Disclaimer: Remains the same, my friends.
Rating: Also the same. On to the story!
Coffee.
It was the hot, hazelnut-scented beverage that finally roused the Captain and Maria.
Maria had woken first, not knowing quite where she was. Was she in Austria again? Then she remembered. Switzerland! "Darling? Do you smell-"
"Coffee," Georg finished her sentence for her. "Indeed I do!" the Captain sat up straight.
"Do you think that perhaps Freya and Garth- but I can't imagine them coming in here before we are dressed-" Maria sat bold up in the bed, reaching automatically for the robe that wasn't there. Instead, she pulled the thick eiderdown quit up to her chin.
All of a sudden, they heard a giggle. Then a loud whisper- "Hush, Marta!"
A smile crept over the Captain's face as he recognized the voices. Maria laughed and began to call out to them, but he put a finger over her lips, his eyes brimming with mischief. "Maria, darling," he said, loudly. "Do you remember our plans to send Marta and Gretl off to join the circus?"
Maria gave her husband a severe "stop it!" look, but he was having too much fun. "I received a very fine offer from a gentleman right before we left Austria, and he is here in Switzerland now. I'll call him this morning, and-"
A partially stifled, outraged cry from the corner finally broke his composure, and he began to laugh. "Marta, Gretl, come out, we know you're there," he said.
Both girls emerged from behind the wardrobe, still in their nightclothes, each carrying a covered tray. Maria hopped out of bed and ran to relieve Gretl of her load, as well as kiss both girls good morning.
"Father, you want to send us to the circus! We heard you!" Gretl accused her father indignantly.
"Your father was only joking." Maria shot her husband a disapproving look to mask her own amusement, as he was still chuckling at his own cleverness.
"Yes, I was joking, Gretl. I would never send you away," Captain Von Trapp finally said. He wiped his eyes and glanced at Marta, who was staring at them, wide-eyed. "Whatever is the matter, Marta?"
"Your bed is so large!" she said, awed.
"Is it? Well, I suppose it is." The Captain could see how the imposing four-poster, with all its quilts, pillows, and throws, could look to a six-year old. Marta brought the tray, and with the help of her mother, rolled the breakfast table over to the side of the bed. She put down the tray, still staring wide-eyed at the bed, and the Captain lifted the cover, momentarily distracted by the smell of the food.
Maria put down the second tray and lifted the cover as well. The first tray contained scrambled eggs with fine cheese, German sausage, fruit preserves, and sweet rolls. The other contained butter, a pot of strong coffee, a smaller one of tea, and two cups and saucers. A fat little china dish shaped like a cherub held sugar cubes, and another held cream. "This looks wonderful. Thank you, girls!"
"Have you had your breakfast yet?" Maria asked.
Gretl nodded. "Fraulein Freya let us make pancakes in the kitchen, and we had them with sugar syrup and milk. I made three, and I ate them all!"
"That's a lie!" Marta contradicted. "Kurt finished them for you."
"Did not!"
"Did so!"
"Girls, girls!" Maria laughed and broke up the argument. Marta leaned against the side of the bed, staring up at her parents longingly.
Maria noticed and smiled. "Would you like to come up here with us, Marta?"
"Would I!" The little girl's face brightened, and she reached her arms up so that Maria could pull her up into the bed. "Me, too!" Gretl cried, and Maria pulled her up as well. "Now, don't spill your father's coffee!"
They looked at him anxiously.
Georg looked as if he wanted to mediate a lecture on the inappropriateness of his children hopping into bed and eating breakfast with himself and his wife, but he finally shrugged, then stirred cream into his coffee and took a sip. Elated, the girls took this as approval and began to crawl about the bed, pretending that they were on a goose-feather pillow and eiderdown blanket- covered island.
"Darling," Maria said, spearing a piece of bread with her fork and dipping it in the rich cherry preserves, "we really must get downstairs and greet our hosts-"
They were interrupted when they heard a knock.
"It's Leisl, father."
"Come in!" called Georg through a mouthful of bread. He noted the preserves on his wife's plate, then casually reached over and swiped a spoonful, much to her surprise. "Umm."
Lisel walked in with an armful of clothing, then stopped short when she saw her father and Maria eating in bed, Marta and Gretl carousing on the end.
