Chapter 12: Finding Eliza
The difference between a flower girl and a lady is not how she behaves, but how she is treated.
- George Bernard Shaw, 'Pygmalion' (My Fair Lady)
ooooOOOOoooo
Damn, damn, damn. Georg drummed his fingers on his desk, his jaw clenched with irritation at himself. Fraulein Maria had gone upstairs to get ready to search for this Fraulein Eliza.
What the hell had he been thinking suggesting an unchaperoned jaunt to Salzburg with his lovely young governess? Had he completely lost his mind?
Alone. In the car. He swore again.
It was already difficult enough to maintain the stern façade he always put on with her, a defensive reaction to the outrageous craving he had to spend time in her company. It was not just her singing that had him enraptured. It was much, much more, he admitted to himself for the first time.
He couldn't even muster any real anger about her ridiculous deception. As much as he had enjoyed making her squirm just now, the only thing he really felt was amusement at her half-baked idea to avenge the hapless waitress. It had obviously been ill-thought out, if well-intentioned, and certainly harmless.
If anything, she had hurt herself the most, tormenting herself with guilt over the last weeks. He shook his head wryly. She was guileless and without malice and rather hopeless at deception.
He thought back to her behaviour since her arrival. To her credit, although she had found ways to gently provoke both himself and Elsa, she had never been rude. No, she had used her intellect and wit to prove her points. Even though the playfulness and mischief had danced in her eyes, she had never crossed any boundaries of disrespectfulness. It had actually been quite clever, until her conscience got the better of her and she had started avoiding him.
He grimaced, thinking about the waitress. Although Fraulein Maria had been vague on details, he could just imagine what Elsa had said to her.
He knew full well the disparaging things that Elsa had said about Fraulein Maria's supposed accent. Finally, he had lost his patience with Elsa some weeks ago and told her he would not discuss his governess' dialect further, shocking them both, since he had never lost his temper with her before.
Elsa had been enraged and sullen afterwards, never losing an opportunity to make snide remarks under her breath about the 'draggle-tailed guttersnipe,' 'the barbarous wretch,' 'the squashed cabbage leaf,' 'the incarnate insult to the German language.'
But she had been careful not to provoke him outright since he had made it clear that her imperious attitude to his staff was beneath her and was quite unattractive.
He pulled at his collar uncomfortably. He knew he could have easily asked someone else to find the waitress and sort out the whole sorry mess. But he hadn't, and he damn well knew why he hadn't. It had been an impulse that he couldn't control. Was impulsiveness contagious? He had never been impulsive in his life. But now, he could barely control his need to be with the young Fraulein.
With remembered horror, he shuddered at how close he had come to kissing her. Every rational thought in his head had vanished as he had stared at her luscious mouth, wondering if it would taste as sweet as he imagined. No doubt there was a special place in hell reserved for men who lusted after young, innocent postulants, he thought, disgusted with himself.
She had gotten under his skin. She intrigued him, fascinated him and amused him. It didn't help that she was so damn lovely, with a natural beauty that he was finding increasingly hard to resist, and an intellect that stimulated him.
For some reason, the lyrics to a wretched tune that Max had picked out on the piano once, went through his head. It seemed to fit somehow.
I've grown accustomed to her face.
She almost makes the day begin.
I've grown accustomed to the tune that
She whistles night and noon.
Her smiles, her frowns,
Her ups, her downs
Are second nature to me now.*
Damn Max, and damn himself, he thought irritably, pushing the tune out of his head.
It wasn't just the children who needed her, she was growing increasingly necessary for him too. Only this morning he had awoken in a foul mood to find that her exquisite singing voice was silent. It had annoyed the hell out of him, firstly not to hear it and secondly by how much he needed it.
Blast it all, he should be avoiding her, not suggesting improper outings. He was going to need every ounce of self discipline to keep up his detached demeanour in her presence.
Glancing at his watch he reached for the bell to call Franz.
"Yes Captain?"
"Franz, bring the car around please. I need to attend to some business with Fraulein Maria in town."
There was a pregnant pause. "Whatever you say sir." Although the butler used his usual dour tone, there was an infinitesimal raising of an eyebrow which seemed to be saying Is that really appropriate sir?
Georg looked at him in irritation. "I won't be long. We should be back before the Baroness awakens but please tell her that I will be back soon if she enquires."
"Yes sir." Only the slightest inflection in his voice gave away what he was thinking: Have you taken leave of your senses sir?
