smile like an idiot at what she saw. She did look lovely. The dress was finally coming together and Maria was finally feeling like a bride, a real bride. Not a girl dressing up in her mother's clothing. Over the last few weeks, she had been trying her best to prove to both Georg and the rest of the household that she wasn't a child. And she was certain that nobody seeing her in this dress could say that she looked like one.

"I've never felt so special in my whole life," Maria said without thinking.

"That's good," said Henrietta with a laugh. "I think that's the idea."

Maria gave the woman a warm smile as the seamstress finished making her adjustments. After the fitting was finished they stopped by a small café to have afternoon tea, Liesl still gushing about the wedding dress.

After tea, they headed into a small boutique. The walls were covered in all kinds of different lingerie and sleepwear, in multitudes of different fabrics and colours. Maria couldn't help but stare open mouthed until a tall, white haired woman came over to them and asked what they were after. Maria was aware of Hede talking to the saleswoman, but she had already drifted away. Her eye had been caught by a champagne coloured silk robe. It had a deep v neckline and the bodice was made up of lace detailing, which also adorned the cuffs of the long flowing sleeves. A row of several tiny buttons held the garment together at the bodice while the bottom of it flowed down to the ground. It was beautiful. The new garments that had been purchased for her by Georg had been lovely but this, this looked like something a bride would wear.

"I'm glad to see that a life in a convent hasn't ruined your sense of taste," Maria heard Henrietta say from behind her.

Maria turned and smiled awkwardly. "You don't think it's too much?"

Henrietta rolled her eyes. "Your veil is about the length of Austria, so, no, I don't this is too much."

Touching the fabric, Maria let her fingers trail over the small buttons and lace. It was so different to anything else she'd ever owned before. It certainly was not made for sleeping in, and that thought made her face burn and she shuffled away to see what the others were looking at.

"I found some matching lingerie and all the other 'unmentionables' as my mother likes to call them," said Hede, handing Maria a pile of silk as Liesl giggled.

Once Maria had settled on a few other designs and colours, mostly soft blues and pinks, they were picked up by Franz and taken back to the villa, the car practically bursting with bags.

"Georg, it says here we've been invited to the soiree at the Elberfeld's tomorrow night?"

Looking up from his desk, he scowled irritably at his mother. She was standing at his desk and rifling through the pile of letters on his desk, not caring at all that she was invading his privacy.

"Mother," Georg begun, trying not to sound like he was six years old, "I believe that is my personal mail. I do not need you to go through it."

His mother scoffed as she went through the small pile. "You haven't even answered it." She looked up at him sharply. "Why?"

"In case you've forgotten, I've had a wedding to plan."

"Yes, but you are also expected to attend these things, Georg and they are old friends. And I wish to see them."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Georg sighed. "I'm getting married in a week."

"Exactly. And nobody has met your bride! No wonder people talk, you've got her cooped up in here like some suffering princess." Lady von Trapp looked down at the invitation. "They're probably expecting you to start digging a moat soon."

"I have not," Georg retorted, though a moat sounded like a great idea. Maybe he could have one built after Paris to keep both his mother and Max out. "And we have been out a few times."

"Yes," his mother said. "But not to such a large event where everyone will be in attendance! And if Captain von Trapp doesn't turn up, well..." She trailed off and gave him a meaningful look. "Imagine what people would say."

Resisting the urge to say he didn't care what people said, he cleared his throat and waved a hand in supplication.

"Fine," he said finally.

As they walked through the large doors and into the castle, Maria did her best to not fidget with the ends of her gloves. As they moved through the large hallway, she was very aware of eyes watching them curiously. Lifting her chin, she let Georg navigate them through the ornate hall until they walked into a large open ballroom. She watched as Max escorted his cousin, Hede and Lady von Trapp through the room and Maria couldn't help but stare at the sight that greeted her. The ballroom must have been at least three times the size of the one at the villa. Sparkling chandeliers hung down from the ceiling and there were a few high arched doors that lead out onto a sprawling courtyard that was lit with fairy lights.

