A/N: The story is set in that pleasant interlude between "Edelweiss" and "The Ländler". It takes place after "Underneath her wimple", and it begins a couple of weeks before the grand and glorious party. I am publishing two chapters - 3 and 4 - at once because they are all about the same scene, and there is a continuity that I would like to keep.
Just a little warning: I decided to add a bit of spice in this chapter. Nothing at all explicit, just enough to make Georg and Maria a bit flustered.
Mellie D. was once more essential in giving this chapter its final shape, and encouraging me to "go for it"!. My big warm thanks to her!
Disclaimer: I absolutely do not own "The Sound of Music". Except on DVD, of course.
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"Never waste jealousy on a real man: it is the imaginary man that supplants us all in the long run."
George Bernard Shaw.
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Keeping up with the Captain in the busy streets of the Altstadt, was a challenge, even for Maria. He walked fast, with a steady rhythm that even she, who was used to running, found hard to follow. Maybe because there were too many sights and sounds attracting her attention, and not only the forbidding countenance of the man walking a few feet ahead of her. Once in a while, he would look behind him and notice that she had slowed her pace to look at a particularly attractive shop, or to listen to a musician, and he would immediately call her attention with the usual "Fraülein!", or a much more effective ominous glare.
He suddenly made a sharp turn to the right, and entered a narrow alley. The alley led to a patio, with several small shops, which appeared to be very elegant and exclusive. They reminded Maria of the ones advertised in a fashion magazine the Baroness had been reading. He did not enter any of those shops, much to Maria's relief. Although she would love to see what they had to offer, she thought that she would feel very out of place with all of the silk and gold. Instead, he walked towards a plain and very rustic wooden door. Turning around, he saw her gazing at her own reflection in a window shop. She let out a moan as she finally noticed the disastrous state of her hair. The captain couldn't help but smile; somehow she looked more like herself with her hair in disarray – and even less like a governess.
"Fraülein!" he exclaimed impatiently, not allowing any of his mirth show. She lowered her head and walked to the now open door. She noted it's rustic feel and thought to herself, this door seems my type. It led to a narrow, dark stairway. She followed him up the stairs which ended at another door. There he stopped and turned abruptly to face her.
As she reached the landing, he spoke. "Two final warnings, Fraülein. His wife is a bit of an eccentric."
"Oh, I can live with that, Captain."
"Another thing – I would not open any of the books lying around, if I were you."
Before she could ask him why, he pushed the door open, revealing a small shop crammed with treasures of ever kind. Maria could not hold back a small cry of surprise. It was like falling inside Aladdin's cave.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph!" The Captain turned to look at her in surprise. He smiled as Maria raised her eyes in prayer, asking for forgiveness for her blasphemy. "I'm sorry, dear Lord, but I couldn't help it this time."
The room was a pandemonium of objects from all over the world. There was jewelry, as expected. But there were also piles and piles of fabric, silk and brocade. There were marble and bronze sculptures, and golden goblets. Porcelain vases, painted ceramic pots of every size and shape. Persian carpets, books, maps and engravings. And crystals, lots and lots of crystals. It was just too much to take in at once, and she felt slightly dizzy.
Maybe you can't judge a store by its door she thought. Or a book by its cover…
A woman entered the room, coming from a door adorned with a curtain of sparkling crystal beads. She was dressed in a Chinese manner, wearing a blue silk robe, richly embroidered with golden and silver threads. But the woman herself was not Chinese, and that could be immediately seen, because she had the brightest red hair Maria had ever seen. At first, she just stared at the Captain, her mouth open.
"Oh my Lord… Hans!" she yelled. Both the Captain and Maria winced. She kept talking to her absent husband, without tearing her gaze away from the Captain. "You will not believe who just walked through that door. Get over here!"
"Peggy, I have already asked you a million times not to scream like that when…" The man stopped talking when he too saw the arriving couple.
The man wore eye patch over his right eye. Maria blinked, and the Captain watched her reaction closely. He could not help but show his amusement with a mischievous wink. She stared back at him with the exact same expression she had on her face when he blew the boatswain whistleHe briefly wondered if he had been wearing an eye patch that day if he would have looked more like a sea captain to the impressionable nun.
