Hello my friends! I hope each of you are doing well. Thank you for taking the time to read these past two chapters. Please let me know what you think so that I can continue to make this story and my writing better. Thank you and have a good night. Happy reading! - Sevy14


Slicing deep into my mind was the sound of the lock being unlocked, the click of the door and the sound of a mans weight creaking on the floor. Before I could sit up or say anything, Shine spoke.

"I suppose you are pleased with yourself then?" Gruffly said, I rose up from my position in the chair before the now fading fire and turned to look at him.

With a confused look and cock of my head I made a face as I responded. "Whatever do you mean by that?"

I watched as he took his fine coat off and hung it up before turning once more to face me before entering the room fully. "What I mean, Wife," he said, emphasizing my title again. How I hated that he did that. "Your little stunt today. Sneaking out and wandering around the market, ripe for the picking."

Ripe for the picking?! What does that even mean?! I was sure my face reflected my thought because before I could respond he rose his hand, pausing my voice before it even left my mouth.

"I have no time for excuses, my Dear." He said this, gruff voice sailing about the room and landing in my ears, sending shivers up my spine. I watched as he closed the distance between his, his height now a factor, one I was sure he was attempting to use to play on my emotions now that I was entrapped within the confines of marriage and societal law. "You did not do as you were told."

I crossed my arms and jutted my chin out slightly, "I am not a child. I-" emphasizing that with as much bravado as possible, "I am an adult and if I want to go to the market, I will." I say. I thought my heart my force its way from my chest from the force that it was beating against my skin, surely he must be able to see it threatening to break through. "Besides, I say..." Continuing my train of that, coupling it with a face of assurance, "I believe you said I was only to have babysitters until I had wed, not, after. Because whatever the deal was or-or whatever the issue between my Father and that other nasty soul would be null and void." I finished and could feel the slight smirk threatening to escape, even as I attempted to bury it. This, I could tell, he noticed.

With a sniff, "Mrs. Shine, it seems there needs to be some understanding between us... About the reality of the situation in which you find yourself in."

I shrug and look up at him and then sit down once more. "It's chilly in here." I say. I don't look up at him or even in his direction. It wasn't like I was ignoring what he had said, I agreed actually. He had to know that I was not about to be some kept wife that just sat around entertaining, wining and dining other kept Ladies that had nothing better to do.

Over my thoughts I heard him sigh deeply and then he moved past me, bending before the fireplace I watched as he rolled up his sleeves, and put more coal on the fire before rising and turning, leaving the room. I smiled at the new warmth emitting from the fireplace, happy to have it washing over me. I did not hear him enter once more.

"As I was saying," he said, taking a seat in the chair opposite of me. "You and I must reach an understanding. Drink?"

I looked over at him, not expecting the offer of a drink. "No. Thank you." I said. He raised an eyebrow but nodded and poured himself a drink from the liquor bottles on the tables between us. "I agree, actually." This admission from my, I noticed, caused him to pause momentarily. "I refuse to be hold up like some hostage. Surely you must have known that was never going to work with me." I say looking over at him. He did not meet my eye and held his drink in his hand, delicate yet, strong. "Detective Inspector-" I start, but he interrupts.

"Jedediah." He says and glances over at me.

Our eyes hold one another and then I look away. "Right. Well... I do not need a babysitter, it is insulting to my sensibilities." I finish, feeling satisfied enough with my voiced stance on my existence.

He cleared his throat, "Yes, I quite understand that you feel this way." He says. Taking a sip I can see him mull over whatever thought he was having while he tasted the liquor. "Be that as it may, your reality is, Jude or Arthur will be with you, and this-This is not up for discussion." His tone was clear, and I knew that as much as I huffed and puffed about my independence, my wants and needs, it was unlikely that I would ever get the man to budge, the most I would be able to do probably is get a comprise of some sort. This really irritated me.

Huffing. "I do not need babysitters." I slouch in my chair, thoroughly annoyed with the man and his stubbornness. "I do not even get why you think it is necessary, especially when you said he wasn't. Liar." I breathed out the last part.

"You may decided which it is that will accompany you whenever you leave the confines of this home without me." He says, not acknowledging my little tirade.

Petulantly I said, "You really are being an arse about this, you know that right?" I looked over at him when he chuckled and furrowed my brow. "What?"

"Do you have a preference on which man?" He asks. It was grating that he did not acknowledge what I said.

I exhaled heavily. "Jude." I said. He nodded but did not say anything, merely sipped his drink. "I hope you are not too harsh with them." I say.

"What is that?" He says, looking over at me, glass paused just shy of his mouth.

"Jude and Arthur." I say. "I hope you are not too harsh with them."

"Harsh with them?" He asks, eyes facing forward once more.

"Yes, about... Today." I say quiet. He does not respond and I look over at him. "It really would not be fair of you to be harsh with them." I said.

He turned his head sharply and narrowed his eyes at me, like a hawk, his face seemed to mimic now. I wanted to shudder but I kept that deep inside of me, somehow. "Mrs. Shine, they had a job to do and they did not do it. Regardless of the situation, they were complicit in not doing as instructed by not taking precautions with you. For that, I will be as harsh, or not, with them as I like."

