Chapter Three
"Stand still," Maria laughed as she skillfully fitted the hem of Liesl's gown. The party was mere days away and she had to put the final touches on their dresses. They had decided the dress needed a decorative trim, now Maria was kneeling on the floor molding the trim to the delicate material of the dress. "You'll see it when it's finished. Brigitta, hand me that magnifier off the table please."
Brigitta, of all people, wanted to be the one to help with the sewing. The two youngest girls were not old enough yet and Louisa was not at all interested in dresses, parties, boys, or anything save her bugs and amphibious creatures. "That's going to be so lovely, Fraulein Maria," Brigitta gushed. "What if you were to drape some across her shoulders as well?"
"If I were to do that, Brigitta, I would have to drop the neck and your father would forbid Liesl to wear the dress to the party," Maria replied. "In fact, you look so lovely Liesl that he'll likely reconsider letting me attend in his stead as chaperone. He won't want to leave you to all of those young men without him nearby."
"There aren't going to be so many young men, Fraulein," Liesl replied. "There won't be more than the number of girls. I'll likely not even be asked to dance at all."
"Not at all?" Brigitta was surprised. "Is Rolfe not invited?"
"No," Liesl replied. "He isn't invited and even if he was, he still wouldn't dance with me. He hasn't even delivered telegrams here since Father caught him by my window that day."
Maria remembered that day well. It was the same day as the rowboat incident. After dinner that evening the Captain had called her to his study. She'd been nervous that he had indeed decided to terminate her after all, but instead of anger and coldness, he'd met her with what could only be described as warmth and humility.
"You wanted to see me, Captain," Maria greeted softly.
"Yes, Fraulein. Sit down please," the Captain invited. He had removed his dinner jacket and tie and had rolled up his starched white sleeves while he was on his own in the study. When Maria greeted him, he pulled the sleeves down but didn't bother with the coat and tie.
Maria sat down, crossing her legs at the ankle, and folding her hands in her lap. The Captain walked around the desk and sat on one of the large armchairs across from her. "First, please let me apologize again for behaving like such a boar earlier today. You only had my children's very best interests at heart, and I am sorry for the way I acted towards you and them. For them, I know it's going to take a little bit of time for them to find forgiveness, perhaps you as well, but that is what I seek."
"There's no need Captain," Maria replied. "But whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also or so they say."
"True," he acquiesced. "But please, do let me ask your forgiveness."
Maria nodded, "Of course, Captain."
It had been that easy. The Captain could tell in Maria's face that she had forgiven him his transgression and did only wish to help him, and the children find each other again.
When the Captain said nothing else, Maria shifted. "Would that be all, Sir?" she asked.
"Uh," the Captain shifted in his seat. "There is one other thing, Fraulein. I must ask you, and I feel like a terrible father for having to ask this but, do you know anything about a blonde, Nazi, telegram boy and my Liesl? I caught him earlier today tossing stones at her window."
Maria didn't want to betray Liesl's confidence, but that Captain already seemed to know. "They are having a bit of an infatuation, yes," Maria replied. "She's gone out a few times when he's brought messages for you, but I scolded her right back inside that last time."
A strange look came over the Captain's face; a strange combination of anger, sadness, disbelief, and fear. "It appears you're right then. My Liesl is a woman now, a woman I don't even know. I'll be damned…Oh, I'm sorry."
Maria laughed, "Now that, if I may be so bold, does SOUND like a sea captain. I'm not offended."
"That is not the type of boy I want her to socialize with, if she does again, ever, I need to hear about it immediately," the Captain told her. It didn't hold the tone of an order, more like a plea.
"Of course," Maria replied. "If he truly is as you have said, I'm not certain I would feel good about her keeping his company either."
The Captain looked around the room with a look of wonder on his face. "What is it?" Maria asked trying not to laugh at his bewilderment.
"We've agreed on something," the Captain quipped "I'm waiting for the roof to fall in."
Maria leaned back then stood up, "Liesl, regardless of whether or not Rolfe has been by the house lately, I am inclined to agree with your father that he was not a suitable choice for you, Dear. You're all finished."
Liesl didn't choose to argue. She missed seeing Rolfe, she missed his kisses, but perhaps she would meet another boy at the dance that would be as kind and more favorable to her father, though she doubted that very much.
"What about your dress, Fraulein Maria?" Brigitta asked. "Did you finish it yet?"
"Frau Schmidt is going to pin up the last bits for me tonight so I can sew on it tomorrow," Maria replied. "It really does feel foreign to be in such an expensive material."
Liesl and Brigitta exchanged looks. "Do you think that I will have such a grand dress for my first ball, Fraulein Maria?"
"You will have one just as lovely, I promise," Maria replied. "But green perhaps will suit you best, or a bright yet deeper blue. Sapphire or royal, perhaps, your father won't permit Navy. Now run along, I have work to do."
The girls left Maria to the sewing, Liesl going to her room and Brigitta to her father's library. She had to return the book she had borrowed and take another to read. The Captain had stopped pretending not to notice her desire for reading and often joined her there as he did now.
