Elsa Returns

The next day began as yesterday had; Kurt and Louisa were hungry. They had a contest at breakfast to see who could eat the most pancakes. Not even Georg ate that many. And their lessons about America were interesting.

Around three in the afternoon, the children's happy smiles became frowns. The Baroness had returned from Vienna. And Maria observed the greeting between her and the captain.

It was nothing like she had read described in the romance novels she had read before she entered the abbey. She saw no hurrying to embrace the other; and they barely kissed. She did hear her answer to the captain's question.

"We're you successful darling?"

"Not really. I'm having it made. I will need to return for a fitting."

"At least you will wear a gown you really like."

"I suppose that's a good reason to wait. I need to go to my room and unpack."

"Of course darling. Franz already took your bags to your room."

And Maria was bewildered; it was all so strange.

And the day became stranger when Elsa didn't come down for dinner. Franz took her meal to her room. Once again, the older children smiled broadly. They knew they could enjoy their meal and the remainder of the evening without the Baroness being there.

They did enjoy the evening. Maria taught them how to play charades. Seven very happy children went to bed. And she heard the captain ask.

"Fräulein, where did you learn all these fun things to do?"

"From one of my professors at the university; he taught us fun ways to help children learn. Charades help them sharpen their memory; and to quickly think how to act out the charade. I noticed you enjoyed playing too."

"I did, Fräulein. We should get some sleep; I'm sure the children will keep us busy tomorrow."

"Yes, Captain, they probably will. I'll see you in the morning."

"You certainly will. Sleep well Fräulein."

Maria left the sitting room for the stairs; her walk was slow but her mind was very active. She was wondering about the captain's engagement to the Baroness. Why is it he wants to be with me and his children? It seems very strange.

She continued to ponder it all the way to the second floor. Maria set aside her thoughts as she entered the little girl's bedroom. They were waiting for her to read them a story. And as they had done many times before they were asleep before she finished. She put the book down and left their room quietly.

She checked on the other children and found them in various stages of getting ready for bed before she went to her room. She put on her nightgown and knelt beside her bed to say her prayers.

They had helped Maria fall asleep easily. But it wouldn't be sound sleep or very restful. And someone else was not having a good night's sleep either.

It was Liesl; her time of the month had arrived. Her discomfort woke her very early in the morning. She knew Katia was already in the kitchen; she was going there to get the hot water bottle. A voice stopped her half way down the stairs.

Liesl recognized that the voice belonged to the Baroness. She heard. Yes comrade Zeller, it's all arranged. Tell Heinrich Himmler he doesn't suspect a thing. Heil Hitler.

Liesl froze; she finally took a deep breath and ran to her governess's bedroom. She knocked on her door loud enough for it to wake her governess.

Maria was in the twilight of her night's sleep; it was the time the sisters and postulants were called to first prayers.

The knock startled her; she bolted from her bed and spoke loud enough to be heard. "Who's there."

"Liesl, I must talk to you."

Maria quickly open the door and saw Liesl standing there. She could immediately tell something was terribly wrong. Her normal happy countenance was gone. Instead, her face was pale, her eyes were wide open. And she had her arms crossed as if she was trying to keep herself from shaking uncontrollably.

"What's wrong."

Liesl stuttered as she tried to speak.

"I….I was going to the kitchen to get the hot water bottle….but..but I was stopped when I heard a voice." Liesl took a deep breath and now she almost spit her words out like a gunshot as she continued.

"Maria, it was the Baroness on the telephone. She was talking to that man who was at the party, Herr Zeller. I heard her say. It's all arranged and he doesn't suspect a thing. I'll wait for orders from Heinrich Himmler. Then she ended the call with Heil Hitler."

She again took a deep breath and stammered out.

"I…..I'm really scared Fräulein. Who do you think she was talking about?"

Maria had a thought she didn't share with Liesl.

"I don't know. Go get the hot water bottle from Katia and try to go back to sleep."

Liesl did as she asked. Meanwhile Maria dressed and prayed. "Lord, I know you know as I do. Send your angels to protect the captain."

Then she hurried down the stairs and she heard. "I see you're an early riser too this morning. I saw Liesl going up the stairs. Do you know why she was up so early?"

"Yes, it's her time of the month; she went to get the hot water bottle from Katia. I need to tell you what she told me."

"Let's go in my study." He closed the door. Maria thought it was strange he did.

