A Time of Consequences

Though the gossip spread as fast as a wildfire – as gossip usually does – it did not reach the Von Trapp family until twenty days had passed from the fateful day of the rowboat incident and Maria's flight.

The first week of August was coming to a merciful end, but the day was still very hot. The six younger children spent the afternoon swimming in the lake with their father; Liesl and Max had opted to go into town to pick up the new family guitar.

Everyone felt bad that they had continued to use Maria's guitar, even though she had told Liesl in her correspondence that she didn't mind at all they still had it. During her time as governess, Maria had begun to teach Liesl how to play the instrument, so now she insisted Liesl keep it to continue her practicing.

However, the family still felt guilty for depriving Maria of her beloved guitar, so the children went to their father to beg his permission that they might get a family guitar for themselves, so that they could give Fraulein Maria's back to her. Georg gave his assent immediately.

Now, in the afternoon of that day, Georg entered his study and collapsed in his desk chair. After swimming with his children for a while, Georg had done his daily task of driving to the abbey to see if there was any word from Maria. Just like every other day, there was none. He was beginning to be discouraged. She simply had to say something soon, she couldn't refuse his presence forever. Pouring himself a glass of cold water, he resolved again to not give up and silently prayed again that her stubbornness would cease soon.

But he had not been sitting for more than a few minutes before there was a frantic knocking on his study door along with the sound of Liesl's frantic voice calling for him. "Liesl, what is it?" he called, standing up.

In came Liesl with a tear-stained face, rushing right into his arms and sobbing. He immediately returned the embrace tightly, shocked to see his daughter like this. "My Liesl, what's wrong?"

"Oh, Father, it…it was awful!" Those were the only words that Liesl could get out through her sobs. Georg moved them to the couch and continued to hold her. Looking up, he saw Max leaning in the doorway, looking on sadly with sorrow in his eyes.

"Max, what the hell has happened?' he said just above a hiss.

Max heaved a very heavy sigh and walked towards them, taking a seat on the other side of the couch. "Well…Liesl and I were just coming out of the music shop when two elderly ladies passed by, talking in loud enough voices to rival crows. They were speaking about how wronged a certain Baroness Schraeder was when a certain Captain began . . . I will not repeat the word . . . his governess."

Georg felt his every nerve freeze and then boil. His arms reflexively tightened around his oldest daughter as his eyes blazed. "I see…" His voice was very low and very dangerous. "Did they say anything else?"

"They kept walking down the sidewalk but Liesl followed them, angry. I kept her from confronting them and making a scene. On the way, we learned something else."

"What?"

Max shook his head in defeat. "They learned this from Elsa herself. She's been telling everybody she knows."

In all of his years of knowing Georg, he'd never seen him look so furiously. His hands started to tremble and he took a very, very deep breath. Max could tell he was using every single cell to reign in his anger and he managed to finally speak in a soothing tone to his daughter. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart, especially that you had to hear that."

Liesl pulled back and wiped her face, looking hurt. "Why would she do this? What did we ever do to her? We sang for her, gave her flowers, welcomed her!"

"I…I can only guess, sweetheart," said Georg faintly, sharing a look with Max. "I suppose she was upset that I didn't want to marry her."

Liesl nodded slowly, then shook her head. "Even still, that's hardly a reason to – "

"I wish I could protect you from things like this, Liesl," said Georg sadly, the anger still burning in his eyes. "I wish I had seen her for her true colors much sooner…but I was blind to a lot of things before…I never will be again. I promise, I will find a way to fix this." He kissed her forehead quickly. "Now, why don't you go upstairs and freshen up. You don't have to come down for dinner if you want, if you're still too upset."

"Thank you, Father," said Liesl, pecking his cheek before getting up and walking shakily to the door after Max squeezed her hand in passing.

"And close the door, please, Liesl," said Georg.

And she did once she was out of the room. In a moment she understood why. Once she reached the foot of the steps, the muffled sound of her father's roaring made her stop in her tracks and turn around in shock. She couldn't make out all of the words, but the words she heard were certainly not words she'd heard before. At least, in speech. She blushed.

Her father was once a sailor…now she understood the expression "mouth of a sailor." She was hearing it in action. Not wanting to overhear anything she might understand, Liesl ran all the way to her room.

Thankfully, she got out of earshot before Georg smashed a glass by throwing it across the room. None of the servants heard it, thankfully, because they were busy making dinner preparations.

Half an hour later, he became reasonably calm and stood at the window, leaning his head against his arm. Max had managed to lock the liquor cabinet and hide the key while he had been ranting in a language Max hadn't heard since their navy days.

"I should have known," said Georg, his voice hoarse after so much shouting. "How could I not see this coming?"

Max didn't reply, standing behind him. He'd been afraid of this. Over the past week, whenever he'd gone into town, he'd heard whispers, mere whispers, but no proof until today that the gossip was not only this strong but it had been started by Elsa herself.

"I need to fix this, Max," continued Georg. "I must fix it. For the children's sake, I don't give a damn about my own…oh God, and for her sake, too! Thank God she's safe in that convent away from this! How on earth am I going to fix this Max?"

Max became nervous now. Georg had asked sincerely, he couldn't not give his answer, the answer that had occurred to him on the ride back into town as he'd heard Liesl cry.

He took a hesitant step closer to Georg. "There is something that can be done…to make this talk go away faster and at least turn the situation around somewhat."

"What?" said Georg, turning around. He really didn't know what Max would say, he was too emotionally exhausted, as was his mind.

Max bit his lower lip briefly before answer, his voice not his words giving the full answer. "An arrangement. A legal and legitimate one."

It took Georg all of ten seconds to become fully aware of Max's solution. His mind and emotions then went into overdrive. He felt like he was going to explode, the hot air almost suffocating him.

He made a snap decision. Moving to grab his keys, wallet and hat, he said, "I'm going for a long drive. I may not be back until tomorrow. Tell the children anything. Comfort Liesl as best you can. I have to…I need to think, I…"

Georg was more or less talking to himself on the last line as he hurried out of the study.