rightly | open post.

Mary was enjoying her time in New York, especially spending time with Steve. She had grown even more fond of him through their talks and meals. Harold actually liked him, though Martha was still reserving judgement. That said, neither of them were preventing her from spending time with him and her grandmother wasn't going to write home to tell Mary's family that she was spending an inordinate amount of time with an American soldier. They had a lot more freedom here.

Thankfully that evening Mary hadn't changed out of her dress yet. She was about to call for some tea and read in the chair in her room, when she heard something tap against her window. Thinking it was just a branch, she continued to look through the books on the shelf before she heard the noise again. Her curiosity took over.

After drawing the drapes, she was surprised to find Steve grinning up at her from outside the window. Mary pushed the window open and leaned her head out. "Steve!" she hissed. "What are you doing here?" And why was he throwing rocks at her window instead of coming to the front door?

Brightening up as he saw the drapes being pulled aside, he grinned up at her and waved a little, making sure she could see him well enough. "Lady Mary," he greeted with an amused lilt once she opened the window and peered outside, even doing a tiny little curtsy and bowing his head.

"I'm here to take you on an adventure, of course," he said, as if it were a perfectly normal thing to do. "If you're feeling up to it."

"What?" she asked with a light laugh. "Why didn't you come to the door?"

Mary knew perfectly well why he didn't come to the door. It was nighttime and her family might not approve of her going out at night with a man. But would they be pleased if she snuck out? It was true that this family was more acceptable of things than her family at home, but that didn't mean she could just galavant around as she pleased.

That did get something of a flat stare from Steve, an eyebrow raising just so.

"I don't think your family would even let me in past the door at this time of night, let alone allow you to go out with me." So yes, he was here to spirit her away for the night. He fully intended on bringing her back home before the night was through, of course. Or else she definitely wouldn't be allowed to spend time with him again.

Even if the notion that a grown woman even needed permission to do whatever she pleased was completely beyond him, but anyway.

Mary leaned her hand on the window frame and contemplated for a moment. The idea of going out at night with Steve was exciting. Things were so much different in New York City than at home. There were millions of people here, and nobody knew her. Nobody would think it was scandalous and it would not be reported in any papers. Why not have some fun?

"Let me freshen up and write Anna a note." Anna was likely the only one who would come to check on her and Mary did not want her maid to worry. "Meet me back by the servants entrance."

Steve knew it was a bold move on his part. Even to most American women it would be seen as such, and Mary being an English Lady, he expected it to be seen as even bolder still. But he also knew she had a liking for excitement, even if she might keep it mostly to herself, so he was fairly confident that his invitation wouldn't be at all unwelcome.

Finally he smiled as the answer came, and he nodded quietly before stepping back out onto the street. Doing as told, he rounded the house, finding a nice shadow to hide in a few feet away from the servants' entrance, keeping an eye out for when she stepped outside, and careful not to catch the attention of anyone else who might come out instead.

Mary fixed her hair a bit and put on her hat and coat before scribbling at note for Anna telling her that she was out with Steve and not to worry unless she wasn't back by morning. She expected to be back before then, but she wanted to cover her bases.

The servants' quarters was usually quiet around this time of night, as the clock struck 9. They were in their rooms preparing for bed, or having some quiet tea in the kitchen. Mary could easily sneak out the back door.

She closed it quietly behind her and then met Steve where he was standing in the shadows. "You're causing me to misbehave," she said in a whisper.

Waiting patiently, he finally perked up as he saw the door open. The lights were out inside the house, but a single light from down the street lit up her frame, and he easily recognized her. Taking a few steps so she could catch a glimpse of him, he waited as she made her way over, smiling as soon as they could make out each other's features.

"You don't sound like you mind that much," he offered back just as quietly, reaching into his coat and pulling out a tiny flower he'd found on the park along the way. He perched it on her ear, leaning in to kiss her on the cheek. "Let's go."

Pulling from her, he caught one of her hands, holding it in his as he started leading the way down the street.

She grinned at him when he put the flower in her hair and eagerly took his hand. Her heart was pumping fast and she was filled with the excitement of the moment, as well as a bit of nerves. When they were far enough away from the house, Mary breathed a sigh of relief and turned to him. "So where are you taking me?"

"Somewhere absolutely unsuitable and possibly inappropriate," he said playfully, smiling as he tugged her closer to him. Being farther away from the house, they could move at a more leisurely stroll, knowing no one would spot them and call out, or ask any questions as to where he was taking Mary. "It's a surprise. I think you'll like it. Fair warning, though, it's not the kind of place you'd go to."

Mary gasped lightly, though she was smiling. "You really are going to make me misbehave."

She liked the idea of an adventure though, and knew that Steve wouldn't take her somewhere she could get hurt. He would protect her, anyway.

They strolled down 5th Avenue, Mary looking ahead to the large buildings of Manhattan that grew before them. "Is it nearby?" She asked.

He grinned a little and let out a soft chuckle at that. "Maybe just a tiny bit."

Well, not if she didn't want to. The moment she said she wanted to go back home, he'd just turn around and take her there. And nothing bad would happen to her either, as he'd be with her the whole night and would make sure she'd be safe. Not that he expected them to get caught up in any dangerous situations, but still.

