Maria sighed happily as she walked through the ballroom to meet with the children. The ball the Captain had been convinced to throw for Baroness Schraeder was in full swing. Maria had never seen so many opulently dressed people in her entire life. She smiled at various attendees as she passed them, feeling a little out of place but not unwelcome.
The small orchestra was continuously playing waltz after waltz, and Maria's hands swayed with the music. She looked around the small groups of guests in search of Klauss. He had said that he was a fine dancer, and Maria could think of no better time than the current moment to see if he was true to his word. She frowned as she couldn't find him or Markus, anywhere.
"Fräulein Maria!" She heard a voice call out to her from the garden. She looked over and saw Brigitta waving over at her, Marta and Kurt grinning behind her.
"Isn't it wonderful, Fräulein Maria?" Brigitta asked with a sigh as Maria approached them. "The women look so beautiful."
"I think they look ugly," Kurt said with an air of disgust.
"You just say that because you're scared of them," Louisa retorted, walking over to the group.
"Silly, only grown up men are scared of women," Kurt answered.
"You're a very wise young man, Kurt von Trapp," a voice from behind the group announced. They all turned to see their father approaching them with Klauss by his side.
Klauss laughed at the Captain's remark. "Yes," he said to Kurt, nodding. "You'd be safe to always remember that."
"Not all girls are scary," Louisa said, narrowing her eyes at the pair.
"No," Klauss said thoughtfully. He looked over at Maria. "Some girls are very nice."
Maria smiled at him, delighted that he was there. She looked at the Captain. "It appears the ball is a success, sir," she said.
He smiled and nodded. "It seems to be making the grade," he said. He looked over at the children. "Are you enjoying yourselves?"
They all chorused their enthusiasm. Laughing, the Captain searched the group. "Where are Friedrich and Gretl?"
Kurt shrugged. "Gretl lost her shoe in the maze," he said, gesturing behind him. "She and Friedrich went back to get it."
The Captain nodded before looking at Maria again. "Are you enjoying yourself, Fräulein?"
She nodded quickly. "Yes, sir, very much. I've never been to a ball before."
He smiled. "Does it meet your expectations?"
"Oh, yes!" she exclaimed. "It's wonderful! The house is almost as busy as when the children are taking a break from their studies!"
Their genial laughter died away as they heard the orchestra start another waltz. Klauss smiled to Maria, offering her his hand.
"I believe I have a boast to live up to," he said.
Maria's smile widened: he remembered. She looked at the Captain, and Klauss, too, glanced over at his friend.
"Will you allow me to take your governess away from her duties for just one Blue Danube?" he asked.
The Captain's smile failed to reach his eyes, but as he turned to see Maria's bright face, he nodded. "Fräulein Maria does as she pleases."
Klauss chuckled and raised his arm higher to Maria. She looked at it and then over at the Captain again, puzzled by his response. The sound of the waltz grew louder, and she looked back to Klauss, her excitement growing. She accepted his hand, and he led her to the dance floor.
Not noticing any of the glances cast in her direction, Maria felt her heart beat faster as Klauss placed his hand on the small of her back and started to lead her in the waltz. She quickly realized that he wasn't joking; he was a wonderful dancer: light on his feet and moving to the music with perfection. Maria felt as if she was floating on air, and the room blurred around her as she remained grounded in Klauss's arms.
The Captain stood silently for a moment, watching his friend dance with his children's governess. The expression on Maria's face mystified him. He had never seen her smile like that before. For a moment he didn't see his children's young teacher, but a lovely young woman enjoying herself at her first ball. He saw how short her dress was compared to the elegantly dressed ladies surrounding her, how her plain attire was in stark contrast to even the man holding her in his arms. He also saw that she didn't seem to notice this herself; she was completely captivated by waltzing and by Klauss.
The Captain realized, in her simple dress and with her radiant smile, Maria was the only real element in the room. The other women appeared too fragile to touch, and the men looked too stiff to really move. As Maria glided across the floor, Georg found himself smiling genuinely for the first time that evening; it wasn't until that moment that he felt like himself at his own party.
"What are you all looking at?" he heard Gretl ask loudly. He looked down to see his youngest push her way through her siblings. When she saw her governess dancing with Klauss, she pursed her lips.
"Why is Fräulein Maria in there?" she asked, pointing inside the ballroom.
"Because she's dancing with Uncle Klauss," Liesl answered, putting her hands on the girl's shoulders.
"Why is she dancing with him?" Gretl asked.
"Because he asked her to," Brigitta replied, looking over to Louisa, who shrugged.
"Why didn't you ask her, Father?" Gretl asked, staring at him.
"Because Uncle Klauss asked her first," Louisa said, a look of amusement and annoyance on her face.
"Well, go ask her now, Father!" Gretl demanded, putting her hands on her hips. "Take Fräulein Maria back!"
The Captain tried to laugh, but he sounded anything but amused. He looked back into the ballroom and stared at Maria and Klauss, wondering why he suddenly felt so uneasy.
"Go, Father!" Gretl repeated, despite Liesl's attempt to quiet her.
"She's dancing with Klauss," the Captain whispered, "because he asked her to."
The children stared up at him for a moment before a light chuckle caught their attention. They turned to see the Baroness walking towards them.
"There you are!" she said. "I have been searching for you everywhere, darling."
The Captain cast an absent glance at her before looking back into the ballroom again. Elsa followed his gaze and saw who he was staring at. She pursed her lips and offered a forced laugh.
"It seems Klauss has found his friend," she quipped as she laced her arm around Georg's. "Come, darling. You cannot neglect your guests all evening."
He snapped his head to face her, giving her a tight smile. "Forgive me, my dear," he said, exhaling deeply and dabbing his forehead with his other hand. "Is it hot out here?"
"Oh, I don't know," Elsa said, giving him a pointed stare. "It seems to have gotten a lot cooler."
His head cocked in puzzlement at her answer when they heard the music end. He looked back into the ballroom to see Maria and Klauss returning to the garden, both smiling gaily.
"You looked so beautiful, Fräulein Maria!" Brigitta said, sighing.
"She can sing; she can dance," Klauss said, Maria's arm still wrapped around his.
"You make a lovely couple," Elsa said, her voice low.
Maria blushed but also felt herself smiling at the compliment.
"I think it's time the children said good-night," the Captain said, struggling to find something he could say without sounding like a fool.
"Yes, we'll be ready in just a moment," Maria started, still breathless. "We've got something very special prepared, right?"
The children all nodded, and they ran to the maze. Maria looked at Klauss. "Thank you, Klauss," she started. "But—"
"Duty calls," he finished for her. "I shall see you later, then."
She nodded. Giving a quick nod to the Captain, she dashed off behind the children. The Captain watched her go, wishing he would have said more to her than just an order.
"You've got one silly grin on your face, Klauss," Elsa said, her eyes twinkling. She squeezed Georg's arm. "Doesn't he, Georg?"
Klauss laughed. "I must admit I am enjoying myself," he said. "And I usually find these balls so boring."
"I'm afraid we shall never see you after September, Klauss," Elsa said as the trio walked back into the ballroom. The Captain looked at her sharply, and Klauss laughed again.
Georg was about to comment when Maria's voice sounded from the other side of the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen," she started, "the children of Captain von Trapp wish to say good-night to you."
To be continued…