Samuel watched Thomas Lytton walk his daughter down the aisle. He hadn't seen Shay for two weeks, and had feared that there was a big chance he'd be left standing at the altar. He couldn't believe how beautiful she was.

Her dress was off the shoulder with swags of tulle sweeping from the centre of the bodice to the tips of her shoulders. The tulle acted as soft sleeves, then swept around the back of the dress. The gown hinted at being pale lilac. Whatever the colour it suited her perfectly. Intricate embroidered flowers in darker tones covered the bodice, and then flowed from the sides of the tight waisted skirt to curve downwards and meet at the middle of the frilled hem. The flowers trailed down the back of the skirt which flared out into a graceful train. It was topped off with a soft tulle sash belt, which emphasized her small waist. Shay's hair was pulled back in flowing waves, pinned to the back of her head and left to hang in soft curls. Small flowers were woven in amongst the tresses.

Samuel blew out a gentle breath. He couldn't believe how lucky he was. Now all he needed to do was to make her like him. He wasn't sure how he was going to do that. By the look on her face, he thought there wasn't a hope in hell. As Thomas delivered her to stand beside him, he bowed, took her hand, and then turned to face the priest.

*

Her heart was a flutter. Shay had hoped to get a chance to speak with Samuel before the ceremony, even though she had been told it was unlucky to see her groom beforehand. As it was, no one had seemed to know where he was. She had wondered if he would be here at all, but there he was, standing dressed in long white pants and a white frilled shirt, knee high boots and a royal blue coat buttoned at the waist. His hair was pulled back in a knot with tendrils hanging loosely down the sides of his face. A face Shay could only describe as, belonging to an angel. He looked tense. Angry, perhaps. How was she going to get him to forgive her for her rudeness? Shay had to admit, she had been rude to him every time he'd made an attempt at getting to know her. Now she had to pay the consequences.

*

"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Samuel bent down and kissed her on the side of the mouth. A polite kiss to show he respected her. He took her hand, turned to the crowd, led her down the aisle and out of the church.

*

His eyes were very dark as he leaned down to kiss her. Shay had plans to respond with enthusiasm, but he didn't give her a chance. His kiss was quick. Cold. He gripped her hand and tugged her behind him and out of the church to a waiting carriage. She allowed him to help her onto the tread and inside. They sat across from each other and waved to their guests as the carriage moved off.

"We'll see you back at Lytton House," Hannah called and blew Shay a kiss.

Shay smiled, blew a kiss back, and then settled on her seat. How to begin?

She was about to speak when Samuel said, "How have you been?"

"Well." Shay fiddled with her fingers and the ring that now connected her to him. "I've been very well. And you?"

"Yes. Well." Samuel looked out of the window. This was great. Just great. They were both well. At least that was something. He looked back over at her and said, "So, I don't have to fear you vomiting on me."

"Oh, My Lord," Shay gasped. "I'm so so..."

"My name is Samuel." He pinned her with his stare. Was she really going to call him, My Lord? "You're my wife. You will call me by my first name, Shay." A ball of fire burnt in his gut. He'd just about had enough of her antics.

Shay clasped her hands together in her lap and lifted her head proudly. "Really? Is this how we are going to begin? With you bullying me."

"Bullying you? For God's sake woman. I've tried everything in the book to have you approve of me, yet it would seem there is no pleasing a feral cat."

"Why... you... how dare you!" Yes, she was a stray, but was he so full of vengefulness that he was going to attack her in that way. She stood up and hammered on the roof of the carriage. There was no way she was going to sit and listen to this. "You're an arrogant heathen." The carriage jolted to a stop. "If you don't like who or where I come from, why did you insist on marrying me?" Shay forced the door opened and scurried down the step to the road.

"What are you doing?" Samuel lunged to his feet and tried to grab her. "That's not what I meant." By the time he jumped to the ground Shay had lifted her skirts and was running towards the trees. "Shay! Stop!" Samuel groaned, ran his hand over the top of his head and looked up at the driver. "Go on. Tell Master Lytton we have decided to take a stroll, and will be there soon. The party can begin without us."

"Yes, Your Grace. As you wish." The driver nodded, flicked the reins and said, "Up ya go me lovelies." He stared ahead, chuckled to himself and muttered, "That man has his hands full there."

Samuel took off after Shay. He came across her trying to climb over a fallen tree trunk. "Shay. Stop." When she turned, he could see tears rolling down her face. "It's not what I meant."

"Well, what did you mean?" Shay shoved her hands on her hips and jutted her face at him. "I wanted to enjoy my wedding day and you, sir, have ruined it."

"Enjoy it?" Samuel shook his head in disbelief. "That is the biggest untruth I have ever heard."

"So, now I'm a feral cat, and a liar. Good day to you, sir." Shay spun around, lifted her skirt and attempted to get her foot onto the log.

"Stop calling me sir." Samuel took hold of her hand and made her face him.

"Very sorry me lord. I is forgetting me place I am." Shay sneered at him and used the best cockney she could muster. "Just a lying feral cat me is."

"Stop." Samuel bit on his lip, and had to look up at the sky to stop from laughing. She was so endearing. Even when she hissed and spat.

"You're laughing at me."

"No. Definitely not." Samuel looked down at her and swallowed his laughter. The side of his mouth hurt from trying to remain serious.

"You are." Shay got her finger and pushed it into his sternum.

"Shay. That hurts." Still holding onto her hand Samuel stepped out of her reach.

