Shay.

Thomas read the letter and slammed it down on his desk. That girl was pushing his boundaries.

"What's that all about?" Rebecca looked up at him from the account books she was working on.

"Shay. I tell you, Rebecca, sometimes she makes me very angry."

"And?" Rebecca cocked her head and gave him a smirk. "What has she done to upset you now?"

"She has written to tell me she will not be joining us for the holidays this year. Instead, she will be staying in London, and eating a festive meal at that bloody orphanage." Thomas stood up and paced.

"Thomas. Language." Rebecca shook her head and gave him a stern look.

"I'm sorry, my dear. That girl has me in a tither." He turned and faced his wife. "I wanted her home. With Hannah married, and Julia away at school, it reduces the size of our family for the Christmas meal by three."

"Thomas." Rebecca tittered and shook her head again. "You are over reacting." She stood up and went to him. "Hannah and Edmond will be here. Edmond replaces Julia or Shay so we are only one down, and of course Alice and Charles will be coming, because Edmond's brother and sister have to spend this year with each of their spouse's families." She reached up on tiptoe and kissed him. "What is really the matter?"

"I miss my girls and Tommy, though he will be home. Having three away from the house, four if we count Hannah, is very... well let's just say I'm not ready to give up that many at once." He gave her a forlorn look.

"Thomas, you seem to have forgotten that we had four away at one time. The three girls in Paris and Tom at Eton." She reached up on tip toe and kissed his cheek. "What is really upsetting you?"

"Shay." Thomas put his palm to his wife's cheek. "Sometimes I feel we are losing her to a life she was destined to have had, from the beginning. It's as if she has done a full circle. Born in poverty, and now living in poverty, or at least with it all around her. It's not the life I wanted for her."

"Oh, Thomas. I really do think you are worrying over nothing." Rebecca gripped his hand as a show of confidence. "The season will be upon us, and some young man will sweep her off her feet. I am sure."

"I'm glad, you're sure. After last season, I very much doubt that," Thomas scoffed. "She rejected Alex Temple, the Lord Chancellor's son, right there in front of me. What better offer could a young lady want? She would be in the company of royalty at all times." Thomas sighed. "That was her third rejection. Madame Le Fleure wrote concerning her behaviour towards the marquis, then there was Mr. Patterson, Edmonds partner. Another excellent possibility. She and Hannah would never be parted, yet she chooses poverty." He shook his head and exhaled loudly. "I'll tell you this, Rebecca. She won't be allowed to do that again. I will accept any suitable offer before she even knows about it."

"Thomas! You wouldn't!" Rebecca gasped.

"No. Probably not." He gave a weak shrug. "But I would honestly consider it." Thomas chuckled. He cupped Rebecca's face again and kissed her. "Could you see Shay accepting that, even if I did do it? A storm would certainly erupt, and all who live in Lytton House would have to run for cover."

Rebecca laughed at this thought. "Stop worrying so much. Shay will be Shay, and her life is hers to live as she chooses, so long as we are always there to support her." Rebecca kissed him again. "We are not the sort of parents who push our daughters into unhappy marriages."

"No." Thomas sighed. "You are correct as usual, however, I would really like her to have a husband to support her. One who will allow her to help with the poor, and whatever else she puts her heart to." Thomas chuckled again. "If she had married Alex Temple, she could be whispering in the King's ear right now, about helping the homeless. Instead, she's up to her elbows in it."

Laughing some more Rebecca said, "Well, why didn't you put that to her at the time?"

"I was in too much shock, to even think about it." Thomas wrapped his arms around Rebecca. "Time will tell, I guess. Time will tell." He put his lips to hers. "I think you and I need a nap. What say you?"

"Thomas." Rebecca giggled. "Now you mention it, I am very tired." She took him by the hand and led him out the door, a big smile on both of their faces.

I do love this couple.  Shay couldn't have asked for better parents. ♥♥♥

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