"Ten-minute walk. It's not too far." They weren't going to the poorer areas of the city at least, but as they walked along the streets, she'd be able to tell how they were slowly moving farther away from the richer neighbourhoods, and down streets where muffled sounds of voices and the odd music could be heard from behind closed doors.

Mary had never really been out like this at night in the city. She wasn't afraid, mostly because she was with him. In some ways, it might be nice to not have to be who she normally was. In a place like this, she felt anonymous.

"Did you have a good day today?" She asked. Mary hadn't seen him since lunch yesterday and wasn't supposed to see him again for another two days. In that sense, she was glad he had showed up. She found that she missed him when he wasn't around.

[When you fall asleep at like 7:30, I guess you're awake at 3.]

"Normal," he shrugged, pursing his lips a little. "Pretty uneventful, but not necessarily boring. I did miss you, though," he admitted easily. They saw each other often enough, but still the more time they spent together, the more time he wanted to have with her. It was a bit of a double-edged sword, really, but he didn't regret a single thing.

"What about you? How was your day?"

"I missed you too," she replied with a little smile. "My day was rather uneventful as well. Grandmother and I took lunch at the Ritz." It did occur to her that since she had been seen in public with Martha, people might put two and two together and realize that Mary was a relative. "I believe I told you that my life is rather boring."

"The Ritz? Well, I'd say that's pretty exciting. To me, anyway." Then again, that was only because he literally never set foot in the place. Pretty sure he didn't have any outfit that would get him allowed past the door, anyway. Probably. "Luckily for you, you've got me to make things a little more exciting."

"Perhaps you might come with us next time," Mary said. It was so easy to invite him that it never would have dawned on her that he didn't have the proper attire. Granted, lunch was a less formal affair than dinner. He probably had something in his closet that would be suitable. "Things with you are always quite exciting, Steve." She squeezed his hand. "Are you taking me dancing?" she asked, trying to get some more information out of him about their destination.

The offer had him smiling, even if he wasn't entirely sure he'd fit in at a place like that. He didn't think that her grandmother would be that easy to convince either, although he knew if anyone could talk her into it, it would be Mary. "I am," he nodded, amused that she guessed it on the first try. Not that it took much, granted, what with the music filtering through barely cracked doors and windows. "Actual dancing. Not that fancy proper waltz thing."

"What do you mean actual dancing?" Mary asked, brow furrowed. "The waltz is actual dancing." It was formal dancing, the only kind that she knew how to do. She hoped that wherever he was taking her she would not make a fool of herself for not knowing how to do the dances. Was it some sort of American thing?

"You'll see when we get there," he offered vaguely, though smiling at her. She wouldn't embarrass herself, not really. No one would be looking at her anyway, and everyone would just be focused on moving wildly all over the place, dancing to the music without really caring about any proper steps. There were no proper steps.

"Here we are," he said as they reached a fairly nondescript building front, with only a small sign over the door. A couple of people were standing outside, and they barely spared them a glance as Steve pulled the door open, gesturing for Mary to go in first. The loud sounds of music played by trumpets, piano and drums would easily reach her ears once they stepped inside.

The dancehall was a noisy, crowded place filled with couples and the smell of cigarettes. Mary held onto Steve's hand a bit more tightly. The dances happening on the floor appeared to have no rhyme nor reason to them, and there certainly weren't practiced steps. She looked back at him with a bit of apprehension in her eyes.

"I hope I don't embarrass you," she called to him over the din.

Steve wasn't the least bit worried, but he still could tell there was a hint of concern in her eyes, and in the way she held his hand a little tighter. "You won't, I promise," he lifted her hand up and kissed the back of her fingers, letting go for a moment so he could shrug off his coat. He was down to a pair of high-waist trousers, a white shirt neatly tucked in and a pair of suspenders over his shoulders. Catching the lapel of her coat, he tugged lightly on it. "Want to take that off, too?"

Mary let him take her coat and handed him her hat as well. After he checked their items, she grabbed his hand again as they made their way inside. There was so much activity that Mary didn't know where to look first. The band was playing a rag and all of the couples were holding onto each other in a way that seemed more suggestive than in the dances she was used to. The idea of being held that closely by Steve excited her though. This was a chance to experience something in his world.

"You will show me how to do it?"

Steve would be lying if he said he wasn't a little excited for that, too. He was also relieved to see that she didn't seem bothered by the prospect, and with their coats out of the way, he led the way farther into the party. There were a few tables and chairs along the edges of the large room, a bar serving a few drinks and a band playing on a small stage, but other than that, the area was filled with couples dancing and laughing, moving around in a fast pace.

That was exactly where he took her, turning around and taking a few steps backwards as he lifted their linked hands up, reaching out with the other hand, inviting her to get closer to him. "I will, don't worry. I've got you."

She gave him her other hand as they disappeared into the crowd of bodies. Steve pulled her in close and they began to sway. Mary tried to look at the other couples for some direction on what to do. Admittedly, just being this close to him was exciting. She wrapped one of her arms around his shoulders. "Do you come here often?"

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