The Baroness and the Ballroom: Part III
The storm was truly here. It was probably the biggest wallop of the season with wind, driving rain and lightning that was unparalleled in this part of Austria. Just when Maria should have been feeling tired, her eyes widened with excitement. She loved thunderstorms! Nevertheless, her body was beginning to tell her that today was a bit too much and she needed to get to sleep and recharge for her first real day with the children tomorrow.
Maria went in to her little ensuite bathroom and got ready for bed. Washing her face and brushing her hair, she paused as she glanced at herself in the mirror. Somehow the woman in the mirror had changed since earlier today. She had overcome her nervousness to leave the Abbey and managed to travel to the villa despite all the uncertainty. She gained confidence throughout the day and had survived a handful of pranks courtesy of the children, although she had a nagging feeling that they were not quite done with her yet. The Captain was still a riddle, and she knew he would take some time to figure out. For a man with so many unreasonable expectations, she felt had managed him to the best of her abilities. Frau Schmidt was lovely, Josephine the cook was so kind, and Franz, well…he was Franz.
Emerging from her ensuite, Maria picked up the stack of weathered papers the Captain had given her in his study earlier in the day. She sat in the little chair by the window and aimlessly started to pick through the pages. As the lightning crashed outside, she briefly lifted her eyes and watched the battle of night versus day as the lightning bolts chased each other across the sky. Leafing through the notes, her eyes travelled across various subtitles: approved reading materials, areas for study, recommended leisure activities, and behaviors that were not permitted. Rolling her eyes, she straightened the pages by tapping them against her thighs and then promptly deposited the pile on the floor.
Maria's meeting with the Captain that afternoon left her with distinct impression that he did not expect her to stay long, and she would soon be chased off by the children. Never one to shy away from a challenge, she was determined that she would show him a thing or two!
The first quarter hour of their orientation meeting was spent studying her new whistle. It seemed that the opportunity to recount the significance of a key Navy artifact brought him great satisfaction. The Captain explained the different parts of the whistle and how to hold it properly. Maria was overwhelmed with the details, particularly when he rattled on about something called a trill and a warble [1].
"To obtain a trill", he said quite seriously, "put your tongue to the front of your mouth, curl the tip up behind your teeth and roll your Rs, just like the French". He demonstrated the maneuver for Maria without making a call. The concentration in his eyes, the expression on his face, and the way he set his lips as he rolled his "Rs" set Maria's heart hammering inside her chest. She had to hold her hands over her heart, and she frantically looked over the Captain's shoulder when she felt the fire begin to burn in her cheeks. Just as Maria thought she had her emotions under control, the Captain demonstrated a warble, a call you can make by flicking your tongue slowly up and down or from side to side over the mouthpiece. She could not understand where this feeling was coming from, nor what was causing it, but she honestly thought she was going to faint!
Fortunately, the Captain brought her back to her senses as he pushed a stack of papers across his huge desk, nodding with smug satisfaction at his attention to detail and organization. "These papers, Fraulein" he noted, "will provide you with all the expectations of the role. They include the children's strengths and weaknesses in their studies. Obviously, you will work on their weaknesses for I will not have them returning to school and not be at the top of their class." Maria lifted the paperweight from atop the sheets and gently held it in her hand, watching the light from the desk lamp bend and sparkle.
The Captain then proceeded to discuss the many failings of the previous eleven governesses, continuing with the barrage he had started earlier that day in the foyer. Governess #1 had the longest tenure in the Von Trapp household. She had been hired while the Baroness was still alive, but had to leave the villa within 6 months of the Baroness's passing since her mother had become quite ill.
A string of new governesses had passed quickly in succession. Maria wondered if the somber mood of the villa after the children's mother had passed away had made working conditions unbearable? Apparently, it wasn't until the 7th governess arrived, did the relationship between the children and their governess improve.
"She was younger", the Captain said tapping his index finger on his desk, "probably not much older than you, but she was definitely well-educated".
Maria huffed indignantly and the Captain looked up from his desk and the notepad he had been doodling on. "Excuse me, Captain, but I have had formal teacher's training, in Vienna I might add. I may look young, but I have had extensive experience in the classroom, and I had to grow up early".
The Captain rolled his eyes and his lips curled into a lopsided half-grin. He sat back in his chair and threaded his fingers together, studying her curiously.
