Notes: I am having RL problems at the time, but I would update this one to thank you for the reviews. I am not sure how many days will take the next one. I am so glad you like the story so far and the best of all the compliments is to hear that you think I am trying to keep it somewhat in character. (hope it can be said it until the end of the story but that'll be a lil difficult, honestly. :) But your words keep this going.
Chapter 5 - Indiscreet
"Yes, and fat Princess Hannelore had fallen asleep with her mouth wide open in a couch during the last hours of the Chancellor's reception. I was so tempted to put a cigar in her mouth right then and there."
Maria laughed heartily at Emil's tale. He had been recounting some amusing anecdotes of his many years in high society parties in Vienna. It was surprising that some actual fun things could happen in such occasions. But then maybe it took someone with a good humor to find entertainment in no matter what circumstance.
Emil hadn't asked her anything personal, but Maria thought that he had sensed her overall mood and had been trying to ease her a little. As they made a full turn she noticed the captain and the baroness dancing and that Georg's eyes were directed right over the baroness shoulder towards her.
Maria swallowed and looked away feeling warmth spill in her insides. His eyes were so intense and blue that seemed to transfix her, he looked serious and upset. It was the same intense force that attracted their eyes to one another earlier but now tinted with some anguish.
She swallowed and wondered is she was the cause of that expression, maybe because she wasn't supposed to join the dancing and laugh like that. Maria considered letting this be the last dance before retiring to her room for the night. The evening had been very full of events as it stood. Her instincts told her it'd be better to go now.
She tried to tell herself it was because of that that she wanted to call it a night and not for the sting she felt at watching the captain and the baroness dance as the official host couple.
The piece ended. Maria breathed deeply and tried to part with her companion as he led her to the table to ask for some refreshments. "Herr Schafer I think it's time for me to leave. I thank you for the dances. I enjoyed them a lot." At this Emil grabbed slightly her wrist and asked, "If it's not too personal why you think so? Did I tire you so fast?" he said only half joking.
"Oh how could you think that? It was lovely, the party is lovely! But I should go to bed now, I work tomorrow, you know."
He seemed disappointed, "You work?"
"Yes of course, I am Captain Von Trapp's governess."
"Yes, I saw you earlier. But by the way the children looked up to you I would have thought you were a family member, something like a beloved cousin. That musical act was beautiful, by the way. Was it all your doing?"
"Did you really like it?" she smiled happily, "Yes, music is an important part of any education I think. And the children are very apt and talented." Maria removed the attention from herself, she had decided against mentioning that she was also a postulant as it would be probably too personal. She was fairly certain she wouldn't see Emil again.
"I love music too. Maybe we can discuss it more. I beg you not to leave me alone with the 'alligators'," he gestured toward two women who were rapidly approaching him and Maria laughed a little giving in to her natural high spirits. She took another long sip at the new glass of wine that an attentive Helga poured, thinking that staying for a few more minutes wouldn't hurt anyone.
"I won't let escape the only pretty lady that is not married or under fifty!" He teased gently. "Fräulein, let me introduce you to some alligators," Emil said taking her arm and doing some fast introductions.
---------------------------------------------
The four of them moved over to the patio. One of the ladies, an old slim countess started discussing the beautiful house of their host and Maria was delighted in giving details of its management, since it was not often that the captain's friends had the opportunity of visiting the villa.
"There are about fifteen bedrooms in the second story and five more downstairs for the people who work in the house. The place is real big, I admire Frau Schmidt for being able to deal with all the dedication and time it requires" Maria explained.
"I love the lake you have in the backyard, it's loveliest sight in all Salzburg," said Emil.
"Yes, I believe that too. Did you know it is in fact artificial? It was made many years ago."
"I have heard but it's still unbelievable."
"So how difficult is working for Georg?" the countess asked after a few minutes more of light conversation.
"Not difficult at all. The captain is a true gentleman," Maria replied.
"And very handsome one too, don't you think," asked the other woman, a white haired elegant lady in her late forties, whose name Maria had already forgotten.
"Ahem!" interrupted Emil. Maria bit her lip not to laugh at the playful and malicious look over the woman's' face.
"What Emil?" She insisted, "It is just natural that a girl of her age would notice Georg." At that Maria's smile disappeared.
