Maria awakes to the warm rays of the sun streaming into the small window in her room. Her eyes adjust to the brightness in the room and for a moment she forgets she is back at the abbey. As she shuts her eyes the previous night's events replay in her mind. She can almost feel the Captains arms holding her close to him. She can almost see his piercing blue eyes as they looked into hers as their dance ended. The way her body temperature rose and caused her to blush in his arms. The feelings that washed over both scared and confused her. She has made a promise to God to serve him. How can she break such a promise?
Her eyes fly open as she feels the warmth travel over her entire body. Her hands go to her face and she can feel the heat. Her anguish is too much for her as she starts to cry.
A knock at her door causes her to jump. She wipes her eyes and slowly goes to the door. She cracks the door slightly to see who is there.
"Maria, I was checking to see if you were all right. Reverend Mother was worried when you did not come to morning prayers" Sister Margaretta says as she tries to get a good look at her. The door was barely open but the turmoil she sees in Marias eyes says it all.
"I'm sorry Sister. What time is it? Maria says quietly.
"Maria it is 1000 in the morning. This is why we were so worried. Please dear can you open the door; I thought you might be hungry so I brought you something to eat."
"1000! I didn't realize it was so late. Please tell Reverend Mother I will be in the chapel as soon I am dressed. Thank you for being so kind as to bring me food but I am really not hungry"
Sister Margaretta sighs "I will leave it outside your door in case you change your mind" She puts the tray on the small table outside Marias room and leaves.
Maria goes to the wash basin and splashes some water on her face. She changes into her postulant's habit and proceeds to the chapel. As she enters she crosses herself with holy water and slowly walks to the front of the altar, kneels and begins to silently pray.
"Holy Father I have promised myself to your service yet I have feelings for a man that I cannot forget. I was sent to his home to watch after his children, not to fall in love with him" There she had said it, she finally admitted to herself and God that she was in love with the Captain.
"How can I love him and you at the same time? Please I need your guidance to help me. I don't even know if he loves me. The Baroness said he did but I never did anything to make him believe I wanted anything more than to be the children's governess. Please help me"
Maria did not hear Sister Margaretta walk into the chapel. She watches as Maria prays. She quietly leaves and goes into the courtyard to go find the Reverend Mother.
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Gretl slowly opens the door to her governess's room and tiptoes in. The room was still dark as the sun was just beginning to rise. She sees a figure in the bed and realizes that it is her papa not Maria. Not wanting to awaken him she quietly goes over to the bed. Looking around she sees no sign of Maria. As she walks over to the bathroom, to see if Maria was in there, she steps on a piece of paper. She picks it up and recognizes Marias handwriting. She decides to back to her room and show the note to Liesl.
"Leisl, Leisl" she says as she gently tries to wake her.
"Leisl, Fraulein Marias not in her room"
"Gretl, she is probably down by the lake, you know how she likes to watch the sun rise" Leisl says opening her eyes.
"But Leisl, papa is sleeping in her bed and I found this on the floor" she holds the note in front of Leisl.
Leisl sits up quickly and takes the note from Gretl. As she reads the note Gretl realizes that her Fraulein is gone. She climbs up by Leisl and begins to cry.
"Gretl what are you crying about? Louisa was now awake.
Leisl hands the note to Louisa "Here read this"
Louisa reads the note" Why would she go back to the abbey. I thought she was happy here?
"She says she misses the abbey but that makes no sense. The other day she was saying how much she loved being our governess and how she can sing anytime she wants without being scolded by Sister Berthe" Lleisl says as she comforts Gretl.
"I think I know why she left" Brigitta says as she comes over by Leisls bed. "Last night I went to see Fraulein Maria. I wanted to see if Fathers guests liked our song. I saw the Baroness go into her room. I could hear them but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I know that Fraulein Maria sounded upset, it sounded like she was about to cry. I went back to my room because I didn't want the Baroness to see me. Oh and I almost forgot. Father came into our room late last night. I was up reading. He told me how proud he was and how we all did a wonderful job with our song. I told him how Fraulein Maria taught us all the words and movements. That's when he asked me if Fraulein Maria talked about the abbey and if she said she missed being there. He must have already known she was gone."
"Brigitta, Gretl said father is asleep in Fraulein Marias room, that's where Gretl found the note". Leisl says as she gets off the bed." I am going to get dressed and see if Uncle Max is awake. Maybe he knows what happened. All of you need to get dressed but stay up here. Louisa if the boys wake up, tell them about Fraulein Maria, have them get dressed, and we will all meet down by the terrace in an hour"
Leisl quickly dresses and heads out the door. Before she heads downstairs she checks on her father. She peers into the room and sees that he is still asleep. She closes the door and heads downstairs. Looking around she sees the maids cleaning up after the party. There is no sign of Uncle Max. As she heads to the terrace she sees Franz come through the front door.
"Franz, have you seen Herr Detweiller?
"I would not know Miss, I have just returned from driving Baroness Schraeder back to Vienna"
"She's gone back to Vienna?
"Yes Miss. Now if you will excuse me"
Frau Schmidt walks into the foyer and sees Leisl "Good morning Miss
"Good Morning Frau Schmidt, is Herr Detweiller awake?
"Yes, awake and gone into town. He mentioned he would be back later. Is there something wrong?
