"I'm sorry, Shay. It was an offer I could not refuse." Thomas ran his hand through his hair and stopped pacing. It pained him to look at Shay's tear-stained face. "I thought this morning you would be more agreeable to this proposal. He is a good-looking young man. It's not like I've matched you to some ugly old ogre, like I know other poor girls get saddled with."

"What of my feelings, Papa. It doesn't matter what he looks like. I don't love him, and he certainly does not love me. I wanted to marry for love, not looks." Shay gasped back another sob.

"The thing is, child, you do not want to marry at all. You don't open your heart to the possibility of love. How you expect to marry for love, is beyond me?" Thomas sighed and opened his palms to her. "This offer is perfect for you. His Grace admitted to me that he does not want to marry, and was being pressured into it. Edmond told him of you and my worries. The duke thought this was the ideal solution for the both of you. He has money and connections. He said you may live your life as you always have, within the boundaries of being a duchess. Samuel said he would support your charity work. He will even become a benefactor. He also said." Thomas cleared his throat. "He also said you need not fret with concerns of him pushing himself onto you, in the way that a husband does a..." Thomas coughed again. "Wife. He does not see you in that, ah... way."

Shay stared up at him in astonishment.

"The marriage will not be consummated, Shay." Thomas tilted his head in question. "You do understand what I'm telling you, don't you?"

"Yes, Papa. I understand." For some reason, knowing this, made Shay feel like crying even more. She was now some peg, to fill a hole, in the horrid man's life, so he wouldn't be hounded by the ton. A door stop. That's what she was. A bloody door stop. Instead of keeping the door opened she was being used to keep it shut.

"Essentially it's a marriage of convenience." Thomas beamed. When he saw the look on Shay's face, he wished he could swallow his words. He glanced at Rebecca. She gave him a pained expression and shook her head.

"Yes. It certainly is that, Papa. Convenient for him, so he won't be hounded by his peers to marry, and convenient for you to get rid of me." Shay burst from her chair and darted toward the door.

Thomas blocked her way and clutched her to him. "I'm so sorry, Shay. It's not what I meant. I didn't mean it the way it came out. I worry about you so much. One day I am going to die. Then what? I want you to wed, so I know you will be taken care of when I and your mother pass. We want you to have security. You will have this with the duke, but with none of the usual demands that a husband puts on his wife. You will live just as you are. However, it will be a younger man taking care of your needs. Please understand, Shay. We love you so much, and just want the best for you." He lifted her face and wiped away her tears with his thumbs. "I hate seeing you upset like this. It was not my intention. I thought it would suit you, as much as the duke."

"I know, Papa. I love you too. I love all of you very much, and am so grateful for everything you have done for me but," she gasped. "We are complete strangers. I know nothing about this man, other than his name. He knows nothing about me, other than what has been said to him. I am going to marry a total stranger. That frightens me."

"Yes. I understand." Thomas cupped her face. "You won't always be strangers. The duke has already thought of this. He plans to be back in two weeks to spend time with you, so you might get to know each other a little better before your wedding day." Thomas smiled. "I consider that very thoughtful of him. It demonstrates to me, that he already has a level of care for your feelings."

Shay sucked in a breath and smiled. She could see her father was much stressed, and wanted to ease his anxiety. "Yes. That was thoughtful of him." Shay wiped her eyes. There was nothing else for it. Her father was not going to change his mind. He wanted the best for her and to see her settled and secure. This was his answer to all his worries, and as he had pointed out, she would still be allowed to live her life as she was, and to do her charity work. If what her father said was true, then nothing much would change at all. Just her address. Her new home wasn't too far away from her family. Shay smiled again. "Thank you, Papa, for caring about me like you do. I will accept the offer with good grace, and hopefully the duke and I will become friends."

"Shay." Thomas pulled her into a hug and smiled over at Rebecca. "Everything is going to work out. You are going to be very happy."  

Gosh. Do you think everything is going to work out?

Will Shay be 'very happy' as Thomas says she will be?

I really hope so. ♥♥♥

Photo taken from istock