There was a peaceful quiet that settled upon the Von Trapp villa. Its inhabitants were sitting about the parlor, each engaged in an activity that required little discussion. Only Maria and Brigitta, who were on the verge of finishing their puzzle, whispered in excited tones to one another.

The Captain, half reading the day's paper, stole a look up at his daughter and her governess. He smiled as he watched the two hunched over the puzzle, grabbing the remaining stray pieces and smiling at each other as the picture got steps closer to completion. Maria looked up suddenly and smiled at him, her eyes shining. He blinked, surprised at being caught, but returned her smile and nodded before returning to his paper.

Max casually surveyed the scene from the opposite side of the parlor. When Georg and Maria caught each other's glances, Max inwardly smiled. They're acting like school children, he thought to himself, shaking his head.

He cleared his throat. "Fräulein Maria," he started, "isn't Klauss coming for dinner tonight?"

The young woman's cheeks paled and she looked at the Captain for a split second. Max, too, glanced over to his friend, and he saw how Georg's soft smile had disappeared. He felt slight remorse for ruining the cozy mood, but his suspicions were confirmed: something more was going on between his friend and the governess.

Maria coughed nervously. "Yes," she said, glancing at the children. "He did say he wanted to see everyone tonight and hear about our picnic."

"Will Uncle Markus come too?" Gretl asked.

"I don't think so," Maria answered, looking over at the Captain again. "Unless you spoke with him, sir."

He shook his head. "It will just be Klauss," he said neutrally.

Another silence descended over the room, only this time it was anything but tranquil. The children all started to shift around in their spots, none of them understanding the sudden change in the room. The Captain continued to read his paper in a brooding silence, and Maria's enthusiasm had disappeared.

Max, the only person still amused, returned to his book. Occasionally, he looked up, noting Georg's now permanent scowl and Maria's agitated demeanor.

"So, Klauss," Max asked as the group's salads were placed in front of them. "What brings you to the Von Trapp villa this evening?"

The other glanced up at him before looking across the table at Maria quickly. Returning his glance to Max, he smiled. "I wanted to hear about the family's day on the mountains yesterday," he said.

"That would make two of us," Max said. "You all haven't said a word about what you did yesterday."

"We danced!" Gretl exclaimed. "We danced the Lender!"

"The Laendler," Liesl corrected.

Max laughed. "Up there on the hill?" he asked, his eyebrows raised. He glanced over at Georg. "Even you?"

The Captain nodded almost defensively. "Of course," he said. Looking at his children, he smiled warmly. "The children wanted to learn the dance."

Klauss laughed. "It must have been difficult without any music."

"Father and Fräulein Maria taught us," Brigitta explained.

"You all did splendidly," Maria said, smiling at them.

"The last part was the hardest," Kurt said. "They had to show us."

Klauss cocked his head. "Show you?"

"They turned together," Marta said. "But then they stopped."

Maria stared at her plate, knowing her cheeks were as red as the wine in her untouched glass. She dared not look up at anyone, but she could feel the Captain's eyes on her, burning a hole into her.

"You stopped?" Klauss asked, looking over at Maria and then at the Captain staring at her. He frowned. "Why?"

"She forgot the end," Gretl replied when neither her father nor her governess would answer.

Klauss's frown deepened. Staring at Maria for a moment, he cleared his throat. "Well, perhaps it will return to you, Maria, if you try again with the music."

Finally looking up, Maria prayed her cheeks had regained some of their natural color. She met his gaze, and felt her stomach tighten as he stared back at her with a smile that failed to reach his eyes. She nodded. "Perhaps," she said softly. She looked around the table, finding everyone's eyes on her. Refusing to look at the Captain, she sighed. "Maybe after dinner."

"I don't want to dance tonight," Gretl said. "I want to sing."

"Yes," Brigitta said. "We didn't sing on the mountain, like we usually do."

"Perhaps it was all the excitement of dancing," Klauss suggested, and Maria's stomach tightened further.

The Captain finally spoke up. "Singing is a marvelous idea," he said, his bright voice a noticeable contrast to Klauss's somber tone. "I'm in the mood for a concert."

"This from the man who was so unwilling to even pluck a guitar a few weeks ago," Max said, laughing.

The Captain shrugged. Turning to Maria, he smiled. "I've been properly motivated," he said.

Despite herself, Maria looked over at him, and felt her breath catch in her throat at his meaningful gaze. She offered a tentative smile. "If you'd like, sir," she said softly.

He cleared his throat, his eyes not leaving hers. "You shouldn't do anything you don't want to do, Fräulein," he said. "But I would love if you joined us in a few songs."

"A grand idea!" Max exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "It will be excellent practice for—"

"Max!" the Captain interrupted, his eyes twinkling despite the frown on his face. "Let's not ruin a wonderful evening by unpleasantries."

Max narrowed his eyes in clear amusement. "I couldn't agree more, Georg."

To be continued…