Over the past few weeks, Maria had been acquainted with Baron and Baroness Elberfeld. They were a lovely elderly couple, and both had been welcoming to Maria, which had been a great relief. And she'd also been introduced to a few other old navy friends of Georg's during the occasional intimate dinner but they had not attended any large parties. The only party she'd attended had been the one back at the villa, and that certainly didn't count. She couldn't hide behind pillars or use the children as an excuse if she wanted to leave. If Maria was honest, she knew she couldn't deny that she'd been excited that they were attending a party. She'd wanted to dress up and dance back at the 'grand and glorious' party back at the villa and now here was her chance! And she was even in a finely made gown of silk and chiffon, that twirled with even the simplest movement, and she was on the arm of the man she loved.

However, she couldn't help but feel out of sorts as they walked through the ballroom, and her dress, which up until now had been fine, suddenly felt too tight. Her nerves were on high alert and her anxious mind kept warbling at her, telling her she didn't belong here. It was one thing to have mastered the villa but another completely to be outside those walls with people staring at her like she was some novelty act Max had hired. It was like the past five weeks her whole world had just existed inside number 34, and it had been easier to forget about the gossips and rumours that were flying around.

I do belong here, she told herself. I belong here with him. With my Captain.

Letting her eyes slide to her fiancé, she took in his effortlessly relaxed but authoritative demeanour as he regarded the other partygoers with a lazy eye.

Not looking at her, he spoke in a low voice so only she could hear.

"Don't be nervous, darling."

Maria glanced at him again. "I'm trying, I really am." She did her best to take in the scene in the same serene manner as he. "Everyone is staring at us – at me."

"Let them," he said, taking two glasses of champagne off a passing waiter.

Accepting the glass, Maria did her best not to instantly swallow the whole lot.

"Remember," he went on, "They just want to see you squirm, don't let them get to you." He gestured towards Lady von Trapp as she walked by with Max. "You survived my mother after all."

Maria smiled at that. "True."

Maria had taken to having tea with Lady von Trapp, usually accompanied with Hede and Henrietta – even occasionally Liesl. While the woman was certainly not what Maria would call rude, she had a certain air about her that made Maria feel like she was not happy with her son's choice of wife. Though, it should hardly surprise her. She had probably expected a new daughter in law called Elsa, not Maria. Maria sighed, it wasn't worth agonising over. There was only one more week left to get through and then it would be just her and her Captain. Finally.

Edging a little closer to her, he said in a low rumble, "They're just jealous."

"Of me?" Maria questioned, her voice tinged with surprise.

"Of course." He glance at her and gave her a grin. "You get to marry me, after all."

Unable to help it, Maria rolled her eyes. "You are far too modest."

He laughed. "Yes, well-" He cleared his throat. "The men are also incredibly jealous of me because I have you."

"Ah," Maria said seriously as she nodded. "Because it must be so hard for an old man to keep up with seven children – you need all the help you can get."

He raised his eyebrows at her and said. "You are spending too much time with my mother, I don't like it."

Maria smirked into her wine glass. "Sorry, I don't think that." She gave him a lopsided smile. "I think you can keep up just fine."

"Hmm," he grumbled. "Anyway, they are jealous because I get to take you home and ravish you senseless."

Maria shook her head. "No, you don't."

"Well, not yet," Georg conceded. "But I will soon. And for now, I at least have my imagination." He leant even closer so he could whisper in her ear. "And, oh, the things you do in my imagination, darling."

Maria blushed from head to toe. "You-you don't have my permission to think such things about my person!" she fumbled.

"Permission?" he smirked, taking a swig of champagne. "I didn't know you knew that word."

"Oh, you!"

He gave a low laugh and returned his gaze towards the other guests. "As I was saying, all those men are jealous of me because I get to kiss those sweet lips of yours." He took another swig of champagne and continued in the same low voice. "And in one more week, I won't need to steal you away into a closet so I can do just that."

