A/N: I hope you're enjoying the story so far. There's a lot of build up in this story so thanks for your patience and do stick with it because all the steamy, delicious angst will soon make itself known! As always I don't own TSOM and please do review!
Chapter 2: Mutiny
Georg was back behind his desk, papers spread in front of him in a somewhat haphazard manner by his standards. He was working on something relatively complex and particularly discreet for the British Royal Navy as a result of the potential threat of Nazi warfare that loomed over Europe. He hadn't made many efforts to conceal his strongly opposing views of the Nazi campaign and the Brits had caught wind of his naval expertise, thanks to the connections and charismatic tongue of Robert Whitehead - the inventor of the torpedo who just happened to also be his late wife's father.
Brooding over the recent rumours of an upcoming Anschluss, Georg felt his mood take a turn for the worse again and threw his fountain pen across the room in frustration. Not only had he lost his navy and his wife, but God wanted to take his beloved homeland from him as well. The country he fought so desperately to keep, the country he watched men die for, the country he wanted to watch his children grow up in. The only real love he had left was for his homeland and soon there may not even be an Austria. Well damn God, damn Hitler, damn Agathe, damn the children, damn them all.
The children... Where were they? It had been a good few hours since he'd introduced them to number twelve and he had been completely undisturbed ever since. If his past eleven experiences with governesses were anything to go by, he should have been interrupted at least twice by now to be alerted to his children's latest indiscretions and he would have dismissed the young Fraulein's concerns with a bored wave of his hand and a promise to increase her pay if she stayed. Some of the previous eleven had made it a few more days, one or two had made it a week or so.. Others had lasted mere hours.
Feeling rather uneasy about the lack of disturbance and growing increasingly more claustrophobic surrounded by so much paperwork, Georg decided to take a short break and summon number twelve to see how she was fairing after having spent the afternoon getting to know his children. It was far too quiet and he didn't trust this slip of a girl to have any real disciplinary influence on his brood. Refilling his decanter for the third time that day, knowing full well it was probably one too many, he called upon Franz to summon the Fraulein while he filed away the documents he'd been working on. He would've reached for his whistle to call upon her himself but he already knew he'd be blowing it until he was blue in the face.
"Whistles are for dogs and cats and other animals but not for children and definitely not for me," he mimicked the Fraulein's words in mock femininity, rolling his eyes and snorting with disdain.
It wasn't long before number twelve idled in after a soft knock on the door, her eyes scouring the room nosily and her mouth hanging open in wonder, before greeting him with the same wide eyed stare that had betrayed her curiosity that very morning. He found it just as infuriating now as he did then.
"Take a seat please Fraulein," he muttered, gesturing to one of the armchairs in front of his desk. To his surprise she obeyed his order with no real objections, plonking herself down and proceeding to fidget while staring at him as she waited for the reason as to why she'd been summoned. Would she ever stop staring at him?!
"I trust that everything is under control?" He snapped, taking a sip from his glass to take the edge off. Something about this woman deeply riled him and she hadn't even opened her mouth yet. She seemed completely unaffected by his authority, completely unphased by his abruptness and it left him utterly bewildered.
"Oh yes, Captain!" Maria gushed, fully aware she would have to say a few Hail Mary's later to compensate for the elaborate lie, "the children and I have spent the afternoon getting acquainted and we've all been having an absolutely splendid time! They've been familiarising me with the household, introducing me to the staff, showing me their regular routine.. They are lovely little dears."
"How positively enchanting," the Captain drawled sarcastically but it was completely lost on Maria, who took his derision for genuine interest and continued to babble about her successes with his seven little dears.
Maria was fully aware she should quit while she was ahead but she found that the lie, once told, continued to tumble from her lips of its own accord - creating such a picture of perfection that she was sure the Captain saw right through her. His lips were tightened into a thin smirk as he listened with mock fascination while his eyes portrayed complete disinterest. Nevertheless, she continued to spin her web of lies in an attempt to rouse at least some positivity in this man but she soon realised her efforts were futile.
The truth was the children had been absolute terrors from the moment she'd been left alone with them. It had started with the frog in her pocket and had escalated to her carpet bag being emptied out of a window, her bible being stolen and held for ransom, her guitar strings being twisted completely out of tune and her shoes being filled with soil. She had come very close to losing her temper with them and storming down to the study to alert their father but she had quickly reprimanded herself for her lack of patience. Here were seven souls who had lost their mother and quite clearly needed a little bit of time and affection after years of neglect by an emotionally absent father. She would carry out God's will wholeheartedly and if it meant putting up with a few pranks in the process then so be it.
"Yes yes yes, alright," the Captain interrupted her tale impatiently, and she realised she'd been babbling elaborately for minutes on end as he waved his hand in an attempt to finally silence her, "as thoroughly engrossed as I am in your intricate recollection of every single thing that has come to pass since our last meeting, I think I've heard quite enough."
Maria sealed her lips abruptly and silently chastised herself for her running mouth. The Captain stood and began pacing behind his desk, his hands fastened behind his back and his chest puffed out in such an exaggerated manor that Maria had to stifle a giggle as she noted his uncanny resemblance to a strutting pigeon. Did he realise how amusing he looked?
