17
He had waited and waited for her in anticipation all day. It was so dull without her. Even though it was a sunny day outside, it seemed cloudy to him, as if someone had sucked life out of the villa with her absence.
Although the children knew Maria had a day off, that didn't stop them from asking Georg every now and then when she would be back. Of course he missed her too, he thought irritably, so he tried to shorten the day by spending time playing with the kids.
The time spent without her presence helped him see his life path and Maria's influence. He still couldn't believe how easily he had capitulated to Maria. She won him over without trying or wanting to and he just handed her his heart in the palm of her hand. So easy, too easy. From the moment he saw her she stirred something deep in him that annoyed him a lot. But who could have guessed two months later, he would be at her mercy, like a puppy waiting for his master.
Too easy.
He was aware that was not fair to Elsa, his saviour, but you can't command the heart. She was the opposite to him in everything/ For God sake she was the only woman he ever threw to the lake he thought with a smug and satisfied grin.
Until lunch he was steady, but by dinner he started to worry. He feared he had scared her too much and she had stayed in the Abbey, but quickly dismissed it, that would be cruel to children. He tried to be calm and collected, but inside he was tortured.
Of course he immediately noticed Maria through the window, when she returned. After all, he had waited for her all afternoon, simply said, the future of his children and him, depended on her. He wanted to be the first to greet her and tell her he missed her. In the long hours of waiting, he concluded that it didn't matter how old you were or how much life experience you have had, when love hits you, you are always unprepared.
But she was not alone, she arrived with that damn, scoundrel Italian. She had obviously spent all day with him, while he worried. Oh, God he hugged and kissed her and she didn't complain, on the contrary she enjoyed it, she laughed.
Taken by an impossible rage and the only one thought: to strangle and kill that annoying pirate, he hurried towards the door but collided with Maria.
One look at her messy hair with small blades of grass and flowers in her hair, crumpled dress, satisfied smile, was enough to make Georg feel defeated for the second time in his life.
The first time when it happened, it was with his beloved Agatha. His hands were tied, there was nothing he could do, he couldn't fight with death. If it weren't for the relentless words, this was even worse. She was alive and had chosen someone else. Four years ago, he had given up his life and simply lived day to day. Elsa helped him, but that was not enough. Until he came across Maria who stole his heart. Yes, he deeply loved her.
Now, it was even worse because he'd obviously misunderstood, secretly hoping that she reciprocated his feelings. Everything was a lie, for her it was a game and for him it meant defeat and despair, he thought bitterly.
xxx
Dinner was weird and tense. The children and Max were usually joyful and talked every now and then. Maria tried to follow the story and laugh when others laughed, avoiding looking at "His Highness". Remembering her uncle, one look at his red and blurred eyes gave the impression that he was intoxicated and grim. But that didn't stop him from stabbing her with a look of pain and deep disappointment.
She really didn't understand why he was so angry. She knew he insisted on punctuality, but by now he should have gotten used to it being her worst flaw. She had apologized anyway, she mused. She quickly dismissed the thought that Georg had seen Luca, she knew he didn't like him, but no one was at the door. She really had no idea what was going on.
Elsa also looked angry and annoyed trying to get his attention while he was barely hiding his piercing gaze towards Maria. She had enough life experience to know that something was going on, while Maria tried to be invisible at the table and every now shyly looked at Georg. No, she had had enough of this. She wanted much more than he could give her and she deserved it. She loved Georg but she loved herself even more.
Honestly, she deserved someone who would look at her with the same loving look instead of barely acknowledging her presence. Georg was different and visibly distracted during his last visit in Vienna, she thought, at times, he was troubled by his children's pranks. She had hoped, in Salzburg he would compose himself, but here he was even worse. Her future fiancé was longing all the time for that stupid governess.
Nevertheless, she decided she would talk to him seriously and finally decide in which direction they wanted their courtship to go. Above all, she didn't like him being drunk so early, as if he was back in time when they met, when he had been constantly heavily intoxicated. They needed to have an open and honest talk.
xxx
Everyone sat in the living room and enjoyed a pleasant evening. That was, it could only be said for the children, everyone else was lost in their own worlds. Max scarcely tried to keep the mood up, but the Baroness was far away with her thoughts and could hardly follow him. Although the Baroness always wore the mask of the perfect lady, it was evident that she was distracted and thoughtful at times. And Captain was a different story. It was as if he was only physically there and his thoughts were far away.
He looked dangerously calm, with a stern face that showed no emotion, and with a few comments towards Max it was evident that he was extremely embittered, even though he was trying to hide it. On a couple of occasions, Elsa tried to cheer him up and jokingly asked him to reduce drinking, but one look from him and his terse answer was enough for her to withdraw immediately.
As had been established before, when Maria wasn't talking, nor singing or clowning, which is true to say, rarely, she could be very observant. And she didn't like what she saw. Neither the quiet, hostile attitude toward her by Captain or his drunk state and mood. Over and above, Maria had a lot of things on her mind and decided not to hesitate but to get it out of her as soon as possible. The first part of the plan has already been resolved with Max, whom she had introduced to her decision and the new school arrangement.
Maria took a deep breath a few times to calm down and loudly cleared her throat. That was enough to attract the attention of everyone present in the room. She cleared her throat once more, it wasn't easy, but she realized she had to.
Now or never Maria.