He turned to face her, and while their conversation certainly appeared the very epitome of a courteous and innocent talk between an engaged couple, his eyes blazed at her. Her heart kicked wildly in her chest and her fingers gripped the stem of the glass tightly. Trying to find something to say – anything to say, she found she couldn't and so her mouth just stayed open as she stared at him.

"Captain von Trapp!" came a booming voice.

Giving her one last look before he turned to welcome the guests approaching them, she just nodded dully before she saw the confident and calm mask sliding back onto his face. He should not be allowed to talk, she thought. It wasn't fair that he could say a few things in that low voice of his and suddenly cause her body to catch fire. The other day he'd pulled her into a small closet in the laundry and made her utterly breathless before casually sauntering off to meet Friedrich for a ride through the estate. He never played by the rules, Maria thought. But at least she wasn't feeling nervous, so that was something.

"Ah, a pleasure to see you again, Count Ziegler," Georg was saying.

Maria turned to face the couple that had approached them. The man, Count Ziegler, was short and round – like an egg, Maria thought. And he had the largest moustache she had ever seen. Why, his whole face seemed to be taken up by hair with his equally large eyebrows, which were competing with the moustache for turf over his enthusiastic face. His little eyes peered up at Maria and he gave her a large grin.

"Hello!" he boomed, causing Maria to blink and lean back a little. "You must be Fraulein Maria!"

"How do you do?" Maria said politely, trying to suppress a smile as the man bounced happily on his heels.

Gesturing to his partner, he said, "This is my wife, Countess Sophia."

"Bonjour, mademoiselle," she said, her voice coated luxuriously in a thick French accent.

"Bonjour," Maria said pleasantly, trying not to stare at the woman.

She was nearly the same height as Georg and completely towered over her husband. And she was gorgeous, effortlessly so and Maria couldn't help but stare. Giving her head a shake, she idly listened as Georg and Count Ziegler made pleasant conversation, or at least Georg did. The little man seemed incapable of speaking any lower than a happy shout. He also tended to bark out his words in short sentences and Maria was immediately reminded of a small dog, trying to appear a lot bigger than he actually was.

They were all interrupted when Baron Elberfeld came over, insisting Georg come join him and some other old navy comrades for cigar and brandy. Giving Maria an encouraging half smile, he left with Count Ziegler and Baron Elberfeld. Alone with just the Countess, Maria cleared her throat awkwardly, trying to think of something to say.

"You were the teacher, no?" asked the Countess in broken German.

"Yes, I was the governess," Maria replied in French.

The woman instantly smiled at her. "Oh! You speak French?" she said in her native tongue.

"Yes," Maria replied and the woman immediately became more animated as she started to ask more questions.

After insisting Maria just call her Sophia, the Countess politely asked about how Maria had met Georg and also what it was like with seven children.

"Oh, how romantic," sighed Sophia after Maria had given her a similar story to the one she told Hede.

Maria just gave a little shrug, it hadn't sounded romantic to her. And it had been anything but at the time. It had been torturous and heartbreaking, but she wasn't going to shatter the woman's illusion.

Flashing the woman a smile, she took a sip of her champagne. Peering past the Countess's shoulder, she could see Georg standing inside a room, just off the ballroom, with a group of men, a cloud of cigar smoke hanging above their heads. They were interrupted when a pair of women trailed over to them and started speaking to her Captain. Maria noticed how one of them made an effort to constantly touch his arm. They were both wearing the exact same dress, except one woman wore a lurid shade of green, while the other was dressed in a frightful shade of pink that Maria was sure not even Marta would like it.

She watched fascinated as he spoke to the women. It was just like at the party at the villa, she thought. Even without hearing him, she could tell he was using his 'Captain' voice and he had that smug, arrogant air about him that made Maria both want to punch and kiss him at the same time.

"I'd watch out for those two," came the voice of the Countess.

Maria saw she was looking at the two women, who were practically throwing themselves at her fiancé. If it hadn't been so horribly painful to watch their desperate flirtation, Maria was sure she would have been feeling jealous.

"Who are they?" Maria asked.