"He has broken many a heart," the other woman continued sighing. "I don't know how anybody living in such close proximity with him could help but…"
Maria frowned and blushed as she felt helpless and awkward, which was the worst part of it. What the mature woman said resounded in her mind: how she could have helped? He was extremely attractive and handsome and exuded an energy and power that would overthrow a better woman than herself.
Maria thought she needed to deny it immediately. If something was the same in every social level, be it the upper or middle class was gossip. Maria didn't care for it.
"It would hardly be my place to notice anything of the sort. I am not only the governess of the children but also a postulant at the Nonnberg Abbey." This shocked all the party, most of all Emil.
"You hadn't mentioned it before!" he exclaimed and closed his mouth as he heard himself sound a little accusative.
"Oh sorry. I just…" everything seemed to start getting out of control for Maria. She wondered how she always managed to get herself in trouble.
"Never mind, my dear," chimed in the countess. She seemed sweet and motherly to Maria. "Being a nun is rather a very serious commitment, you know. Very few women are fit to such a task. It requires a character very prone to sacrifice. And you are so young."
Maria smiled more tranquil. "Not so much, I am twenty three now and I am a graduated school teacher."
The countess laughed heartily. "My girl, I think that the nunnery laws should forbid anyone under 30 to join them. You need to live; you need to see what you're giving up. How can you be sure it's what you want if you hadn't seen what you'd be missing?"
"You mean having a family, a husband and children?"
"Not exactly. I mean if you had those you would have chosen your path permanently already. You cannot leave your children to become a nun. But let me ask you something. Have you ever been kissed by a man?"
Maria flushed furiously. It was quite cheeky of the woman to ask that to a postulant! Maria staggered at this. Emil rescued her once again.
"Dear Countess Weiss, Maria doesn't have to answer to such a question of course. It's highly impertinent to think she would."
"Why not, it's important! Don't think I'd be asking for idle gossip, Emil. Come on Fräulein. Tell me"
Maria didn't reply but the countess really didn't need her to. She knew.
"Maybe you think it's sinful by any means?"
"Oh, no of course not," Maria exclaimed honestly.
The countess looked straight into Maria's eye resolution. "Then if one day you feel you want to… don't hesitate. Maybe you'll find and learn a lot more about yourself than you'd think. Being kissed by the right man is…" but the countess didn't explain what it was.
Instead she added staring intently towards Maria, "Well you will know soon enough if I am not wrong, by the way some gentlemen kept staring at you, you probably won't escape tonight, my dear." She chuckled with the knowledge of someone married for forty years. "Well, you're so young" the countess repeated.
"Oh I couldn't do anything of the like," Maria answered automatically, feeling terrible. She was sure the countess meant Captain Von Trapp during all the conversation. How would it feel to actually kiss him? Would it really be so impacting that it would change her entire life? And what the countess said about her being kissed that very night was simply absurd! The countess implications were too many for Maria to process. Most of all she wondered if she had done something to raise improper suspicions of the sort.
"My little girl, excuse my direct and candid approach. Bear with me. The years I have make people forgive such as a right that come with age. "
Maria could hardly take more of it. She looked up to Emil asking mutely for help. He saw it as his cue and he offered the elderly women both his arms with the pretext of moving inside to have some refreshments. The old ladies accepted reluctantly, realizing that Maria was in need of some time alone. They wished her to enjoy the party. He turned back and mouthed: "I'll be back".
Maria nodded and stood where she was confused and frowning. Not two minutes later Emil returned.
"I am truly sorry for that. I didn't expect the alligators to jump over you on sight. I thought that would take them at least one full hour," he joked sarcastically. "But I guess they smelled blood and couldn't' help themselves."
"I think the countess meant only good," Maria mused to herself in low voice.
"Yes, but she upset you, I saw it in your face."
"No, you're mistaken." Maria replied heatedly.
Emil raised his hand to her shoulder and grabbed it gently. "It upset me, I know that," he said in a hushed tone.
Maria couldn't reply as to her utter shock, she felt someone take her arm and pull her away from Emil. She turned her head to see Captain Von Trapp looming over her, his face a serious, unreadable mask.