Preparations to leave
"We have to get out of Austria, and this house... tonight."
Georg's voice still rang in Maria's ears as they stood in the middle of the grand foyer. His arms held her protectively and Maria was thankful for the comfort of his arms. Although the news in the telegram was not really a surprise, the ramifications that they would be leaving with the children in just a few short hours to flee the country was still a bit of a shock to her.
Almost as knowing what she was thinking, Georg turned to her and gave her a tender kiss. Pulling back from the kiss, he ran his hands through her hair and gently guided her head to rest upon his shoulder. Georg softly stroked her back until finally after a minute or so, he broke from their embrace.
"Now Maria," he said, "the children should be out on the terrace. Go and find them and explain what will happen tonight. We will leave as soon as it is dark but if anyone, any of the staff I mean, asks just tell then that we are going to the festival. Of course we won't be, but using the cover as a disguise just may be enough to ward off any questions."
"Where will we go?" Maria asked.
"Switzerland. While Italy may seem to be an obvious choice, I'm not quite sure how safe we will be there. At least the Swiss government, for the time being, is intent on staying neutral in all the political goings on. I think we will be much safer there. Once we leave, we'll drive through Innsbruck then across the border."
Maria nodded as he gave her a final kiss on the cheek.
"I'll be in my study getting a few things ready if you need me."
With that, Georg left her and Maria wandered out to the terrace to find the children. As soon as Maria arrived outside, seven very excited faces greeted her! Yelling "Mother!" both Marta and Gretl threw themselves upon her and she responded by giving them huge hugs each.
Before their marriage, Maria had been a little worried how the children might react to having a new mother, especially the older children who still remembered their birth mother. While Georg had reassured her that all the children would accept and love her as their mother, she still had her doubts. The tiny feeling of joy only a short time earlier when Brigitta had referred to her as "Mother" brought warm feelings to her heart. Maria had glanced over to Georg who gave her a wink in return, that tiny gesture reassuring her what he had been trying to tell her all along about her acceptance by the children as their new mother.
Almost straight away all seven children started talking at once, all wanting her attention, asking her to tell them stories of her time away with their Father in Paris. Maria, feeling the burden of knowing their escape plans for that night, all of a sudden she felt as if the last thing that she wanted to do was to talk. Instead, she put up her hands to quieten them down.
"Children," she said with a laugh, "not all at once. You know I have so many things to tell you, but first I'd really like to hear what you have been up to while your Father and I were away."
Over the next little while, Maria tried to listen intently to the various stories that children told her. However, after only a few minutes, she found her attention wavering as the enormity of what she still had to tell the children was weighing on her mind. She tried desperately to concentrate on the ridiculously funny anecdote that Friedrich was telling her about how they had shut Max up in the downstairs broom closet during a game of hide and seek, but she quickly realised that she had become lost again in her thoughts when she was abruptly brought back into the present conversation by Gretl's voice.
"Mother? Aren't you going to be mad at him?"
"Hmm?" Maria looked up in slight confusion. "Mad? Oh yes, Friedrich, while that was a very funny story, you really shouldn't have done that to poor Max." She tried to sound just a little stern, but at the same time letting the children know that she did think it was just as funny as they did.
As Marta took over the conversation with the next story, Maria's worry returned. She glanced up to look at Liesl who was watching her intently.
"Mother?" Liesl quietly leant over to whisper in her ear. "Is everything alright? You look worried."
"Yes, fine." Maria told her, but knowing she couldn't hide the truth from the children for long. She quickly glanced around, noting the young maid who had come out to clear the table from afternoon tea. Maria knew that at all costs no one except the children could be told of their escape plans. She at once had an idea that would ensure that her conversation with the children would not be overheard. Maria waited until Marta had finished her story before she spoke.
"Children, you know what?" Maria began brightly, "I've spent most of today sitting down in the train from Switzerland. I feel like I really want to stretch my legs. How about we go for a walk?"
Upon hearing her suggestion, the children yelled with glee and ran from the terrace in excitement. Only Liesl held back to walk with Maria. Arms interlinked, they descended the terrace stairs together and followed the other children across the grounds out towards the gazebo.
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Inside his study, Georg heard the excited voices of the children coming from the terrace. He went to the window and pushed the sheer curtain aside to look out. He saw Maria and Liesl walking out from the terrace down into the grounds, arms interlinked. Georg smiled to himself as he watched the now mother and daughter together. Letting out a sigh, he let the curtain go to return to what he had planned to do in the study.