"Whatever is the matter? Come in, Lisel," called the Captain. "Would you like some of these preserves? They are quite good."
Lisel didn't know what to be more shocked about- her father's offering of preserves, or the fact that he was eating his breakfast in so…undignified a state, and actually seemed to be…enjoying himself. "Er…."
"Good morning, Lisel." Maria saved her from having to talk, climbing out of bed and licking a bit of wayward preserves off her thumb, before kissing her good-morning and taking her bundle. "Good heavens, what are- oh, my!"
"They are our clothes from yesterday," Lisel reported.
"Yes, I can see that," Maria said in amazement, rifling through the clothing. "And everything is washed and mended. Oh my- Fraulein Freya must have been up all night, doing this! What time is it, dearest?"
"Almost noon."
"Almost noon?"The Captain sprung out of bed, shoving the last of his roll into his mouth. The breakfasting father was gone; the military man was back."Where are all the others?"
"Oh, we've been up for hours," Lisel said, airily. "Fraulein Freya and Herr Ebbe said you both needed your rest."
"They were right. I feel wonderful," said Maria, stretching.
"Maria, get dressed. Gretl and Marta!" The Captain swung around, facing his two youngest daughters, who were now attempting to climb the posters.
They hopped down, effectively chastised. "Yes, father?"
"Go down and remove those nightgowns at once. Noon, indeed!" he took his clothing from Maria and headed to the bathroom, where he slammed the door behind him. Maria and Lisel exchanged amused glances, and Marta and Gretl scurried for the stairs, leaving Maria and Lisel to clean up and to make up the bed.
As they tucked in the covers and fluffed the pillows, Maria gave her stepdaughter a searching look. "Lisel?"
"Yes, mother?" she smiled.
"This may be difficult, dearest, and perhaps I should have asked you sooner…but have you given Rolf's actions any thought?"
Lisel looked startled; then she blushed. "I-"
They were interrupted when the Captain burst through the doors, military bearing in full force, fully dressed. He gave Maria and her white flannel nightdress a searching glance. "Darling…."
"Yes?"
"Did I not ask that you dress immeadiately?"
Maria's face dimpled mischievously, and she winked subtly at Lisel before replying. "Yes, darling, but you were in the bathroom."
The Captain's face twitched. "Oh. Yes. I suppose that is correct."
He turned and walked towards the door, muttering "Sleeping till noon, indeed!" under his breath. Maria and Lisel waited till they heard his feet on the stairs before breaking into peals of near-hysterical laughter.
When Captain Von Trapp made it downstairs, Maria soon joined him. She found him wandering about the sitting room, looking at the walls, floor and decorations with a practiced eye.
"This place belongs to a woman," he said with conviction.
Maria laughed and sat down on a divan. "Whatever makes you say that?"
"No self-respecting male would own tasseled sofa cushions." Georg eyed a scarlet-colored, particularly festooned pillow with distaste.
Maria laughed and removed the offending cushion from the couch, then motioned to him to sit down beside her. "Of course, this is Max we are talking about."
The Captain raised an eyebrow. "You have a point." He looked outside the window. "I think those are the children-" sure enough, he could see six vague shapes in the distance, making something with the snow. "What on earth-?"
"Children always find time to play. We'll have to join them later," Maria said with a laugh. "Now, where are our kind hosts, I wonder?"
As if they had heard her, Freya and Garth walked into the sitting room, Freya with a poker and fire-making materials, Garth with an envelope on a silver tray. "Good morning, Herr Von Trapp!" Garth bellowed in his funny German. "And you, Frau-" he offered Maria a little bow.
She smiled warmly and held out a hand. "Good morning!"
"Did the Captain and Frau Von Trapp sleep well?" asked Freya, from where she was building the fire.
"Extremely well, Fraulein. In fact, I think we overslept a bit," said the Captain, smiling wryly.
"You have earned your rest, ja?" She picked up the basket and bustled out of the room. "Sit and be comfortable. I will bring tea!"
Herr Ebbe offered the tray to the Captain. "A letter for you, sir. I would have offered it yesterday, but it was requested that I let you rest first."