Sophia waved an elegant hand. "Oh, nobody really. All they do is gossip and pinch any attractive backsides they can find, it's quite sad really."

Maria's eyebrows rose at that and she tilted her head slightly to check her fiancé's posterior, which appeared to free of anyone touching it – but she couldn't deny it certainly looked tempting. Her face turning pink, she hastily turned back to the Countess.

"I'll keep it in mind then," Maria said.

Maria spent her night politely mingling with a few other guests, some had certainly not been as welcoming as the Ziegler's or Elberfeld's but she had made sure to keep her head held high and to be a polite as possible. Though, it was becoming quite clear that nearly everyone that seemed to have a problem with her was female. And while he'd been obscenely arrogant, it seemed that they were just jealous of her. Honestly, she didn't blame them.

He was a titled naval hero after all - and let's not forget handsome, the wicked part of her mind added. He could have had anyone he wanted – he could have had the elegant and refined Baroness Schraeder. But he had chosen her: a flighty, will-o-the-wisp girl with nothing but an old guitar, and a battered carpetbag containing a thick nightgown, a habit and a small book of prayers. Catching her eye, he sent her one of his devastating smiles and she felt her heart thud in her chest.

"I've met Captain von Trapp quite a few times," Sophia said thoughtfully, her accented vowels rolling off her tongue. "But before tonight I don't think I've ever seen him smile. Not really smile."

"Hmm, her cheeks are a pretty shade of pink, but not any pinker than a rose is," said one woman. *

"Yes, I suppose," agreed another. "Her skin may be delicate and soft, but not any softer than a doe's is."*

"She certainly is not graceful - that's for sure. I saw her nearly trip over her gown before. I don't know what Captain von Trapp sees in her."

"Oh, it's probably cheaper just to marry her than keep paying her."

Georg had the strongest urge to whack both women over the head with his gloves, but he refrained. He had overheard someone say Maria's name and naturally he'd tuned into the conversation. They were standing on the other side of a small hedge outside in the large courtyard and he could see the feathers that they had stuck in their hair peeping out over the top. He went to leave when one of the women said something that made his blood freeze.

"Did you speak to Nora? I saw her earlier but was a little too busy to get to speak with her properly. I didn't even know she was here in Salzburg."

"I only spoke to her briefly; she's here with some other old naval officer. I did tell her Captain von Trapp was here and she looked positively gleeful."

"Did you tell her he's getting married?"

"No!" There was a snort. "I thought it would be more entertaining not to."

There was a mad pealing of laughter from the women as they continued to talk about his private affairs. He cursed under his breath. While he knew Maria was slowly becoming more accustomed to his past, he knew it still bothered her – no matter what she said. He certainly had no desire for her to be on speaking terms with it, especially not that woman. He repressed the urge to shudder. Shoving his fingers back into his gloves, he made his way across the courtyard to try and find Maria.

There weren't many people outside now, the air had become quite cool on this autumn night, but he had needed a breath of fresh air. There was only so much talking to old naval officers he could stand for one evening. It was always a painful reminder of what he had lost. A captain without a sea, how depressing. Now I just navigate through a sea of paperwork, he thought bitterly.

There was the feel of a hand on his wrist and he turned.

"Well, hello, Captain."

She didn't look much different than he remembered, though his recollections were hazy at best due to the amount of alcohol he used to consume. Nora Mayer was slim, dark-haired and her painted red lips matched the red dress she wore. That's what he had remembered about her, the red. Red lips, red dress and red wine.

"Good evening, Fraulein Mayer," he said politely and saw her eyebrows quirk.

"'Fraulein?'" she laughed. "God, Georg, what the hell happened to you? I don't think you've ever greeted me so stiffly before." She smirked. "Well, maybe part of you has."

She inched closer to him and put her hand on his chest. He saw she had no gloves on and her nails were painted the same sickening red. With care he removed her hand from his chest and regarded her coolly.

"I think," he said, "It would be best if you kept your hands to yourself."

She pouted. "You want to play this game do you? Fine, I'll play. I was getting sick of Lieutenant Fischer anyway."