Just as he was getting some documents out of the desk drawer, there was a knock on the study door.
"Come in." Georg called out. The door opened and Max entered the room.
"Georg, about before..." Max started to say before Georg shushed him.
"Max, come in and close the door." Georg told him quickly.
Max did what was requested of him, looking slightly perplexed. Just as he went to open his mouth to ask a question, Georg continued.
"Sorry Max, I just don't want to be overheard. Please, sit."
Max sat down on the leather lounge while Georg continued at his desk.
"Now Georg, about the festival…" Max began.
"Max, it's no use. I told you how I feel about my children singing in public. And besides, we won't be here. We are leaving Austria tonight."
Max put on the pretence of being surprised before responding. "Georg, considering the current political situation, I can't say I'm surprised, by why the rush? You've only just returned from your honeymoon."
"Yes, but I received a telegram today from Berlin. It 'requested' I accept a commission in their Royal Navy and report to the naval base at Bremerhaven tomorrow." Georg told Max grimly.
"Oh Georg. Again, I'm not surprised, but leaving Austria... Have you thought about...?"
"Max!" Georg cut him off briskly. "Of course I have. That's all I have been thinking about since the moment I learnt about the Anschluss. Believe me, if there was ANY other rational choice... Well, there isn't."
"Mmm..." Max replied as he twitched his moustache with his finger. "I'll miss you Georg."
Georg gave a snort. "You'll just miss the extravagant lifestyle you've become accustomed to while you have been staying here!"
"True, true! But seriously Georg, you have been a good friend over all these years. I am pleased for you that you have found happiness again with Maria and the children after so many years seeing you miserable. But I will miss you, truly."
Max stood as Georg walked over and gave Max a friendly slap on the back. "You too, Max." The two men then shook hands.
As Georg returned to his desk, Max walked over to the tray-mobile and poured himself a drink.
"So Georg how was the honeymoon?" Max asked casually.
"Wonderful."
"Ah ha... Hmmm, how wonderful?"
Georg stopped what he was doing and looked squarely at Max.
"Max, I know what you are getting at and forget it. I am not about to embarrass Maria by telling you details of our intimate time together."
Max laughed. "Of course not Georg, I know you have never been one to ah... 'kiss and tell' so to speak, but humour me for a moment. It's just, well, Maria was going to be a postulant, and err, I was just hoping that, you weren't ah... disappointed?"
Georg roared with laughter. "Disappointed? Oh Max, I can assure you that there is nothing that is disappointing about Maria. Nothing. I am extremely happy and satisfied with my choice of wife." Georg gave him a wicked smirk.
Max laughed back. "Oh good! I am so glad for you my friend. Just one last thing though, how much did you see of Paris outside of your hotel suite?"
"Not much." Georg replied simply before both men erupted in laughter again.
"Right Max, now I really have quite a number of things to do. We'll speak again before we leave tonight." Georg shook Max's hand again before Max left the room. Georg gave a deep sigh before returning to organising the last lot of documents.
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Maria walked with Liesl following the other children across the grass.
"Mother," said Liesl turning to Maria, "I know something is going on. I saw the look on Father's face before. Now I see it on your face. Please tell me."
Maria took a deep breath. Knowing that it was now the time, she thought it was best to confide in Liesl first as the eldest.
"You're right Liesl. There is something wrong. That telegram your Father received was from the new Nazi government. They want him to join their Royal Navy and report tomorrow."
Liesl gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh no! He isn't going to join them is he Mother? I don't think I could stand it if he became... one of them."
"No, of course not." Maria told her quickly. "But you must understand, your Father can't just refuse them without there being some serious repercussions. So..." Maria took another deep breath before continuing; "he has decided that we are all to leave the country for Switzerland tonight."
Liesl stood there in shock for a few moments, unable to speak. Finally, she found her voice.
"Leave? Our home, all our things and our friends?" Liesl asked, tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm afraid so. We'll only be able to take a few things with us. A change of clothes, only one or two special items each. I'm sorry Liesl." Maria replied putting her arm around the girl, hugging her tight.
"Mother?" Liesl asked. As Maria gave her a nod of encouragement, she continued. "The telegram that Father received, well it was given to me by Rolf. He... has become one of them. A N-Nazi." Liesl barely was able to get out the words.
