Chapter Four
While she finished getting the children ready, Maria could hear the stirrings of the orchestra as they practised in the ballroom below. She smiled to herself, unable to contain how excited she was to see a 'grand and glorious' party. She'd only ever been to small events held in a neighbouring village when she had been little. And there had certainly been no orchestra, just a bunch of red-faced men happily playing folk music. She smiled again. Those nights had been full of fun as she'd been able to dance and sing with the other children. But Maria knew tonight would be different, so very different to anything she knew and she couldn't wait to see it.
She ignored the voice in her head that told her she was not a guest, she was the governess and so she would not be doing any dancing.
"Are you all ready?" came the voice of Frau Schmidt, popping her head through the nursery door. She looked at Maria. "Dinner is ready, Fraulein Maria."
"Thank you, Frau Schmidt," replied Maria, ushering the children out the door, through the hall and down the foyer stairs.
As they crossed through the main hall, she managed to catch a glimpse into the ballroom and she couldn't stop her lips from spreading into another large grin. The room seemed to glitter. The chandeliers were sparkling and she could see the multitude of instruments all being coaxed gently by the musicians, all of them wearing finely tailored suits of black. And she knew the guests would be even more elegant in their evening wear – she could so easily picture the women in their floating ball gowns as they were whisked around by dashing men.
She heaved a sigh and dragged her eyes away from the ballroom to watch the last child pass into the dining room. With a cheerful goodbye, Maria left the children to their dinner and meandered towards the library. It was far too early for her to dine; Frau Schmidt had told her earlier today she'd save a plate for Maria in the kitchen to eat once the children were in bed – which was very kind.
As much as Maria adored those children, it was a relief to have a moment to herself before the party. The whole day had been an unruly symphony of noise from each child – even the eldest von Trapp. Liesl had protested most vehemently about dining with the other children, she'd been pestering the Captain, and Maria, all day about being able to join the adults. Maria could understand why the eldest von Trapp would want to be with the adults and not stuck with her brothers and sisters, but Maria knew that she was still too young for such an affair. Liesl had told Maria, at length, about how debutante balls went and all the etiquette for such things. And how hopefully her father would let her attend the Vienna Opera Ball next year when she was seventeen. It had made Maria dizzy with effort trying to remember everything Liesl told her. At least that was something, she told herself as she walked aimlessly through the towering library shelves, she'd never had to worry about such things – and never would.
Heaving another sigh, she grabbed a book aimlessly and flicked through the pages before returning it to the shelf. She felt in no mood to read right now. She had about an hour before the children would be done with dinner. And then another half an hour after that the guests would be flooding in.
There was the sound of the orchestra picking up from the next room and Maria cocked her head to the side as she listened. It was a waltz, the notes seeping through the wall and into her head, into her veins. Abandoning the shelves of books, she moved towards the large fireplace that dominated one side of the wall; a gilded mirror, nearly the same size of the fireplace, hung above it while a few squishy armchairs sat in front. Knowing she was alone, she smiled at her reflection and curtsied, trying to stifle a giggle as she did. Then she picked up the skirts of her dress in one hand and began to move around the room attempting to waltz. As she listened to the refrains of music, she let herself be transported to another world. The dress she'd been lent was perfect for dancing, as it twirled with her as she pretended to be swept across the intricate rug that decorated the floor.
It was inevitable that her mind would wander as she danced with her invisible partner. She couldn't help but secretly wish it were someone real, someone with piercing eyes and strong hands. It was just a little daydream, she told herself, and there was nothing wrong with it – nothing wrong with thinking of the Captain. She could pretend all she liked.
Because of the children she'd heard many stories about the previous parties held here when the Baroness von Trapp had been alive. Liesl had spoken about the way her parents had danced together, but Maria hadn't needed to be told stories to surmise the Captain would be a wonderful dancer. He always moved so confidently that she had no doubt he would be able to effortlessly sweep a woman across a dance floor. With a bittersweet sigh, she closed her eyes and let herself pretend his hands – those hands - held her close, however, she got so swept up in her little fantasy that she bumped into one of the armchairs.