"I would like to inform all of you that from September I will take over the position of teacher of music and mathematics at the primary school in Salzburg!" Maria breathed a sigh of relief, barely gathering the strength to say it but knew it was inevitable.
She looked shyly at the Captain but he was still wearing an indecipherable mask, as if it didn't matter to him at all, Maria thought with a heavy blow to the chest. She immediately felt the restrained tears and emptiness, at his indifference, but luckily the children bombarded her with questions so she managed to recover at least a little.
"Why?", "When you are leaving?", "Don't you love us?", "Who will be our next governess?" "Why will you leave here and work in school?"
Listening to their questions made it even harder for her, but at least she didn't cry. It would be really humiliating in front of the Baroness and especially him who obviously didn't care about her, she thought sadly. Yet she must move on. What started must end.
She calmly convinced the children that she would not leave their lives. She was afraid that if she started talking to them and explaining how much she loved them and how much they meant to her that she would start sobbing.
"Now. One, by one," she said calmly, giving her best smile to reassure them.
"As you know my arrangement was until September, we have spoken about that many times, but with you children I realized that I was not fit to become a nun. Of course, most people realized that before me. It took me a little longer!`` As she finished everyone started laughing except him. Nothing seemed funny to him tonight, Maria mused.
"The Reverend Mother helped me with this position, and Max promised to help me to find an apartment. This means that I will live close to you and that you can always visit me whenever you want!" She finished gracefully. Luckily she managed to talk to Max after dinner. He was not at all surprised about her decision and promised to help her because he had good contacts.
"Why?" a stern, baritone but primarily an accusing voice was heard.
She froze. Maria truly hoped to break the big news and disappear from the face of the earth, not justifying herself to that oppressive Captain.
"Excuse me!" she asked softly, but his icey mask and that piercing and accusing look were still there. She felt so small, knowing he wouldn't let her go so easily, he never did.
"What prompted you, Fraulein, to change your mind!" Ah, there it was. She had almost forgot about that famous sarcastic and sometimes arrogant voice. They had definitely gone back to the beginning of their journey.
"Well, like I said to the children, it took me a while to realize that living in the Abbey wasn't right for me. I was very persistent about my vocation, but Reverend Mother sent me out to explore the possibilities, before taking such a demanding path."
"And you thoroughly researched all the possibilities?" he asked in a stern and accusing voice again. Oh God, what was going on, why was he acting like that, Maria thought frantically.
"Yes, the Reverend Mother said that if I dedicate my life to teaching children that I will show my love for God in that way as well," she answered slowly, hoping she wouldn't fall into one of his traps, like so many times before.
"Only that, Fraulein?"
No, he will never stop, she knew him well, he would agonize her to the last drop of sweat. Alright if he asked, he would get it. He was wrong if he thought she was afraid of him and she would back off like the Baroness.
"The Reverend Mother said it is in my nature to share joy and that if it is God's will, one day I should have my own family, because the love between a man and woman is holy too!" said Maria with a deep sigh of embarrassment.
There was a long and painful silence. It had already become common for all present to see the two of them locked into their own little world. Maria was already tired of his provocation. It was obvious that he did not care what would happen to her because he continued to provoke her.
"Indeed, Fraulein!" he said with a long exhale, looking at her significantly, while Maria felt guilty without knowing why.
Turning to the children to distract herself a little, she asked: "So, did you miss school?", she asked lovingly. She was glad they didn't resent her. Of course, all the children immediately started talking at the same time, until she gently but authoritatively warned them about their behaviour. She couldn't help but look at Captain, with the secret meaning that she didn't need a whistle.
But she came across the icy wall again, it hurt her a lot.
In the cacophony of comments that no one was looking forward to school except Friedrich, the teasing started. "I think Friedrich is looking forward to school the most, because he'll be able to see his Sarah," Louisa teased.
"Oh, Friedrich, I didn't know that, I thought we had no secrets!" Maria asked gently but teasingly.
"A Von Trapp, never talks about his feelings!" he said in the dignified style of a true gentleman. He was already showing with his measured and moderate behaviour, exactly who he will become. Maria was very proud of him.
"He may never talk about his feelings, but he certainly shows them! " Louisa added cheekily, with a knowing look at Freidrich, while he immediately blushed.
"Do tell us!" asked Elsa, who had been bored, watching the intense sparring between Georg and Maria was drawn to the future gentleman.
"He constantly annoyed and teased Sarah, following her everywhere like a lovesick puppy and he shooed everyone else away from her. Once, he even chased her brother away, thinking he was his competitor!" Louisa said, proud that she had managed to connect it all and finally had a chance to mock him.
At this Friedrich immediately blushed, but his attempts to defend himself were not heard with the roaring laughter.
Laughing and turning her head toward the Captain, Maria realised that he was the only on who did not laugh. Looking at her, then at the floor, then again, he looked visibly embarrassed and fidgeted in his chair.
And then she finally connected all the dots.
Annoying, teasing, shooing of Luca. Oh, God, how many times am I going to freeze tonight, she mused. Was it possible?
No, no way, we are too different like chalk and cheese. Besides he annoys me all the time. But small butterflies were already spreading their wings in her stomach. She couldn't ignore them as well as a small, shy hope.
As murmurs and laughter could still be heard in the background, the Captain sent the children to bed. Maria used the opportunity to leave the room as soon as possible. Too much had happened today and she needed solitude.
xxx
Do you think Georg and Maria will find a way to solve misunderstanding ?