Thomas lay on his back looking up at the ceiling. He rolled his head to look at his wife. She was sitting up reading in the candle light. "Rebecca."

"Mmm..." Rebecca smiled down at him. "One moment." She read the last line, closed her book, put it on the bedside table, and then slid down to face him. "What is it my love."

Thomas rolled on his side and looked into his wife's beautiful eyes. He ran his finger down her cheek and put his lips on hers. "I love you."

"Yes. I know you do." Rebecca puckered her face and peered at him. "What's the matter, Thomas? I know this look. Something is bothering you."

"It's Shay."

"What about Shay? She seems to have settled well. Is there a problem?"

"Yes and no." Thomas took a breath and rolled onto his back.

"Thomas." Rebecca lifted herself so she could look down at him. "Has something happened?"

He blew out his breath and said, "I found her in the stables today."

"What was she doing there? Did Martha know she wasn't with the children?"

"Yes. Martha let her go out while the little ones were resting and the girls were doing their study." Thomas stroked Rebecca's face again. "Jack took her into the stables to show her the horses. They heard me enter with Samuel so, Jack hid her, thinking he would be in trouble for letting her near Dubhan. He had put her in the tack room where she somehow managed to get covered in boot polish, hay and horse manure." He chuckled, rolled his eyes and said, "Wet, horse manure."

"Oh...Really...? I can only imagine." Rebecca giggled. "That child will be the death of the laundry staff."

Thomas grinned and nodded his head. "The door swung opened, with the pressure of her leaning on it, so she ended up in a bundle on the ground at the young earl's feet."

"Oh my." Rebecca stifled another grin. She focused on Thomas' face. Though he was smiling she could tell something was truly bothering him. "Thomas. Are you going to tell me what's really going on in that head of yours?"

"You know me so well." Thomas lifted his head and gave her a light kiss on the lips. "The earl helped her up and got polish, and the other, all over his hand. Shay worried and said she could clean it. She lifted her skirt again, Rebecca, like she did when the milk spilt. It worries me. She has no understanding that actions like this, could lead her into trouble, or give her a bad name."

"How did Samuel take it?"

"He was wonderful. The thing is, Shay asked him if he was an angel."

"Really?" Rebecca's mouth dropped opened. "Well...I can understand her confusion. He does have a wonderful face." She tittered as she asked, "What did he say?"

Thomas raised his eyebrows and stared at her. "A wonderful face?"

"Yes." Rebecca laughed again. "I guess wonderful isn't the correct word. He's a very handsome young man and when he grows into himself, well...." Rebecca fanned her face in the pretence of being overcome.  "I imagine many young women will see him as an angel."

"Right." Thomas set his mouth in a firm look, shuffled up on the bed, jerked a nod and said, "I see."

"Thomas." Rebecca beamed and poked him in the ribs. "Forget I said anything and continue please."

"Angel indeed." Thomas huffed as his eyes sparkled, and then got serious again. "Samuel told Shay he wasn't an angel. He said she was the angel." Thomas paused and focused on Rebecca. "Shay said, no, sir I'm not. She said, I think I'm called a virgin."

"Oh." Rebecca bolted upright and covered her mouth with her hand.

"She realised she'd said something wrong," Thomas continued. "She tried to correct it by saying, I'm also a stray." He sighed again and said, "Samuel was wonderful. He told her she was no longer a stray because she had found a home with us. He then went on to tell her, well, made her promise to never mention the other again. That it wasn't something young ladies should speak of."

"Perhaps he is an angel, Thomas," Rebecca mused. "What a wonderful way to have dealt with the situation." She concentrated on her husband and queried, "But there's more?"

"No. Not really. It worries me. I'm hoping that you will agree with the plans I've been thinking on."

"No, Thomas." Rebecca put her hand to her throat. "We're not sending her away."

"Rebecca, my love." Thomas beamed and put his lips to hers. "I'm not sending her away. I want to have her educated so she may learn how to be a lady. What do you think?"

She let out a deep sigh, and then smiled. "I think it's a wonderful idea." Rebecca cocked her head. "Though, I'm sure Shay will always be a tomboy at heart."

"I agree." Thomas laughed, flipped his wife onto her back and leaned over her. He gave her a comical look as he said, "Angel. Really? If he's an angel I must be a god."

Rebecca put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. "Yes, master. You are definitely a god."

I think Thomas is a bit jealous hahaha. Angel indeed.

Photo taken from Pinterest for all the girls who love hot angels. ♥