"Oh, do excuse me, sir," said Maria politely to the armchair, and then laughed at herself.
"I see you've finally been driven insane by the children."
Snapping to attention at the sound of that voice, Maria spun on her heels. The Captain was leaning casually against a bookshelf, an eyebrow raised in amusement. For a moment she failed to remember how to breathe and feeling as if he could somehow read her thoughts and would know what she'd just been thinking, she immediately blushed.
"Oh, hello," she managed to say, trying to keep her tone cheerful.
He was dressed in a formal tuxedo with his Maria Theresien Cross around his neck. The only reason she knew it was that one was because the children had described it to her multiple times – especially Friedrich and Liesl. It had been the one thing the children had agreed on when arguing over past balls during the time their mother had still been alive. Liesl had talked of how her father would wear his medals and that the Maria Theresien was his favourite.
"They're all very excited about tonight," said Maria, her fingers fiddling with the fabric on the top of the armchair she'd just bumped into. "It took me nearly an hour to get Gretl's hair done because she wouldn't stay still."
Georg smiled; he knew how excited the children were about the party. He wished he had even half as much excitement as they did. As he had dressed for this evening, he felt like each button, each cufflink, was another nail in the coffin to a decision he regretted making. Donning his medals had made him feel as if he was preparing for battle, and in a strange way he was. But this was the kind of war – that of the upper class – that he was not prepared for.
It had been utterly stupid to let this party happen. Here he was, dressed to the nines, ready to introduce Elsa to all his so-called friends. But he didn't want to. Of course, he felt he needed to if things were to progress as they should. But he didn't feel that he wanted that. Not anymore.
Nevertheless, it was done and here he was. His eyes landed on the dress Fraulein Maria was wearing. She looked lovely – she always did – but he couldn't deny the disappointment he had felt that she wasn't wearing the blue dress he admired so much. He had expected her to be wearing it, but here she was in some a simple country dress.
He also hadn't expected to find her in here; he had wanted a chance to escape before guests swarmed his house. Max had already taken up residence in his study – pilfering from his liquor cabinet. And he hadn't felt like another interrogation from the impresario about the whole letter incident. It had been a stupid idea; he didn't know what had possessed him to do such a thing. With that thought, his eyes flicked back up to her face, to find her watching him with those blue eyes, her lips slightly parted, and he immediately remembered just exactly what had possessed him to do such a thing.
"Your dress looks lovely," he said finally. "I don't think I've seen it before, though?"
Maria blinked, slightly taken aback that he'd said the word 'lovely' in regards to anything about her. She cleared her throat in an effort to get her thoughts in order.
"One of the housemaids was kind enough to lend it to me," she said with a smile.
There was a tension filled silence; it was an awkwardness that Maria couldn't define. Unable to stand it, she asked, "Was there something you wanted, Captain? The children are having their dinner."
"Oh, no, no," said Georg dismissively with a wave of his hand. "Though, I want you – I ask you, to please keep an eye on Liesl tonight. As soon as she's in that ballroom she's going go all starry-eyed, I just know it."
The governess just stared at him; she had the strangest look on her face, which then slowly stretched into that infuriatingly charming smile of hers.
"Why do you stare at me that way?" he asked, unable to deny how her gaze was making him feel.
The wheels in Maria's head had been turning. The past few days had been filled with nothing but party talk – except for their little treasure hunt. She knew that letter off by heart now, the words were permanently etched into her brain. Because she had thought the late Baroness von Trapp might have written it, she had always read it with a woman's voice in mind. But the words the Captain had said had reminded her of it.
'Kept on this estate are all my most treasured possessions – I want you, I ask you, to keep them safe.'
And he had said that same phrase to her before – the day he had returned from Vienna. She could remember it like it had happened yesterday, despite feeling like it happened so long ago – it had only been two months. But so much had changed since then. He had changed. Even Maria felt she herself had changed. But she could clearly remember standing on the foyer stairs, dripping wet, as he had asked her to stay.
'I want you to stay. I ask you to stay.'
It was the same.
"Fraulein?" asked Georg, feeling slightly unnerved by the way she was continuing to look at him.
