Disclaimer: I don't own the Sound of Music, Maria, Georg, the Baroness or any of the other brilliant Rogers and Hammerstein characters.
"I can't wait for you to meet Charley, mother," little Gretl said to Maria from the back seat of the car.
"You'll love Charley," Friedrich added enthusiastically. Maria was surprised that her children seemed so eager to meet a man she had never even heard mentioned. Georg was being mysterious about the stranger the children adored and Maria thought perhaps he was doing so purposely.
"When will we get there? It seems we've been driving for ages," Maria said overdramatically causing the younger of the von Trapp children to giggle.
"It's just around the next bend," Georg said winking in the rear view mirror at his children.
Maria and Georg traveled with Gretl, Marta, and Friedrich in the back and Brigitta squeezed in between the two of them in the front. Liesl, Kurt and Louisa rode with Max in the car behind as they wound around the mountain to Charles Jackson's black pine plantation.
"That's what you said on the last bend," Marta sighed. Maria could tell her children were tired of riding in the car so she decided to try at take their minds of the long drive.
"Tell me again what Mr. Jackson is like?" Maria asked knowing the subject would be a favorite of the children's.
"He has land as far as the eye can see," Friedrich began, "And he runs a lumber business and oversees hundreds of workers."
"He plays fun games," Gretl added, getting her two cents worth in.
"I think he's scary," Brigitta stated. Maria was curious that Brigitta did not seem as fond of the man as the rest of the children.
"Why's that?" Maria questioned. Brigitta clasped her hands neatly over her lap before she quietly answered.
"Well, he talks too loud and…and he smiles but he seems angry all the time," Brigitta explained. Friedrich leaned forward in the backseat.
"That's not true, Brigitta. He's a very nice man. You're just not used to him because he's an American," Friedrich said. Maria decided she'd better intervene before an argument broke out.
"What do you think of him Georg?" Maria questioned and almost laughed at the way his children turned with wide eyes to listen to the response. Georg smiled knowingly at Maria and then drew his attention back to the road.
"All the children are right of course," he answered and Gretl and Marta laughed while Friedrich shrugged at his father's evasion of the question.
"We knew Charley before the war, when his plantation was nothing more than a row of trees and some axes. He's made a successful business out of it and caused more than a little alarm in the upper ranks of society. He does what he wants when he wants and most people don't like him because of it," Georg explained.
Maria was sure the younger children didn't understand the full meaning of her husbands words but Brigitta and Friedrich most certainly picked up on it.
"From all I've heard, I can't wait to meet him," Maria replied and smiled at Brigitta seeing the girl return the look.
"Wait no longer, darling, here we are," Georg said and pulled the car into the front driveway of an impressive looking house.
The hedges were trimmed neatly and lined the entrance to the columned doorway. The white mansion was a stark contrast to the lovely dark pines that shot in every direction as far as the eye could see. Maria had no problem understanding why her children were attracted to the rather small but still magnificent home in the mountains.
As they stepped out of the cars Maria saw Max inhale the smell of fresh pine and pat his chest with pleasure. Max had always looked a bit monkey like to Maria and the action almost made her laugh. The large party of visitors was lead into the entry way and through an open hallway to the impressive back patio. The butler instructed them to wait as Mr. Jackson had just returned from the lumber mill and wished to make himself presentable.
Maria let the children run free to allow their pent up energy from the drive up expand like the trees stretching up the mountains in the distance. Maria entertained them with games for a while but to her own dismay soon informed the children that she must fulfill her duty to the grown ups too. Liesl decided to join her but the rest of the children continued to play.
Once seated next to Georg facing the breathtaking view of the country side Maria asked Georg and Max a few more questions about the owner of the plantation.
"Is Mr. Jackson married?"
"No, and he never has been," Georg informed.
"He's a bachelor after my own heart," Max stated, bringing a smile to Liesl's delicate features.
"It's a shame there are no children to enjoy this magnificent property," Maria said, meaning no insult.
"That is why Georg brings his children," a powerful commanding voice said from behind her.
Maria turned and was finally introduced to the man she had heard so much about. Charles Jackson was a man unlike any Maria had ever seen before. He was tall, much taller than Georg, and altogether different. His chin and forehead were as defined as an ancient Grecian statue. His mouth was a thin line and his expression granite but in his eyes Maria saw kindness and heart.