Georg dismissed him, annoyed. He was damned if he was going to justify himself to his disdainful butler. But for the record, yes, he had clearly taken leave of his senses, he thought disagreeably.
He gathered some things and went out into the hallway.
"Father?"
Georg turned as his daughter came bounding down the stairs as he headed for the front door.
"Yes Louisa?" His mood lightened when he saw her. The children had wrapped themselves around his heart these last weeks, even if he had lost his temper with Louisa yesterday. Once again it was all thanks to Fraulein Maria who had saved the day. There were so many reasons for him to be grateful to her.
Louisa stood awkwardly beside him, uncertain about how to continue. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry again for yesterday, Father. Fraulein Maria told me I should not have been so rude to the Baroness and to you. She was right."
Georg smiled, running his knuckles down her cheek affectionately. "Yes I think we were both a little hot-headed yesterday, but luckily Fraulein Maria managed to calm us all down."
He tutted his tongue and shook his head with mock sternness. "I really don't know where you get your temper from Louisa," he said with a twinkle in his eye.
Louisa burst into thrilled laughter that he was teasing her. "I don't know either, Father. Everyone says I inherited it," she said pointedly. She smiled delightedly as her father raised his eyebrows with exaggerated affronted innocence.
He waited, sure there was more. She seemed to be wrestling with herself. Suddenly, as if she wasn't going to give herself more time to think about it, she leaned up to kiss him on the cheek and gave him a quick hug.
"Thank you for not sending us to Finishing School," she whispered hurriedly.
Before Georg could respond she was off, racing up the stairs, her blonde hair flying behind her.
He stared after her, utterly bemused, his heart filled with tender love. He couldn't remember when Louisa had been so spontaneously affectionate with him. Not for years. She was not like Brigitta who was so exuberant and unafraid of showing love. Louisa was reserved and mistrustful, so her burst of affection was all the more touching.
He sighed. The children did not yet know they would all have to leave soon. It made his heart ache. The unrelenting worry pressed down on him again. But he would not think about that now, he decided resolutely.
Outside in the driveway, he drummed his fingers on the roof of the car as he waited for the Fraulein. She was on the cusp of being late when she arrived, flushed and breathless. She scampered into the backseat before he had time to come around and open the front door for her.
He raised mocking eyebrows as she huddled in the backseat. "Am I to be your chauffeur today Fraulein?" he asked sardonically.
"Well…uhm…I just thought…." She reluctantly got out again and got in the front passenger seat.
He realised, belatedly, that maybe she was right. It would have been better if they were not in such close proximity.
They drove off, with Georg fervently trying not to notice how close her knee was to the stick shift. The atmosphere in the car felt claustrophobic. He had sudden disturbing image of those delicate feminine fingers, currently curled in her lap, caressing his knee as he drove.
Distracted, he crunched the gears and swore, then immediately apologised. Cursing was certainly disrespectful to ladies, especially postulants.
"That's alright Captain. I understand cars can be quite difficult to drive."
His mouth quirked. Was she patronising him? Why did that amuse him?
"Don't worry Fraulein, I am sure I can get us there in one piece," he responded dryly. "Now I suggest we start at the teahouse in case the manager knows what became of this waitress."
"That's a very good idea Captain." Was she patronising him again because he was stating the obvious?
He gave a self-deprecating smile and a pretend modest shrug at her disingenuous praise. Forgetting all his promises to himself, he felt charmed and amused by her.
"You know, I won quite a few medals for military strategy Fraulein," he said with exaggerated pompousness.
"Well they were quite obviously well deserved." The indulgent tone that she usually used with Gretl and the laughter in her eyes, told him that yes she was definitely teasing him. He gave in to his chuckle and she laughed too. It made his heart leap to hear it.
But he immediately rebuked himself. What the devil was he doing enjoying this light-hearted banter with his governess? Was he turning into one of those loathsome cads that he despised: courting one woman while flirting with other women behind her back?
His governess seemed to sober up too. "Captain," she began tentatively after a silence. "I wanted to talk to you about your idea of staying behind while the children are sent away. I really think you should reconsider, sir. The children need you."
Georg sighed heavily. "I don't wish to discuss it right now. I will speak to you about it once I have come up with a plan but for the moment let's focus on sorting out this problem first."
"But -"
"No Fraulein," he said firmly, broking no further argument, his mouth a familiar terse line. "No doubt I will need your help telling the children once I have a strategy in place, but for the moment please leave it."
They were reaching the outskirts of Salzburg.