"You wrote that letter," she said finally. It wasn't a question and her eyes were watching him, her mouth still quirked in a bemused smile.
He stiffened. "What?"
"The letter the children found, you put it there," said Maria, feeling her conviction grow stronger. "You knew they went in there so you hid it." She began to ramble on, her words continuing to spill from her lips as she walked towards him. "I knew there was something familiar about it, it took me so long to realise." She turned around, her skirts twirling around with the movement as she threw her hands in the air. "And no wonder you weren't mad-!" She paused and rounded on him. "Why, Captain?"
He thought about lying, but what was the point? Besides, there was just something about this woman that made Georg want to tell the truth. It was true it had started as a fun little game, and he had enjoyed being able to speak to her more – those little moments he managed to steal with her seemed to make it possible to get on with the rest of his day. Which was beginning to terrify him. What would he do once she was gone?
"You couldn't seem to keep my children in line so I thought I'd help you," said Georg, trying to sound casual.
"Help me?" said Maria. "You didn't have to be so dramatic!"
Georg managed a smirk. "Well, clearly whatever you were doing wasn't working. And I do happen to have five girls - several of whom enjoy those kinds of letters. And what child doesn't like a treasure hunt?"
"I never realised you were such a closet romantic, Captain," said Fraulein Maria, her face stretching into a happy grin.
He tried to quell her with a look, but she was too delighted in her discovery to be put off.
"I'm not a closet romantic," said Georg. "Just because I'm not sweeping people off their feet all the time or writing stupid love letters, that doesn't mean I don't have romance in my soul, Fraulein." Feeling his initial embarrassment ebbing away, he continued in smooth tones. "You think I'm some unfeeling beast, do you?"
"Pardon?" said Maria, slightly taken aback by the way the conversation had taken a turn. "I never said that, Captain, and no, I don't think you are. It's obvious you care a great deal for your children."
"What about the Baroness?" asked Georg, not sure what on earth he was trying to achieve.
She shook her head, her eyes wide in confusion. "What about her?"
"How do you think I feel towards Baroness Schraeder?"
"That's none of my business," said Maria quickly, taking a small step back.
The Captain just nodded, but she could tell by his facial expression – it was that slight quirk to his lips - that he was mocking her.
"You've had no problems telling me what I should be doing with my children, I'm surprised you haven't felt the need to comment on my relationships with others."
"I'm the governess, Captain, it's my job to help you with your children." He continued to watch her, his unblinking gaze making Maria shift on her feet. She blew out a puff of air. "Any romantic gesture would be appreciated I'm sure," said Maria with what she hoped was a casual wave of the hand. "I'm sure Baroness Schraeder wouldn't mind a love letter or… something."
"You think I should be doing those things?" asked Georg, his voice cutting and low.
The governess looked unbalanced and part of him purred at the sight of her flushed cheeks and the way her teeth nibbled at her bottom lip. He didn't really know why he was doing this – why he continued to do these things. Well, all right, he knew why. But he just couldn't help himself. It was too much fun, boxing into her into a corner, challenging her, making her cheeks glow as she struggled to answer his slightly – well, very - inappropriate questions.
"Like I said, Captain, it's none of my business what you do," said Maria, "But any woman would like to be swept off her feet." Without thinking she turned her head to gaze towards the wall where the fireplace and large mirror was; the sounds of the orchestra striking up another song was coming through it and she couldn't help but gravitate towards the sound.
"Even you?" asked Georg with a quirk of his brow as she turned back around to face him, a frown on her face.
"Captain, shouldn't you be getting ready for the party?" asked Maria exasperatedly.
The man gave an elegant shrug. "I am ready." His lips stretched into a smile. "Are you?" He walked past Maria, leaving a heady trail of scents in the air for her senses to catch. He paused at the fireplace, his back to her but she could clearly see his face in the reflection of the large mirror.
"Yes," she said, her eyes finding his in the glass. "I was just waiting while the children had their dinner."
His reflection grinned at her, making her skin prickle with a hot flush. She idly fiddled with the skirts of her dress, trying to release some of the strange energy that seemed to have manifested in her soul.
