Notes: Thanks for keeping on reading. You will find this chapter is more of a character study; I am trying to build up for what is coming. Promise next chapter will have some rather interesting interaction. Meanwhile please review.

Chapter 4 - Musings

As soon as the last of dishes were retired, everybody walked back to the ballroom lazily. Most of the guests got into groups of animated and courteous conversation. Max seemed very enthralled in an interchange with the baroness so Maria exited the dinning room and went to the ballroom by herself.

It glittered as she had never seen it before. She remembered the first time she had entered the golden room. She had been very curious and more than meddlesome in invading it and the captain very first words had been a warning about her not intruding again. Now, it was a sign of how things changed that captain Von Trapp had agreed to open it to everybody that night.

Maria was happy to think that maybe at least part of what had happened had been due to her interference. Even if he had thought it officious at one point, in the end it had done the job and she was satisfied for that. Yes, she had risked being fired on spot, and not only that, she had actually been fired unceremoniously, but it had been worth it.

It was lucky that Captain Von Trapp had changed his mind almost immediately and asked her so intently to stay. Her heart had hurt for the few minutes she thought she had to go and return to the abbey. Not to see the captain or the children again. And that was very funny since returning to the abbey had been her only wish when she left it, just a few months ago.

Had she been fired… it would have meant failure yet again, her being expulsed from the Von Trapp house, just like she had been sent away from the Abbey…. Like she had always been rejected at his uncle's home… And Maria wanted nothing more than to find some stability in life.

It was hard not to have had a home she could really call her own, with total assurance she'd never be rejected there. And not only her self-esteem craved for such assurance, she was upset somewhat thinking of that sort of rejection coming from the Captain.

Because…he was the sort of man on whom one could rely completely and whose respect one could call herself lucky to earn. So trustworthy and strong. In a strange way she envied his kids, who didn't have a worry in this world because he was there to leave the harsh reality outside the entrance door and provide them with warmth. Such a family was lucky; but she knew the children didn't appreciate it for all it was worth. Maybe she would talk to them soon and find a way to expose it so they could understand, the sort of blessing they had so as they could be truly thankful for it.

Maria's thoughts returned to the present moment when she noticed how a few couples started dancing. The musicians had chosen now Chopin's Waltz No 2, which was Maria's favorite, so she started tapping with her feet from her hidden corner.

"Madame, you look like a wallflower, as the Americans say. That doesn't seem very natural for someone like you. So let me invade your leisure musings and introduce myself." She watched as the young dark haired man who had smiled to her earlier at the dinner table approached her with those rather startling declarations.

"And what would be natural for someone like me, eh, Herr…"

"Emil Schafer. A pleasure," he smiled. Maria curtsied slightly,

"I'm Maria Rainer", she answered; happy to see that at least someone was approaching her.

"Enchanté. And to answer your question, the natural thing would be for you to dance with every single gentleman in the room until your feet could not stand anymore."

She laughed. "Well thank you." He had won her over in a minute. Maria grinned and felt relaxed. His apparent amiability and playful manners gave her a little more confidence.

Emil placed his back to the wall, just beside Maria. "Do you like to dance?"

"Yes, I do like it a lot,"

"Then please, you'd make me a very happy man if you accepted to have a few dances with me."

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Elsa had left the party and searched all over the place for the captain, who was in fact standing, aloof, in the balcony.

Georg had been trying to cool down before returning to the party. And was, not for the first time, regretting having allowed Elsa to invite Zeller. His provocation had been too much, but punching someone in his own party was something he wouldn't do even in the worst circumstances as much tempted as he felt. But maybe one day… He prayed that the opportunity would present itself.

"Georg, what do you do here all alone? The guests are asking for you." She said pleadingly and took his hand a little too tightly, leading him inside. Georg complied not too graciously but aware of his duties as a host.

"I'm just having some fresh air," he explained. "I thought they would take a little more time to finish dinner."