Georg introduced his wife and Charles greeted her with the manner of any gentleman of high rank. In his deep masculine voice he welcomed her to his home. Maria understood why it was Brigitta seemed afraid of the man. He was powerful in body and spirit but Maria felt completely safe if not at ease in his presence.
"Your children are growing fast," he said to Georg, standing with one hand in his pocket as he narrowed his eyes at the children in the distance.
"Too fast it seems sometimes," Georg answered. Maria could tell the men were great friends. Again Maria was unsure what to make of the man who had never been mentioned before but seemed to know the family quite well.
"How did the two of you meet, Mr. Jackson, if you don't mind my asking," Maria asked. Charles turned to face Maria and leaned casually against the side of the banister.
"There was a small fire at the house in Austria. My father had just died and I was trying to make a go of the lumber business. Georg was one of my first clients, and the most difficult," Charles explained. Max and Georg both laughed and Maria smiled glad to have some information on the history of Mr. Jackson.
"You were just a poor American beggar back then, if I remember," Max said, causing the men to laugh again. "No money, not class standing, no manners…Elsa didn't like you one bit."
Georg laughed but Charles suddenly turned to look over his shoulder.
"Georg, Max, I want to show you what I've been up to since you were here last," he said and turned to the ladies, "Would you excuse us." Maria nodded her head and then watched the men disappeared around the side of the house.
Maria had not heard the name of the Baroness Shraeder since the wedding three years ago.
"Does Mr. Jackson know the Baroness?" Maria asked Liesl when the men were out of sight. Liesl, looking as beautiful as any soon to be bride, locked her blue eyes on Maria.
"I really couldn't tell you. I only know a little more about Charley than I do about the Baroness," Liesl replied. Maria thought for a moment before she spoke again.
"You all seem quite found of…Charley?" Maria said, unsure if the causal name was within her right to use.
"Yes, he is so good with children. After mother died," Liesl stopped for a moment and inhaled deeply before she continued, "Father was at his wits end with us. He needed some time to himself so he sent us to stay with Charley when the mansion was brand new. Charley can be very demanding, like father, but he is also a kind and compassionate man. He and father share a lot of the same traits."
Liesl shifted her position in the chair and leaned a little closer to her mother. Her features skewed up as if she had eaten a bad egg.
"Charley isn't at all mean and cruel to us like the Baroness was," she said.
"Liesl!" Maria scolded. No matter how true the statement was, Maria did not like to hear people say bad things about one another, especially her own children.
"Well, it's true," Liesl defended, "If you hadn't saved us who knows what that stuffy tart would have done with us."
Maria had never heard her daughter say such a heartless thing about anyone. Perhaps Liesl was right about the Baroness but hurtful comments never did anyone any good in Maria's experience. With a kind smile Maria placed a soft hand over Liesl's and drew her eyes to her daughter's hard expression.
"I am glad to be a part of your family now," Maria began, "but I'm not glad because I saved you from the Baroness. We don't know why she treated you the way she did, but if I learned anything in the convent it's not to judge people too quickly. I thought your father was a stuffy, hard nosed widower when I met him, but my opinion soon changed."
Liesl's eyes brightened and she smiled at Maria.
"You are such a good person mother. I hope I can be like you as a wife and mother."
"I have no doubt you will be," Maria responded placing a hand over her daughter's.
The rest of the day was spent in Mr. Jackson's lovely home and exploring the grounds. The children were enthralled with Charles as he showed them each a different facet of his home or work. Kurt and Friedrich were show how to build small wooden toys while Marta and Gertl looked on in fascination. Louisa, Brigitta and Liesl were invited to take Mr. Jackson's bicycles down to the lake below the house. Maria was impressed with the way the man tended to each of the children. As she watched she began to understand why no one had ever mentioned Charles.
Charles Jackson's help came at the time the children and Georg would rather forget. Maria had been trying to get the children to talk more about their mother, and had been succeeding, but the subject was still quite painful for them. Maria also suspected Charles had something to do with the Baroness, another subject neither Maria or her children or Gerog for that matter, cared to discuss.
Maria was left alone on the veranda with Max watching Georg and Charles in the distance helping Kurt and Friedrich with the toys.
"I can tell Georg and Charles are close friends," Maria said, trying to make polite conversation. The task was easy when talking to the ever jovial Max Detwieler.
"Yes. Both men of honor and very bad tempers if you get on the wrong side of them," he said with a wink.