Maria sighed in frustration at the Captain's stubbornness. How could she get through to him? Well at least she had time now that he hadn't fired her. She almost felt giddy with relief that he had taken the whole deception so well. But she really needed to help the family stay together somehow. She wracked her brains trying to come up with a solution. But nothing seemed to come to her.
She saw some posters advertising the upcoming Salzburg Music Festival. It distracted her from her thoughts, as well as her discomfort over the suffocating intimacy of the two of them being alone in the close confines of the car.
She laughed softly. "Do you know the funniest thing? Herr Detweiler actually said I should be performing in the Festival. Isn't that precious?" Her face was bright with amusement.
To her astonishment the Captain didn't laugh. He scowled.
"Did he indeed? Why doesn't that surprise me?" he muttered angrily.
She stared at him, surprised. Why was he angry over such a silly joke? She felt slightly hurt. While she didn't think she was good enough to be in the Festival he could at least pretend that it was a legitimate possibility.
"He thinks I sing very well," she huffed.
She was completely taken aback by his response.
"Well he's right about that. You have a rare gift Fraulein, no-one can deny that. Your voice is exquisite, the most beautiful I have ever heard. It creates a shimmering moment of magic whenever I hear it. But Herr Detweiler never does anything that is not in his own interests. I will speak to him about this later," he said abruptly.
Maria didn't know whether to feel indignant or not but she could not deny that his words of praise warmed her right down to her toes which were curling in shocked pleasure in her shoes. She felt the flush of intense happiness surging through her even though he had spoken in such a detached, unemotional way. She hugged the delight to herself but the Captain was speaking again as he slowed down to drive through the poorer districts of Salzburg.
"You'll have to keep an eye out for her Fraulein. I can't remember what she looks like."
With a start Maria looked out the window. Her heart clenched to see people living on the streets. Some were cooking breakfast over open fires in metal barrels, others were still sleeping on the hard pavements. Worst of all she could see small children, huddled, sleeping under blankets.
She felt horrified that Eliza may have ended up in such a situation in these grim economic times, and guilty that she had not checked on her before.
After driving through a couple of streets without any sighting of Fraulein Eliza, the Captain turned the car and headed to the more affluent suburbs where the teahouse was located.
He parked outside the café. Maria was clambering out of the car when the Captain came around to hold the door open for her, surprising her. He had impeccable manners but it had not occurred to her that he would use them on anyone but ladies from his own background. But she should have known that he would. She chided herself for misjudging him again.
She looked at the patisserie. This was where it had all started a month ago. A month? Surely it was longer than that she thought dazedly. It felt like a year since she had been at the von Trapp villa.
Once the manager saw that one of his customers was none other than the illustrious Captain von Trapp, he came out immediately, all obsequious charm.
The Captain demurred his offer of coffee and the best pastry on the house. "No thank you. We will perhaps come back later. We wanted to find one of your waitresses, a Fraulein Eliza. She worked here a month ago."
"Oh," the manager looked wary, remembering the events which had led to the firing of his waitress.
He cleared his throat uneasily. "I had to let her go. I do apologise again, Captain, for the incident with the tea. If there is anything I can do to make up for it and for the distress caused to Baroness Schraeder, I will happily do so. But I really don't think it's necessary to seek out Eliza. She's a good girl and normally nothing like that would ever happen. Believe me sir, she is very sorry about it."
Maria was touched that he was protecting Eliza and sought to reassure him.
"Oh but it's alright, we know that. We just want to make sure she's fine. I promised I would check up on her in any case. Please can you help us find her?"
The manager looked at Maria thoughtfully and whatever he saw in her warm, open face seemed to reassure him. He nodded.
"I helped her find a job selling flowers. It doesn't earn much but she said she loves flowers so much. I think she takes in washing and sewing too, to help her pay the rent for her room. She's usually selling flowers on Gertzheimer Strasser, but sometimes the police move all the stall holders along."
Maria and the Captain thanked the manager and walked over to square. Maria was the first to spot Eliza, holding a basket full of violets on the corner, calling out to customers in her strong provincial accent. "'ere, buy a fla'er from a poor gal?"
Maria hurried ahead, relieved to see her. "Eliza? Hallo, Eliza do you remember me? We met a month ago when you were working in the cafe."
Eliza looked at her in confusion for a moment and then broke into a wide smile of recognition. "Of course, Fraulein Maria. Oh it's ever so loverly to see you. You were right kind ta me, you were."
Maria gave her a warm hug and Eliza laughed as she continued unguardedly.
