ONE
It was another sticky, hot day. The Salzburg-Aigen region had not known such a summer heat wave for many years – days and days of oppressive heat and humidity rolled by without a spot of rain, and barely a hint of wind had been felt since the beginning of August. At first, such weather had been celebrated – marquees had been routed out from their winter hiding places, invitations to garden parties were sent streaming around the countryside in their hundreds, and the ladies of high society had taken to the streets of town in abundance, parasols at the ready, ruthlessly competing for the first of the new summer fashions.
As the days meandered into weeks however, enthusiasm significantly lessoned. The heat began to take its toll on even the most resilient of characters - lamentations were soon flying around the salons and drawing rooms of Salzburg and dark portents of drought and heat-sickness began to whirl about in abundance. Even those who purported to adore summer soon became less vocal in their excitement, and for those who disliked hot weather… well, the summer months were becoming torturous.
Captain Georg Von Trapp most definitely fell into the latter category, and that particular afternoon found himself returning to the villa after a very uncomfortable trip to town. The white-paved squares of Salzburg had transformed the city into a hothouse, leaving the streets deserted and the open air cafes empty. And he would most definitely have been indoors himself, Georg had considered dryly, were it for not for the sense of duty - perhaps mixed with a dash of guilt - which had sent him out in the first place.
The dress-maker had been surprised to see him come in, not least at midday when the sun was at its peak. But yes, Baroness Schrader's ball gown was ready for collection, he had assured Georg, and a delightful specimen it was too, he had gushed. Delightful or not though, Georg had cursed the large packaged dress many times during his struggle back to the car, wishing that he had never ventured out to collect it at all.
He had also intended to purchase an engagement ring since - according to Max Dettwelier at least - society had been alight with speculation ever since the invitations to the party had been received. That the great Georg Von Trapp, permanent recluse since his wife's death, would be hosting a party in honour of one of Vienna's most well-known socialites... well there just had to be a wedding in the offing didn't there?
"I remember the days when a man had to get down on one knee to propose to a woman," he had commented ironically to Max, "Now it seems that we needn't even bother asking! Fait accompli!"
And indeed it did seem that the engagement was exactly that. Accomplished. Decided. Somehow the once newly-confirmed bachelor Captain Georg Von Trapp was an engaged man for the second time in his life… at least to everyone outside the villa. And inside - well, as Max had put it - Baroness Elsa Schräder did not like to be kept waiting.
With such a warning ringing in his ears, Georg had decided to purchase an engagement ring that very afternoon. Not because he had to give it to her right away, he had rationalised to himself, but just because it would be a sensible thing to have ready. After all, had he not been planning to propose to Elsa since the beginning of the summer?
He could not deny however that the whole situation made him feel rather uncomfortable and more than a little claustrophobic, no matter how many times he re-iterated to himself that everything was going as planned. And as far as purchasing the engagement ring… well, it had been an unmitigated disaster. He had found himself wandering in and out of many different jewellery shops, his mood souring with every cabinet of rings he inspected. Certainly it had been far from the quick and easy process he had enjoyed the first time around.
He had no idea what he was really looking for, he had rapidly concluded, and not one of the rings he saw seemed right for Elsa Schräder's hand.
The final straw had come when he had finally found a ring that he liked. With a single diamond set between two midnight blue sapphires, it was far from the most ostentatious or expensive. Something about that particular one appealed to him though, and he had found himself imagining how he would place it on the ring finger of his fiancé… only to realise that the woman he was thinking of was most definitely not Elsa Schräder.
And it was not dear Agathe either, he had fumed, thoroughly enraged as he had stormed away from the jewellery shop and straight back to his car.
Such thoughts occupied his mind exclusively on the drive home, and he arrived back at the villa in a distinctly unpleasant mood, foisting the dress into Franz's arms with a barked order to take it up to Elsa's room.
The stillness of the air inside was rather oppressive, and the terrace was sure to be blisteringly hot, Georg decided grimly as he loosened his tie and looked around. The villa seemed to be deserted and he strode quickly towards the ballroom doors, keen to take refuge in shady courtyard outside – his latest and most favoured haunt in the hot weather.
"Georg, darling!"
The call came the second he had set foot in the ballroom, issuing through the doors at the back of the room – propped open to 'get some air in' as Frau Schmidt had informed him cheerily the day before.
Georg grimaced, forcing a smile as he strode outside.
A small table and three chairs had been set up in the shadiest part of the courtyard, two of them already occupied by the impresario and the Baroness, and the third no doubt waiting for him.
"Good afternoon, my dear," he stooped to kiss her cheek.
Wearing a sienna coloured dress with a dark brown belt, the only sign that Elsa had noticed the heat at all was the fan held loosely in her right hand. She looked as composed as if she were in one of her Viennese salons - sophisticated, unruffled, and as beautiful as ever – for some reason the sight only annoyed Georg further.
"Iced tea?" Max asked, setting out a glass, "Wickedly hot isn't it?"
The impresario had been acquainted with Georg long enough to know how much he despised such hot weather, and had already found a good amount of amusement that morning in learning of the Captain's planned trip to Salzburg.
"How was town, darling?" Elsa asked, before Georg could reply with more than a frown.