"Um, no, thank you" Leisl heads out to the terrace. "Something must have happened last night. Fraulein Maria leaves, the Baroness goes back to Vienna, now Father is asleep in the Fraulein Marias bed" As she waits for her siblings she decides what they are going to do. She looks up and sees them coming out the door.
She gathers them by the lake.
Looking at the boys "Did Brigitta tell you what's going on?
"Yes, she told us. What are we going to do?" Friedrich asks.
"I think we need to go to the abbey and talk to Fraulein Maria. I don't believe Fraulein Maria went back to the abbey because she missed it, whatever the Baroness said to her caused her to go back.
I found out the Baroness went back to Vienna. After what Brigitta told father last night about the Baroness being in Fraulein Marias room he must have talked to the Baroness and found out what was said. I think father sent the Baroness back to Vienna or at least I hope so"
Leisl, do you know how to get to the abbey? Brigitta asked.
"I think I remember where it is. But if I can't find it we can ask someone in town" Leisl went to the terrace doors "I'm going to go get some money to pay for the bus. Friedrich take everyone out to the road and watch for the bus"
Friedrich takes Gretls hand and the rest of the children follow him out to the road. Leisl goes into her room and finds the small box she keeps change in. She counts out what she thinks they will need. She is about to back downstairs when she decides to check on her father.
She slowly opens the door and is relieved to find him sound asleep.
"Don't worry father we are going to bring our Fraulein back" she whispers as she closes the door.
Leisl heads down the stairs and joins her brothers and sisters.
"Is everyone ready?
They all answer yes and start their journey down the path to town. They keep looking back watching for the bus into town.
Finally the bus rambles around the corner and stops. All of the children get on the bus and find a seat. The bus starts to move slowly down the path and out onto the road. Halfway into town the bus stops.
" Leisl, there is smoking coming from the front of the bus" Friedrich says as he gets up to get a better look.
He watches as the driver gets out and opens the hood. White smoke billows from the engine.
The driver gets back on the bus "I'm sorry but everyone has to get off the bus. Another bus will be here shortly to take you into town"
All of the children get up and step off the bus.
"Excuse me sir but do you know how long it will take for the next bus to get here? Liesl asks the driver.
"It should be here in less than an hour"
"Thank you". Liesl heads over to her siblings. "Well we could walk the rest of the way or wait for the next bus. What do you want to do?
"What time is it, Liesl? Friedrich asks.
"Let me go ask the driver". Leisl walk over to where the driver is standing. "Excuse me sir, what time is it?
The driver checks his watch "1030 Miss"
Leisl walks back over to Friedrich. "It's 1030 Friedrich. Maybe we should just walk the rest of the way. Let me ask the driver how far it is to the abbey"
Friedrich watches as Leisl goes back by the driver. After a couple of minutes Leisl returns.
"He says it's about an hour walk from here. I think it's too far for Gretl and Marta to walk. I think we should wait for the other bus" Friedrich agrees and they sit down in the grass to wait.
" Leisl, what time is it" Brigitta asks
Leisl walks back over to the driver. She walk back to them "It's 1100. I don't think we should wait much longer" Just then she sees the other bus rounding the corner. "Oh thank goodness, here comes the other bus"
The children board the bus and it heads into town. They arrive at the station and step off the bus.
"I'm going to go ask the station master for directions to the abbey" Leisl says.
"He says there is a path on the other side of that building that leads to the abbey" she says pointing to a large stone structure. The children follow Leisl as she leads them to the path. They follow the path as it winds up the side of the hill. They soon see the gate for the abbey entrance. Leisl pulls the cord hanging by the gate. They watch as a nun comes to greet them.
"Can I help you" she says.
"Yes please, we, my brothers and sisters want to see Fraulein Maria" Leisl asks.
"Fraulein Maria? Oh Maria" The nun opens the gate and brings the children in. She motions for them to stop "Wait here please"
The children watch as the nun goes over to another nun. Sister Margaretta looks over at them and walks towards them.
"I understand you have been asking about Maria"
All the children start speaking at once. "We want to see her. Can you tell her we are here?
"I'm sorry children, Maria is in seclusion, and she hasn't been seeing anyone" she says.
"She will want to see us" Friedrich says. "I want to show her my finger" Gretl says as she holds up her finger.
"All we want to do his talk to her" Liesl pleads with Sister Margaretta.
"I'm sorry children; you will have to come another time. I will tell her you were here" Sister Margaretta says as she escorts the children back out.
Reverend Mother is walking in the courtyard when she hears the commotion. She watches as Sister Margaretta closes the gate.
Sister Margaretta walks back to the Reverend Mother Shaking her head.
"What's that all about? Reverend Mother asks.
"The Von Trapp children Reverend Mother, they want to see Maria"
"Has she spoken yet, has she told you anything?
Sister Margaretta shook her head, "She hasn't said a word. She is in the chapel praying as we speak. When I went to her room earlier she barely opened the door but I could tell she had been crying. Do you know why she came back?
"Captain Von Trapp called me last night. He said she left a note saying she went back to the abbey because she missed us. He wanted to make sure she was here. I told the Captain she was here and that I would give her a couple of days before I spoke to her. He believes there were other reasons as to why she came back. I was going to give her some time but I believe it is best if I talk to her now. Please bring her to my office"
Sister Margaretta leaves to find Maria.