"Of course, Fraulein, I wasn't trying to say you were not qualified. Why would the Reverend Mother send you to me if you were not able to handle the education and care of my children".
Inwardly, Maria laughed to herself and under her breath said "oh, you don't know the half of it"
"Pardon, Fraulein?", the Captain retorted.
"Oh nothing, Captain, nothing at all.' She quickly changed the subject. "You were saying that the seventh governess had some success with your children?".
The Captain straightened his back, ran an unsteady hand through his hair, then began rapidly tapping the fingers of his left hand across the surface of his desk. "Yes, you are right, Fraulein".
The Captain went on to list all the qualities of #7 that made her an excellent governess and encouraged Maria to adopt them. He went on to say that #7 eventually left the family after the he had begun spending a significant amount of time in Vienna and she was unable to have her routine days off. Maria was only half listening to the Captain at this moment and her focus had drifted away to some of the nautically-themed items in the Captain's study: a sextant, a ship in a bottle, an small anchor…
As she came back to the present conversation, she vaguely recalled hearing the Captain mentioning something about #7 growing exasperated with his parenting skills and "she had the nerve to suggest…" Snapping back to the Captain's blue and steely eyes, he closed the conversation by mentioning that #7 was sought out and was offered a position serving as governess to some of the grandchildren of the Waltz King, Johann Strauss Jr. She promptly resigned and headed off to Vienna.
"Well, Captain!" Maria interjected with a wink, trying to appear that she had digested everything he had just said. "I can't say I would blame her if she had to opportunity to serve the Strauss family, after all, they are music royalty in Austria!"
The Captain narrowed his eyes at Maria but didn't speak. He continued to rapidly tap his fingers across the desktop, and Maria could swear they tapped out the rhythm of the "An der Schönen, Blauen Donau".
"…But do not worry, Captain, I certainly do not have my sights set on the care of the descendants of Herr Strauss or Franz Schubert, although perhaps Mr. Reinhardt would do nicely…". Maria's eyes sparkled with mirth as she chuckled at the impossibilities of her own joke, but quickly straightened when she noted the Captain observing her in a serious manner. All of a sudden Maria searched the deep blue eyes of the Captain looking for answers to questions she didn't even know she had.
He cleared his throat and began to speak again, proceeding to pick up his fountain pen, and with it, he drew a large "#10" on the page.
"Governesses eight and nine aren't worth talking about. Ten was with us approximately a day and a half. She was terminated when it became clear that she was far more interested in me than she was in the children."
Maria cocked her head and silently questioned the Captain, but then the look he gave her in return told her all she needed to know. She quickly straightened and let out a little "oooh" and nodded that she understood.
"Captain, may I ask about number 11. Why was she here only two hours?"
"Well, Fraulein, the woman had absolutely no where-with-all and would not know discipline if it hit her in the face. Within 45 minutes of introducing her to the children, she had already lost Brigitta and Kurt somewhere on the grounds and Marta had a fall from the railing on the back terrace. The woman claimed to have been preoccupied with a snake in her luggage and a handful of spiders in her bedroom. The screaming was unbelievable! In the commotion to get away from the snake she had an accident with her dress, and it was torn in a rather unfortunate manner. Screaming governesses and crying children - it was quite the day! Kurt and Brigitta did not return until after dark, apparently hiding out in the stables to avoid the woman's incompetence!"
Realizing that he was getting away with his recollection of the emotion of that day, he set down his pen and folded his hands in his lap. "You will remember Fraulein, that incompetence is not tolerated in this household. You must maintain order and command. Children require discipline to grow up to be upstanding Österreicher.
The Captain leaned forward in his chair towards Maria, aligning her eyes in the crosshairs of his gaze as he finished his tale. Maria was so dazed by these revelations, particularly the part about Governess #10 being interested in the Captain in that way. She felt her cheeks start to burn and decided it was probably a safer bet to remain quiet and she simply nodded her understanding.
"So, Fräulein. You tell me you are a teacher. What in God's name are you doing at the Abbey?". Georg quickly noticed his faux-pas and cleared his throat and looked down at his lap.
She wasn't offended by his blasphemous remark, but Maria didn't know how to answer. The truth was so complicated.