"I am not playing any games," he said evenly. "I am here with my fiancée."

"Fiancée?" she stared at him incredulously. "Don't tell me you are actually marrying Elsa? She's such a bore."

"No, I am not marrying Elsa," Georg said, trying not to look around too much. "I've met someone else, her name is Maria Rainer."

Nora frowned. "Never heard of her."

"Well now you have," he said.

Nora smirked and looked at her nails. "Not just making her up, are we?"

Georg went to respond when he heard the sound of Maria's voice calling his name.

"Oh!" Maria said as she came to stand next to him, looking between him and Nora. "I've been looking for you everywhere." She faced Nora and said brightly, "Hello!"

Nora smiled. "Hello, you must be Maria." And Georg saw her give Maria a scrutinising look from head to toe.

"How do you do?" asked Maria politely.

Before Nora could speak, Georg quickly said, "Maria, this is Leonora Mayer."

If Georg had given thought to what his worst nightmare would be, this certainly would have ranked in the top three. He wanted to get Maria away before Nora could say anything that gave Maria any idea as to who she was.

"Nice to meet you," said Maria happily.

"I love your dress," said Nora with an impish smile.

"Oh, uh, thank you," Maria said. "Yours is lovely too, it's very, uh, red."

Placing a gentle hand on the small of Maria's back, he went to guide her inside but the woman followed them. She continued to chat idly to Maria, who seemed happy enough to talk to her. Once they were inside, he came across Count Ziegler once more who was intent on discussing the finer points of fox hunting. With the man booming happily away, Georg was unable to stop himself from being dragged away by the man. He cast a glance in the direction of Maria but she simply just gave him a content smile and waved him off, turning her attention back to his worst nightmare.

"You are very lucky," Leonora said.

Maria turned away from Georg and gave the woman a quizzical look. "How so?"

"Getting to marry a man like that," Leonora explained, nodding her head towards the Captain.

Maria smiled and said, "Yes, I am. He is a very brave and caring man."

The woman was giving Maria an odd look and she was making her feel decidedly uncomfortable. She wasn't dressed like anyone else at the party; she wore no gloves – which according to Liesl were a must. And she was so red. She made Maria feel like she was a postulant in her ugly grey dress all over again. Maria was sure Sister Berthe would have had a heart attack at the sight of this woman. Leonora seemed pleasant enough but there was just something about her that made Maria feel like she was a bug Louisa had found and decided to examine under a large magnifying glass. She felt small and unimportant, like she knew nothing.

"Hmm yes, that is true," said the woman. "But I meant more, he's very good at satisfying any needs you might have."

Maria frowned and stared at the woman, who just continued to give her the same odd look.

"Um, I suppose so," said Maria awkwardly. "He's very generous."

Leonora laughed. "Oh, dearest. I meant he's good in bed."

Maria was sure her face must have been a picture of shock, horror and embarrassment as the woman patted her hand gently.

"I'm sorry," Leonora said with a small laugh. "I've never been one for holding myself back. I didn't mean to startle you, but we are women after all."

"Fraulein Mayer," Maria stumbled, trying desperately to think of something to say as she felt her cheeks burn red to match the woman's dress.

"Oh, please, call me Nora."

Nora.

Maria felt sick. Suddenly all the champagne (well, two glasses) she had consumed was now fizzing in her stomach. This woman had- with him-

"Dearest, are you all right?" the woman asked, putting her hand on Maria's arm.

Maria hastily moved her arm away. "Yes, no- uh." She looked around wildly. "I need to go to the bathroom."

Without another word, Maria headed away from the crowd and snuck back outside. The chill in the air was sharp and the shawl she had wrapped around her shoulders didn't help much. But she welcomed the slight bite of cold and the cool breeze that swept over her.

"What are you doing out here?" came a sharp voice.

Swiping a tear away with the back of her gloved hand, Maria came face to face with Lady von Trapp. "Oh, um, nothing. I was-"

The woman frowned and rummaged in her purse before handing Maria an embroidered handkerchief. "Please, use this."

