"Almost, Brigitta," Maria said, trying to keep the weariness from her voice. She hit a key on the piano for the seeming umpteenth time. "She yodeled back… yo… yo.. You're just under pitch on that one note."
"Under pitch?" Kurt asked, his fatigue and annoyance apparent. "What does that mean?"
Brigitta ignored his comment and reattempted her first solo line. She stopped immediately after failing yet again to sing the phrase correctly. "This is impossible!" she declared with irritation.
Maria smiled. "You've been working too hard on it," she said. "Perhaps we should stop for the day and resume tomorrow."
"But the show is in one week!" the girl protested.
"I have confidence that you will succeed it hitting the note correctly by then," Maria said, standing slowly and giving the tired girl a hug. "You're doing splendidly."
"Maybe Louisa should sing the solo," Friedrich suggested. Standing in the far corner of the room, he made his hiker puppet threaten a sheep with its pitchfork.
"No thank you," Louisa said from the opposite of the hall where she and Liesl where busy practicing with their own marionettes. "Brigitta said she'd do it, and she's doing it."
Maria walked over to the small stage and examined it, thinking of the placement of the puppets and the children.
The door opened, and everyone whirled around to see the Captain, the Baroness, and Klauss Eichmann standing in the entranceway, all looking more than a little curious.
"Father!" Louisa yelled, putting the goatherd puppet behind her. "You're not supposed to see anything!"
He laughed and flashed his palms outward in defeat. "I guess you're not hungry then," he said.
"What time is it?" Maria asked, surprised.
"Noon, Fräulein," he answered, clearly amused by her dramatic inability to keep time. "Lunch will be ready in half an hour."
"Oh," Maria said, looking around to the children and sighing. "We should continue with your other lessons –"
"And have you forgotten the children's other lessons—" the Captain started, overlapping Maria's statement.
Maria turned and the pair shared a smile.
"As I, or rather we, were saying, Fräulein," he continued, "you don't intend to neglect the other lessons the children have because of this puppet show, do you?"
"No, sir, I don't," Maria answered, wiping her hands on her dress.
"Oh, Georg, I don't know," Klauss said, stepping further into the room and surveying the scene before him. His visual search ended with Maria, and the two locked eyes. "There is a lot to learn when conducting a show, whether it's elaborate or simple."
Maria nodded. "Yes, there's a lot of planning, and timing, and not to mention making sure everyone gets their cues –"
"All practical lessons, I see," the Baroness said, following Klauss's lead and walking further into the room. She turned to the Captain. "Aren't you always saying that life lessons are the best kind, Georg?"
He laughed. "I see I've been outnumbered," he said, turning to regard Maria. She smiled sweetly, and the Captain could see a slight trace of triumph in her eyes. He opened his mouth to comment, but refrained as she smiled again, this time in understanding.
"We were getting overwhelmed for the morning anyway. After lunch, we'll go back to our lessons," she said quickly before looking over at Klauss. "It's nice to see you again, Klauss."
"Yes," Elsa said, laughing. "Klauss has become quite the frequent visitor, hasn't he, Georg?"
The Captain nodded. "He's just taking advantage of my cook," he said, grinning.
"My foil has been discovered," Klauss said, shrugging. He gestured to the children and Maria. "I find life here more relaxing than in the city."
"That makes two of us, my friend," Georg said.
"May we go outside to do our lessons Fräulein Maria?" Friedrich asked.
She laughed. "Will you get any work done if you're outside, Friedrich?"
The boy frowned, seeing the truth in her question.
"Why don't we go outside before lunch is ready?" Maria suggested. "It's far too lovely to spend the entire day indoors."
The children needed no further prompting, all dashing outside to the garden before Maria or anyone else could say another word.
Laughing, the Captain looked at Maria. "You're working them too hard, Fräulein."
She pursed her lips, about to comment that it was better than marching around the grounds and breathing deeply, but the presence of her employer's guests made her hold her tongue. She looked over at Klauss, who was smiling gently at her.
"And you will go outside as well, Maria?" he asked. "I can't see you as the type of woman who prefers to be cooped up inside."
"It seems as if Fräulein Maria was born outdoors," Elsa said, smiling at the governess. She walked next to Georg and laced her arm around his.
Klauss laughed lightly and offered his own arm to Maria. "Would you do me the honor, Maria, of joining me in a walk around the grounds?"
