Chapter 3

The following morning, Baroness Schraeder was up early. She was not normally a morning person, but she felt Georg would be pleased if she was the first to inquire about Louisa. Of course, she had practically forgotten about Louisa already – but then the idea had sprung into her mind that it would be good politics to show Georg how concerned she was about the welfare of his children.

So, it was only 8 a.m. when Elsa walked down the corridor leading to the stairs. She stopped and stood on the landing when she noticed how silent the house still was. Maybe Georg was not yet up… but… she could wonder down the corridor and past his bedroom… maybe even see if he was still there…she wouldn't mind seeing him in his bedclothes. Who knew, he might even want to… After all, they were practically engaged, right?

A sly smile formed on her lips as she turned around, and walked down the corridor to Georg's bedroom. When she reached his door, she knocked gently and waited, expecting a reply. When she didn't hear anything, she knocked again, a little louder.

What Elsa could not know was that the Captain was soundly asleep, arms wrapped tightly around the only woman he loved, pressing her close to his naked chest. Only moments ago, he and Maria had drifted off into the deep, comforting sleep that came after such an emotional night. Overcome by their emotions and exhaustion, they did not hear the knocks on the door.

Elsa hesitated for a second, but then decided to open the door - she was actually hoping to find Georg still in bed. Softly, she turned the door knob and peeked inside.

She smiled smugly as she saw the shape under the blankets on the large four-poster bed and opened her mouth to whisper his name - but wait!

Her jaw dropped and she froze in her tracks as she noticed another head on the pillow.

Maria's.

Elsa remained standing on the doorstep of Georg's bedroom for a moment, too shocked by what her eyes told her to even move. Her stare travelled up and down the bed, taking in how close they were lying together, how soundly they were sleeping, and how Georg's bare arm was wrapped around Maria's equally naked shoulder.

Then, the Baroness woke up from her shock. And screamed. A loud, piercing, angry scream filled the Von Trapp villa as Elsa yelled out in anger and jealousy.

Georg and Maria sat up in shock at the noise, only to see a fuming Elsa stand in the doorway. Maria's face turned white in shock and her eyes opened wide, while she tried to cover herself completely by pulling the comforter over her.

"You cheating bastard!" Elsa yelled, pointing a perfectly manicured finger at Georg, who was staring at her as if she'd gone crazy.

"What are you doing in my bedroom?" Georg, having found his voice again, demanded from Elsa.

"I should ask HER that!!" she spat, her pointed finger shifting to Maria, who leaned away from the digit as if it were a loaded gun.

Elsa stared at Maria, her eyes fiery with anger. She walked up to the bed and bent forward, her face only inches from Maria, who cowered and tried to lean away from Elsa, who was still yelling at her.

"You, you little….. tramp! How dare you lay your filthy hands on him? He's mine!"

Maria's jaw dropped at this display of hatred from Elsa towards her. She could understand it would be a shock to the Baroness to find them like this, but surely Elsa must have felt that something was lacking in her relationship with Georg? Maria wished she could yell back at the baroness, but her sweet and gentle nature made it difficult to go against anybody. Finally, she just shrugged.

The Baroness seemed even more annoyed by this lack of defence. She let out a final loud sigh of frustration, and turned around to run out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Georg and Maria were left dumbfounded and stared at the now closed door for a second.

Then, they looked at each other.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that," the Captain apologised to Maria as he wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her to him and she kissed him passionately.

"It's all right," she said. "I can understand she was surprised. You'd better go after her, though,' she added.

Georg nodded. He gave Maria another deep kiss before slipping out of bed and pulling on his robe. Just before he reached the door he blew a kiss at Maria, and then quickly went after Elsa to calm her down.

The Captain found Elsa in her room, frantically throwing clothes into her suitcase. The door was open, so he stepped inside. When Elsa heard him approach, she turned around like a whirlwind.

"How dare you come in here now?" she yelled at him, and ran towards him, trying to push him out of her bedroom. But Georg was much stronger and grabbed her wrists, holding her firmly to try and calm her down.

Elsa tried to keep clawing at his chest, squirming and screaming and trying to get out of his grip. She wriggled one hand loose from his and slapped him across the cheek, leaving an angry red mark. Georg winced, but managed to grab her hand again and tried to restrain her.

