Shay.

It was so good to be home. Shay took the path through the woods to the stream, and crossed to the other side using the stepping stones. It had been a long time since she had explored the grounds of Lytton House. When she was younger, she had ventured all over the place with Jack, and then later with Tommy and Julia. On occasion, Hannah came, but she had grown to like indoor activities better. Shay couldn't help smiling as she took in a breath of fresh air. How could anyone prefer the indoors to the outdoors? She would follow the trail to their favourite wading pond, and then come up on the bridge and return home by the Ludgershall Road.

The water was cold. It never seemed to get warmer even if it was summer. Shay put on her shoes and made her way to the bridge. A man was standing with his back to her talking to a young woman. As Shay approached, he turned. Jack. His eyes opened wide in surprise. "Miss Shay."

"Hello, Jack." Shay smiled and looked at the pretty caramel haired girl. "Hello there."

The girl curtsied. "Hello, My Lady."

Shay had been called this before, and she had never felt comfortable with it. "Shay. My name is Shay. What's yours?"

"Nevelyn, Miss." She looked anxiously up at Jack.

He took her hand, smiled at her, and then looked back at Shay. "Nevelyn and I are engaged to be married."

"Oh." Shay was a little taken back. Her Jack getting married? For some reason this news stung her. Though she had never thought of marriage as being for her, it seemed everyone was doing it. She quickly pulled herself together. "That's wonderful. I'm so happy for you both." She laughed softly. "It seems everyone I know is getting married."

"Are you, Miss?" Nevelyn's face lit up with curiosity.

"No. No not me. Hannah. Miss Lytton. My... my sister. Her wedding is tomorrow."

"Yes." Nevelyn giggled. "We all know that, Miss. Most of the village will be there in one way or the other. I'm going to be serving tables." She gripped Jack's forearm and grinned up at him. "Jack will be looking after all the guest's horses. People are coming from all over the place. It's going to be beautiful."

"I agree, Nevelyn." Shay gave her a smile. "I'd best get back. I was at the wading pond. Last time I was home it was winter and I wasn't able to make my way there. It's so pretty." She gave them a wave and headed off. As she walked, a deep feeling of sorrow gripped her. She couldn't understand why. Jack had always been a part of her life even if he had avoided her every time, she was home. He had been the one person she felt she truly connected with, when she first came to Lytton House. Shay wiped her eyes and thought about the first time she had met him. She had wanted to see the horses. Master Thomas, as she called him back then, had come into the stables with another man. Jack had made Shay hide in the tack room where she got covered in boot polish. The door had swung opened, and she had landed on her tummy at the feet of the visitor. For the life of her she couldn't remember his name, just a blurred image of his face. She remembered thinking he was an angel.

"Shay!"

She turned around at the sound of the voice, thoughts of the man in the stable instantly gone, as she watched Jack run towards her.

"I'll walk back with you, if you are happy for me to do so." Jack pulled the cap from his head and looked down at her.

"What of Nevelyn?" Shay stepped sideways so she could look around and behind Jack.

"She's off home. To the village. I have to get back and help organise the stables."

"Are you head man yet?" Shay smiled up at him and moved on.

"No." Jack chuckled. "Doyle will never step aside. They'll have to drag him to his grave."

Shay laughed with him. It was so nice to be speaking with him again. "So, you're to be married. Nevelyn looks to be a lovely girl."

"Yes, she is that." Jack fiddled with his cap. "Shay." He took her by the upper arm and stopped her from walking. "I want to apologise to you for all the times I avoided you."

"There's no need, Jack."

"There is, Shay. I... I was a silly young man. I let my feelings get in the way of our friendship. I need you to know how much your friendship meant to me. Means. How much it means to me." Jack sighed and gave her a sad smile. "I hope we can be friends again. I'm happy now. I love Nevelyn very much, and have found my way."

"Jack." Shay put her hand on his forearm. "Of course, we can be friends. You mean everything to me. You were always so kind to me. I love you as I love Hannah and Julia, Tommy, Izzy, Andrew and little Simon. You are part of my family, Jack. You always have been, and always will be." Tears ran down her face. "I'm so happy for you, Jack. I really am." Shay threw her arms around his neck. Even though she knew it wasn't lady like, and if someone saw them, her name would be dragged through the mud, but she didn't care, because she was Shay, the stray.

"Shay." Jack gave her a big squeeze, and then jabbed her in the ribs. "Race you to the gate." He let her go and ran at a medium pace with Shay laughing and running as fast as she could behind him.

*

The ceremony was beautiful and now the ballroom was full of people. Tomorrow the staff would have a day off and feast on the leftovers. Shay stood with Julia watching Edmond and Hannah dancing with other couples.

"Why aren't you dancing?" Julia grinned at Shay.

"I could ask you the same question."

"I've danced with four gentlemen already." Julia beamed. "I have two more on my card."

Shay flapped her card in Julia's face. "I've danced with four gentlemen too."

"You have not." Julia snatched the card and spun around so Shay couldn't take the card back.

"Two. You have two names and no others. One is the best man, Mr. Patterson, so he doesn't really count, because you're expected to dance with him anyway."

"I don't like dancing." Shay grabbed the card.

"Why?" Julia couldn't believe any girl didn't like dancing. It was so invigorating and to have a man's hands, particularly if he was good looking, on her waist, was a delight.

"It's not that I don't like dancing, it's more that I don't wish to encourage any gentleman to think I'm interested in courting. Men seem to think a woman is only capable of giggling." Shay elbowed Julia. "Like you do, then courting and marriage and breeding. All of that does not interest me. I want to be of more use than that."

"But if you fall in love that's what happens, Shay. You marry and have children like Mama and Papa." Julia shook her head in dismay. "Mama is very useful. She helps Papa with his accounts and entertains his business investor's wives, and even has a say in the horses."

For some reason Shay had never thought about Rebecca when she imagined life as a married woman. She had to be honest she really hadn't given a married woman's life much thought. Listening to the girls at school, talk of catching a wealthy man to marry, always seemed very shallow and pointless to her. It had always had her picturing them being paraded around like a brood mare, so she had never thought deeper about it.

"I guess you're right, Julia. To be honest I've never thought much about it in that regard, because it's not something I want to do."

"Do you want to be an old maid?" Julia giggled. "Or perhaps a nun?"

"I'm very happy doing what I'm doing, thank you very much." Shay turned and almost slammed into Benjamin Patterson. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"Miss, Lytton." Benjamin smiled. "May I have this dance?"

There was nothing for it but to dance.

Julia giggled and gave a wave as she said, "Of course, Shay would love to dance, Mr. Patterson."

I am so happy that Jack and Shay have spoken to each other again.

I wonder if Ben will try to win Shay's heart. Do you think she will accept if he wants to court her?

Photo taken from istock