"Oh darling!" Maria held her close.
"There's more that you should know, he seemed to know a lot about Father. He knew things, things I don't know how he could have known." Liesl added.
Maria paused for a moment before answering. "Thank you for telling me. I'll make sure your Father knows, but for the moment, I know you are feeling hurt and scared but I'm going to need your help with the younger children. You, and perhaps Friedrich are old enough to know all the details of what is going on, but the others, well I think they are too young to know everything."
Liesl nodded and together Maria and Liesl walked over to talk to the other children. They all sat down on the grass as Maria talked to them seriously. Marta and Gretl started to cry, especially at the thought of having to leave all their dolls and toys behind. Friedrich bravely stood up and declared proudly he would do anything to help his parents. Louisa said nothing but scowled and walked off towards the lake while Kurt and Brigitta bombarded Maria with question after question until Maria had to tell them gently to stop.
After a few minutes, Maria told the children that she needed to go and pack for her and Georg. Leaving instructions for Liesl to do the same with the other children, she headed upstairs to their room, a room that was theirs in name but they would never get to share it together.
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A short while later, Georg finished in the study and walked outside carrying a small satchel to find Maria. He knew that the Maria and the children were no longer on the terrace but had wandered into the grounds of the villa. He started to swiftly stride in the direction he had seen them heading to. Almost immediately he saw the children sitting on the grass looking morose.
"Children?" Georg asked as he approached them. "I'm assuming your Mother has had a chance to speak to you?"
"Yes Father," Friedrich replied. "She explained everything. I'll do anything I can to help you Father!"
Georg gave him a pat on the back. "I know you will. Now where is your Mother? I need to speak to her urgently."
"She went into the house to pack." Brigitta told him.
"Thank you Brigitta." Georg gave them each a hug and reassured them that everything would be all right before he left to find Maria.
Walking down the hall towards the master suite, he could see the door left ajar. Standing at the open door, he looked in to see Maria sitting on the edge of the bed with one of the suitcases that they had brought back from Paris in front of her. He watched as she picked up out of the suitcase the doll they had purchased together for Gretl from Paris only the previous week. Maria gazed at the doll for a few moments, sighed before placing it on the bed next to her.
"I'm sorry." Georg's voice cut through the silence of the room. Maria looked up, seeing Georg standing at the open doorway.
"Sorry for what?" She asked.
"This, all of this. We should have been coming home to start our new life together with the children. And now... Maria, I am truly sorry."
"It isn't your fault, darling." Maria told him. Georg nodded before quietly closing the door behind him and coming to sit next to her on the bed.
"I know, but all the things I wanted to give you, all the nice things we bought together in Paris, we're going to have to leave them all behind." He took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it.
"They're just things." Maria told him quietly. "They aren't important, not really. As long as we're together. That's what is important. I have you, and you have me, and we have the children. Together." She leant towards him, giving him a light kiss.
Georg's heart swelled with love for this woman, his wife sitting beside him. He couldn't imagine any other woman so willingly giving up everything to follow him, to support him, but that was Maria wasn't it? As long as we're together, was what she had said and she was right. As long as he was with her and the children, then he could ask for nothing more.
"Besides," she continued, "I still have the memories, good memories."
"Yes, very good memories." Georg gave a bit of a chuckle as he reached past her to pull out of her suitcase a light pink satin negligee with a plunging black lace neckline. "I have some wonderful memories of this thing!" He told her cheekily.
Maria laughed as well as she recalled only a few weeks before when she had purchased it.
It had been a day where Maria had gone to do some shopping on her own while Georg attended at business meeting at the embassy. After several hours at the elegant clothing store, the helpful sales assistant had directed Maria over to the lingerie section where she had suggested to Maria that she might like to purchase something to please her new husband. Maria had been incredibly hesitant at first, never once before purchasing anything like that.
On impulse, Maria decided to buy the satin negligee but had lost her nerve when it had come time to wear it for Georg that night. Finally the next night, she wore it for him, and their lovemaking that followed was the most intense, most passionate of their marriage so far... Afterwards, Georg had practically begged her to wear it again for him every night after that...
"Perhaps I'll have to pack this too?" Maria asked him as she raised her eyebrows, taking the negligee back from him and placing it on the bed.
"Perhaps," Georg replied back with a grin before his expression turned serious.