For an aristocrat, he does have some unusual friends, Maria thought. There was definitely more to Captain von Trapp than aristocracy and silly whistles. It was astonishing because she at first had imagined that his friends would be of the conventional type, like Baroness Elsa von Schraeder. It was Max Detweiler who would be the first to prove that assumption wrong. And now the foreign looking lady in Chinese clothing and the man with an eye patch.
Don't forget that he was first and foremost a sailor; a voice inside her head reminded her.
"Well, well, well," the man began. "Look who has finally decided to rejoin the world of the living!"
"It is nice to see you too, Hans," Georg replied. Stepping forward, he proceeded to greet the couple, displaying a certain degree of affection that took Maria entirely by surprise. She did not move from where she was, although her eyes tried to take as much as possible of the treasures that surrounded her. Her eyes grew wide when she realized that the statue in front of her was nude! She quickly averted her gaze, only to find herself staring at a painting of a scantily clad woman lounging on a chair.
That is certainly not what the Reverend Mother had in mind when she said I should "go out into the world", she thought. What a curious place!
She looked to the Captain and discovered that she had apparently been forgotten by the trio. Maria moved from her location to one that looked a little more…safe. Finding a large book lying on a table to her left, she couldn't help but be curious. It was covered in dust. She read the title, and it suggested her that it was a fairy tale book.
"I would not open any of the books lying around, if I were you," he had warned. But how could a book possibly hurt her? And a fairy tale book about scented gardens? The image of the gazebo sprung to her mind. No, there should be no danger in it, should it?
She opened the heavy volume. Her eyes fell upon a colorful illustration of an embracing couple. She squinted, not quite being able to figure out exactly what she was seeing, since there were so many details and so many colors. She turned the book upside down to get a better view of what she was looking at. Suddenly, as her face turned beet red, she realized exactly what she had been looking at. She began to understand why the nuns never spoke of the moral sin of lust in explicit terms.
That's what curiosity got her, either an eye full or a direct scolding. Feeling the flame in her cheeks, she would have gladly traded in her embarrassment for a scolding from the Captain right now. Although shocked by the colorful picture, she was more surprised by her eyes straying over to the next page.
Well, she had been warned, hadn't she? She hastily closed the book, which unfortunately lead her to drop it back on the table, stirring up a small cloud of dust to her nose and making her sneeze.
"God bless you!" said the Captain, turning to her.
She looked down, the darn book had flown open to another page. This one with a portrait of what appeared to her to be the garden of Eden, only with more imagination. She quickly shut the book again, this time succeeding in keeping it closed. She prayed that the captain would never realize what she had been looking at. But obviously he had noticed it, and even if he had not seen her snooping, the color of her face would be enough to tell him the whole story. She quickly averted her gaze from him, unable to look him in the eye after what she had seen in that second picture. Her cheeks became even redder at that thought.
The Captain couldn't help but tease her as he noted that again she couldn't follow simple instructions. "Find anything you like?" He casually leaned his hand against a statue, taunting her.
Maria looked at him aghast. She moved her mouth as if to speak, but no words would come out. Did he know that he was groping that part of the nude female statue? He had a stance similar to the man in the second picture she had seen in the book.
Georg noted that she wasn't looking at him, but slightly to his left. He looked aghast as he realized he had placed his hand over the marble statue's breast. He quickly withdrew his hand, and turned as Hans spoke.
"And who are you?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," the Captain excused himself. . "This is Fraülein Maria, my governess. Uh, my children's Maria." He paused as he realized his second slip and continued, "well you know what I mean." Then he cast a quick glance to Maria. "Fraülein, this is my friend Herr Schneider, and his wife, Peggy. Hans is a - a treasure hunter."
"We prefer antique dealer," he said, walking over to Maria to shake her hand. "Or, as the old Baron here likes to say, a buyer and seller of useless but expensive junk from all over the world. I am pleased to meet you, Fraülein. Welcome to my cove." Then he turned to the Captain. "And what brings you both here?"
"We were sent on a mission, Hans." Then he proceeded telling him about Elsa's plans.
"Oh, how exciting!" exclaimed Peggy, clasping her hands together. "We have a million things that would be perfect for the occasion."
"Before we get into that, love," Hans interrupted his wife. "Georg, have I shown you the new…" Georg coughed and cut his eyes at Maria. Taking the subtle hint, Hans continued delicately, "er… item in my collection?"
