This is just a random bit of romance and daydreaming based on the promotional trailer. I'm going on my own (probably wrong) assumption that Matthew and Carlisle have fought and he has been kicked out. Mary gets caught in the middle and her dress is ruined, hence different dresses for the punch and the dance. Don't know about the title, seemed like a good idea at the time. Gets a bit *ahem* naughty *blushes*. M just to be on the safe side… Erm yeah…

Enjoy?

Last dance, last chance?

He took her hand and rested his other lightly on her back, while she barely touched his shoulder. They stood watching each other, waiting for the music to start, a faint smile played across his lips. She was trying to keep her face neutral, but it was difficult. After what seemed like too long, the music filled the air and he started to lead her around the hall in an elegant waltz. It was like they were gliding, floating even.

"How's your hand?"

"Still a bit sore, but I'm sure I'll recover," he smiled properly, and this time she returned it. "Unlike Sir Richard," he raised an eyebrow, waiting for her reply.

"I think perhaps that it was his pride that was more hurt," she raised her own eyebrows. "Not just his jaw."

"Well you know what they say, pride comes before a fall," his eyes glimmered with mischief.

"Really Matthew, you are taking far too much delight in this," her tone was disapproving but her eyes were just as mischievous.

"Sorry I ruined your dress," he really was sorry that he had stumbled into her with blood pouring from his nose and had got it on her lovely dress. He was even more sorry that she had accidentally got caught between him and Richard as they had fought. Luckily…very luckily…she hadn't been hurt.

"I don't think blood comes out of silk. But it was only a dress, I suppose," she sighed, reliving the earlier events. "Thank you," she spoke more softly this time and gently squeezed the hand that held hers. He was lost in her deep brown eyes that were now shimmering with tears.

"You don't have to thank me Mary… I just want you to be happy," he smiled sadly. Please don't be happy without me.

"And now I can be?" She arched her eyebrows. Not without you I can't.

"Yes I think you can," and with me you definitely can. She nodded her head once in reply and looked over his shoulder. All of a sudden the dance seemed to be taking far longer than it should have done. They both wanted to speak but neither could find the right words. He needed to talk to her without the eyes and ears of the party on them. She just wanted one more moment alone with him that could not be ruined by her former fiancé.

"Well that is all I want for you as well Matthew, to be happy. A new year that can bring a fresh start for everyone," let me make you happy. Their eyes met and were full of things said and unsaid. For the first time in a long time they were both free. There were no fiancés, no war, and no secrets, but something still wasn't quite right between them, and neither one could put their finger on it. Violet watched them from across the hall with interest. She knew the problem, had always known the problem…they got in their own way. They both thought too much, and both always wanted to do the right and honourable thing, which often meant they were doing more harm than good to themselves.

Mary's chest felt tight, the weight of Matthew's gaze was making her heart pound erratically. She was sure he would be able to hear it, or feel it, for somehow they had moved ever so slightly closer together. Matthew felt dizzy; the proximity to her and the smell of her perfume was completely overwhelming. And suddenly it struck him, like an epiphany, and his thoughts became crystal clear and he knew exactly what he had to do. He pulled his gaze away and spotted an open door, and his opportunity, across the hall. He twirled her around the floor, his legs feeling a lot more like lead than they had a few minutes ago. Mary wasn't paying attention, the hall and everyone else had become a faded blur. She was vaguely aware of him leading her across the hall but all she could see was his face, watching where he was taking her, his bright blue eyes flicking to her face every now and again. She was completely aware of the feel of his arm around her back, of his hand in hers, of how her dress kept brushing against his legs. His hand shifted and she had to suppress a gasp. His thumb was now touching the bare skin of her back, and the contact burned them both, causing desire to flash through them.

With a final twirl he pulled her into the room. The library he realised. Violet smiled as they disappeared. It was about time. They stopped moving and he pulled away to shut the door. She watched him closely as he dipped his hand into his jacket pocket, but she couldn't see what he was holding. It suddenly struck her that they were completely alone.

"I need to talk to you Mary," he stepped towards her. "I only need you to answer yes or no. Nothing…you don't need to say anything else." She nodded, suddenly feeling both hopeful and scared in equal measure. He hadn't said much since Richard had left, or rather he hadn't said much to her. He'd barely looked at her since then.

"Do you love Richard?" His eyes were dark and he unconsciously clenched the fist that only hours ago had collided with Carlisle's face.

"No." Relief, then hope flooded through him.

"Do you love me?" Oh god he hoped he was right. She looked at him for a long time, not giving anything away. Did he want to know so that he could reject her even more cruelly? So that he could mock her? Not that it mattered, her reputation was already in tatters. Except that it did matter.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "yes." She opened them. He was grinning and holding something shiny between his fingers. Her heart stopped.

"Mary, will you marry me?" Everything stopped.

"Yes," she spoke so quietly that he almost didn't hear but the look in her eyes and the smile on her face told him everything. He held out the ring and chuckled as she impatiently took her gloves off. He slid it onto the finger that it had been made for, keeping her hand in his as she admired it. It was not the same ring that had adorned Lavinia's finger. It was a plain gold band with a beautifully cut diamond set in the centre. It was exquisite.

"When did you get this?" the words were out before she'd even thought about it. He coloured sheepishly.

"Just before Sybil's ball."

"But that was over 5 years ago!" She couldn't hide her surprise that he had kept it for so long, that he hadn't given it to Lavinia.