Strands of loosening hair covered Elsa's face as she moved frantically to get loose. But Georg was obviously much stronger and kept holding her until she finally gave up her fight. As her movements stopped, he pulled her a little closer. As she finally lifted up her face to him, Georg could see there was a blink of a tear in one eye.

Angrily, Elsa tried to blink the tears back, but looking at the worried face of Georg, she could not stop herself and let her tears run.

Gently, Georg put his arms around her and sat her down on a chair, kneeling in front of her.

"Elsa…" he began, softly. "I'm sorry for the way it turned out."

She looked up at him, sadness evident in her tear-streaked face.

He continued. "You must have known we were never meant to be,' he said, his face honest and open. "I love Maria. But I never meant to hurt you.'

Elsa shook her head.

"I think I knew," she admitted, trying to hide a sob. 'But I didn't want to believe it…."

Her sobs became stronger and soon, she was unable to stop them.

"Please just leave,' she mumbled at Georg, motioning toward the door. 'I'm going back to

Vienna…. "

Georg stood up, a little unsure of what to do. But Elsa looked away from him and kept pointing at the door. Finally, he decided that if that was the way she wanted it, he should leave her alone. He turned around and left her alone in her room, crying and confused. But he knew Elsa. She was strong, she would get over it.

As he convinced himself he had done the right thing, he started walking down the corridor to Maria and his new life.

When he reached his bedroom he ran into Maria, who was just leaving.

"Where are you going?" Georg asked in surprise.

"I thought I should go check on Louisa," Maria answered.

"I'll come with you," said Georg. "Just wait for a second while I get dressed."

He ran into his bedroom and soon emerged again, while still buttoning up his shirt. Together, they walked the little distance down the corridor to Louisa's room. They were just about to enter when the sound of voices from the hall drifted up, and Maria walked over to the banister to look down and see what the noise was all about. She was just in time to see Elsa walking to the door, carrying nothing but a purse, and followed by Franz, who was carrying two large suitcases. A trunk and several hat boxes stood by the steps leading up to the front door, obviously waiting to be carried outside.

Elsa waited by the door until Franz had taken out all her luggage, apparently to a taxi which was waiting outside.

'Thank you, Franz," she said, with a voice still trembling. "I will not be coming back." At this, she started crying again, and quickly left, leaving a baffled Franz behind in the hallway.

Maria had watched the scene in silence. She felt sorry for Elsa, but at the same time, she couldn't help but think that it was not her fault that Georg's love had moved from Elsa to herself. And when she felt the arms of her Captain reach around her waist at that very moment, she was certain of her happiness. She turned around into his embrace and smiled at him, glad to see that the love in his eyes was only for her.

"We will see no more of Elsa. Don't you worry about her at all," Georg softly whispered into Maria's hair, and lowering his mouth to place gentle kisses on her forehead.

He drew back a little and looked into her eyes. He kissed her softly, before suggesting that now they should indeed go to check on Louisa. But again, a sound coming from downstairs stopped them in their intention. The bell rang, and Georg and Maria bent over the banister again to see who'd be calling by the house at such an early hour.

Franz was quickly at the door and when he opened it, the young Dr. Schwindler was on the doorstep again.

"Goodmorning,' Franz said, his voice cold as ice, while scrutinizing the young man in his cape from head to toe.

"I've come to check on my sis-… I mean, Miss Louisa," the Doctor announced, and bluntly stepped passed Franz, who had not even decided whether or not he was going to let this mysterious man into the house.

Maria's head quickly turned to face Georg. Had he heard the words of the Doctor, too? Had she imagined it, or had he begun to say 'My sister'?? But Georg had obviously not heard it, as he did not seem to react. He was walking toward the Doctor and started to explain how Louisa had remarkably recovered during the night.

The Doctor and Georg walked toward Louisa's room side by side, and Maria followed, still thinking of what she had heard. And as she saw the two men walking in front of her, it struck her.

The way they moved. They way they walked. Even the way they held their heads… Dr. Schwindler was the image of Georg! He still had Friedrich's boyish features but the likeness was uncanny. She had been misled by the moustache and the way he kept his face slightly covered, but….

She stopped in her tracks and gasped as she realised this must be true.

Dr. Schwindler was Georg's son.