A/N: Thank you so much for your positive reviews of "Mountain and the Sea"! Now back to a more heavy story – which, yes, will get heavier – so whenever you all need a dose of medicinal fluff, let me know (I have one in mind already).
A Time to Invite
A month passed before the husband and wife would speak alone together again. And it was Maria who initiated it.
By this time, life had settled into a routine for Maria, which a relief to Maria in a lot of ways. From the very beginning, it was a comfort to Maria that her relationship with the children had not changed at all, only strengthened. For the final days of August, her situation was very similar to when she had been the governess. Her job then had been to take care of the children, and since she had established herself as mother in their minds then, her role had not really changed. So, during those last golden summer days, Maria was content to stick with her old duties of taking care of the children.
But when September came, all of the children started school. Since the schools were close by, they all walked together to the primary and secondary school buildings. Gretl, who was starting kindergarten, only went to school from eight to one o'clock, while the others were released at half past three. So, Maria saw this as a wonderful opportunity. After her own lunch, Maria would walk to the primary school and pick up Gretl herself. Then, since Gretl felt restless and excited after a day of school, Maria took the five-year-old with her into town by bus and ran any errands that needed to be run. Sometimes there weren't any, so Maria would just walk Gretl home. In the mornings, Maria occupied herself with mending the children's clothing or making some of her own.
On this fifteenth day of September, Maria was just coming down to inquire about dinner from the cook when she saw Brigitta come in with the daily mail. It was Brigitta's favorite daily task, to run out to the gate and meet the mailman. Maria smiled at that; Brigitta always liked to be the first to know everything.
When Brigitta spotted Maria, her eyes brightened with an idea and the ten-year-old rushed to her. "Hello, Mother!"
"Well, hello!" returned Maria, giving Brigitta a one-armed hug.
"Here's the mail," said Brigitta, pressing the small bundle of letters into Maria's hands. "I'm going to get a head start on my homework now, see you at dinner!" With that, Brigitta hurried away up the stairs.
Maria was surprised; usually, Brigitta took the daily mail to her father in his study. Then Maria reasoned that, because Brigitta had seen her first, she had gotten it. Shrugging, Maria looked down at the mail. There were only a few envelopes, but one was bigger and much fancier than the rest. Curious, she looked at this one. It was addressed to Baron and Baroness Von Trapp. Maria felt her cheeks redden a bit; she still had a hard time believing that this was her title now.
Getting a sinking feeling about what would be in the envelope, Maria opened it and pulled out the elegant card, which confirmed her suspicions. Her heart sank as she read the invitation:
The Baron and Baroness Eberfield
Do Cordially Invite
The Baron & Baroness Von Trapp
To Their Annual Autumn Ball
To Be Held at the Eberfield Estate
On the 22nd Day of September
From Seven O'Clock to One O'Clock.
Will Be Dinner and Dancing.
Maria instantly felt nerves rise in her for the firs time since her wedding day. Just the word "ball" was enough to frighten her. The last line of the invitation scared her just as much. Everything that a ball would imply flooded her mind: ball gown, jewels, complicated dancing, fancy dinner…facing up to the people who had been spreading the nasty rumors about her and her family.
Anger and terror flooded her all at once, and she suddenly realized her grace period had come to an end. The past month had been, beyond a few minor adjustments, incredibly easy and happy for her. She should have known something like this would come along, but she had just been focusing on being happy again when she had suffered so much.
Now she would have to take up one of her new duties in her new role in life, one that she feared too much to be excited.
One thing was certain: she had to talk to her husband. Husband…how strange it still was to call a man she had not been alone with for a month and who barely spoke more than a few words a day to her that word. Either way, she had to talk to him. Looking at the letters in her hand, Maria realized that she would have to see him anyway to give him the mail and see him anyway…
Gasping, she looked in the direction of the stairs that her middle daughter had just run up. So that was why…Maria sighed and looked at the mail without really seeing it. Of course the children would want she and their father to be closer. Brigitta would be the one to notice how her father and mother avoided each other in the same room in every way.
Knowing he would be in his study now, Maria took a deep breath and headed in that direction. Wishing she didn't feel nervous, Maria timidly knocked on the door.
"Come in, Brigitta," came his voice from the other side. For a moment, Maria's eyebrows went up, but they went down again when she realized that the timing was right for Brigitta to perform this daily task. After another deep breath, she opened the door and looked in.
The first thing her eyes fell on was him, sitting at his desk engrossed in some kind of map, making little marks with his pencil. But before she allowed herself to get curious, his head came up and promptly stood up in surprise. "Maria! I'm sorry, I…" His eyes found her hands. "It's usually Brigitta who brings me the mail."
Through his surprise, he sounded pleased and humbled, as if honored by her visit. Well, after all, have you ever before? No… Maria had expected to feel afraid in his presence, as she used to, but…all she felt now was shy, awkward, and some kind of nice feeling in the warm, pleased look he was giving to her. "Well, she found me first and…um…I wanted to speak to you…unless I would be interrupting." She motioned to the map on his desk.
"Oh, no, no, no," said the Captain hastily and awkwardly, folding and practically shoving the map into his desk, dropping his pencil in the process. Maria had to cover her mouth to stop a giggle from escaping her lips; it surprised her that it wasn't a giggle of spite. She looked around the elegant room full of bookshelves in admiration, an old fire awakening in her. "All of these books! It's beautiful!"
"You're welcome to borrow anything anytime you want," said the Captain. He had composed himself somewhat by now, and stood behind his desk. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Well, first here's the mail," she said, dropping the other letters on his desk before handing him the invitation she had just opened, "and this is what I wanted to talk about."