He was back to barking orders and she found herself zoning out rather rapidly, concentrating instead on his appearance, which she still found rather curious. He didn't look at all like a sea captain - that much was certain - but there was something in his face that suggested there was more to this man than met the eye. Behind the permanent scowl was a pleasantness, a kindness, and it struck Maria that perhaps he hadn't always been so disagreeable.
"I expect they will be marching about the grounds breathing deeply within the next thirty minutes Fraulein and I also expect them to be absolutely pristine for dinner at exactly 1800 hours. No exceptions."
"Aye aye Captain!"
The eerie silence that followed was palpable as the Captain stopped his pacing and turned to face her, his eyebrows raised in such bewilderment she thought he'd lose them to his hairline. But before long the surprise was replaced by a familiar contempt as he fixed her with his steely glare. Definitely not the humorous type, Maria reminded herself, biting back a smile.
"You are dismissed," he ordered, taking a seat again as Maria made her way to the door, relieved to finally be free of his scrutiny for the time being.
"Fraulein, one more thing," he demanded as she turned in the doorway to face him, "seven children is a lot to handle, I often expect their governesses to keep themselves in peak physical condition in order to keep up. I highly recommend some marching about the grounds yourself."
An amused smirk tugged at the Fraulein's lips, "I'll be sure to breathe deeply, sir."
He nodded in satisfaction as she left the room, only to realise too late that number twelve had just succeeded in taunting him for the second time that day.
Maria prepared for bed as she reflected on the absolute shambles that had been her first dinner at the von Trapp villa. She had to hand it to the children, the pine cone on the chair had been particularly creative and they had thoroughly succeeded in their plot to embarrass her. It was difficult to be angry with them though, when the real culprit behind their rebellion was the ignorant, pig-headed man sat at the head of the table. The Captain's subtle ridicule after she'd jumped from her chair was just about the only thing he'd said throughout the entire meal, and she was beginning to lose her patience with his complete lack of interest in his own children. How could he be so indifferent to their needs? It was beginning to infuriate her but perhaps she just needed to exercise some more patience. After all, according to Frau Schmidt, the Captain had suffered a great loss and hadn't been the same since his wife passed away. For the first time after meeting him, Maria felt a twinge of pity for the man, so wrapped up in his own grief that he had eliminated all the happiness from his home and erased every meaningful memory.
Still, he would be bringing this Baroness Shraeder back with him after his visit to Vienna - and if Frau Shmidt was correct in her assumptions, the children would soon have a new mother. Perhaps an influential female presence would soften the Captain's iron will and bring the children some much needed affection.
Satisfied in her thoughts, Maria bent across her luxurious bed in prayer, the only sound the heavily beating raindrops against the window as a storm raged on outside. It was only toward the end of her monologue that she noticed a sopping wet Leisl attempting to sneak across the room unseen.
"And now dear God, about Leisl!" She exclaimed with emphasis, causing the girl to freeze in her tracks, "help her to know that I'm her friend and help her to tell me what she's been up to."
The guilt on the girl's face spoke for itself and she began gushing through her excuses, only to have her governess shush her so that she could finish her prayer.
"You're not going to tell father are you?" The apprehension in the young girl's eyes spoke volumes - clearly these children were deeply afraid of their father and Maria couldn't blame them. He was obviously an honourable, brave and respectable man but he was also foul-tempered, disagreeable and undeniably stubborn.
After a lengthy discussion about how easy it was for the children to scale the building in order to play all manner of tricks on their governesses, Maria decided that it was perhaps for her own good to get this mischievous girl on side. Just this once, she would turn a blind eye and protect this headstrong sixteen year old from her father's wrath. Sure enough, once Leisl realised her secret was safe with her governess, she acquiesced willingly, telling Maria all about her secret meetings with Rolf, the handsome telegram boy.
"Oh Fraulein, he's just so wonderful! Every time I see him I feel as though my world is just beginning!" She was beaming from ear to ear as she recalled how the boy had finally kissed her, describing with beautiful vividness how the butterflies had erupted in her stomach and how she'd felt as though she could hardly breathe, "have you ever been in love Fraulein?"
Despite being incredibly happy for her eldest charge, Maria's smile wavered slightly at the question. She couldn't help but feel a slight sadness - no, she had never experienced young love.. Or any kind of romance for that matter - and it was something she would never experience in her chosen path. But she was blessed with God's love and she quickly reprimanded herself for being less than fully grateful for everything she did have.
"I can't say there are many young men at Nonnberg Abbey, Leisl," Maria quipped, earning a giggle from the girl. She was immediately grateful for the sudden interruption to the topic at hand when a loud clap of thunder startled them from their conversation, swiftly followed by the bedroom door flying open to reveal a terrified Gretl hurtling towards the bed.
It wasn't long before all seven of her charges were congregated around her, burying themselves under the covers to shelter themselves from the aggression of the storm. Even the boys had succumb to their need for comfort, despite being hell bent on ridding themselves of governess number twelve.