"Bloomin 'eck that was a right ol' blarney in the teahouse, weren't it?" She was able to giggle about it now, though she had been in floods of tears at the time. "What with that stuck-up madam with 'er airs and graces and downright meanness. Saucy old baggage! Mean as a snake she was." Eliza sniffed, affronted.
Maria hastily interrupted her as the Captain approached, not wanting him to hear the Baroness spoken of in such a way. "Well actually, that's why we – that is, the Captain and I, came to see you."
Eliza froze in horror and Maria sought desperately to reassure her. "You remember the Captain don't you? It's alright, he's here to help, I promise. Please don't worry."
Eliza blanched a sickly pale colour. "Oooh, Guv'nor," she squawked. "I'm ever so sorry I am, about the spilt tea an' all. I'm a good girl I am. Didn't mean no 'arm, I didn't. I said sorry an' all, I did." The poor thing looked frightened to death.
"It's quite alright Fraulein, It was an accident. I wanted to apologise to you." The Captain sought to calm her as Eliza looked as if she would faint with nerves.
He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I may have seemed a bit …er… harsh when I spoke to you. I want to say sorry for the fact that you lost your job as a result. If I had known I would have prevented that happening."
Eliza was staring at the Captain with her mouth agape, as if she couldn't believe her ears. She couldn't have been more surprised if he had said he had grown a pair of wings and intended to fly across the market square.
She blinked at him, speechless.
The Captain took control as a curious crowd observed them. "Why don't we go to your lodgings and we can discuss this further."
"Oh no, sir! I mean, I don't mean to be rude like, but I got to sell them flowers. The rent is due an' all and if I get behind the landlord will turf me out, he will." Eliza sniffed and rubbed her nose on her sleeve anxiously.
"Right, well how many bouquets do you have left? Twenty? That's easy, I have five daughters who love violets, and perhaps a bunch for Fraulein Maria as well. I can give the rest to the housekeeper to brighten the house up a bit."
Georg couldn't imagine giving violets to Elsa, she would be aghast. Expensive greenhouse roses and delicate orchids were far more her style. He pulled out some schillings to pay for the flowers and handed the bouquets to Maria, ignoring the fact that Eliza seemed to be in a trance of shock as she gazed in awe at the money he placed in her hand.
"Oh but, sir…" Eliza continued to gape at him. "I…I better take the basket up to me room," she said dazedly.
"Fine, we'll come with you," the Captain insisted, as he chivvied her along.
"Oh but… Me room is quite small sir, and not very nice for a fine gentlemen like yerself. You might ruin your fancy suit an' all. I really don't think…."
The Captain overrode her. "I am sure it will be fine Fraulein, lead the way."
Maria watched his bossiness with amusement and delighted affection. There was no doubt he could be forceful, but this time he was doing it charmingly without intimidating Eliza. Maria felt an unfamiliar and powerful surge of emotion in her chest for him, but was unable to decipher it.
The three of them could barely fit in Eliza's tiny room, but Maria was touched to see how the Captain pretended not to notice how sparse and squalid it was. She felt ready to weep with tenderness to see him perch with apparent ease on the box that Eliza used for a chair.
"I only got one cup," Eliza said, embarrassed. "But would you like a cupatay?"
"A cup of tea would be marvellous thank you," the Captain accepted graciously as if he were in one of Vienna's finest salons. "Fraulein Maria and I can share the cup."
Maria looked at him in shock. Sharing a cup with the Captain? Heavens! That seemed so… intimate. She swallowed hard as she felt the heat rushing in to her cheeks, imagining her mouth touching the place where his mouth had been.
Eliza looked at them in surprise, clearly seeing something intimate too, which Maria desperately wanted to assure her wasn't there.
The Captain gave Maria the tea first and then took the chipped cup afterwards with aplomb. Maria watched surreptitiously to see if he would discreetly change the side of the cup where she had sipped and was astonished to see he didn't. His mouth was touching where hers had sipped the tea. She gulped, desperately trying to dissipate the heat in her face, and hide the shiver that skittered along her spine.
But the Captain's attention was focused on Eliza. "I hope you do not find me intrusive Fraulein Eliza, but I wish to make amends for you losing your job. Perhaps you would consider working in my household? I am sure my housekeeper would welcome an extra pair of hands."
Eliza looked at him, astonished. "Your 'ousehold sir? Ooooh, that's ever so kinda you."
She paused, delicately, not sure how to say the next part. "Is..er…. your lady companion staying with you, like?" she asked awkwardly, imaging the Baroness' reaction if she showed up as a member of staff. The thought clearly terrified her.