"Yes. But that is your ring, and even if things hadn't worked out this evening, it would always be your ring," their eyes met and he leaned down to kiss her lightly on the mouth. As gentle as the kiss was, it reignited the spark between them and instantly they reached for the other, hands pulling each other closer, both vaguely comprehending that they were now allowed to do this. When they had kissed before, they had been chaste, stolen kisses; nothing at all like the raw animal need that was now pulsing through them. It was like some primal instinct…they both knew exactly how to move and tilt their heads, where to put their hands…

He started to push her backwards and she felt herself collide with something, possibly the door, she didn't know. She didn't care. This was…this was… There were no words for how she was feeling. Who needed thoughts when Matthew was doing such delicious things with his tongue to hers? Matthew's thoughts were in a similar state of incoherency. They were going to get married. She was going to be his wife. They could do this whenever they wanted. That particular thought made him groan and he leaned deeper into the kiss, hands gripping onto her waist. She moaned at the sudden pressure and arched her back and her hips, trying to mould herself against him, hands knotting in his hair. His lips broke contact with hers and she whimpered as they met her neck and she felt his teeth lightly graze against her skin. She was so soft and warm and her skin was so silky…his lips reached her earlobe and she moaned again. Every sound she made filled him with desire and spurred him on. He returned his attentions to her mouth and one of her hands found its way inside his jacket, inside his waistcoat…inside his shirt. He gasped as he felt her fingernails against his chest. He felt one of her legs shifting. He realised what she was trying to do and lifted the skirt of her dress, not once breaking apart. He moved his hands and lifted her as she wrapped both legs around him, hooking tightly onto his hips. They both groaned at the new contact and he pressed even closer to her, feeling the heat from between her legs and wishing they were in far less clothes. Her hands were back in his hair, he kissed along her collar bone. His own hands were holding her thighs, stroking against the silk of her stockings. One hand moved further up her leg and her eyes shot open, meeting his. They were almost navy. Hers were almost black. The heady rush of lust and love was making them dizzy and clouding their vision. She couldn't breathe with the anticipation. She gave the barest of nods, and leaned to kiss him, whimpering as their lips met again and he shifted his hips against her, eliciting fresh moans from them both.

A loud cheer from the other room made them jump and brought them back to reality. He slowly let her set her feet back on the ground and moved his hands so they were barely resting on her waist. Her hands were on his chest, palms flat. They both closed their eyes and rested their foreheads together, trying to calm their racing hearts and slow their irregular breathing. Another cheer.

"We should go back to them," he said between ragged breaths. "They'll be starting the countdown soon." After what seemed like forever, but was really only a few minutes, they had both managed to get back to normal. It took a great deal of effort to open his eyes, but he was glad that he did. She was smiling languidly, a deep red flush that matched her dress was colouring her cheeks, a few strands of hair had come loose from the immaculate knot it was twisted in, and when she opened her eyes, he saw everything that he always wanted to see but had often chosen not to. She reached up and kissed his cheek before pushing him away so they could straighten themselves up. She patted her dress and hair, while he refastened his buttons and smoothed his own hair. He took her hand and laced their fingers together, taking a deep breath before opening the door and re-entering the room, noticed only by Violet, who also noticed the pink flush in their cheeks, the bright gleam in their eyes, and the way their hands were clasped together.

"…6…5…4…3…2…1! Happy new year!" Everyone in the room called. There was hugging and hand shaking and applause and kissing of the cheeks and the chinking of glasses. Matthew looked up and smiled, and indicated for Mary to follow his gaze. Mistletoe. Of course. He turned to face her and pulled her into a passionate kiss, which everyone noticed.

"What are you doing?" Robert's voice rang out across the room and everyone fell silent. Mary and Matthew pulled apart and looked sheepishly at one another.

"We…I…we're engaged," she said finally, holding up her newly decorated hand for the room to see, her other still firmly attached to Matthew. The silence was deafening, people looked awkwardly between each other, until Robert's face broke out into a grin.

"My dear boy, my darling girl," he strode over to them and the room erupted into cheers and applause. Congratulations flowed like champagne, and the earlier events (and fiancés)were quite forgotten. Violet smiled to herself. She knew that's all they had needed…just time alone in a room together.

Sometime later, the party came to a natural end and everyone had gone to bed, leaving just Mary and Matthew dancing slowly around the hall, unable to stop smiling shyly at each other and keeping their fingers laced together, and exchanging soft, sweet kisses. There was no need to repeat the events of earlier. Well, not just yet anyway. Fatigue hit Mary and she leaned closer to Matthew, trying to suppress a yawn.

"I think it's time for bed my dear," he murmured into her hair. She nodded and very reluctantly pulled away from him and started towards the stairs, he caught up with her and placed an arm lovingly around her shoulders. He didn't know where she was going. He hadn't seen this part of the house before. And then he realised that it was probably where the family bedrooms were. His heart started racing again as she stopped outside a door. Her bedroom. She leaned against it and he pressed himself to her, kissing her slowly, passionately, reigniting the fire.

"I don't have to go to my room you know…I could always just…stay here…" he whispered, brushing his lips against her ear.

"I don't think that's a very good idea Matthew. It's hardly proper behaviour," she smiled and kissed the side of his face. He did not stop with his attentions, and was starting to make her feel quite dizzy again. She giggled and pushed him away. "Good night Matthew." He kissed her again, before dragging himself away. She opened the door, turned back to him, flashed him the most alluring smile he had ever seen…and then shut it in his face. He groaned softly and rested his head against it, before straightening up and trying to work out how to get to his room, and how acceptable a very short engagement would be.

Hope you liked it! It could carry on I suppose…maybe…

Reviews etc. welcomed and appreciated! Thanks for reading!