"Maria, I need to talk to you seriously about something."
Maria turned her full attention to him as he took her hands in his. Georg took a deep breath before speaking.
"Maria, as you know for some time I have been worried about the political affairs of the country." Maria nodded in recognition as Georg continued.
"What I haven't told you is that I've been expecting this day to arrive for some time. What I mean is, I had been predicting that once the Anschluss occurred that the new government would want me in their Navy. This, I'm sure you understand as well as I, was something that I could never do."
Georg paused for a moment, searching Maria's eyes for her reaction. She gave him a slight nod to continue.
"Therefore, I have been making plans starting from long ago, even before you came to us. I have a number of business ventures in England set up specifically for if this day should ever come. In addition, slowly, very slowly I have been transferring money out of Austria into bank accounts in Switzerland. While I haven't managed to move all our money, I have moved enough of it that we won't be destitute."
Maria broke eye contact with him and stared down at her hands. She was silent.
"Maria?" Georg asked gently.
"Yesterday in Zurich when you went to the bank. You were gone so long. You weren't just exchanging currency were you?" She asked, still not meeting his eyes.
"No I wasn't, you're right. I needed to check the current state of the Swiss bank account." He told her truthfully. There was a long pause before Maria finally spoke.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" She asked quietly, still looking down at her hands. "All our conversations while we were away, all the different things we talked about, especially when we were discussing the political events, why didn't you tell me?" She finally looked up, the hurt in her eyes apparent.
Georg shook his head, running his hand through his hair while he worked out what to say next.
"Honestly Maria, I had hoped I would never have to tell you, I hoped this day would never come. I'm sorry, I should have told you, and I hated myself for not telling you. I offer you my most heartfelt apology. It was a stupid thing to think that this day would never come. The day when we would have to pack up our lives as we know it and leave Austria. A foolish thing to think from a foolish man."
Maria reached up and cupped his cheek with her hand. "There are many words to describe you Georg von Trapp, and foolish is NOT one of them."
She sighed as she shook her head. "I guess I just feel disappointed that you didn't confide in me."
"It was wrong of me, forgive me?" He asked.
"Of course I forgive you Georg, but please promise you'll never keep secrets from me again?"
Georg leant forward and gave her a chaste kiss. "I promise. I will always confide in you. Always. What you said before about as long as we're together? Well I can't do this without you Maria. Together, that's how we'll get through this."
Maria nodded as she leant her forehead against his, wrapping her arms around him. After a few moments, Georg broke from their embrace.
"Now we don't have a lot of time. There are things I need to explain to you." Georg picked up the satchel he had brought up with him to the suite and opened it.
"In this satchel are many things. Documents. There are the children's birth certificates, our wedding certificate and details of all the bank accounts that I have. There are all the key words and phrases needed in order to access them. Also, there is as much money as I could get my hands on in a hurry. It isn't a lot but enough to get by on if there is any delay to getting to the bank."
Maria looked at Georg in alarm. "Georg, the way you're speaking, it almost sounds like you won't there, like you won't be coming with us. I don't understand."
"Maria, I will be there. It's just, well... As I said before, I've been expecting this day to come for a while yet. Judging by the speed of receiving my commission from the new Nazi government, it appears that my history in the Austrian Navy has made me a 'person of interest' so to speak." Georg told her grimly.
"Yes, Liesl just told me that she was given that telegram by Rolf. She said that he has joined the Nazis and that they seemed to know a lot about you, things they shouldn't have known."
"That boy!" Georg spat in disgust. "I should have known that he would have joined their ranks. I just hope Liesl is finished with him."
"She is." Maria told him before pausing for a moment. "Georg, he broke her heart."
Georg shook his head. "While I can't say I'm sorry that he is out of our daughter's life, I am sorry that he hurt her. I never liked him. There are words for people like him." Tool, jackass… the list could go on, he thought to himself but didn't say it out aloud.
"But Maria," he continued, "it just goes to show that they are watching us. Zeller and his other Nazi stooges would be fools if they didn't once consider the possibility that we would try and leave. That's why we have to be so careful. I'm just hoping they haven't worked out that we're back from our honeymoon yet."
"Well who knows? Only the family and the staff here." Maria said. Georg gave her a pointed look.
"Georg, surely you do not think someone here would be betraying us to the Nazis do you?"
"Anything is possible and we have to be prepared for that." Georg said.