"You mentioned earlier that the Baroness knows Charles," Maria said. She really didn't care to know the answer as she would probably never see the Baroness again, but the subject was mildly amusing and they had time. Max became even more animated, if that was possible, and he seemed to have a great excitement in addressing the topic. Maria knew Max had always been good friends with the Baroness.
"Why, yes I did," Max stated snapping his fingers. "Watching those to go at it was the most fun I've ever had in my life!"
"You mean, they fought?" Maria questioned, unsure how watching two people fight could be so entertaining.
"Oh, they fought something fierce," Max said and walking closer to Maria he looked over his shoulder suspiciously. "Confidentially, I think they enjoyed fighting with each other. You never knew Elsa that well, but when she lets lose, I mean really lets lose, she has a temper to rival the fires of Hades. Pardon the expression. Charley has a temper just as fiery maybe even more so. When the two went at it they were, well, they were beautiful together. I wished there had been some way to get them into my act." In his excitement Max seemed to fluster himself. He calmed down a little but still not enough to sit in his chair.
"What did they fight about?" Maria asked, finding the subject more interesting as Max went on.
"Ah, that my dear Madame von Trapp is a subject of some conjecture," Max stated in his most gentlemanly tone.
"What do you mean?" Maria again asked. She took a sip of tea and placed the white cup back on the lovely wooden table.
"Your dear husband will tell you that they fought about war, politics, class, the theater, the rising price of milk, I even remember one conversation over a particularly American hat Charley bought that Elsa thought was absolutely inane. Of course, they had a great deal in common for fighting so much. I remember Charley dragging Elsa kicking and screaming to a big band concert. She thought she would hate it, as much as she hates Charles Jackson, she said. She didn't though. Later she told me that was one of the best nights of her life," Max put a hand to his chin and chuckled as he spoke of the memories.
"And what do you say they fought about," Maria asked, laughing at Max's ability to tell a story. Suddenly Max straightened in his chair and his animated features fell into a solemn stare. The action caused Maria to narrow her eyes in confusion.
"If I'm right, it is really a very sad tale," Max began, staring at the ground as he twirled an unlit cigar between his fingers. "I think what they really fought about, underneath it all, was the fact that Elsa was a noble born Austrian and Charley was a common American businessman."
Maria was not clear on what exactly Max was saying. Her voice sounded too pleasant for the sadness that was in Max's.
"I'm not sure I understand what you mean," Maria said. Max snapped out of his trance and brought his brown eyes to meet Maria's.
"It's my theory that Charley was in love with Elsa, I dare say he wanted to marry her, but Elsa being…well, Elsa, kept avoiding him until she finally ran away or, at least, ran to Georg," Max explained.
"Was she in love with him?" Maria questioned, feeling a little out of her comfort zone. She did not like to gossip about people, and she did not like to hear about two lovers not ending up together.
"I think that is only a question Elsa herself could answer. But I will tell you one thing about her Maria; it's against her nature to fall below her station. Rank is the most important thing in the world to her, next to money, of course. Charles has a nice plantation here, to be sure, but he is hardly wealthy enough to tempt the Baroness.
"If you want to know the honest truth, I'm quite surprised she let you have Georg with so little struggle. She will probably never be civil to you, because you, like Charley, represent everything she hates. Lower class mingling with the upper ranks…not that I feel that way. I think you are the best thing that could have ever happened to Georg and his family," Max said, quickly defending himself. Maria placed a hand on the table and smiled.
"I know Max. Thank you," she replied. "Well, this has been an interesting conversation, if only to learn more about Charley." Max smiled and they both turned their attention back to the two men and children. Maria took the conversation and locked it in the recesses of her mind, doubting she would ever have to seek it out again. The Baroness was not a woman she was likely to see ever again.
Maria was wrong, however, for the very next week she meet the woman again after three years. Maria was disappointed that the Baroness decided not to attend the wedding although Maria could hardly blame her. She thought perhaps the woman was not as bad as Georg's lovely children had made her out to be. Still, Maria was wary of her once dangerous rival, especially after what Max had said about her.
From the entrance to the ballroom Maria observed the Baroness navigate the steps beyond the front door of the house with difficulty. The woman was still graceful and highly fashionable but she leaned heavily on a small golden cane in her right hand. The von Trapp butler took her long white fur and pointed her in the direction of Georg and Maria.