"Yes, but they all ate rather ravenously. By the way, I will have to have talk to your cook. Her dishes are entirely too dangerous for my figure."

"Oh nobody would think that your figure could be in any danger, my dear," he smiled.

"You really think so? But one cannot be too careful. We women are like that. Take for instance Fräulein Maria. She seems to be taking care of her figure too. Hardly ate at all. Especially after you left."

The captain felt a little off balance by the sudden introduction of Maria in the conversation. Elsa seemed to be trying him again. "Well maybe she has the same feelings I do as an Austrian. I am sure more than one guest got indigestion at Zeller's lack of table manners."

"Yes, it was absolutely uncalled for," Elsa regretted rather sincerely as they re-entered the ballroom.

"Well here we are," Elsa chuckled maliciously. "But look who is dancing. Fräulein Maria," Elsa was even tempted to point with her finger but thought better of it. She was thrilled to see Maria dancing with someone else. Maybe that'd give Georg a hint.

"Oh yes, Fräulein Maria is just another guest tonight," answered Georg refusing to swallow the bait with lips barely moving.

"She is such a lovely dancer, isn't she? But her companion fits her very well too. Maybe all she needed was a little mixing up with people of her age, don't you think?" Elsa said amicably.

Georg emitted a low groan and instead of continuing the chat, took Elsa's hand and led her to the dance floor.

Georg didn't really know much Emil, but he reluctantly admitted he had a gentlemanlike mien. That fact bothered him a lot. He fixed his regard on Maria's beautiful figure grumpily as they passed them by.

Emil was closer to his governess' age indeed. The fact affected him for some reason. Georg felt sad. She was so petite and young. More compelling than all the other mundane and elegant women of fashion present in the reception because she didn't realize it. The sophisticated and sarcastic flirting of women like Elsa was the farthest thing away from Maria. She was natural.

She would never use cunning or even be aware that her physical appearance could enslave a man if she chose but to act on it.

His admiration was plain in his eyes to anybody who chose to see it because it was so difficult for him to keep his eyes off the other couple.

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Elsa sensed Georg's upset state of emotions very well, as she had made it her study ever since the puppet show. He was slowly slipping away from her fingers like sand. She was too upset for words, so decided to contain further comments.

Elsa was too well behaved and had too much worldly experience to give in to desperation, just because things weren't going as she had planned. If life had learnt her something, it had been to be gracious under any circumstance and hide very well her feelings and thoughts. What was important was to observe, plan and act on things. And that was what she intended to do in the first opportunity she would have of being alone with the young postulant.

The baroness had tried to get to "talk" with Maria earlier just to find she wasn't in her room. It was a great opportunity lost. She knew exactly how to deal with her. It was obvious that she was in love with Georg but in her lack of any experience didn't even realize it, just as she hadn't realized his quite obvious attraction. Had she done it, or acted on it, there would be absolutely nothing to be done.

But telling Maria of her love would certainly scare her out of her senses. Elsa knew it and sincerity would be her greatest ally unless something happened first.

While Elsa had envisioned herself like being a cat and Maria the mouse, this night showed instead that Maria could very well be compared to a ball of snow that starts rolling down a mountain until it becomes an avalanche.

The baroness felt threatened despite all her experience and glamorous confidence. Somehow the little governess looks and wiles had taken Georg's attention. Yes, he would hardly be a man if he hadn't noticed someone as young and pretty. Elsa was no stupid and lying to herself was not her style at all, nor was what would bring her victorious in the game.

Georg was the most wanted bachelor in Salzburg and one of the most coveted even in Vienna. His feats as former naval captain had been the admiration and pride of high society. And the fact that he was a widower awoke even more the fancy of the women of their circle; consequently, her being his particular friend had satisfied immensely Elsa's vanity.

The captain would be a perfect match for someone in her position and no stupid little nun would take away that perfection if she could help it.