"Finished already?" the Captain asked. "Did you manage this entire book in English?"
Brigitta nodded, "It was harder that way but I love the story so much it is worth trying. It's better in English I think." She set Little Women back on the shelf and took out the sequel, though her father only had a German copy of that.
"Would you like for me to acquire more books in English and French for you?" the Captain asked. "You, of all your siblings, are the best at language arts, I've noticed."
"I like a challenge," Brigitta replied. "Father?"
"Yes, Darling."
"Why don't you want to go to the party with Liesl? What if there are men there that bother her or Fraulein Maria?" Brigitta asked.
"Baron von Klauss is very honorable," the Captain replied. "They are going to be just fine there. If Fraulein Maria feels uncomfortable, Franz will be outside with the car."
"What is going to happen to us when they are there? It's Frau Schmidt's day off."
"Yes it is," the Captain affirmed. " I will see to you children that evening. Not to worry, you won't starve or anything."
Brigitta shook her head, and turned to go upstairs with her book.
Brigitta's inquiry had unsettled the Captain a bit. It occurred to him that he didn't know the children's bedtime routines at all, just that he forbid any playing, running, or loud talking beyond Gretel and Marta's bedtime of 8pm. That night, as Maria was reading to the younger ones and the older children were changing, brushing their teeth, and preparing for bed, he appeared in the nursery doorway.
"Captain?" Maria had been lying on the bed with one child on each side of her. "Is there something wrong?" Even Marta and Gretel stiffened when they saw him.
"Now why is it that every time I come into a room unexpectedly everyone gets nervous?" he asked.
"You never put us to bed before, Father," Gretel replied instantly. It was true, the nights in-between governess' Frau Schmidt had overseen bedtime.
"Well, there is always a first time," Maria gently assisted. "When Liesl and I are at the party, your father has volunteered to help you get ready for bed. Would you like to finish their story, Captain?"
"No, no," the Captain replied as he raised both his hand. "I'll listen though, if you don't mind."
Maria turned back to the book as read the rest of her story. "All right, now wash your faces and come back for prayers, girls."
Maria knew the Captain was studying her, not just her routine with the children but her. He did it often and sometimes it lit an ember of hope inside of her that he could see her in a new way. Then he would change his mannerism to that crisp, formal aristocrat and she would find herself running scared.
The girls took as long as they dared to tend to their needs in the bathroom. Maria checked teeth and fingernails, then the two girls knelt beside the bed and blessed themselves. Maria stood beside the Captain with a smile on her face as they recited their "Our Father", "Hail Mary" and "Now I Lay Me" before sliding into bed.
"Goodnight my girls," Maria whispered tucking the covers around both and dropping sweet kisses on their cheeks. "Pleasant dreams."
Maria moved to the door but didn't exit. Instead, she gently pushed the Captain on the side of his back toward Gretel's bed. He looked at her for a moment then took the first tentative steps. The last time he kissed Marta when she was in her bed was when she was 2 and Gretel was a only an infant in her crib.
"Goodnight my darlings," the Captain whispered, his voice husky with emotion. "I love you."
Both girls echoed his sentiment, not a trace of anger, recrimination or anything in their voices. With one last glance, the Captain and Maria stepped out of the room. "Their bedtime is usually the simplest, but the longest," Maria told him, though instead of moving along to Brigitta and Louisa's room, he gave her his back.
The Captain bit his lip. He couldn't show Maria that he was near tears at simply kissing his little girls goodnight. He had surpressed so much for so long though that there were times his heart overflowed and he needed to take a breath.
Maria knew what was happening and she gently placed her hand on his back. "It's all right to feel things, Captain," she offered. "I know it's terribly overwhelming sometimes and I'm sorry. It'll all feel more familiar soon, I hope."
The Captain took a deep breath and slowly turned. "I just feel like I have cheated them, and myself, out of so much. Gretel's first words, her first steps, Marta learning to read, losing her first tooth, I missed it."
Maria took a breath, "You might have missed four years, Captain that is true, but there are so many more that you won't miss. That's what you need to concentrate on. Now, Brigitta is the most difficult. She begs for another chapter, then another so she gets a five minute warning, then we go to the boys."
The bedtime routine was seamless. Maria was very good at getting the children to settle down. When she was challenged about going to sleep, she was firm, yet kind. She listened to each set of children say their prayers and gave all goodnight kisses. The Captain echoed her movement save for the boys who did not wish to be kissed by their father. The Captain settled for gentle squeezes before saying goodnight to them.
When Maria left Liesl's room she sighed. "And then I go downstairs, and we discuss the day. That's really all there is to it."
"As usual, you impress me, Fraulein," the Captain smiled. "If you'll give me a moment I'll arrange for tea and strudel from cook and meet you down there?"
"That would be lovely, thank you, Captain," Maria replied. "I'll be there in a moment, I just need to freshen up."
Maria darted into her room and splashed cold water on her scalding face. Putting the children to bed tonight with the Captain felt so natural and domestic, and now tea and strudel in his study? He had no idea what he was doing to her. No idea at all.