"Requested by who?" Georg began to ask, taking the letter and opened it. The black, scrawling script covered the page, and he began to read:
My dearest Georg,
Allow me to congratulate you on the felicitous occasion of you marriage! I greatly admire you- and almost envy you, but not quite- your bride. She is beautiful, stunning, graceful, striking, and possesses enough charms to make even an old confirmed bachelor such as myself wish to take the plunge.
How are the children? And such charming children, too. Really, I have never seen such examples of stately behavior as I have seen when I look at them. That Lesil! She should be ready marry any day. I would guard her well, especially from old fortune-hunters such as myself! Fredrich and Kurt are practically men. Louisa is getting to be just as lovely as her older sisters, as are Brigette, Marta and Gretl!
How is your bride coping with motherhood? I am sure that such a wonderful, intelligent, charming woman such as she would be able to handle such angelic creatures with little or no trouble, and-
Now that you have reached the second page, I can speak freely now. I believe that any spies would have been lost in the endless slew of meaningless compliments that covered the first page of this letter.
If you receive this, you have reached Switzerland safely, and I am glad for you. Is the chalet not a charming place? You probably are on tenterhooks, wondering how old Max managed to do all of this. But I shall play the mysterious one, and keep silent! Just enjoy yourself! I owe you, after all- you have made my musical festival famous here in Austria. Tell the children that the whole town is now abuzz about them.
Your fake "Geoff Muller" account (really, could you not have come up with a better name, Georg!) has been forwarded to the Bank of Switzerland, as per your request to Franz. The old chap is a wonderful butler- he is really quite efficient.
I will be with you soon. But not too soon. It would not behoove me to flee the country right at your heels- it would look quite suspicious. In a few weeks, perhaps, I'll leave the city under the guise of looking for a new wealthy friend to live off of. THAT won't look the least bit unusual.
I wish I could see you fume, and then smile as you read this. You know me so well. Ask Freya and Garth to supply your every need- that is what they are there for. Feel free to use the chalet, as well. Let ME house you for once.
Give the lovely Maria Von Trapp a kiss from me. Tell the children I adore them, as usual. Take care.
Max Detweiler
"Max is a wonder," said the Captain grimly, folding the paper, shaking his head and handing it to his wife. She skimmed the letter quickly, laughing aloud as she read some parts.
"Herr Ebbe," said the Captain, reaching for the knapsack he'd carried earlier, I believe we need to go into town."
"May I ask why, sir, so I can ascertain where it is best to take you?"
"I need to go to the bank." The Captain pulled out a bank book, with the name Geoff Muller stamped across the front. "And I need to see about renting or buying a chalet." In spite of Max's reassurances, he didn't care to stay under the hospitality of whoever this strange friend of Max's might be.
"If I might make a comment as to that, Captain," Garth replied, "I know for a fact that there are no available dwellings in town."
Georg turned to him, startled. "None?"
"None, sir." He paused. "The hotels and inns are also filled to capacity with visitors that plan to stay indefinitely. You were not the only one to leave Austria at this time."
"I see." Georg gritted his teeth, deep in thought. "Garth," he began. "I know that it is absolutely impossible for Max to own this house. If we are to stay here for some time, I would at least like to give your employer a settled sum every month, instead of living off his kindness. Can I be put in contact with him?"
"My employer is a she, sir," Garth said, finally dropping the "Max Detweiler" front. "She is a widow from Vienna. This is one of her vacation homes."
"And may I know this mystery woman's name?" Georg said sarcastically.
"She wishes it not to be known to you, and-"
"Nevermind-" Georg pulled out the checkbook and wrote a draft. "See that your employer receives this, please. If she doesn't want payment, please tell her that it is a mere token of my gratitude to her. And I still need to go to town."
Garth nodded, pocketed the check and exited. "I'll hitch up the horse," was all he said.
Maria stared at her husband from where she was sitting, the pages of Max's letter sitting in her lap. "Was that really necessary, darling?" she said.
"I felt it was, Maria. Now let no more be said on the subject." He turned and strode out of the room.
Maria sighed and picked up the letters, rolled her eyes, then followed. Oh, why were men so stubborn when it came to their pride?
The benefactor will be revealed next chappy! Review!!