Chapter Five
Maria and Liesl collected their wraps from the butler, but not before Heinrich noticed they were about to depart. He approached Maria slowly, "Fraulein, might I have a word with you before you go?"
Maria nodded and looked over at Liesl. She smiled and nodded her head in encouragement. "I just wanted to say that I enjoyed our time together tonight, you are a lovely person and I would enjoy getting to know you better. Could I perhaps call on you this weekend? Take you for a coffee and a pastry perhaps?"
Maria thought about that, if the Captain saw her stepping out with Heinrich he would probably be livid with them both. She wasn't sure how she felt, if it would be worth the battle just yet. "I would like to, however, I think it's best if we meet someplace public for the time being; until we really know one another better. Perhaps, after church services on Sunday, we can meet at the fountain and share a lunch there?"
It would be incredibly public; therefore no chaperone would be required. Heinrich nodded, "Of course, if that's how you would feel the most comfortable. I'll see you at 1pm at the fountain then? On Sunday?"
"Sunday," Maria echoed. That gave her a day to get her wits about her. "I really must go now. I did enjoy myself. Thank you for a pleasant evening." With that Maria made her exit back toward Liesl.
The Captain was waiting up when they got home, though it wasn't very late. He usually retired after this time anyway. Still, it was the first glimpse he got of Maria in her gown. His mouth went dry when he saw her, he had imagined her beauty, but never expected it to feel like this.
"Did you have a good time?" he asked Liesl softly kissing her cheek.
"Yes, I did," Liesl replied. "It was fun, and the dinner was good. I'm so full!"
"Did you dance?" the Captain inquired.
"Yes," Liesl blushed. "A few boys asked me, but there was no one special. Not like Fraulein Maria!"
The Captain's eyebrows shot up into his hairline at that and his pupils dilated so much that his ice blue eyes turned nearly black. "Fraulein?" The Captain turned his attention to Maria.
"Well," Maria began. "Herr Mueller, your friend we ran into when we were shopping, came to ask me to dance. We had a nice time and danced a few waltzes. That's all there was to it, Captain."
"I see," the Captain sighed. "And who was watching out for Liesl while you were living it up on the dance floor with eligible men?"
"Father!" Liesl gasped. "I was fine, I was in the room with all of my friends and Baron and Baroness von Klauss were both there too."
"Liesl," Maria sighed. "Your father is right. It was wrong of me to step away even though I knew you were safe with the von Klauss' supervision. Forgive me, Captain?"
"If Liesl was well chaperoned, then I supposed there's no forgiveness needed on my part, Fraulein, though I do beg yours for my haste." The Captain looked almost sheepish. He had allowed his jealousy to get the better of him and had snapped at Maria.
"No forgiveness is needed on my part, either, Captain," Maria replied. "Except I'm not sure my feet will even forgive me if I don't get out of these slippers. Would you excuse me?"
Liesl stayed close to her father, eager to share the rest of the night with him. The Captain had his arm around her, loosely holding her to his side. As Maria passed the pair, the Captain let go and turned, "Fraulein, I didn't get the chance to say this earlier, you look wonderful tonight."
"Thank you, Captain," Maria replied as a heavy blush came across her cheeks. "It's the dress."
The Captain shook his head slowly and spoke in a whisper the Maria could barely hear, "No it isn't."
Maria didn't know what to make of that, so she hurried to her room. She felt her heart fluttering in her chest, she couldn't breathe. Why did the Captain always do this to her? Why did he steal her breath and make her heart soar up to the sky then drop down to her stomach? Heinrich Mueller didn't do that to her, therefore it wasn't because the Captain was a man. So, what then? Was it because he was THE man…the only man for her?
That didn't matter much, though. If the Captain didn't share her feelings she couldn't pine after him forever. Eventually, the children would be grown and gone, and while she hoped one might retain her to help with their children and so on, there were no guarantees.
Maria liked Heinrich Mueller. He was witty, charming, and kind, not unlike the Captain in that respect. He was fair-haired and blue eyed, though Heinrich's eyes didn't pierce her soul the way the Captain's did.
Maria took off her gown and put it away in the closet very carefully. She got herself dressed for bed then knelt down to say her evening prayers. That night, she prayed for a sign that having a strudel and coffee with Heinrich was the right thing to do, she asked God for his guidance of her own footsteps, then hoped he would give her a clear answer.
The Captain walked with Liesl to her bedroom. "It feels like yesterday you would fall asleep on two chairs in your party dress, and I'd have to carry you to bed. Where did the time go?"
"Father…" Liesl blushed and shook her head. "I'm not getting married; I just went to a party. Next year, I'll have my party and then I'll feel grown up, but I don't just yet. I really don't. There are still so many things beyond my ken."