"Captain, Liesl heard the Baroness talking on your telephone and she knew it was to that man, Herr Zeller who was at the party. She told me his exact words. It's all arranged and he doesn't expect a thing. She also heard the name, Heinrich Himmler; and she ended the conversation with, Heil Hitler.

"Captain, I didn't tell her my suspicion. I believe we both know who He is."

"Yes, Maria, we do. You better sit."

Now Maria was the one who was scared; so much so she was shaking. When she sat, it wasn't lady-like; it was more like she was falling into the chair. And her stomach felt like it was in knots. She covered it with her hands trying to soothe it.

She was facing Georg, who had also sat. "Maria, let me tell you about meeting Elsa. I'm sure you remember your first dinner at the villa."

"How could I forget it; I sat on a pinecone and let out a squeal."

"Yes you did and it made me wince. Do you remember my conversation with the children?"

"Yes, after you told them you were going to Vienna, I remember one of them saying, not again Father. And then I think Marta asked when were they going to meet the Baroness. I took this to mean you had been seeing her for a while."

"That's correct, I had. Maria, when I first met Elsa, I found her to be engaging, charming and thoughtful. During this time I became aware of Hitler's plan to unite Austria to Germany; it caused me great distress. But Elsa wasn't bothered at all. I thought maybe she would change her mind. So I decided to bring her to the villa to meet my children.

"I should have gone with my gut feeling about her. I began to remember all the parties she took us to. I would hear conversations about Hitler's plans; and most of the other guests agreed with them. I also heard men who spoke with German dialects from Berlin. She was quite friendly with them. I wasn't sure what I should do about Elsa; she was expecting me to marry her.

"So after you ran away, I decided ask her. It didn't make my children happy. It took my prodding to have them kiss her on her cheek. I sent them off to play. Did you know they came to the Abbey?"

"Yes, the Reverend Mother told me."

"They were gone a long time, Maria. I had an idea where they went but when I asked they concocted a story about berry picking. And I teased with them and told them they must be so full of berries they didn't need any dinner."

"So that's why Kurt told me he was hungry. And then you appeared. The children had just told me you were going to marry the Baroness. I realized I was too late to have a chance to tell you the real reason I stopped dancing."

"Maria, I am sorry. Someday, we'll have that conversation. You were very brave to answer my question about staying. I already had my suspicions about Elsa.

"Now what I'm going to tell you can't leave this room."

Maria was grateful she was sitting; she now had those first symptoms of fainting. Her hands were cold, the room was spinning and her vision was blurry.

"There's no way to sugarcoat this. I believe, no I'm sure. Elsa is a spy for the Germans."

Maria had instinctively lowered her head to her knees.

"Take some deep breaths Maria; they will help ease your shock."

The deep breaths helped; her symptoms eased and she could raise her head as she listened to the captain continue to speak.

"Maria, I'm not waiting for the day Hitler sends his Stormtroopers into Austria. I've been preparing for all of us to leave, that includes you Maria. These men are as evil as the barbarians who killed Christians in the first century; no one who's a friend of mine will be spared."

"What are you going to do about the Baroness?"

"I don't think I will need to do a thing. I'm sure she had help planning this scheme. She's using the gown as an excuse to return to Vienna and never come back here. And you and I need to act normal. It won't be for long; maybe two days at the most."

"What about Max? The children have missed him since he moved into town to be closer to the Festival Hall."

"Max and I don't see eye-to-eye about the Germans; he thinks we should try to get along with them. I think he will learn one day they can't be trusted. I hope, for his sake, he doesn't wait too long to leave."

"Georg, can I visit the Abbey?"

"Maybe Maria, things might happen quickly; you can talk to her on the telephone later today. And you can tell the Reverend Mother you are leaving with us. I don't think she will be at all surprised.

"Maria, I want you to use my given name when we leave here. I know I'm being extra cautious; I don't want to take any chances of someone hearing me addressed as Captain. And I'll find a way to tell Liesl and Friedrich; we will need them to be strong for the others.

"Now, we need to leave my study separately. You go first."

Maria heard no one until she arrived in the hall near her bedroom. She thought the boys were having a pillow fight. She let them be for now. She went in her room and fell on her knees beside her bed and spoke.

"God, now I know why I was sent here. My life is to help Georg, his children and the others to find their destiny."

Georg also prayed. "God, I know you are all-knowing; you know everyone's destiny. It was you who gave the Reverend Mother wisdom to send Maria back here so she, myself, my children and my friends can live out the lives planned for us before we were born.

"Now give me strength to help all of us flee safely from the evil which is about to engulf Austria and perhaps all of Europe."