Hello again! I hope you all are enjoying your weekend. I hope you enjoy the chapter! -Sevy14


Emmylyn POV:

We rode through the city streets. I kept my eyes focused on anything outside of the carriage. I had no desire to interact with Detective Inspector Shine. I could hear his breathing, it was heavy. He was tapping his cane lightly and for a some time I counted the taps until I wanted to scream, but I was sure he wanted me to say something. So I did not. I just sighed, deeply and crinkled my face together. Everyone on the street was happy, they were busy living lives that were fulfilling and free, while I felt as though I was on my way to a funeral. My, funeral. I was certain that each negative thought I had rippled across my face, a vast display of attitude, sadness, anger, and frustration. We past my soon-to-be old street, the whore house was in full bloom, ladies laughing in the windows, some hanging out waving at men passing by. I sighed. I would miss that place. Even though it held some bad memories and it belonged to my Father, some of those ladies had been kind to me. I turned my head slightly as the carriage drew us further away and the whore house became out of sight, another sigh and I looked down at my hands. We traveled for some time until we were out of the city limits, this surprised me. I looked over at Detective Inspector Shine but he pretended not to notice and kept his eyes trained on the world passing by. A few more minutes we go on, passing fields full of horses and cows, a little pond, and then we stop outside of little chapel. I look about, taking in our surroundings. He expels air and then I hear him open the door to the carriage and step out, his frame, I noticed, did not make a thud on the gravel, rather, soft crunching. So he was light on his feet, that rumor was true, I mused. Then he came into view and opened the door of the carriage, I looked at him through narrowed eyes.

"Emmylyn." I said to the girl. She had been quiet the whole ride. Her expression sliding between sadness and mutiny. A part of me felt for the lass, but not enough to call this off. She would see that this was best, in the long run. She hops out, ignoring my hand, and huffing. "Shall we?" I ask her, again, offering my arm for her to take.

Again he holds out his arm and I glare. "I can walk on my own, thank you." I say. He nods but does not pull his arm away.

"I am aware, but, you will allow me to escort you in." I say to her, our eyes holding one another.

I make a face at his response and huff. While contemplating my response he narrows his eyes at me. "I would rather walk on my own, if it is all the same." I say, using a softer, less stubborn tone.

"You will take my arm. We will walk there and marry. You will allow me to escort you from chapel to carriage. Once in the confines of the carriage, you may stay as far away from as you like, but until then, my Dear, you will entertain the basic forms of etiquette, am I understood?" My tone was low but pointed. I had hope she would not be difficult, but it seems she shall be.

I glare at him. "I..." I stop and look at him, taking a step back so that I did not look so much like a child trying to stand up to their parent. He raised his eyebrows at my pause in speech and the distance I put between us. "On one condition." I say.

I sigh and resist running a hand through my hair. "A condition?" I shake my head slightly. Women...

"Yes!" I say, nodding. "I will act perfectly today. I will play my part so you are not embarrassed." I nod, he doesn't speak but is looking at me. "And, I will continue to play the role of doting wife publicly and when you have guests over, within reason of course." I add.

"And what," may I ask, "Is this condition? Or am I forced to figure it out myself?" If this is how she always is, she will infuriate me endlessly.

"Perhaps, you are a famed Detective, are you not?" He glares at me and perhaps even snarls slightly. But I allow a small smile to slip across my face, slightly amused, "On the condition that you allow me to look at case files, in-IN," I continue before he responds, "In your presence if others are around, of course. And only at home or at your station. No where else. That, is my condition." I say and look at him, crossing my arms.

I take in a deep breath and look away. I should have seen that coming. "I could just carry you in there." I say to her and she glares at me. "Or drag you." I continue. The look on her face does not change, it only gets more intense. "I have a condition of my own, I say and her mouth drops slightly, but she does not interrupt. "If, you look at case files," she nods, "You will not mark the documents or photos. You will not ask to see any other evidence. Am I clear?" She nods at me. "You will only look. And you will not talk about it with your friends or family." I finish.

I held back a smile. Victory. A small one, but a victory none the less. "I do not have any friends..." He looks at me. "And I can't talk about it with my family...?" He nods at this, his eyes scrutinizing me. "You'll be my family though, I can talk to you about it?" I ask.

I did not roll my eyes, even though I wanted to. She was exhausting. "Yes. You may give me your... Thoughts." I finish. "Now," I extend my arm, "May we get this over with." I am busy and this has already taken too long.

I give him a look before sighing, "You give me your word and will not go back on this agreement once this is done?" I ask, eyeing him and his extended arm.

With a sharp nod, "Yes!" I nudge my arm closer to her.

"Fine." I say and take it. We walk towards the chapel, our feet on the soft pebble crackling. This, was it I thought between uneven breaths. The neared the door we got, the more I wanted to turn tail and run, not that I would get far. He would probably drag me in there. My heart beat loudly in my ears, I wondered if he could here. This was it I thought as we came to the stairs and I hoped this would be over quick.


Thank you for taking the time to read another update. Have a great night! - Sevy14