The plot thickens! Enjoy!

Mary was seated at her vanity table. She felt wonderfully rejuvenated after a warm fragrant bath. As Anna started to brush her hair, Mary couldn't help but smile. Her mind was still fixed on events from the hunt. In the mirror, she saw Anna's expression of expectation that she would share what was giving her so much pleasure. But what did she dare say? All she could think about was that moment when Matthew followed her over the jump, she chuckled a little under her breath.

"So," Anna said with a cloyingly sweet smile on her face. "Did Mr. Napier propose as expected?" She asked the forward question pondering what else could put such elation into her mistress's face.

"Oh Evelyn," Mary said dismissively with a cluck of her tongue. "Not yet," she said casually. "When we are married though, it is safe to say we won't be riding horses together ever again."

"Oh my heavens," Anna said. "That sounds serious," she said with tactful regard.

Mary opened her mouth to speak but then paused. Should she dare trust her maid with the inner secrets of her mind? She must take the chance. Mary was bursting with excitement.

"Actually," she began quietly while looking into her jewelry box; to keep her attention sharp and focused. Mary was hopeful her words wouldn't betray her, revealing sentiment.

"It was Mr. Crawley," she said glibly. "He is the one that surprised me," she continued with almost reverence. "And that is not easily done."

"Well, my lady," Anna said as she started to pin up her hair for dinner. "There has been some talk of Mr. Matthew downstairs as well."

"Oh?" Mary said with genuine curiosity. "Do tell me."

Anna gave her a smile of dutiful obligation to the request.

"There is a new maid named Beatrice, she wants to be called Bea. She is also from Manchester, like Mr. Matthew. The coincidence has a lot of the staff gossiping about what it could mean." Anna placed further pins in Mary's hair as she related the news. Her hands quickly accomplished the intricate task with minimal discomfort.

"O'Brien says she buzzes around like a Bee, always fretting about her job. And she wonders what has got her nerves so frazzled. However, I wonder if O'Brien isn't purely jealous. Bea has already been praised by Mrs. Hughes for being a hard worker."

Mary was a little disappointed by Anna's gossip; it wasn't really anything at all. O'Brien was an odious woman; she wouldn't even rescue a puppy from a puddle. Her small mind simply couldn't handle the coincidence of the maid and Matthew both being from Manchester. Mary sighed, when had she, come to think of it, ever learned anything relevant from the downstairs slander? Mary, therefore, applied herself towards the next task, choosing an appropriate dress for a marriage proposal.

When the men rejoined them after dinner, Mary was relieved. Her mother had told her it was crucial to find a moment alone with Evelyn because he would have something to say to her. Mary was confident that as soon as he proposed and everything was settled this strange fluttering she felt would dissipate. Her vivacious granny gave her spirited advice from Alice in Wonderland, "The time has come to talk of many things," she said jovially. It made Mary smile at the encouragement. She watched as Evelyn stood with Matthew. They seemed to be thick as thieves as they shared a laugh together. When Matthew asked her sister Sybil a question, it was only natural; Mary thought for her to also drift in their direction. As she approached she could hear that whatever they were discussing, Matthew was alone in his opinion. And this had her further intrigued. He was such an odd man, a rube to be sure.

"What are you discussing?" Mary said nonchalantly as she approached. Her eyes unexpectedly locked with Matthew's and for the first time she was caught up in their beauty. It was like looking into the sky, which held so many possibilities. Mary took a shallow breath to regain her composure, any deeper, and she feared it might attract unwanted attention.

"I mentioned a book," Matthew said shyly. "But it seems I'm the only person here who has read it." His cherub like face was unapologetic to his companions; it held a bemused expression. Mary made another mental note not to drink Port after dinner as it only seemed to jar her sensibilities. She could think of no other reason why her father's heir would seem attractive to her.

"And what is this illuminating opus you speak of?" Mary said furthering their conversation.

"The title of the novel is called, 'A Room with a View', it was written a few years ago. And it is not only a masterpiece but my favorite book."

Mary felt her heart beat increase. She kept that very book on her bedside table. But, how could he have known her devotion to that story? It made her feel vulnerable and exposed. Suddenly it seemed a cruel trick. Mary remembered Anna's words about the new maid being from Manchester. Perhaps the staff was right to gossip about her. Because if she was Matthew's spy, it would explain how he knew of her preference in reading material.