"Then stop laughing." She peered at him and clenched her teeth in anger. "You have told me I am a lying feral cat and you think it's funny. What sort of man are you to speak to a lady like that. And yes. I know I am not a lady born; however, I am still a lady."

"Yes. You are."

"If..." Before Shay could continue Samuel put his fingers to her mouth and shook his head.

"Enough. You have to stop coming to false conclusions and let me explain." He moved his fingers to stroke her cheek.

Shay opened her mouth.

"Ugh. Shh... my turn, Shay." Samuel cocked his eyebrows and smiled. "That is... if I may?"

She huffed, took a step back making him release her, and then folded her arms. "This had better be good."

Samuel chuckled at her pouty face. "It is." Where to begin? "When I said there was no pleasing a feral cat, I was not referring to your birth." He tilted his head a fraction and gave her a forlorn look. "I apologise for offending you. I was merely trying to express that you have a tendency to... ah... find fault in everything I do, to try and please you. Our time together in London was not a success because you won't open your mind to being wed to me, so your reactions reminded me of a feral cat wanting to claw me." Sam blew out a breath. This was just getting worse and worse. The furrow on her brow seemed to get deeper with each word he said. Samuel hung his head in defeat, and then looked back up at her. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do to make all of this right." He sighed again. "Tell me, Shay. What can I do?"

"I don't know." Shay bit her lip. She really didn't know what he could do. He looked sad. Without thinking she stepped toward him, reached up and put her hand on his cheek. "I'm sorry that I've been so rude to you. Everything has moved so fast. I'm not like other women. Marriage to any man was not on my list of things to do. Then you suddenly came into my life. The truth is, you frighten me, Samuel."

"How?" Sam peered at her. "I don't mean to frighten you. Tell me what it is and I'll change it."

"I don't think you can." Shay smiled. "It's the way you look at me. The way you have made me feel every time you've touched me. I don't understand any of it. I'm frightened because a stranger shouldn't have been able to do that to me, so I have pushed you away. I've been very confused."

Samuel cupped her face. "You're my wife, Shay. I'm not going to hurt you. The things you felt. Feel. I hope it means you're attracted to me, like I am to you. They shouldn't make you afraid, but excited. They should make you smile when you think about them. I want you to let them grow, so we can be married properly." He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. "Not any man can create these feelings in you." Samuel chuckled. "You accused me of somehow tricking you. That's not how it works, Shay. For your body to respond to a man's touch you have to have an attraction for him. Women are different from men in this way." He shrugged. "A man's body will react to the touch of any woman if he finds even the slightest attraction for her, but for a woman to give herself completely, she has to have strong triggers."

"I have triggers for you?" Shay frowned. "The sensations I felt. You're telling me they are triggers."

"Yes. At least I hope so." Samuel lifted his shoulders. He smiled, and then gave her a curious look. "Has another man made you feel these sensations?"

"No. No other man has been as forward as you have." Shay looked at him quizzically. "Are you telling me you only have a slight attraction for me? You said a man only needs a slight attraction."

"Oh," Samuel sighed. "I've confused you even more." He let go of her face and stepped back. "I was just trying to make you understand that the feelings I have evoked in you cannot be created by just any man. You seemed to think any man could do this to you. They can't, Shay. Only someone you are attracted to can do that to you. Men on the other hand want to be with women a lot of the time. Their urges are stronger, so any woman could get him to..." How was he going to say this? "Respond to her touch, but it's instantaneous. Once he does what he needs for relief, he can walk away from her without any regrets." Samuel watched her mouth drop opened in shock.

"You will do this..."

"Shay." Samuel put his fingers to her mouth to stop her from talking. "I know what you're going to say. Let me finish. A man can do this without love in his heart. I'm not denying that there are women who can do this also." He shrugged. "But if a man truly loves a woman the connection is different. He will only want her, and no other woman can get any reaction from him." He ran his hand around her neck and pushed his fingers into her hair. "Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

"And you? Now we are married. What are your intentions?"

"My intentions are good." Samuel smiled. "Have you not listened to anything I have said to you? I have thought of only you for three years. No other woman has ever had me feeling like you do." He stared into her eyes. "I'm going to kiss you, Shay. Please don't slap me."

Before she could say or do anything, Samuel put his lips on hers and moved them gently until she copied him. His body was on fire. Even though he knew he was pushing boundaries he wrapped his arm around her waist, lifted her and put his hand on her backside, along with a bundle of fabric, to hold her in place.

Shay's heart thumped in her chest. She struggled to breathe. The sensations were the strongest they'd been. She had no control of her reaction. When he lifted her, she wanted to wrap her legs around him and was glad her skirt and petticoats wouldn't allow it. She put her arms around his neck. Shay clung to him, not wanting him to stop. When he pulled away Shay stared at him. She drew in a long silent breath. "Oh." Was all she could say.

"You are so beautiful." Samuel ran his finger gently over her lip. He smiled. "I hope that we understand each other a little better, Shay, and we can try to make our marriage work?"

Shay blushed and hung her head. "Perhaps you should put me on my feet first."

"Soon." Samuel chuckled. He put his forehead on hers. "I won't rush you, Shay. There are many things we need to discuss; however, they can wait. Now we have to meet our guests. They are going to be wondering what has happened to us." He put her on her feet, took her hand and led her back to the road.

I was a bit worried there for a minute but finally Shay is starting to show some feeling towards Samuel.  ♥♥

Watercolour taken from Creative Fabrica.