"Yes, Baroness Schraeder is staying with me for the moment, but she does not have anything to do with running the household. You will find that my housekeeper is firm but also kind."
Eliza pondered for a bit and then said, "It's awfully nice of you sir. But I love working with flowers I do. Even though I don't earn much, it keeps me 'appy. I think I'll just keep me job sir. But ta ever so much. You're a right fine proper gentleman, you are." Eliza's eyes were shining with hero worship.
"Alright then, fair enough. Let me see if I can get you a job at a florist that I know. I'm Frau Meyer's best customer. I had a standing order for the freshest, prettiest blooms for my late wife every day of our marriage. She loved flowers too."
He paused for a moment, surprised that he had revealed that, as the other two looked at him in sympathy. He didn't add that the standing order continued to this day, but the flowers were delivered to Agathe's grave instead.
He cleared his throat. "Let me have a word with Frau Meyer. I am sure she would appreciate some extra help from someone who has such a passion for flowers."
Eliza's eyes lit up, but then she said forlornly, "But I don't talk proper like. I might scare them customers off."
The Captain spoke firmly, "The way you speak is of no consequence Fraulein. We are all Austrians after all, whether we come from the cities or the mountains. I believe you are from Alamy?"
Eliza was astounded that he knew that about her. She glanced at Maria, confused. But Maria was staring guiltily at the tablecloth – remembering how she had pretended to be from Alamy herself.
The Captain cast Maria a wry pointed glance before continuing to Eliza, "I had a torpedovormann serving with me on my U-boat during the war. He was from a village near there. Best enlisted man on my crew."
Eliza glowed with pride at his words.
"But in any case let me talk to Frau Meyer now. I suggest you ladies go down to the cafe and order some of the best sachertorte while I make arrangements."
He discreetly gave some notes to Maria, bowed elegantly to Eliza, then left. Eliza gave him an awkward curtsy back, clearly overwhelmed by him.
Maria's heart felt ready to burst with tenderness for the Captain, at the way he had treated Eliza: not as a common flower girl, and therefore beneath his notice, but as graciously as if she had been a Countess. He had not disparaged her humble lodgings or demeaned her in any way. He was honourable and decent.
A fine man, the Reverend Mother's words echoed back to her. How wrong Maria had been about him. She sighed regretfully, feeling ashamed of her deception once again. He might have many faults, but snobbishness was not one of them.
But there was something puzzling about it all. When she had first met him he had seemed brusque and extremely rude, and in a perpetually bad temper. There had been no sign of his charm. How had he changed? Why had he changed? Or had he always been kind but it had been buried under the weight of his grief for his wife? Maria could not make him out.
She shook her head, perplexed. And he said she was an enigma! she thought ironically. He was much more of a riddle.
Eliza was staring at the door after the Captain left, a dreamy look in her eyes. "Cor, blimey, 'e is 'andsome as the devil 'e is. I wouldn't mind 'is 'ead resting on my knee."
Maria's and Eliza's eyes met, both thinking the same outrageous thoughts as they burst into fits of giggles, their faces scarlet with embarrassment about their illicit thoughts about a certain handsome sea captain. Their peals of laughter released some of the tension.
When Eliza started humming softly, Maria couldn't resist joining in.
"Some one's head resting on my knee,
warm and tender as he can be
Who takes good care of me…
Aow wouldn't it be loverly?
All I want is a room somewhere
Far away from the cold night air
With one enormous chair
Aow wouldn't it be loverly?
Lots of choc'lates for me to eat
Lots of coal makin' lots of 'eat
Warm face, warm 'ands, warm feet
Aow wouldn't it be loverly?**
They ended the song, smiling, with their heads leaning together affectionately.
"Right then, well that was a real turn up for the books! Bloomin 'eck, you could 'ave knocked me down with a feather, you could. You 'ad better tell me all about your fancy man," Eliza said, agog with curiosity.
Maria protested with blazing cheeks, "Oh Eliza, he's not my fancy man at all."
But deep down inside, on a shockingly outrageous thought, she realised that she wished, achingly, that he was.
ooooOOOOoooo
A/N: Thanks so much for the very kind feedback. I would love to know your thoughts.
*I've grown accustomed to her face. Lyrics and music by Lerner and Lowe, My Fair Lady
** Wouldn't it be loverly. Lyrics and and music by Lerner and Lowe, My Fair Lady
I do not own TSOM or MFL