"Mary," she heard her name and was shaken from her train of thought. It was Evelyn's voice. And though it was preposterous he was actually scolding her with his tone.

"Matthew's waiting for your answer. And I must say I'm curious too. Have you read this novel?"

But, before she could speak, her little sister did. She tattled on her the way even the best of sisters couldn't help but betray a confidence.

"Isn't that the novel you keep on your bedside?" Sybil said with a triumphant smile of having remembered such a detail at such a crucial moment. Her dear sister, Mary thought concealing her grimace; she was still such a child.

"Yes," she said acknowledging her, but she said nothing more. And yet she saw the smile on Matthew's face; it dripped with barely contained honeyed expressions of admiration. He practically had stars in his heavenly blue eyes. And so Mary looked away. She wanted desperately to roust Evelyn away for their private chat. However, he would not budge, and she could find no way to spell out her meaning. As her father approached, she hoped he would be of assistance to her.

"Evelyn," he said in greeting, "I've arranged for your suggestion tomorrow morning before you leave. A game of lawn skittles will be a wonderful reprieve from another day of hunting."

The young man dutifully smiled. "Well," he said, "I can't accept all the credit for the suggestion. It was actually Matthew's idea; I only brought it to your attention since I believed it such a capital notion."

Robert beamed with pride at this new knowledge.

"Did you hear that girls?" He said with affection to his daughters standing beside him. He shook his head fondly. When he looked at Matthew, his expression only grew more warm and admirable.

"You are without fault my dear boy," he said loudly. "Yes, indeed Matthew, you are without fault."

Mary felt the words sting as her father continued to praise his heir. Everyone smiled and nodded at his words about Matthew. She felt her mother's harsh eyes on her too. She had failed to please either of her parents it seemed. And so quickly with an excuse about a headache she excused herself. Mary grabbed the hem of her skirt as she skipped up the stairs, mortified of falling in her distress.

Only when she was in her bedroom, and her eyes cast on her favorite novel at her bedside, did Mary weep. Mathew had taken everything from her. He had invaded every aspect of her life, shredding it to tattered pieces. It was intangibly unfair. Mary was so lost in her thoughts she didn't notice her mother having entered the room. If she had been aware of her senses, she would have tried to counsel her away. She would have barred the door, but she had no strength left it seemed.

"Oh my dear," Cora said sympathetically. "I know Evelyn leaves in the morning, but you shouldn't put yourself into such a tizzy."

Mary cried harder at these words but not for their meaning. She wept because her mother had misconstrued her sadness. It was a cruel irony that only Matthew could relate to her. He was the snake in the Garden of Eden, always tempting her.

"My dear girl," Cora said sitting down on her bed next to her. "Evelyn may still propose tomorrow morning, after all he wanted to discontinue the hunt. That means he has an agenda."

"Mama," Mary wailed her sentiments, the words leaking out along with her tears.

"Evelyn doesn't concern me. Papa does"… She paused. "What have I done to offend him? Ever since Patrick died…"

And then Mary felt a sudden understanding. Yes, she thought. Patrick. He was no rival for her father's affection. My rival, she thought once again toughening her heart and firming her resolve; that is all Matthew will be.

"Do you want to know something that might make you feel better," her mother propositioned.

Mary could only nod as she tried to control her emotions.

"Matthew," she said his name with utter distain, "may smile and smile, but I contend he is a villain underneath," Cora said with cagey excitement.

"O'Brien tells me, she is certain he is. She says the new maid Bea, has a story to tell. And soon enough she will fold and tell it." Her mother patted her shoulder fondly.

And yet the words of counsel Mary had given herself earlier returned to her. Downstairs gossip was always irrelevant and trivial.

"Did you know," her mother continued, "that the new maid is from Manchester? That must mean something. Especially since she keeps asking questions about Matthew."

Mary continued to dry her eyes, and she did feel some renewal of cheer. But, it wasn't from anything her mother had said. No, try as she might she felt joy when she remembered that moment with Matthew on the hunt. Why was it so persistently comforting to her? The feeling of sailing through the air and then realizing that she wasn't alone anymore that someone could keep pace with her. Matthew couldn't possibly be a villain. Could he?

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