"But who?" Maria asked. "Surely not Frau Schmidt..."
"No, of course not. I trust Frau Schmidt with many things. I have known her since the year after Liesl was born. I know that she would never betray me or the family."
"But then that only leaves..." Maria said.
"Franz." Georg finished for her, causing her to gasp. "I have no proof, only the suspicion of his true allegiances which I'm hoping is wrong. In any case, I need you to hold onto all those documents and money for me, just in case our plan is compromised in some way and we're separated. I have my own documents and some money, but if I'm caught, I need to know that you and the children will be safe."
Georg wrapped his arm around her pulling her close. They sat there for the next few moments in silence before Maria stood up saying, "Well I guess I better go and change my outfit before it's time to go."
Maria walked from the bedroom into the dressing room and took off the beautiful golden-sun coloured suit she was wearing and hung it up. Realising she had left her travel outfit back in the bedroom, she wandered back into the bedroom wearing only her lacy camisole and petticoat. She was a little surprised to see Georg still sitting on the bed, not having moved from where she had last left him. He appeared to be deep in thought.
"You're not getting dressed darling?" She asked him gently as she went over to give him a kiss on the top of his head.
"Hmm?" He looked up slightly perplexed. "Oh yes I will. It's just, ah... Silly really..."
"What's silly?" Maria asked gently, her touch soothing to him as she ran her hands through his hair.
Georg gave a small chuckle. "Well... Silly of me to be thinking this, especially considering the timing. I mean we are just about to escape the country and this is what I'm thinking about!" Maria looked down at him questionably.
Georg continued with a tiny gleam in his eye. "I was remembering the last time I brought you up here to the master suite, before we were married I mean. I guess I was just feeling disappointed that I will never get to make love to you in this bed. I had been looking forward to it."
Maria was silent for a moment. "Do we have time now?" She asked him quite matter-of-factly.
Georg glanced up at the clock and gave her a smirk. "Possibly, if we hurry."
Without saying a word, Maria left his side and walked up the closed bedroom door. Turning the lock, she leant back against the door seductively and giving him a wicked smile she said; "Well, Captain, what are you waiting for?"
Georg was on his feet at once and had his jacket discarded before he made the three or four steps from the bed to the door. Taking her in his arms, he kissed her intensely and shoved her up against the door causing her to gasp loudly.
Georg stopped kissing her immediately. "I'm sorry darling. Was I too rough?"
"No, I was just surprised, that's all." Maria replied before pulling him close using his tie to give him a playful kiss. "You can be a little rough if you want... I sort of like it. I need you Georg, now!"
Georg didn't wait for any more confirmation from her but proceeded to kiss her quite vigorously. The fierceness of his kisses upon her lips and down her neck contrasted with the feeling of the softness of her breasts beneath her lacy camisole as he ran his hands all over her body. Maria kissed him back with equal intensity as she tugged his shirt free from his trousers while fumbling with the buttons, trying to undo them as quickly as she could. The pent up emotion of the past day or so was finally released with each other as they quickly discarded their clothes. Georg carried her over to the bed where they made love with a level of passion that they had both not experienced before.
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A short while later, Georg was sitting on the edge of the bed pulling on his boots while Maria packed the last items of clothing in her carpetbag. Georg groaned.
"You know how much I hate running late."
"I would have thought you would be used to running late by now, being married to me." Maria replied with a little giggle. "You weren't complaining half and an hour ago, darling. Would you have preferred it if we hadn't made love?"
"No, of course not. It was wonderful, darling." Georg replied with a grin, standing up to pull her into another passionate embrace.
As he let her go, his tone turned serious. "Now when we meet the children downstairs, we'll head out to the car. Although we have a legitimate reason to be leaving the villa tonight, I don't want to draw too much attention to ourselves leaving with the staff. Therefore we'll push the car out the front gates then start it up."
Maria nodded before asking hesitantly. "Georg, would you think I was foolish if I told you I was frightened?"
He put his arm around her, giving her a hug. "Not at all my love. Remember, we'll get through this together."
Georg gave Maria a quick kiss and took her hand as they left their suite for the last time to go downstairs and meet the children.
A/N: Thanks for reading!
The flashback to the purchase of the negligee in Paris can be read in full in my other story "The Negligee".
Please review and be nice :). I still don't own anything (except for the wonderful memories of meeting Julie Andrews herself last year. Sigh…)