Ch. 2: Be Our Guest
The Captain waited aguishly at the window. He was hopeful that the governess would be on her way shortly. He was surprised to find that he was eagerly waiting to find out who she was. It was because of the name. The new governess's name was indeed Maria, but could it be the one he already met? He hoped, but knew it was almost impossible. Maria is a very popular name. He saw a small figure race up to his doorstep. His heart nearly screamed it was she, but his brain convinced him it was not. He laid down on his bed in disappointment.
"Hello?" Asked a small voice from the door.
"Hello!" Maria replied excited.
"Can I help you with something?" The girl said.
"Well I am the new governess, Maria." The girl looked and rolled her eyes at herself for not remembering it was the new governess was arriving that day.
"Oh of course. Father told us we should expect you. I am Brigitta." She told her. Soon the other children had arrived at the door staring at their new governess.
"She is so young!" They all whispered. Once they had all introduced themselves it began to rain hard. Soon thunder had come which left the little girls, Marta and Gretl screaming.
"They have been scared of thunderstorms ever since Mother passed away." Explained Liesl. "Father doesn't care much and tells us just to go back to bed."
"He doesn't sing to you?" Maria asked in astonishment.
"Singing is not allowed in this household." Louisa told her. Maria cringed.
"I think just this once we can break the rules. So lets sing to make us all feel better." They agreed and soon the house was full with music.
The Captain awoke feeling like he had been dreaming. Had he really heard music, the same music he used to sing with Agathe? Or was it all a dream, to good to be true? He was certain he was awake and so he was surprised when he heard singing coming from downstairs. He went down to look and was feeling happy hearing his children sing. His heart stopped when he saw whom they were singing with. It was Maria. There she was elegantly dancing around his house, just like she was meant to be there.
At first the Captain took a step down and was captivated by the song. He almost wanted to join them in their laughter and glee. Suddenly though he watched as Marta tripped and fell into his study door.
"Ouch!" She moaned with tears in her eyes. Maria cringed and ran over to the girl.
"Are you alright Marta?" She asked. "Well let's go and put some hot water on your knee okay." Marta nodded. The Captain picked that moment to make his presence known.
"Children? How many times must I tell you not to sing? Singing is forbidden in this house and always will be." He told them firmly. He was sorry for this, but remembered that his life was full of bad luck due to the spell. He couldn't risk his children's health by letting them jump around like animals.
"Sir I am sorry, it was my fault not the children's." Maria told him. His gaze shifted to Maria who carried Marta in her arms up the stairs. "We will get ready for bed and not bother you." She told him. Maria did not understand. He had been so kind when she met him earlier. Now he resembled more of her Father. His heartbeat raced as she spoke and glanced his way.
"Very well Maria. Oh and you may call me Captain." He turned and walked back to his room.
Maria got the children ready for bed. Unfortunately they were still scared of the thunderstorm.
"If you children are not allowed to sing, then what about humming?" She asked. Maria decided it would be best not to break his dumb rule seconds after he made it. "Anyways he told us you couldn't sing, not me. Should I sing to you?" The children giggled at Maria's bending of the rules. They nodded and Maria began to sing softly as if she was singing a lullaby.
Soon the small children were asleep and the older ones were yawning. Maria wished them goodnight and started to walk out the door.
"Maria?" Came a voice. She turned around and found Liesl starring at her.
"Yes Liesl?"
"Thank you for singing. That was more fun tonight than we have had in years!" She told her excited.
"Well I am glad you liked it. Maybe we can have a picnic in the mountains tomorrow and all sing." Liesl nodded in delight as Maria wished her goodnight and left. Finally after years of boredom and sadness, maybe just maybe Maria could end it.
The next morning Maria got permission to take the children out to the mountains. She was amused because it hadn't been that hard. She just nicely went and asked the Captain if she could take them to town. He smiled and nodded telling her that they must be back before sunset. Well that was easy, Maria thought to herself the sunset is hours away.
The children and Maria eventually reached their destination and sat on a brown blanket eating their lunch.
"I love this Maria! Thanks for bringing us out here!" Louisa exclaimed joyously.
"Yeah, thanks. We never are allowed outside anymore." Kurt added.
"Why not?" Maria asked curiously.
"Father doesn't like us to do anything. He thinks we will get hurt. He loves us still, we can tell, but ever since Mother died he just hasn't been the same." Liesl told her.
"Overprotective?" Maria asked.
"Yes." Brigitta answered. "And as distant as he can get. Father doesn't allow music because it was what we always used to do as a family."
"I miss singing." Friedrich mumbled. The others nodded.
"Well then lets not let another second go by before we sing. Now what songs did you children used to sing?" Maria asked this and every one of the children gave shrugs saying they didn't remember.
Maria took her guitar and started playing basic notes teaching the children how to sing. Before long they were dancing and singing. Due to their glee Maria failed to realize that the sun was beginning to set. She looked up at the clouds that began to consume the blue sky.
"Children we better get home. It is getting dark." The children nodded somberly and began to walk down the mountain. The rain started coming down in buckets and the children were soaked by the time they had reached the house. Night had fallen just a few minutes earlier and Maria cringed at being late. She was never on time for anything. The children were quick to point out the door would be locked.
"Why don't we climb up into your window Maria?" Louisa asked. "Then we won't get into trouble."
"No I could never do that Louisa. We will just take are punishment with our heads held high…"
"Oh no Maria. Please! Father will fire you if he finds out we are late. We don't want you fired." Marta told her hugging he tight.
"Alright fine we will climb up." Maria told them. One by one the children climbed the terrace and finally Maria. When Maria got up there she saw the Captain starring at her and children.
"You're late." He told her.
"I know, we just got lost track of the time and well we are here now." Maria told him.
"Do you realize you put my children in danger. They could catch ammonia and die." Georg told her.
"They won't unless they are already sick and they were all fine this morning." He looked at her with a surprised look.
"How may I ask did you come up with this information?"
"Well I worked in a hospital for a little bit while I was at the Abbey. Nuns work with the sick a lot." She chimed.
"I can't believe you took them to the mountains. The Alps are dangerous, especially for women and children…"
"What are you implying?"
"I am not implying anything I am merely saying its dangerous and there are many risks involved with this…"
"Captain sometimes you have to take risks. If you don't take risks you will never live." Maria's statement rung in the Captain's ears and made him utterly speechless.
"Well then I am to tired to discuss this tonight, but tomorrow we shall discuss it more." The Captain told her coldly. "Goodnight." He walked out the door trying to think of a good comeback. The problem was he couldn't come up with one, not one he was allowed to tell her anyways. He stopped suddenly. Why couldn't he tell her the secret? Why did he feel he shouldn't? Was he falling in love with her? Could she be the girl that he had been waiting for? He got into his bead alarmed by the feeling he hadn't felt in years. Love.
Maria dried off and climbed into her bed. After reciting most of her prayer she added one more.
"Dear Lord please give me patience so I can influence this household in a positive way and help the Captain realize what is really important in life." She drifted to sleep not looking forward to the next day.