Hello All! Back again with another update! Thank you for checking back in. As usual, let me know what you think. Have a good night and happy ready! - Sevy14


Jude had taken me straight home from the dress shop. He was gentle with the dresses as he helped me down from the carriage and I was sure to thank him. Before I shut the door, he had informed me that I should start getting ready for tonight, but he did not elaborate further on what that meant and I sensed that asking him would not really give me any answers. More than likely, I would have only grown more frustrated. I had taken a long bath, enjoying the comfort that the hot water made me feel. As I soaked I thought over these past few days and how everything had changed, and how quickly my life had seemed to spin out of (my) control. While not a brute that I had seen, Detective Inspector Shine was clearly someone that Father feared and whatever or whomever Father was in debt to, it was enough that he was willing to throw me to the world without so much of a conversation, and Shine, Shine was more than happy to catch me as I fell. It donned me that perhaps the one Father owed was Shine himself. This thought stung and made me contemplate asking, but for the moment decided against it. What if I didn't want to know the truth, not truly any way? Knowing might be worse than the rampant questions running about my head. I was surprised at how much Shine was respecting my privacy, or that he had even given me a private room and had not expected me to sleep with him. The niggling in the back of my mind though wagged its tail, making me question when, not if, he would require that. I could not imagine a man such as him not sleeping with his wife, especially if he were trying to build up a different image.

Eventually my mind wandered away from the enigmatic man that I was now wed to and to my Mother. I did miss her. I missed her cooking and how she would smile at me from across the room, or how she would gently pass a hand across my arm or shoulder as she walked by. I missed her warmth, her love. I felt it then, the sadness come. That feeling I had been shoving down into the pit of my being and as it rose up, a sob escaping my lips, I let myself sink down below the water. The warmness stinging my face. With my eyes closed and breath held, I stayed under water for as long as I could, hoping that this would aid in willing away the tears, the doubt, the anxiety that has come with this and the fear associated with what my future might hold. With a gasp I rose up and leaned my head back, breathing heavily, my heartbeat pounding loudly in my ears.

"Get it together Emmy." I muttered to myself with a shake of my head. As if that would be enough. After a few more moments of quiet contemplation of life and the wild road it has started me on, I rose up, drying myself off and preparing for this function that Detective Inspector Shine and I are to attend together. As I did this, I attempted to quell the anxiety I had at attending something as his wife. I could feel the questions coming. Would I have to talk to people, to other women, to his colleagues? Or would I be allowed to hold the wall up and watch, pass the time away by observing all that was occurring while he milled about conversing and doing what he could to impress the other peacock men that I was certain would be in attendance. I wondered if the women that would be there if they were other wives, or girlfriends, or if they were workers, brought in by men who were insecure, unwed, or just wanted a pretty girl on their arm, while their wives stayed at home, away from the din and sin of the world that I was certain Shine inhabited, at least from time to time.


Jedediah Shine POV

The carriage rolled up to the house and I was opening the door before it had stopped. I ignored the driver as he bid me a good day and made my way up the walk. Jude rose as I drew new the front porch. With a nod, "Jude."

"Detective Inspector, Sir." He said, voice gruff and full of gravel.

Pausing just past him with my had on the door, "Well how was she? Not a handful?" I inquire, peering at him and then looked towards the house, as if I could see through the door.

His response drew my attention, "No Sir, she was focused, quiet in her pursuit of the perfect dress."

I raised an eyebrow. I often forgot that even though Jude was a rough man, he was well read and his speech demonstrated that. Nodding, "Good. And she did not try to get you to take her elsewhere or run off?"

Shaking his head, "No Sir. We went to the shops and straight back. Mrs. Shine did not put up a fuss."

"Good. You may go. Please inform Arthur I would like to speak to him before this evening." I say to him as I turn and try to open the door, but it is locked. I look over at Jude's departing back. "She locked the door, eh?" I said with a slight huff and shake of the head.

Turning to face me, Jude, gave a wry smile, "Yes Sir. Must be safer that way." He says before dipping his head once more and making his way to the road and calling for a cab.

Shaking my head, I unlock the door, "Women." I expel some air. Stepping inside the house was quiet and I heard no movement as I hung up my coat. I determined that she was in her room readying herself for this evening, at least I assumed as much and chose not to disrupt her. With only a look in the direction of her room I climb the rest of the way up the stairs and to my bedroom, where I begin to ready myself for this evening and I hoped as I did so that it would go off and that she, would not be difficult.


Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. Leave a review. Until next time! -Sevy14