The Captain noted Maria's hesitation and quickly spoke up. "Fraulein, this isn't the Spanish Inquisition, I am merely trying to understand who will be looking after my children."
Maria continued to fidget, and she looked down at the stack of papers sitting in front of her. There was something in his eyes that set her off balance and she could not bear to discuss her childhood with a man who looked at her that way: it made her want to tell him everything.
"Well, Captain, it's quite simple really." She lied.
"When I was a child, I used to run down the mountain and climb a tree and look into the garden of the Abbey. I would see the sisters at work and hear their lovely music. It was a magical place where everyone loved and supported each other. I was there for about a year before I went to Vienna to Teacher's College. After I finished my schooling, I decided to return". Maria hoped that would be sufficient.
She could tell by the way the Captain tilted his head and smiled that he understood that there was much more to the story, but he didn't press her. He of all people probably knew that there were memories that are too strong to bring to the fore at the wrong time. Attempting to seem disinterested, he scowled at her dress again, but when his eyes shot up and met hers, she watched the colours dance and shift. What was going on in that head of his?
"Well, Fraulein" he began again. "Unfortunately, I do not have time for too much chit-chat today as I have some work I must get on with. I expect you to follow the schedule for the children as set out in these papers". Georg reached across the table and tapped his long fingers on the stack of yellowing and tea-stained documents, retrieving the paper weight as his hands retreated.
The Captain dismissed her from his study and informed her that she should get ready for dinner. She was expected to dine with the family at 7pm sharp. Maria looked at him with some trepidation. His blue eyes gripped hers in return: "My, uh…the children's mother…" he swallowed hard and continued. "She insisted that the governesses eat dinner with the family, their role was so important to her, you see." The Captain's eyes slowly dropped to his hands and Maria noted he was slowly spinning his wedding band on his finger. She understood the pain he was feeling, and she wanted to comfort him, to let him know that it was normal to miss her. Before she could form a sentence, however, he snapped suddenly out of his musings and then clarified that dinner started promptly at 7 and tardiness was not acceptable.
He stood up from his chair and moved to the side of his desk. Holding his arm out in the direction of the door, his eyes implored Maria to take her leave. She also stood and nodded, straightening out her skirt. She picked up the papers from his desk, gave him an awkward smile, and then turned towards the door. Once she had reached the safety of the door handle, feeling the cold metal of the knob in her hand, she turned back to the Captain and bravely looked him in the eyes. "Thank you for the orientation, Captain. I will review these pages this evening and do my best to follow the schedule."
Maria knew she never could, ever would, follow that schedule. She was horrible with keeping time. Late for everything in the Abbey, except for dinner. Hopefully, tonight that trend would continue. She had already decided she was firmly against his methods. The Captain nodded curtly and told Maria that should she have any further questions, he would be available to answer them, but that she could also speak to Frau Schmidt for she had been running the household for some time – even before Liesl was born.
Pausing in her recollections of the day and once again aware of her surroundings in her cozy room, Maria laughed. Of course, she had been late for dinner. Who would have known that finding the dining room could be so difficult? As expected, the pranks continued, and then the Captain announced that he was leaving for Vienna in the morning. Any questions she did have would obviously be directed to Frau Schmidt. It seemed to be God's will that the Captain would be leaving for some time; she need not worry so much about the details in the great tome that she had been given to review. She would do her best to make positive change with the children, starting with those uniforms! There would be no nunnery under Maria's watch!
Perched on the edge of a chair beside the billowing curtains, Maria smiled to herself as the storm raged on, growing ever closer. The humidity of the day was finally breaking as the air began to change. The wind was driving the rain sideways and it was beginning to come in through the window. As she rose to close it, she congratulated herself on surviving the day: the Captain and his unreadable gaze, and the mutiny-in-a-tidy-package, the seven Von Trapp children.
A soft knock at the door brought her focus away from the rain hammering against the pane. Whoever could that be? She called over her shoulder: "Come in!". Frau Schmidt appeared at her door with fabrics in hand and further insights into the man that was the Captain. It was all becoming clearer, and she understood it was God's will that she be here: it was her job to help prepare these children for a new mother and to help the Captain reconnect with his family.
[1] See dundasseacadets dot com if you want to learn more about whistles. Credit to the Dundas Sea Cadets for starring in this story.