As she approached Maria caught a glimpse of the slight limp in her step and tried to hide her surprise that the woman had accepted the invitation to the party. The Baroness greeted Maria with a pleasant smile and Maria saw the woman still looked as young and beautiful as ever. She must be nearing forty and yet she did not look a day over thirty.
"Hello, Madame von Trapp," the Baroness said extending a delicate hand. Maria always thought the Baroness a frail, helpless sort of woman but her handshake was undeniably firm. There was something in her voice Maria had not heard before but she was unable to place it.
"Captain," the Baroness acknowledged and extended a hand to Georg. Maria's husband looked at her for approval and Maria slightly nodded.
"Please Elsa, you've always called me Georg, there is no reason to change that now," he said. Maria saw the hidden mark of relief on the Baroness' face.
"Thank you," she said in her low husky tone.
"Go in and enjoy the party," Maria suggested, "We'll be in as soon as we've finished receiving guests." Maria was about to turn and face the door, as more guests arrived, but the Baroness maintained the attention.
"I am glad you've settled safely here in Switzerland," she said. Maria exchanged a surprised look with Georg who did not seem as taken aback by the comment.
"As are we," he said politely and bowed. The Baroness returned the bow and resumed her slight limp into the ballroom.
"What happened to her?" Maria whispered to Georg as the next guests approached.
"I haven't the foggiest," he replied and turned his attention to the newly arrived.
Maria and her husband greeted all their guests before entering the ballroom and joining the festivities. The von Trapp's had been in Switzerland for nearly two years but this was the first chance they had to see old friends. Maria knew Georg was anxious to host a party, as many of their acquaintances from Austria had defected to Switzerland.
The thrill and excitement of the ball was not lost on Maria. She had not been a part of Georg's world long enough for the grander and splendor of the event to have lost its appeal. The dresses were a bit less extravagant since all of Europe had fallen on hard times, but the rich were still rich. Much to Maria's surprise she found little difficulty in being accepted into the ranks of Georg's world. He wisely informed her that only those with old money would find his marriage intolerable.
"Well, I don't think it's proper at all," said Glance Whither, and older woman who lived in a large mansion on the other side of town.
"What isn't proper," Maria asked as she broke into the conversation.
Glance was old money, but she was a kind woman, and if accepting Georg's marriage had ever been a concern in her mind Maria's bright small and undeniable kindness put that worry to rest. Glance stepped away from Georgina Gusta to allow Maria to enter into the conversation. Georgina was Glance's best friend but with money made quickly just before the war. Maria knew Glance was from the old upper class, but accepting kind people old class or not, had never really been a problem for her.
"It's that Schreader woman," Georgina said placing a hand on Maria's shoulder and leaning closer to take her into confidence.
"The Baroness?" Maria questioned a puzzled expression dancing on her features.
"Such a vulgar woman," Glance began, "I knew her family before the war. She used to be such a pretty little thing and a lady to be sure." Glance nodded her head to exaggerate every word.
"And she isn't now?" Maria said, unsure what to make of the conversation.
"Madame von Trapp you are a gem," Georgina laughed and Glance joined her.
"Elsa Schraeder once held her station with honor, when she was engaged to Georg and before," Glance said with a wink to Maria. Maria knew Glance and most of the town had heard about her triumph over the Baroness.
"She fled to Paris during the war and opened her house to a bunch of barbarian children," Glance continued. "She was probably trying to win back favor with the upper class but her actions during the war are inexcusable."
"I heard she abandon the children when the fighting got too close and left them to fend for themselves while she escaped," Georgina added dramatically. They both now turned their old eyes on Maria.
"She's not a woman of your caliber Maria, take our word," Glance informed.
Maria politely left the conversation, not quite believing everything she heard. Glance and Georgina, it was well know, were infamous old gossips who would cry drought in the middle of a flood if that was the rumor. Maria made the rounds and noticed she had yet to talk to the Baroness. The once governess was not at all thrilled to converse with the woman who had wronged her but it was her duty as a good hostess. Besides, the Baroness had made the effort to attend the party, something that surprised Maria a great deal even after the initial shock.
Sliding from conversation to conversation Maria scanned the golden rimmed room from the light blond hair of the Baroness. She had all but given up when she finally spotted the familiar form outside on the terrace overlooking the small lake. Maria excused herself from the docile group around her and ducted out into the warm night air.
Approaching slowly from behind, Maria drew a deep breath and felt as through she needed the courage she dreamt of the first day she entered the von Trapp home. The Baroness held a sparkling glass of wine with one hand and the other rested on the elaborately decorated cement railing. Her golden cane rested near her against the railing.