"I don't believe so."
"How could you, darling? He has not graced us with his presence for so long!" she silenced. And then, to Maria, Peggy Schneider explained, as the men left the room. "My husband's hobby is to collect rare books. I don't see any fun in it, but, oh well. Men!"
She looked at Maria, and noted that there was still a red hue to the woman's visage. She gestured to a nearby display of precious stones of every color and shape. "I know," she began, knowingly. "I grew up in a small fishing village in Ireland, and although I have been married to my Hans for almost twenty-five years this still overwhelms me." She picked up a diamond tiara and placed it on top of her curly red hair. "I love doing this," she admitted. "My husband is not amused when he catches me toying with his precious stones, but I don't care. I was very poor growing up, so I am making up for it now, playing dress up with all of these wonderful things." Then she turned Maria. "Tell me, Your Highness, what do you think of this tiara? For the Opera Ballin Vienna?"
Maria, smiling mischievously, immediately joined the play. "Your Highness?!" she replied in mock offense. "How dare you lower my rank like that?"
"Oh, forgive me, Your Royal Highness." Peggy made a low curtsy to Maria.
"Much better. Apology accepted. As for your tiara, I think it is, a bit too much, don't you think Your Majesty?" She curtsied.
"Pretentious, isn't it? Oh well…" she picked up another tiara, smaller and more delicate, an exquisitely intricate pattern of diamonds and pearls. "But this would suit you perfectly. The Maharajah will not be able to take his eyes off you!" She began reaching for Maria's head with the tiara.
"Frau Schneider!" exclaimed Maria, stepping out of her character for a moment and away from the woman.
"Call me Peggy. May call you Maria?"
"Naturally!"
"Now don't be silly, and let me do this." Maria giggled, and let her place the tiara on top of her still ruffled hair.
"Oh, I don't know. They say that pearls are not quite the thing this year!" said Maria, looking upwards.
"You think?"
"Hummm…"
"You may be right, because…" Peggy ran to the other side of the room, "… the tiara is nothing without this!" She placed an embroidered white silk cloth around Maria's shoulder. Then she stepped back and studied the effect.
"Oh, oh, oh, but this is beautiful," Maria exclaimed. The fabric was so light and sheer that she did not feel its weight on her shoulders.
"You look like a bride!" Peggy exclaimed. "No, let me correct that. A little too pagan for a bride, perhaps." She thought for a moment, tilting her head to one side. "I know – a vestal! A high priestess. That is what you remind me of."
Maria smiled, shaking her head. They both admired their image in the mirror, unaware at this point that they were already being watched by the two men. The play acting continued – to Maria it came naturally, for it was one of the girl's favorite games. They spoke in mock, upper class accents.
Maria looked at herself. She thought she looked quite ridiculous wrapped in silk and wearing the diamond and pearl tiara. But it felt oddly… glamorous as well. The Baroness was right; she was a female of course.
Peggy placed a large string of pearls on Maria, which accented the tiara perfectly. Maria twirled looking at her appearance in the mirror. As she turned, she noted that the Captain and Hans had returned. She let out a gasp of surprise at seeing him. Peggy turned to discover the reason for Maria's gasp and came face to face with her husband and the captain. Unable to resist prodding Georg, Peggy exclaimed, "You should know to bow before royalty!"
The Captain raised his eyebrow in question of the other woman's imagination.
"Peggy, I have already asked you not to…" her husband began.
"Oh, shut up Hans. And don't scowl. I like doing this, and you should get used to it, after twenty-five years. Let me indulge myself. It is not everyday that I have such good company to play along with me. By the way, where did you find her, Georg?"
"Who?" he asked, obviously distracted by the sight of Maria wrapped in a veil of white silk.
"Maria, of course!"
"Maria," he whispered, almost inaudibly, still unable to stop looking at her. Realizing Peggy had asked him a question, he quickly answered "Uh - Fraülein Maria? Nonnberg."
"The Abbey?" Peggy sounded incredulous.
"Of course the Abbey," Hans began mumbling.
"I don't think that would fit under your mantilla, Fraülein," said the Captain, pointing to the sparkling tiara. "Or should I say – uh - Your Royal Highness." He bowed to her mockingly.