"Sweltering, my dear," he replied dryly. Max chuckled slightly, "I haven't known it to be this hot since... well since some of our far-flung excursions in the Navy!"
"And at least then we had cotton uniforms!" Max replied irritably, pulling at his tie, "Though my career with the Navy was uh, mercifully short-lived-"
This time it was Georg's turn to laugh.
"- I did appreciate not having to wear this ridiculous formal attire in the summer," he took another sip of his drink, "And at least we had the ocean…. I think your children have the right idea, Georg," he continued, "I believe they are spending the afternoon swimming-"
"Swimming?" Georg interrupted; "Where? In the lake?" he was sure that he knew whose idea that would have been.
"Yes, the poor dears seemed to be simply expiring in the heat," Elsa answered.
"Oh don't worry, Georg," Max said, sounding amused again, "They are in the capable hands of our dear Fraulein Maria, and they are the sons and daughters of one of Austria's great naval heroes after all...!"
"Yes, and that would spread through society with a vengeance," Georg replied, exasperated, "The news that the children of Captain Von Trapp had drowned in the lake on their own estate!"
He was joking, more to keep his mind away from the sudden question of whether or not Fraulein Maria had joined the children in their swimming… not to mention the disturbingly enticing memory of the governess, drenched to the skin after her first 'dip' in the lake….
"Oh, that would be awfully tragic!" Elsa thankfully interrupted his musings, "But don't worry, Georg, I'm sure they will be perfectly fine..."
"Yes, yes, of course," he replied quickly, cursing his runaway imagination, "I have every faith in Maria - Fraulein Maria's judgement," he corrected himself as Elsa raised an eyebrow.
The admission surprised him slightly, more so when he realised that it was in fact largely true.
Max disguised a rather knowing chuckle as Georg guided the conversation back to safer territory.
"I had Franz take your dress up to your room for you."
"Oh, thank you, darling!" Elsa exclaimed, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek, "I hope you did not spoil the surprise by taking a peek?"
"Of course not," Georg replied, "I gave you my word that I would not see the dress until the night of the party."
Elsa laughed softly, "It is worth waiting for, darling - I'm sure Max would tell you that it is simply the most divine dress you will ever lay eyes on..."
"Then I am sure you will do it justice, my dear," Georg replied smoothly, "After all, what is a divine dress without an equally radiant woman to wear it?"
Elsa glowed at his compliment.
"I just hope that I will be acceptable to all of your guests, Georg," she replied, meaning of course that she hoped she would be acceptable for him, "After all, I could not possibly take your arm for such an occasion without wearing something extra special…."
Georg smiled but shifted slightly in his seat, knowing that she was hinting at the formal announcement of their engagement. Perhaps seeing this, Max chose that moment to ask:
"I take it your shopping trip was successful then, Georg?"
"More or less," he replied, feeling suddenly guilty.
The conversation suddenly felt rather uncomfortable again.
"You will look more than acceptable to all of my guests, darling," he went on a second later, though that wasn't what she had really been asking and they both knew it - after all, as reputedly Vienna's greatest socialite, Elsa Schräder certainly knew how to dress herself to impress at a party.
"Now, if you will excuse me," Georg continued a second later, suddenly wanting to get as far away from the conversation as possible, "I have a couple of things to attend to in my study - before Lieutenant Steiner and the Ebners arrive for dinner of course."
"Ah, of course," Max replied with a smile, "That will be most interesting - I wonder what tales Christoph will have to regale us with this evening?"
Georg grimaced slightly but did not reply. Nodding his head to both Max and Elsa, he replaced his empty glass onto the table, and began to walk back indoors.
He was already regretting inviting his dinner guests to the villa - Christoph Steiner and Andreas Ebner were old friends of his and Max from their days in the Navy, though the two men could not have been more different. Herr Ebner had a reputation for being one of the most boring men ever to serve in the forces of the Austro-Hungarian empire, and despite having never met her, Georg was sure that his wife could be no better - after all, Georg considered himself to be a moderately interesting man, but in the sole company of Andreas Ebner he would suddenly find himself losing the will to try and be interesting at all. Christoph Steiner on the other hand had been one of the most notorious gossipers and womanisers in the entire Navy. Even now, with the Navy just a memory, he was proud to still use his rank and title as a key to a woman's heart - or, if not her heart, just her boudoir - and to vociferously encourage others to do the same. For all his faults however, Lieutenant Steiner did make for very lively company, and Georg could not remember a single evening in which the Lieutenant had been present that had not been memorable in some way.
It had been several years now since Georg had seen either of the gentlemen and he had suspected that he would never do so again - he had never been one for attending officers' reunions, finding the occasions overly nostalgic at best and downright depressing at worst. On Max's last trip to town however, the impresario had encountered both Ebner and Steiner in a chance meeting and learnt that the two men happened to be travelling to Salzburg together. Georg had privately agreed with Max when he had said that he could not think of any two people less likely to make good travelling companions, but when they had discovered that Max was staying with the 'great Captain Georg Von Trapp', it had of course been only polite to invite them to dinner.
Georg was sure that the evening would be highly interesting, though possibly not in a good way.