Her eyes widened in surprise, and she looked over at the Captain. "I should go and follow the children. I don't want the older ones to scare Marta and Gretl with whatever they find out there. Shall we see you at lunch, then, Captain?"
He nodded, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. Puzzled by his expression, Maria rubbed her hands together.
"Enjoy your walk, Fräulein," he finally said, his smile turning more genuine when their eyes met.
"Yes," Elsa said, staring at the couple. "Don't get lost."
Maria looked over at Klauss again, who still had his arm offered to her. Accepting it, she smiled as he led her to the garden. Before they exited the ballroom, Maria heard the Baroness's light laughter and the Captain cough in exasperation. She turned to see what had caused the outburst. Elsa was looking around the room, amusement on her face as she looked at the various puppets and the stage.
The Captain was staring after her and Klauss. When their eyes met, he blinked quickly, not expecting her to look back at him. She offered a slight smile before looking back up at Klauss, not seeing how the Captain failed to return her gesture.
"You seem to have an abundance of energy, Maria," Klauss said as the pair walked out into the grounds. "I must say it's very admirable."
Maria laughed. "You have to have a lot of energy to keep up with those children!" She studied him for a moment. "They really enjoy your company, Klauss. I think the real reason you've been visiting so often in the last week has more to do with the children than with the Captain."
He paused to return her stare and opened his mouth to reply. As if re-thinking his response, he shook his head. "They are wonderful children."
She nodded. "Yes, they are," she said, and glanced over to the house. "The villa isn't out of your way when you go to your business meetings, is it? I would think they would be in town."
"Some are, and that's why I live in the Parsch section of town," he answered. "But some are in Hallein. The villa is en route, so I get the bonus of visiting everyone. I am on my way home after a morning conference."
She nodded again, and they both looked out to the far end of the back lawn, where all seven children were running around, expelling the energy that had been cooped up since morning.
Klauss smiled almost whimsically. "To be that young again," he muttered.
"You're far from an old man, Klauss," she said, laughing as he looked down at her, mildly shocked at her blunt comment.
"You're very generous, Maria," he told her, their eyes meeting.
Maria found herself noting how deep his eyes were. She had noticed how richly brown they were when they had first met, and now she found herself staring into them, absently noting how the world seemed to fade away. He gave her a half smile, returning her scrutiny.
"Maybe a little too generous," he added before resuming their walk. He guided her towards the lake.
She laughed. "I have been told my honesty is my greatest weakness."
His eyebrows shot up. "Who would tell you such a thing?"
"Sister Berthe," Maria said, and he laughed aloud.
"How very pious of her!" he exclaimed.
Maria joined his laughter. "I believe she thinks my tact could use some work," she added.
His laughter faded, and he looked at her. Maria was surprised to see his face so serious. "I think you're fine the way you are."
Her cheeks flushed and she looked away, unprepared for such an intimate compliment. After a moment, she composed herself and glanced back to him. "You're very kind," she said. "We barely know one another."
He stopped walking and turned to her. "That's something I'd like to remedy, if you'll allow me," he said.
Maria's mouth dropped a little, both flattered and confused that this man was paying such attention to her, the governess. She looked past him, unsure how to reply.
As if sensing her thoughts, he reached over to pat her hand. "I don't mean to startle you, Maria," he said, offering a sheepish smile. "I would just like to be your friend."
She looked into his eyes. "I'd like that too," she admitted, finding herself warming to the idea of Klauss looking at her in such a way. "I just hope you won't be disappointed when you learn there isn't much to know."
He laughed and turned to resume their stroll. "Oh, I highly doubt that," he said. "I'd like to know more about the woman who made my friend's home a happy one again."
Maria smiled broadly, finding comfort in talking about something familiar to them both. "They are such a loving, happy family," she said, looking again at the children running around. "I find it hard to believe the children were those rigid little soldiers I had first met at the beginning of the summer."
Klauss looked out at the lake and sighed. "They were all in a lot of pain," he said, more to himself than to her.
Nodding, she glanced back to the house where they had left the Captain and the Baroness. "Especially the Captain."
He looked down at her, studying the gentle lines of her profile, and the softness of her skin. She turned to return his gaze, and he smiled at the soul-searching look she had in her eyes. He nodded at her observation. "He's been through a lot."