The Captain reached out and patted Liesl's cheek. "When you're sixteen going on seventeen and your life is beginning to start, there are a lot of things you won't understand. In matters of the heart, though, Liesl, it doesn't matter how old you are, things can still be very confusing and frightening. You have to decide for yourself if whatever it is you want is more important than the fear."
"Is that why you didn't marry Baroness Schrader?" Liesl asked. "You were afraid?"
"With Elsa?" the Captain clarified. "No, that's not the reason I didn't marry her. I didn't marry her because I wasn't nervous in the least. When I proposed to your mother, I was terrified she would say no, and I'd be heart broken. When I proposed to Elsa, well, I didn't care enough to be worried about whether or not she'd accept."
"In a really odd way, Father," Liesl replied. "That makes sense. None of the boys that danced with me tonight made me nervous at all. I think Herr Mueller made Fraulein Maria very nervous though. Once the dancing ended and we got called for dinner, she wanted to come home."
"Fraulein Maria isn't used to parties either, Liesl," the Captain replied. "And she isn't used to receiving attention from men. She's older, however, and men are going to pay attention to her. She's a very pretty lady, and men notice that."
"Is that what you notice about her, Father?" Liesl pressed.
"No," the Captain said quickly. "Well, yes, but that's not the thing I remember when she leaves the room. What I remember is how warm she made everything feel when she was there. Fraulein Maria is a very special person, Liesl. If Herr Mueller is paying her attention again, we have to keep our eye on her and make sure she is safe."
"I will, Father," Liesl promised. "She looked very happy tonight when they danced, then she seemed to have gotten nervous. Perhaps it was just tonight, and things will go back to normal."
"Perhaps," the Captain replied. Though, he had a sinking feeling in his gut things might not get back to normal any time soon.
The following morning though, Maria was late to breakfast as usual and the children were pumping her and Liesl for information about the party. Max was pushing as well to find out about some of the business talk about that night. It seemed pretty normal to anyone observing the slightly rowdy group.
The Captain was quiet. He ate his meal in near silence, he was completely inside his head. Maria could read his moods by now, not like it was hard. She would speak to him about it later if he was still tense that evening, sometimes, she felt like he didn't sleep well and those mornings he was grouchy and sharp.
Today, though was a pensive silence. This mood was new to her.
The children were pestering Maria about her plans for the that day, though she hadn't thought up anything super creative. She was tired and her feet still ached. She planned to burn those slippers, she never wanted to see those things again.
"I have a wonderful idea," Max piped up. "Why don't I take you children to town today for sodas and a walk and Fraulein Maria can have some time to herself to recover from the party last night."
"What a charming idea," the Captain spoke up. "And I do approve of some time in town today, but as a family, if you agree Fraulein?"
"I agree, Captain," Maria replied. "I do enjoy the place with the different flavored pretzels as well, and it's such a beautiful day."
Maria smiled and Liesl paid it special attention. She did make the entire room feel warm and happy. She could quickly put everyone at ease just by being near them.
Nothing could put Maria at ease on Sunday morning though. Every week, some of the children would go to Mass with her and some wouldn't. The Captain was not a religious man, he was a faithful man, with a strong testimony, but as it was, he didn't stand on ceremony. This week however, none of the children wanted to attend Mass. Maria was so nervous about meeting Heinrich that she wanted to be busy during the services with the constant direction required for her young charges.
Maria almost decided to opt out of Mass herself, but if it was the will of God she go through this on her own, then she must follow that bidding. She put on her Sunday dress and smiled all through breakfast, though she barely ate anything. She was too nervous.
Nothing escaped the Captain. The man really was one of the most observant people Maria ever met. "Feeling alright, Fraulein?" he asked as she played with the eggs on her plate.
"Oh yes," Maria replied. "I'm just not hungry this morning."
"You? Not hungry? Don't be ridiculous!" Max teased. "You have the best appetite of any woman I've ever seen and don't wear any of it. Are you feeling yourself?"
"Yes, Captain. Yes, Herr Detweiler, I'm feeling myself. I indulged a little too much last night in sweets, I'm afraid," Maria replied. It was the truth; it just wasn't the only thing effecting her appetite. "Well, I best get going. Children, are you certain that none of you wish to join me for Mass today?"
Seven heads nodded then Maria rose from the table. "Well, I will see you all later. Have a nice, quiet day here at home. I'll be a little later today, I'm going to meet a friend after Mass is done."
The Captain raised an eyebrow but didn't push anything. Maria had left the abbey, true, but he imagined that she was friendly with some of the sisters there. "Enjoy your time off, Fraulein," the Captain smiled then turned his attention to his children. "And what should we do today?"