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Chapter 2 – Dinner
Fifteen minutes later Maria ran down the stairs to find nobody. Obviously, she had taken too long and was running late for dinner again. However, she achieved results that had made Liesl squeal in enthusiasm, "You look spectacular Fräulein Maria! The dress never looked so gorgeous on me!" she exclaimed. At that, Maria had felt a little guilty for using something that should be been by right Liesl's.
It would have been so good had the captain allowed Liesl to stay too but since it wasn't possible, she had to accept that the oldest of the Von Trapp children was indeed happy with this. Maria felt very grateful for the gesture of love.
The gown she was wearing was made of a delicate and almost transparent slight grayish lace. It was strapless and the long skirt fell ample around her legs and hugged lovingly her waist. Maria felt exposed as she had never before showed so much skin.
But she had to accept that the reflection of the mirror of the foyer showed her a pleasing image, curvaceous, slim. But above all, feminine. It was so exciting to be wearing such a beautiful gown! How different this was from her light summer dresses, even if those were the prettiest clothes she had ever had until then.
She wondered what would the Captain think and a flush crept up anew into her cheeks. She knew how he always noticed clothes. In fact, he had disapproved of hers the very first time they had met and if she was sincere with herself, a great part of the anxiety she felt about attending this dinner had to do with the Captain. Maria knew it was wrong but just couldn't help it. But it was important to put that out of her mind and act as natural as possible.
Liesl had insisted in having Maria put on a little mascara in her eyelashes and shimmer on her lips. That made her looks look deeper and the contrast with the blue of her eyes was stunning. This was strange and new, having always been modest, not to mention that at the abbey make-up was absolutely out of the question.
Maria thought that even here she shouldn't have given in to the sin of vanity. It was not entirely appropriate for a governess to dress up like a guest, especially if she meant to be a nun in the near future.
She had also noticed Franz's reluctance at putting up a chair for her and it had hurt her, it had been enough discomfort she had experienced at the unexpected invitation to also add being slighted by the butler. For if that was the butler, what could she expect from the actual guests?
Fortunately, the dress and subtle make-up made her feel better prepared to face the upcoming situation in equal terms. For this she was infinitely grateful to Liesl.
Maria also remembered the absolutely beautiful dress the baroness wore, and how she had felt just a very slight tinge of improper jealousy upon seeing it earlier, and now, for some strange reason Maria wanted to feel she could be up to it now that she had the opportunity. That lace dress she was wearing right now was more discreet, less flashy, but still just as beautiful.
It was something any woman owed to herself, she mused. If anything, she would have a great tale to tell in the abbey…
Upon these thoughts, Maria entered the dinning room. A long table was set and about fifty guests sat at it and at surrounding round smaller tables. A prelude was playing softly in the background allowing for animated conversation. The glimmer of the silverware and crystal, the light of the chandeliers made her squint a little while she scanned the place for Herr Detweiler.
"Fräulein!" said his familiar voice, coming from the main table, "we are only waiting for you". Max gestured to a seat right beside him.
"I am so sorry it took me so long," Maria apologized as she skipped a couple of waiters who busied themselves serving drinks all over the place. Maria smiled and took a seat noticing that many eyes were turned towards her from all over the different tables.
The captain, in his usual seat at the head of the table was beside Elsa. He nodded courteously at Maria sweeping her in with his unreadable eyes for a second and looking away. Baroness Schraeder made a face that spoke of annoyance; it hadn't escaped her notice that the baroness always studied the captain when he was staring at her.
Maria suddenly felt her confidence fall. She stayed silent after murmuring a general 'good evening', stunned that she had nothing else to say which was quite uncharacteristic, and began fidgeting with her napkin.
"Oh Fräulein, what a beautiful dress you have" commented the Baroness with a note of sarcasm only slightly hidden in her voice. "You must really give me the name of your dressmaker, my dear"
Maria didn't know what to respond. Giving complicated explanations was out of the question. So she only coughed and accepted a glass that was aptly filled up by a waiter. "Oh, is this wine?" she asked. "Yes of course, Fräulein, and the best in all Salzburg I must add", answered Max. "Georg would be eaten alive tomorrow if he spared on food or drinks for his guest" Said Max, patting his belly. "Please try it. 1905 Bordeux, excellent year even if the crop was scarce. I assure you won't have a hangover tomorrow."
"Then why did I see you gulp down a couple of aspirins this morning, Max?" asked the baroness.
"Oh, you saw me? In fact it was Georg's brandy I abused, not the wine. So the suggestion still stands, Fräulein"
"I am afraid I wouldn't see the difference between a good and a bad wine. The only spirit we have had at the abbey is the wine used to consecrate. Probably this will be wasted on me" answered Maria smiling.
"Yes, then better be careful with that Fräulein," said Elsa. "Wouldn't look well for a postulant to get drunk."
"Oh!" Maria exclaimed. "I certainly wouldn't have enough for that to happen, baroness."
Maria chuckled a little to hide her nerves, the baroness sounded for a second slightly like sister Berthe. She turned to examine the captain for the first time since her arrival. She had been carefully avoiding his eyes. But curiosity took the best of her as it always did. He was murmuring to the baroness' ear something and smiling. Maria felt disappointed without knowing exactly why.
After a few minutes of watching everything around, the idea came to her mind of how parties could indeed be very lonely moments. Unless one was acquainted with at least some people and felt at ease, that is. But otherwise…it was natural to feel acutely isolated.
The waiters were only half done serving the main course to the guests and Maria decided to try the wine after all to have something to do. The first sip made jump a little. She had forgotten it could be quite so bitter and dry and give a funny feeling in the pit of the stomach.
She turned her eyes to the captain instinctively and found him looking at her intensely as if about to say something but holding himself in check. Maybe he agreed with the baroness and thought she would have too much and make a fool of herself. She couldn't quite explain otherwise why he would be looking at her that way, as if he hadn't seen her ever before.