Maria sighed. "I can imagine. Losing his wife and raising the children on his own must have been so difficult. He seems to have lost so much, his wife, his experiences in the war…"
She noticed Klauss bristle a little, and her heart tugged in sympathy. "Did you serve in the war together?"
He shook his head. "We trained together. After the war broke out, Georg was stationed to command a U-boat in the Mediterranean, and I was posted in the Atlantic," he explained. "We didn't see each other for the entire duration of the war. I was relieved to see him a few years later, after it was all over."
Maria stared at him, fascinated to learn more about both her employer and this man standing in front of her.
Klauss sighed, unwilling to darken the mood with his recollections of battle. He was also disinclined to relive those memories at the moment, not when he was surrounded by the warmth of summer and standing next to a woman who personified a love of life he hadn't felt in years.
Maria seemed to understand, and turned to take his hands in hers. "You're a good man, Klauss," she whispered, knowing anything else she might say had either already been said or would sound cliché.
He looked into her eyes, and she now knew what it was about them that fascinated her: the depth of emotion that shown in them, in his whole face, actually. It was so interesting, rough with experience and war, and yet it had a gentleness to it. In many ways, he reminded her of the Captain, a kind man able to retain his goodness despite whatever he had been through.
He laughed a little. "I've been lucky," he said. "And I've been surrounded by good people."
She smiled. "I'm happy you and the Captain have retained your friendship."
"We went on very different paths after the war, but we remained friends," he started.
She knit her eye brows together. "Different paths?"
"He found Agathe," Klauss answered simply.
"Oh," Maria whispered. She looked up at him, wondering if she had the right to ask the question running through her mind.
"They were so happy," Klauss continued, looking out at the lake.
"You never found, uh…" Maria trailed, knowing she shouldn't have given in to her curiosity.
He turned to her, and she was surprised at the expression on his face. He shook his head. "Some things pass you by while you're busy living," he answered, meeting her gaze directly.
She swallowed, unsure which part of her had the stronger pull: her sympathy for him never finding someone who'd make him happy or her sudden apprehension at the way in which he was looking at her.
After a moment, he laughed. "It's alright, really," he said, and Maria felt as if he was assuring himself as well as her. "I've kept myself busy."
She smiled. "Well, I hope not too busy."
"I take breaks once in a while."
"I'm glad you're taking one now," she said truthfully.
He nodded, again gazing directly at her. "Me, too."
She smiled, finding herself feeling more and more at ease with this man. He was a stranger and a gentleman, and he preferred to spend a few spare minutes with her. The idea still mystified her.
"So tell me," he said, changing the subject. "Why did you want to be a teacher?"
Maria exhaled in thought. "I find that guiding children on their paths to becoming adults to be one of the few things I can do well," she explained. "And one that I enjoy."
He smiled at her. "You are magic with those children."
"Oh," she started, flattered. "It's easy when the children are so lovely to begin with. I do enjoy them, too."
"You really don't think you're good for anything else?" he asked, narrowing his eyes as he studied her.
She shrugged. "There aren't many options for a person of my upbringing," she said matter-of-factly.
"From what I've heard, you're a very talented musician," he said, chuckling.
Her cheeks reddened. "Your informants are rather biased."
"You are much too modest. We heard you practicing before we came in," he confessed. "You're very good at staying on top of pitch."
She laughed aloud. "Do you sing, Klauss?"
He shook his head. "I am hopelessly tone deaf, and all the money my parents had spent on music lessons was for naught," he said. After a moment, his eyes twinkled and he twisted his hands so they were now encasing hers. "But I must admit to being a fine dancer."
Maria's eyes brightened. "I would love to see you dance!"
"Well, we'll just have to go someplace where I can show off my skills," he said, his voice lower.
Her jaw dropped again, mildly surprised at his implication, but a voice from the balcony prevented any response.
"Fräulein Maria! Herr Eichmann!" Frau Schmidt was calling. "Lunch is ready!"
They saw the children running past them, and Maria noticed Liesl 's double take at the sight of her governess and her father's friend standing so closely together. Stepping back, Maria looked up at Klauss.
"Shall, we, Maria?" he asked, again offering his arm to her.
She smiled at him, relishing in the level of ease she felt. Taking his arm, they walked back to the villa together, enjoying each other's company.
To be continued…
A/N: thank you to Joolsfan, for Hallein. And I forgot to say, in the previous chapter, thank you, Ilandra for Anny Konetzni.