I was not sure what to make of his statement. Surely it did not make sense to blame them. "Well... Still. I see no point, it isn't like anything happened." I said.

"This time." Was his response. At it I look back over at him for a second and then away, back to the fire.

Shine and I watch the fire dancing before us. The two of us did not speak or acknowledge the other. We just sat and allowed the warmth of the fire to heat us and our thoughts, whatever his may be. Mine were in contemplation of what sort of mess my gambling addicted Father had gotten me in to. The clock chimed in the other room startling me.

"I think I am going to retire for the evening." I say, not looking over in his direction, sitting up and feeling my body stretch from the movement. I rise, turning to look at him, he raises his eyes to meet mine. "I... Thank you for not coming down on me harshly today in the market." I say. He does not respond or even blink. I swallow and then continue. "I know that I was rather bold in my behavior and I-I do know you have a reputation to uphold. So... Thanks." I finish, not being able to keep my eyes on his. "Good night." I turn and walk around my chair, distancing myself from the hard man.

I was almost out the door when he spoke. "Good night Mrs. Shine."

I do not respond, instead duck my head and hurry out the door and up the stair and to the room that held my trunk, stopping only when my door shuts behind me leaning against it, head tilted up and eyes close. I exhale. My breath, shaky. After a moment I look about and finally take in my new surroundings. I was thankful that Shine did not expect me to sleep in his room with him. At least in that light he was not a brute... That I was aware of. A large rug had been laid down, it was a deep red with intricate designs on it. Looking more closely at it, it appeared to be a dragon of some kind. I rolled my eyes, an Oriental rug of course. Everything in this home was from the orient, save myself and Detective Inspire Shine. I snorted at this, amused slightly. A large wardrobe was near the closet, as well as a nice dresser, both a dark chestnut. In one corner of the room there was a bookshelf, a little table, and a chair. Also a desk next to the window, looking out over it. The bed too, was larger than the one I had slept on my whole life. Walking over to it, I ran my hand over the fabric upon it. Done exploring my new room I opened my trunk at the end of the bed, pulling out my clothes I put them away. Next I took out my books and journals, taking care to up them upon the bookshelf.

Muttering to myself, "You need to get yourself another journal to write about this new road you find yourself on." I say as I move about and empty out the rest of my trunk, taking care to put my Grandmother's blanket on my new reading chair.

"Knock. Knock." The rapping of Shine upon the door startled me. "Emmylyn."

I move across the room and stand on the other side of the door, hesitant and nervous as to why he was rapping upon my door, "Yes?" I answer.

"You left your haul from the market." He responds. "I will leave it outside the door." He says. I hear the thump of a bag dropping and then the sound of his footsteps fading away and then down the stairs. I open the door and peek out, and grab my sewing and knitting materials. I put them away as well. There were two doors in the room and I opened the first, a closet. The second door opened to a bathroom. It had a large claw tub. "Oh..." I said, my heart jumping from excitement. Well, that made this situation a little better. I readied myself for bed, pulling back the covers I slid in, sinking down into the soft bed and pulling the covers over me. I lay there, waiting for sleep to take me, my mind though raced with the events of today and the unknowns of tomorrow.


- Detective Inspector Shine -

A light knocking came across the door and I rose up from the chair to meet it. Pulling the door open I ground out, "What?"

"I-How is she?" Joseph stammered out. This man was the embodiment of cowardice.

"She is no longer your concern, Joseph." I say to him. He looks down, exhaling. I look at him and shake my head. "She is well. Retired for the evening."

Nodding, "A-Alright. Very good."

"Do you have something for me?" I ask him, not bothering to linger on his irritating emotion.

"Yes, here." He says, digging into his coat and then reaching out to hand me an envelope.

I take it, but do not open it, "Is this the entirety of it?" I inquire.

"Yes. I would not cheat or short your Jedediah." He responds, eyes wide and neck flushed.

I give him a once over. "For your sake and the sake of your whores, I hope so." At this his look goes from weak, cowering man to a sharpening his look, as I threaten his flailing business. "Now, go home to your wife. Surely she is lonely now that you have had to rid yourself of her daughter with your recklessness."

His eyes look past me into my home and then settle back on mine, before he nods. "Goodnight Jedediah." He turns and I watch as he makes his way down my porch and the drive.

I shut the door and lock it, muttering as I do so, "What a tosser!" I place the envelope under my arm and make my way up the stairs. I pause and listen for sound down the hall but hear nothing. Emmylyn must have taken herself to sleep. I make my way to my room and shut the door, dropping the envelope upon the table and remove my clothes before dropping down onto the bed, my bones aching from the day. Married life. "Jed ol' boy, what have you done?" I muttered to myself as I maneuvered further onto the bed and pulled the covers up. I can handle criminals and fellow policemen alike, but a wife, I was not sure if I would have the patience for this.


Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for reading. I hope you have a good night. Happy Reading! - Sevy14