"Thank you," Maria said quietly, taking it gratefully.

"Now," said Lady von Trapp. "Why are you out here snivelling like one of my grandchildren?"

Despite being upset, Maria felt her irritation flare up. "I wasn't snivelling. I'm not a child."

"Hmm," said the woman, raising an eyebrow at her. "Could have fooled me."

Maria bit down on the inside of her cheek to stop a retort escaping her lips. This woman was certainly not easy to get along with.

"I'll ask again, why are you out here crying like a baby?"

Maria sniffed, and ignoring the fact that the woman had just called her a baby, said, "It's nothing important."

"Then I don't understand why you are crying," Lady von Trapp said smoothly. "You didn't strike me as a stupid girl, but maybe I was wrong. It doesn't happen often but I'm open to the idea that mistakes do happen."

Maria said nothing; her thoughts kept replaying how she had come across Georg with that woman - Nora. He had seemed uncomfortable, and now she could understand why. And it wasn't necessarily that Maria was upset because of the woman herself, it was more how she had made Maria feel: inexperienced, naïve, innocent. Like a child. Maybe Lady von Trapp was right; maybe she was acting like a child. She had been constantly telling people not to treat her like one and now here she was crying because they had gone and treated her like an adult. It just made Maria wonder what Georg saw in her, he was clearly used to such confident women – not girls with bad tempers and a tendency to trip on the edge of their ball gown. She had felt so confident after the encounter in the library that she had been bold enough to even drag him into the ballroom the next day! But she didn't feel like that now.

"I saw you were speaking with that Nora woman, did she say something unsavoury?" Lady von Trap asked sharply. "She has no class whatsoever." She sighed loudly as she smoothed down her fur stole. "I don't know how she gets in to these sort of parties."

"You know who she is?" Maria asked.

"Of course I do," Lady von Trapp said, giving Maria a sharp look. "My son, while a brave and fine man, is still capable of being an utter idiot. He has done some incredibly stupid things – things that make me glad his father wasn't alive to see – and that woman was one of them."

Maria didn't know quite what to say to that and just stared back at Lady von Trapp.

"But I do not think that deciding to marry you was a mistake."

Maria blinked. "You don't?"

The older woman cleared her throat. "While I would have been happy to have him marry Elsa Schraeder, I know it would not have made him, or the children, happy." Maria saw the woman twitch her fingers and she couldn't help the quirk of her lips, no wonder Georg didn't get along with his mother – they were so alike. "And I do want him to be happy." She gave a mocking laugh as she looked out over the sprawling grounds. "Despite what he may think." Turning her gaze back to Maria, she added. "There is nothing worse than seeing your own child suffer, no matter how old he may be."

"Have you ever told him this?" Maria asked.

"No," said Lady von Trapp. "And you won't either. Now, forget about that woman and go back in to the party. My son is marrying you, not her. And while I cannot fathom what you see in him, I understand what he sees in you."

She gave Maria a quick, awkward pat on the shoulder.

"You are going to be a von Trapp, young lady, and we do not cry in corners," Lady von Trapp said, reverting back to her no-nonsense tone of voice.

"You're right," Maria said. "I am acting like a child." She wiped her face again with the handkerchief. "Thank you."

She gave Maria something that may have been a smile before it was replaced by the usual expression of haughty disdain.

"And remember, that's your handkerchief and that's your glove. Don't confuse the one with the other."

Maria smiled to herself as the woman swept away.

A/N I think this is the longest I've taken to post an update for this story haha But it was my birthday on Tuesday (didn't get a pink parasol, boo) and I was also struggling with this chapter, I'm still not completely happy with it but ah well.

I've read a few stories where Maria can't speak French, but in real life she must have because it's one of the subjects she teaches Maria (Louisa), as mentioned in her book, so I went with that. The italics were to indicate they were speaking another language, I hope that made sense.

*Song lyrics from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella – 'Stepsisters Lament'.
Also, I threw in a nod to My Fair Lady because it's been my favourite musical and movie since I was four.