Georg took the envelope from her – was it just a coincidence that his fingers brushed hers and she didn't mind the sensation it created? – and looked at it. Immediately he sighed. "Ah, yes, I was expecting this." He looked at her and immediately explained. "The Baron and Baroness Eberfield are among the oldest families of Salzburg, and one of the oldest couples here. Have you seen a castle-like structure from the lake? That's where they live."
Maria nodded with an "ah"; she couldn't deny to herself that she'd loved looking at the distant structure seemingly out of a fairy tale. "What are they like? Do they throw a lot of balls?"
"One at the start of every season and every holiday," said the Captain with a small smile. "They love parties, especially when they're hosting one. But they're not artificial, either; they're good, old-fashioned souls who just love having fun and merriment around them. It explains why they produced...I think it was twelve children and don't make me try to remember all of the grandchildren."
"Oh, my!" said Maria, chuckling.
"And, for the record, they wrote to me the minute they heard those nasty rumors, telling me how disgusted they felt about Baroness Schraeder's behavior, how unfair it was for everyone, and if they could do anything for us and you."
Maria had not expected this, and instantly felt touched and immensely relieved. She let out a sigh of it. "Well, that takes care of one of my big fears, then."
He looked at her gently. "And your other fears?"
Maria cocked her head, almost looking exasperated. "Is that not obvious? I've never gone to anything like this before. I'd have no idea what to do there."
The Captain nodded. "I understand. But I believe I can provide a solution. Or rather, Philomena can."
Maria's eyebrows rose. "Max's sister? She is coming?" Max had mentioned he had a twin sister who had married well and resided in Vienna through their letters and conversations.
The Captain nodded. "She is a favorite of the Eberfields and comes to all of their balls when she can. Her husband is France on business now so she is coming to be Max's partner to the ball. She's also very excited and eager to meet you, and would be glad to help you with everything." He hesitated. "But if you do not want to go, I will gladly send a polite decline."
Maria's eyes widened slightly. "You would do that?"
"Of course I would," said the Captain softly. "Though the Eberfields are the people I respect most in Salzburg, they would certainly understand: both because I am not one for parties in general, and because of the scrutiny you would be putting yourself in."
Maria didn't speak for a few moments, thinking. She was touched by this consideration for her, but…
"I know what people think of us, and by not going it would only be confirming lies in their minds. If you're willing, I'm willing."
For the first time, the husband and wife exchanged small, hesitant, but genuine smiles.
Just as she expected from all she knew, Philomena Dettweiler Amman seemed to share the same soul and personality with her twin brother. Upon meeting Maria for the first time the day after receiving the invitation, she swept the younger woman into a hug, her laugh immediately putting Maria at ease. The children were also excited to see "Auntie Phil" – a nickname she adored.
After a delicious dinner, the eleven of them gathered in the big drawing room, where the children sang a song in honor of her arrival. Maria and the Captain watched with pride while the twins looked incredibly impressed.
"Oh, what prodigies!" exclaimed Philomena, clapping her hands vigorously. "You seven could easily beat anybody at the Salzburg Folk Festival."
"There, you see, Georg?" exclaimed Max, triumphantly turning to his friend. "It's not just me."
"Well, it might as well be," said Georg with a smile but sounding very firm. "The answer is no."
Max sighed dramatically, leaning his head back.
"Well, children, what shall we hear next?" asked Philomena eagerly.
Immediately, the children huddled together for a conference, which didn't last long before Liesl spoke. "We would like to hear a song from Father."
Safe to say, the Captain looked surprised. "Me?" He saw the twins chuckling, the children smiling eagerly, and Maria looking slightly surprised along with him, but also curious. "Oh, no, no, no, children. I can't live up to your performance."
Immediately, the children began to beg and plead loudly. Maria, who was infinitely curious to hear him sing after hearing the story of the children's reconciliation with him a thousand times, approached him holding out her guitar. "Please?" she asked, once the children's voices had died down.
The Captain caught her gaze and slowly stood up. Maria felt her heart beat faster, though why she did not know. She felt almost frozen, but kept her own curiosity and pleading in her eyes.
The smallest of smiles graced the Captain's lips, and his gaze lowered to the guitar as he slowly grasped it. "Well…alright."
Smiling inside, Maria gave it to him and went to her original spot by the wall, leaning against it and watching how the children eagerly gathered around their father, who had begun playing some chords experimentally.
Finally, he began a song softly, hesitantly, sitting down once he fell into a groove.
Edelweiss, edelweiss,
Every morning you greet me.
Small and white, clean and bright,
You look happy to meet me.
Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Edelweiss, edelweiss,
Bless my homeland forever.
Maria had not expected this: his voice, though a little rough, was beautiful. There really was no other word for it.
Looking at the children's awe-filled and adoring faces turned to their father, Maria felt her heart fill at the sight. How different this was from her first day at the villa, how wonderfully different! Over the past weeks she had seen these looks from the children on a daily basis. Little did she know that these gazes she witness were the key ingredient in the changing of her heart.
The Captain, now smiling at his children, motioned for Liesl and began the song again, with her joining him in the first half. He finished alone.
Blossom of snow, may you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Edelweiss, edelweiss,
Bless…my homeland…forever…
Maria didn't know how it happened, but she saw the Captain's gaze drift to her as he ended the song slowly. Their eyes met and Maria's breath was taken away. Suddenly she felt everything else around her fade away and all she could see was him. His eyes held the same expression they had on their wedding day and night, that look that said and pleaded so much, speaking right to her heart that she couldn't understand. To her shock, Maria had a sudden vision of herself approaching him and touching his cheek in comfort.
But the children's applause broke the spell, and Maria looked down feeling extremely torn up and confused. It wasn't long before she retired for the evening.
She hadn't noticed how the twins had seen this little exchange and then exchanged a conspiratory glance of their own...
