The lullabies of the birds overhead were the first sounds to fill Mary's mind, rousing her from what felt like the deepest slumber of her life.

Gradually, she became more aware of her surroundings and she opened her eyes slowly. Based on the sounds of nature all around her, she had guessed she had fallen outside once again, exhausted from what was most likely a long afternoon spent exploring the countryside on horseback as she often did when the weather was peaceful.

While she realized she was in fact outside, when she opened her eyes, she also realized she wasn't alone. A man, who looked to be only a few years older than her, knelt by her side, clutching her hands in his. As she awakened, the man's lips stretched upward into a relieved smile.

"Here, let me help you sit up, Duchess," the man said, placing a hand on her back and raising her to a sitting position.

Mary blushed at the intimate contact. "Thank you, Maximilian," she thanked the man kneeling next to her.

Maximilian smiled wider, showing two rows of straight, white teeth, which was quite uncommon for the time. "You remember my name! Oh, that is astonishing," he breathed impressed.

Mary furrowed her eyebrows. "Why wouldn't I remember your name?" she replied. "You are my husband after all, aren't you?"

Maximilian chuckled and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her into an affectionate embrace. "You gave us a fright when your horse threw you from it's back and you hit your head. We thought for certain your head would have suffered some lasting damage as a result."

Mary pulled back from the embrace, raising a hand to her head. "Now that you mention it, my head does feel rather foggy."

"I'll instruct your ladies in waiting to make sure you get proper rest," he replied, brushing hair away from her face, his finger circling around the dark sapphire jewels as he encountered them.

"How did you find me out here? We're no where near the castle," Mary wondered, looking around them. She saw only one horse and wondered where hers had gone.

Maximilian's gaze followed hers to the muscular black horse grazing on grass by the tree he was tied to. "A man saw you fall from the horse and hit your head," he explained. "Thankfully, he had enough decency to find me and tell me what happened."

Mary went quiet, a distressed feeling rising in her chest that she couldn't find reason for. "Where is this man? I would like to thank him."

Maximilian took her hands into his once more. "After he was sure you were safe with me once more, he went behind a cluster of trees and just disappeared."

"He just left me?" Mary exclaimed horrified.

"Mary, you are my wife, not his. Why is him leaving you alone such a ghastly concept to you?"

Mary looked into his eyes, searching for any explanation for her emotions. Why was she so horrified by the mystery man leaving her?

"I don't know, Maximilian," she whispered in distress. "I haven't the slightest idea why."