Author's Note: Hi everyone - sorry it took me so long to update! This chapter continues to set the story of how Mary and Matthew met and fell in love - next chapter will take us back to present day. Enjoy!

She'd never felt time stop before. As the music slowed, so did they, in slow, perfect circles across the dance floor. Dozens of couples on the floor and she couldn't see anyone else. She inhaled everything about him – the way he smelled like aftershave and clove, the way his hand sat on the small of her back, the way he learned into her with every turn.

As the song ended, he pulled back from her as everyone applauded the band. She forced herself not to frown as he pulled his hands from hers to join. As the band left the stage to take a break, he turned to her.

"Thank you for the dance, Lady Mary." He said, wistfully, as they left the floor.

"You're quite a good dancer. You didn't step on my feet once." She replied. "And you can just call me Mary. It's not 1919."

"Yes, but Lady Mary is more fun, isn't it?" He smirked.

"Matthew! There you are!" Matthew turned to his right to see his mother, Isobel, fast approaching.

"Here I am." He stated, smartly. "Mother, have you met Mary?" He presented Mary to her like they had known each other all their lives. Mary sweetly smiled at Isobel.

"Not officially. Hi Mary, it is a pleasure." Isobel smiled warmly. "Thank you for forcing my son to dance. Years of training and he barely ever dances." Mary raised her eyebrows as she tilted her head in his direction. He met her eyes with a smirk. He knew he'd been caught.

"Years of training. I never would have guessed." Mary teased, over Isobel's head.

"Matthew, it's getting late. We should be getting back. You have an early ride tomorrow." Isobel insisted, gently touching her son's arm.

"Right. Why don't you ask them to find your coat and I will meet you at the door?" Isobel nodded at the suggestion and headed toward the door. Matthew turned back to Mary.

"Looks like it's time to go." Mary nodded. "Thank you again for the dance. You salvaged an otherwise uneventful evening."

"You ride?" Mary continued, not wanting the conversation to end.

"I do. Not well, but yes. I do." He chuckled. "Your father invited me on tomorrow's hunt."

"You said the same thing about dancing and apparently you're nearly professional. I don't think I believe you." She teased.

"Well, then I'll let the mystery live on." He stepped closer to her, placing a hand on one arm and kissing her on the cheek. "Goodnight, Lady Mary."

She watched him through the window until his car left her sight.


The last guest had finally left and the house had gone quiet as Mary made a beeline straight to her father's study, where he sat finishing his cigar and his last drop of bourbon.

"Dad!" She yelled, startling Robert.

"Jesus, Mary. You scared me." He straightened his jacket, putting down his cigar. "What are you doing in here? I thought all you girls had already gone to bed."

"I want to go riding tomorrow." She insisted, hands crossed as she leaned against the arch of the room.

"Sorry, honey. No girls allowed." He chuckled.

"Why? You always let me come every other time."

"This is a man's ride. I want Matthew to get to know the other men of our circle. Male bonding is surprisingly not the same when my daughters are in attendance." She rolled her eyes. "Plus, it's a new trail and you haven't ridden in a while. I don't want to have to worry about you." He picked his cigar back up.

"Worry about me? Give me a break, Dad. You know I'm a better rider than any of those old men." She scoffed, challenging him.

"Why do you want to go so badly? Every other time you've been home you stay as far away from me as possible. This doesn't have anything to do with your dance partner tonight, does it?" He smiled. After a beat, she responded.

"You asked me to get to know him and make him feel welcome."

"I'm sure he feels welcomed, don't worry. Your mother and I were very accommodating to he and Isobel tonight." He stood up and walked over to her.

"Gentleman only tomorrow, honey." She clenched her jaw as he kissed her cheek goodnight. "We will be back at the stables around 4, if you happen to be there with Diamond." He called behind him. Mary smiled and headed upstairs to sleep.


Mary changed her riding outfit four times before she headed to the stables the next afternoon. She couldn't help but laugh at herself in the mirror by the fourth outfit, shaking her head, embarrassed at how smitten she was. She couldn't decide if it was because he was new, or somewhat mysterious, or had perfectly coifed hair or…oh, she didn't care. She hadn't stopped thinking about him since their dance ended the night before.

As she absent-mindedly brushed Diamond, she saw the two stable hands move toward the corral as she heard the gallop of a few horses get nearer and nearer. She quickly hopped on Diamond and went out the back of the barn and around. As she neared the group, she caught her dad's eye. He winked at her. She rode up next to Matthew, who was just dismounting his horse. He was wearing his traditional riding gear and was covered in mud.

"Did you all decide to detour and take a mud bath?" He looked up at her as he took off his helmet.

"I guess you could call it that – though I think most people just call it a good old fashioned tumble." He laughed at himself, looking at his boots.

"Are you alright?" She asked, as she tried to conceal her laughter.

"Oh, yes. Just my ego is a bit bruised." He smiled. "What are you doing here? Checking up on my abilities?"

"What makes you think I'm not just going for a ride?"

"I'm just teasing. I won't flatter myself to think your being here has anything to do with me." She straightened on her horse as he stepped away and towards the reins of his.

"Well, I should go clean up, I guess. I will see you soon, I'm sure." He smiled and nodded at her as he began to lead his horse to the stables.

"I'm sure." She agreed, watching him go, confused. "Wait."

He turned back to her at her insistence. He walked back toward her.'

"Would you like some tea and a snack before you go? Fuel for the road?" She offered.

"That's nice of you, but I'm in no shape to be inside right now." He replied, looking down at his soaked clothes. She sighed disappointedly. "But, raincheck?"

She smiled and watched him as he turned and headed home.