"Ah yes, practising your waltz I saw," said the Captain. "I don't think armchairs make very good partners, though."
"Well, no," agreed Maria.
With a sense of deliberate movement, the Captain turned around to face her again, his blue eyes holding her in place. She felt her skin prickle again and she mentally shook herself, trying to forget how hard it was suddenly becoming to breathe. Then he held out his hand towards her, and all Maria could do was stare at it.
"You did say you'd like to dance," said Georg, his hopes of stealing yet another moment with her rising, "And I think I may be a better partner than an armchair." He smiled at her, his hand still outstretched but she just stared at him as if he'd gone mad.
"In here?" she said, dragging her eyes back up to his face. "With you?" She gave a little shake of the head. "Captain, that was all nonsense. You made all that stuff up, anyway."
There was a sinking feeling in his chest, his hopes slithering back away into the darkness. He lowered his hand, but he noted the way her eyes followed it.
"Perhaps," Georg managed to say, "but your answer wasn't nonsense." He held out as his hand again. "I promise I won't tell."
"I'd step on your feet," said Maria, trying to smile, "and ruin your shoes."
It was ridiculous, that's what she told herself. It was ridiculous how much she wanted to take his hand. How much she wanted her earlier little daydream to come true. But dreaming was one thing and reality was another. She didn't want to embarrass herself. He probably knew all kinds of dances, and she didn't think she could dare face stumbling to a waltz she didn't even know the name of. Something about him made her feel self-conscious, she didn't want the Captain to think she was some common mountain girl that didn't know how to waltz properly.
She hadn't really danced since those glorious festivals in town during her childhood. Back then nobody had ever danced the same, though. There would be one couple dancing the polka while another waltzed. It was a mess: a happy, giddy-filled mess of music and laughter.
"Hmm," said Georg. "Thinking you might get a better offer during the party, Fraulein?"
"Captain-" Maria began but was cut off when a voice called out through the shelves of books.
"Fraulein!"
Gretl was rushing towards them, her little feet tapping across the floor until she came tearing across the rug and wrapped her little arms around Maria's waist. With great relief, Maria returned the hug and then bent down so she was level with the little girl.
"Finished all ready?" Maria asked, wiping a few crumbs off Gretl's cheek.
"Yes, we were far too excited!" said Gretl. "Liesl was telling us all about how beautiful everyone will look! And you look so beautiful, Fraulein Maria." She turned to her father. "Doesn't she, Father?"
The grin the Captain sent Maria made her face flush for what must have been the hundredth time and she hastily asked, "What about your father, Gretl?"
The girl's eyes went wide and she hurried over to her father. "Oh! Of course, you look beautiful too, Father."
Maria couldn't help but giggle as the Captain cleared his throat.
"Thank you, Gretl," he said stiffly, patting her on the hair.
Giving the girl a large smile, Maria ushered Gretl out of the library, leaving the Captain behind.
While standing near the open ballroom doors, Maria couldn't help but sway to the music as she watched the children being introduced to their father's closest friends. Liesl was deep in conversation with an elderly couple, her two youngest sisters glued to her side. After being beaten down by the persistence of the children – well, mainly Liesl – the Captain had let them join in the festivities for the beginning of the party. Maria had noted the look of displeasure that had crossed the Baroness's face when the Captain had began to introduce his children to the guests.
Always trying to see the good in people, Maria had found herself constantly defending Baroness Schraeder to the children. The older ones had made no secret of their dislike for the society woman. Liesl, who had at first been quite excited at the prospect of having someone like the Baroness around, had been utterly disappointed by the woman's disinterest. After all, they were the children of the man she was supposedly marrying.
That thought caused Maria to pause in her gentle swaying. When she had first arrived and been told by the housekeeper about the Captain remarrying, she'd been delighted to hear that the children would have a new mother. But now, it didn't seem like this would be true at all. The Captain may have a new wife, but it was becoming clear that the children would have no mother. Louisa had been spouting rumours about the Baroness trying to ship them off to boarding school, claiming she'd hear the Baroness discussing it with their Uncle Max. Which was a heartbreaking thought. Would the Captain really marry someone that clearly didn't care for his children?