"It's a pleasant night out," Maria said, her voice much steadier than her nerves. She joined the Baroness in overlooking the beautiful gardens in the moonlight.
"Do you not find it odd that I decided to attend?" the Baroness asked, her voice elegant and a bit imposing.
Maria was not sure where the conversation would go but she was eager to learn more about her mysterious rival. Georg had been less than forth coming with the details of the Baroness' past and it had not been a subject Maria wished to pursue. The conversation at Charley Jackson's a week before with Max was the most she had ever learned about the Baroness' past.
"We are flattered that you came," Maria answered, choosing her words carefully. The Baroness always played dangerous word games with Maria.
"I am a proud woman," the Baroness began, her regal chin lifted a little higher, "Perhaps too proud at times."
Maria looked at her and waited in silence for the Baroness to continue for she knew of nothing to say.
"Because I am proud," the Baroness continued, "I will only say what I must say once. I am of royal blood, you know. My family's heritage has been passed down through five hundred generations. You are nothing more than a common governess, despite the rise in rank your marriage to Georg provided you with."
Maria could not help feeling a twinge of pain at the Baroness' words. The woman could be quite curl and insensitive and Maria had to clench her teeth to keep from rebutting the insult. The Baroness must have sensed Maria's concealed anger.
"Don't be alarmed by my words Madame von Trapp," the Baroness said as she turned her head slowly and smiled sadly at Maria, "I mean no offense by them. I simply see the difference in our rank as a, a natural fact of life, if you will."
"If you wished to show your disapproval of my marriage you needent have come," Maria began but was interrupted by the Baroness.
"Disapprove? No, I don't disapprove. I'm actually rather impressed with the way society has accepted you," the Baroness said. Maria almost thought the woman looked proudly down on her as if Maria's rise in rank had been entirely her doing.
"I merely wish for you to understand the difficulty I have in saying what I'm about to," the Baroness explained. "I came here tonight for one reason alone. It was not for the party. Dancing and balls no longer hold the same pleasure for me that they once used to." The Baroness seemed to unconsciously touch her left leg, an action that plucked at Maria's sympathy and curiosity. The Baroness continued to speak.
"I came to apologize to you. I treated you abominably, governess or not. I look back on my behavior with shame."
Maria was not sure what she expected from the conversation, but an apology from the statuesque Baroness was most astonishing. Quietly Maria studied the expressions of the woman standing next to her in an attempt to better understand her.
"It was quite wrong of me to encourage you to run away. I can see that now. I don't make excuses for myself, but you must understand that I was frightened and Georg seemed my only escape. I thought I could make him marry me, even if he didn't love me or I him. My financial situation would have been secured and…as foolish as it sounds, I wouldn't have been alone. I unsheathed my claws on you because I was desperate and I am sorry."
Maria stared blankly at the Baroness. The apology was not entirely what she had come to expect in an apology but it was sincere and heartfelt none the less. Maria smiled, stepped forward and, a little boldly, put a hand on the arm of the Baroness.
"It is not foolish to want friendship and love, and I whole heartedly accept your apology. I will tell you that it is unnecessary. The best soul searching I ever did in my life came because you told me to run away. If anything I should thank you for that. I had already forgiven you long ago," Maria said. The Baroness stiffened a little under Maria's touch but her face remained demure.
"I can see why Georg married you," the Baroness said, drawing her arm away and reaching for her cane, "You have faith that is really very touching." There was something phony in the way the Baroness spoke but also a hint of sadness in her expression. She was a difficult woman to understand, at least, for Maria.
Maria smiled again and watched as the Baroness slowly made her exit. Then, a thought occurred to Maria, from where she wasn't sure at the time although years later she would credit the inspiration to her Maker.
"Baroness," Maria called out and the woman turned around. "Georg is taking the children into town on Saturday and…perhaps you would like to join me for tea?" Maria was a bit alarmed at the wavering of her own voice. The blue eyes of the Baroness looked Maria up and down.
"No thank you, my dear," she answered. Maria tried not to let it show but she knew the disappointment was written all over her face. The Baroness again studied Maria.
"I like my tea served promptly at eleven forty five," she said and turned to leave the party. Maria could not stop the delighted smile from appearing all over her features. She thought of the wonderful blessing of forgiveness and the excitement at the possibility of making a new friend out of an old enemy.