Maria, blushing to the roots of her hair, touched the tiara lightly. "You're right, Captain, the nuns wouldn´t find it amusing."
She then carefully removed the pearls, missing the weight of them against her neck. "You better keep these in a safe place, I wouldn't want to damage them – I am not good with delicate things," she said apologetically.
"You are a nun?" Peggy asked in disbelief, taking the silk and pearls from her hands.
"No, not yet, but I will be. I plan to take my vows once the Captain is no longer in need of a governess."
"And here I was saying you looked like a pagan and calling you a vestal virgin," she muttered. "I am so sorry, that was uncalled for. If I offended you…"
"Don't worry; you had no way of knowing. I don´t look very much like a nun." The Captain raised a quizzical eyebrow.
"What are you doing here, in this decadent place?!" She turned to the Captain. "Georg, you… scoundrel! How could you?"
"This place was not quite as decadent the last time I was here, Peggy. I see that your husband has made some..." he gazed at the statue, " uh - improvements in that direction."
"A nun!" Peggy repeated, still incredulous. The Captain gave Peggy a short version of Maria's story. "You mean to tell me that if I want to see you by this time next year I will have to go to a convent?"
"Yes, but you won't be able to; I most likely will be cloistered."
"Cloistered! Oh! What a waste!"
"For God's sake, Peggy," her husband began.
When she saw the look in Maria's face, she added. "Georg, you must keep her as a governess until young Gretl is an old maid - you can't let this girl lock herself in a convent. There is too much life inher for such a fate." She turned to Maria and continued to speak. "You are made to drive a man crazy and give him lots of children, not to waste away in isolation." She turned back to Georg. "There must be something you can do," she said resolutely, as they walked to a table, where the "trinkets", more suitable to be used as prizes for the treasure hunt, were on display. The expression on the Captain's face was unreadable.
Maria didn't know what to think of Peggy's declaration – her? Drive men crazy? Have children? And what was so odd aboutwanting to dedicate her life to a higher purpose? She wandered over to the table of trinkets pondering these ideas.
"Ummmmm… Fraülein?"
"What?" she turned around and her nose almost crashed with the Captain´s chest. She didn't realize he had been following so close to her. He pointed to the top of her head. Maria had forgotten to remove the tiara.
She murmured an excuse, removing the crown, but it caught in her hair in the process.
"Allow me, please," he said, coming to her aid. Their hands brushed in the process, and she jumped a little.
Mistaking her reaction, Peggy said, "Don't worry, Maria you are in very capable hands. Our Captain here is quite the expert in removing women's…"
"Peggy!" Her husband silenced her, but was again solemnly ignored.
Peggy turned to Georg, baiting him. "Well, if Captain von Trapp is not going to do anything about saving this young woman from the nunnery, then I will. I know quite a few fine, handsome, eligible young men who I could introduce your Maria too. Oh dear," she spoke directly to Maria now. "What was I thinking? Forget all of them, first you must meet Johann, my son!"
"Over my dead body!" The Captain snapped. When silence fell and the three other people stared at him, open mouthed, he added, at light speed. "I will not allow that philandering son of yours anywhere near my governess."
"Johann is not a philanderer, is he?" Peggy asked her husband.
"Oh yes, he is. And of the worst kind," he admitted, not without a good deal of typical male pride. His wife rolled her eyes in distaste.
"Men!" she exclaimed.
The Captain continued. "I am here to make a purchase, and not to find Fraülein Maria a husband. And if she did want a husband, I'm sure she could find one."
"Where? Certainly not in the convent, and from what I understand, she's at your home night and day. Where would she find a suitable man? In your backyard?"
"Peggy!"
"Hans!"
"Captain!"
Maria uttered the exclamation with her best strong voice, and they all looked at her at once. Silence fell; one could hear the several clocks in the room tickling.
Say something, she urged herself. Anything.
"Uh – don't you think we should… do what we came here to do?" she asked timidly.
He simply nodded. And then he spoke to his friends. "Hans, Peggy – I apologized for my outburst. Please forgive me. Now, would you please show us what you have in mind?"
He turned to look at the table of trinkets, but was unable to look at anything but the young Fraülein.
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A/N: Thank you for your reviews and feedback. I am sorry that I don´t always have the time to answer all of you, individually, but be sure your words are very much appreciated! I am especially curious about what you will say of this one.