Her thought strayed back to his earlier question: how did he feel about Baroness Schraeder? It was so hard to tell, but if Maria was to truly look inside herself and ask that question, she felt that it would be that he didn't love her. He didn't act like he did. He never seemed to be relaxed around the elegant woman. Without thinking, she found herself seeking his whereabouts in the sea of people that filled the radiant ballroom and found him talking to a couple, the Baroness with her arm wrapped around his.
And she could so clearly see his rigid posture, and how his jaw was locked in a polite imitation of interest. A voice in her head pondered over whether the guests realised it. There was no denying that the man was charming, confident and handsome but she felt privy to some great secret knowing that it was just a mask he used. For he did look in his element, and as she continued to watch him as he spoke she couldn't help but find herself admiring the way he held himself. Before she could turn away, he turned his head and his eyes found her. It was possible, she would reflect later, that some of the tension he held left him as he acknowledged her with a small smile and nod before he returned his attention back to his companions.
Shaking her head, Maria scolded herself for the way her heart thudded, and quickly returned to Liesl, Gretl and Marta. She needed some fresh air.
"Girls?" said Maria, approaching the small group with a smile. "It's time to fetch the others. I think the first dance is going to be held soon."
"Yes, Fraulein Maria," said Liesl. She turned towards Baron and Baroness Elberfeld and curtsied politely. "It was so lovely speaking with you, Baron and Baroness."
As Liesl went off in search of the rest of her brothers and sisters, she cast a glance behind her and watched her governess move to the courtyard outside and then through the large hedge maze. With a shrug, she made her way through the throng of people until she finally found the rest of her siblings.
"Liesl," said Brigitta as they made their way towards the courtyard.
"Hmm?"
"I don't think these people are having a good time," continued Brigitta, stepping out into the fresh air.
"I think half the people Father invited aren't speaking to the other half," said Liesl as she watch a group of men who were huddled together in a corner of the ballroom.
"Well, maybe they're having a nice time not speaking to each other!" said Brigitta with a small laugh.
Liesl couldn't help but giggle in response. "Probably."
"Maybe they tried to find the treasure too and they're just angry," came the thoughtful voice of Gretl.
"There was no treasure, remember?" said Brigitta with a roll of her eyes. "It was made up."
"Oh," said Gretl. "But who wrote the letter?" She tugged on Brigitta's sleeve. "Brigitta?"
"Fraulein Maria said it was Uncle Max," said Brigitta, her thoughtful tone going over her little sister's head.
Gretl frowned and watched as her father moved through the crowd with Baroness Schraeder by his side. She wished she was back in there with them - well maybe not with the Baroness. She didn't like cuddles or playing outside - not like Fraulein Maria.
"The women look so beautiful," interjected Louisa as a dancing couple passed them by.
There was a huff from Kurt. "I think they look ugly."
"You're just scared of them," said Louisa, turning to lean on the frame of the door.
"Silly, only grown-up men fear women."
"I think the men look beautiful," said Gretl as she continued to watch her father.
Gretl had been so excited when she'd seen him tonight - this was her first party after all! And she'd never seen her father with all his medals - not even in a photo. Liesl and Friedrich had told her all about parties when Mama had been alive but still, this was something else.
"How would you know?" asked Louisa.
Gretl simply held her nose in the air and walked away from her siblings. They didn't know anything anyway. Their father did look beautiful! And she knew he'd look even better if he was with Fraulein Maria - he always seemed to look happier around her. That's why she had tried so hard to find the treasure and been so sad that there was none - she wanted her Fraulein to stay. Because Father had been so loving since Fraulein Maria had arrived, Gretl couldn't even remember the last time Father had smiled - let alone hugged her - before their twelfth governess had arrived. All Gretl wanted was for the magic and love of this summer to stay forever.
A/N Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed this one - I really wanted to get this one done as hitting that 'complete' button is so satisfying. I'm definitely not 100% happy - this writers block has been killing me. But thank you again to lemacd for the prompt.