As another clap of thunder shook the room, Maria decided there was only one thing for it. Whenever she was feeling down, she would tell stories and sing and dance until she'd forgotten all about her worries. And soon enough all eight of them were charging around the room, laughing and shouting and twirling until her head spun and she realised with a surge of elation that she was winning these children over, slowly but surely. No longer were their faces grave and insolent but rosy and smiling, the storm long forgotten as they danced and played as if for the very first time.
Had it really been as simple as showing them a little compassion? These poor children weren't terrors at all but lost souls in desperate need of guidance, comfort and love. How long had they suffered, she wondered as she lifted Gretl high into the air before throwing a pillow at Kurt, whose hearty laughter filled the room with happiness.
As quickly as the fun had started, it was brought to an abrupt and alarming halt when, much to Maria's dismay, she catapulted headlong into a solid mass of skin and muscle. The Captain.
Her heart sank as the smiles rapidly vanished from the children's faces and they practically fought to get past one another into a straight line. She was in for it now, if the Captain's infernal scowl was any indication of his thoughts on the matter. If she didn't know better she would've assumed those angry lines on his face were permanently etched into his skin, as if tattooed there. It was a shame really - he was, after all, quite a pleasant looking man. She may be a postulant but she was still a woman and she recognised a handsome man when she saw one - in the lateness of the evening he looked slightly less rigid as she noticed the unbuttoned collar of his shirt, the comfortable velvet smoking jacket, and the few stray hairs that were falling forward and brushing his forehead. He might've even looked charming if it wasn't for that stupid scowl. He was a perfect example of the fact that beauty was only skin deep and that frown had twisted his features into something ugly and sinister.
"Hallo!" She breezed optimistically, as if the positivity in her voice would somehow cause the Captain to forget his disagreeable ways and suddenly burst into song and dance himself.
No such luck.
Georg couldn't quite believe his eyes. Did this insolent young woman have the audacity to allow his children to prance around like animals in the early hours of the night? He had heard absolute mayhem breaking out when he was on his way to bed and had followed the caterwauling only to discover number twelve flying around the bedroom as though she might become airborne in that utterly ridiculous tent of a nightgown. And she had the nerve to greet him with that very same breeziness that already filled him with a fiery rage!
"Fraulein, did I not tell you that bedtime is to be strictly observed in this house?" He growled with a hostility that would've sent the bravest of navy cadets running for the hills. This woman however, clearly had no idea who she was dealing with, because she started to retaliate with a determination in her eyes that made him want to bunch the material of that never-ending nightgown in his hand and stuff it in her mouth to stop her perpetual prattling.
He was immensely satisfied to discover that his icy stare was all it took to silence her on this occasion and she eventually dismissed the children, who scurried past them as quickly as possible, avoiding his scolding eyes. He was now alone with number twelve and he was more than ready to teach her a lesson or too about discipline.
"They were merely scared by the storm sir, I was trying to -"
"They'll soon learn that fear is a wasted emotion," he snapped, interrupting her exasperatedly as he began pacing around her for the second time that day.
"As are all other emotions, according to you," Maria muttered to herself.
"I beg your pardon?!" He whirled around on the spot to face her as she realised her running mouth had got the better of her yet again. The Captain loomed over her, invading her personal space in his fury - she'd definitely taken it too far this time. Surely he would fire her instantly for her insolence.
"Forgive me sir, I forget myself," she replied calmly, meeting his thundering stare confidently, "The children were scared and I thought I would do my best to provide some much needed comfort and reassurance.."
She was talking about far more than just the storm and she wondered if the double meaning of her words hadn't been lost on the Captain, who's expression seemed to soften slightly in surprise. Did she see a hint of shame in his face? Whatever it was, it disappeared in a flash and she told herself she must have imagined the angst that temporarily haunted those piercing eyes as the steely glare returned in full force.
She was staring at him again, the meaning of her words all too clear. It deeply unsettled him and he felt the discomfort prickle down the base of his spine, anger bubbling in his chest at the fact that she could have such an effect on him. How dare she pass judgement - she knew nothing of his suffering. He'd had quite enough of this ridiculous mockery she was making of his entire household and he would have fired her on the spot if it wasn't for the fact that he desperately wanted to leave for Vienna in the morning. He needed to escape this suffocating depression he could feel clutching at him the longer he stayed.
"You have managed to remember I'm leaving for Vienna in the morning?" He snipped, making his way towards the door to escape her scrutiny. She nodded in affirmation, her face conveying her evident frustration. Good, maybe he was getting through to her.
"Do kindly remember that the first rule in this house is discipline and I trust that once I return, you will have acquired some!"
He felt smugly satisfied with his closing statement, believing that he'd finally managed to put the Fraulein in her place. But much to his dismay, he realised it'd had no such effect when she suddenly dared to ask for more material to make play clothes for the children. Was this woman entirely deluded?! She had just ignored everything he'd said!
"Goodnight Fraulein," he muttered in exasperation, completely ignoring her request and spinning on his heels to leave the room - the image of that dowdy nightgown stuffed in her mouth still satisfyingly vivid in his mind.