Shay felt so exhausted that she barely said a word. She pulled the curtain of the carriage back so she could take in some cool night air. She felt as though a heavy weight was pressing down on her chest. The tension Samuel was emitting, was so strong, that she wasn't game to speak. She drew in a long slow breath, and then dropped the curtain back into place. Shay glanced over at Omar who sat beside Samuel. He gave her a gentle smile but didn't say anything.

Sister Teresa shuffled on the seat beside her. She stroked the back of Shay's hand. "This is very exciting," she tittered and beamed at Samuel. "I am honoured to be here as Shay's chaperone, Your Grace."

Shay watched Samuel tilt his head in acknowledgement. He shot a glare at her. She quickly lifted the curtain once more, and breathed in through her nose. What was his problem? He had agreed with Sister Teresa's offer. After Shay had thought about it, Sister Teresa was correct. There was no way she could have attended this ball without a female chaperone. Not only would it have sullied her and her family's name, but his also. The place will be packed to the sides with people of the ton. If she had come alone, with Samuel and his manservant, all of England would see her as a woman of disrepute. As these thoughts took turns to swirl through her mind, another popped into her head. Perhaps she should have come alone with Samuel. If the King thought she was a whore, he would have prevented the marriage, and she would be free to remain single all her life and continue her work. Shay dropped the curtain again and looked down at her hands. If she had done that, her family would never forgive her. Papa's standing would be ruined and his business with it.

The fact that Samuel was so angry confused her. Surely it wasn't because Sister Teresa was her chaperone. No, it couldn't be that. Was it because she hadn't returned his kiss earlier in the day? Well, if that was it, it was his own fault. He had kissed her and left before she'd really registered what had happened. Shay's chest started to burn. She hadn't wanted to come to the stupid ball anyway.

As she stepped from the carriage, Samuel held out his hand to help her. Shay brushed his assistance aside. "I am quite capable." She lifted her hems and placed her foot on the step, and then took hold of the door.

Samuel had, had enough. Shay's refusal of everything he tried to do, was getting at him. She hadn't spoken a word to him and wouldn't hold eye contact with him. Her greeting a mere nod, and had refuse to give him her hand so he could kiss the back of it when he'd presented himself to her. Sister Teresa's babbled had filled the awkward silence. Now she was refusing to let him help her from the carriage. Samuel put both hands on her waist, lifted her off the step and placed her on the ground with force. He could see she was going to snap at him, so held up his hand. "Stop." Samuel turned to Omar and Sister Teresa. "If you could please give us a moment."

The nun looked flustered as Omar took her by the elbow and led her away.

Samuel led Shay off the path, so the footman couldn't hear what he needed to say. "I don't know what game you think you are playing, but it stops right here, Shay. I was hoping to form a bond with you, so this marriage would be agreeable to both of us, yet you refuse to give me an inch."

Shay went to speak. He pinned her lips shut with his thumb and finger. A rush of fear clenched her heart.

"You have pushed me to the end of my rope, Shay. I didn't want to take this road, but you leave me no choice. The gentleman in me, will no longer yield to your wishes. You will marry me." Samuel stared into her frightened eyes, caressed her chin lightly as he removed his fingers from her mouth.

"Gentleman," she hissed. "As yet I have never seen any evidence of you having an ounce of gentleman in you."

"Really?" Samuel chuckled. "Think of all the things I could have done to you already. Instead, I held back. I've tried to make time for us, so we could know each other better. You." He peered at her. "You have refused me in every way. You couldn't even greet me this evening. From now on, Shay, you will wish the man, who was Samuel Denyer an hour ago, stood before you."

"Don't you dare threaten me." Shay lifted her hand to strike him. He caught her wrist, spun her around, forced her arm under his and made her walk forward.

Samuel leaned down and whispered in her ear. "You will need my permission to breathe, let alone do anything else." He jerked her hard against him as they made their way to toward Omar and Sister Teresa. "Now smile, my beauty, and present yourself as a woman worthy to be my wife."

*

King William the fourth, beamed down at Shay as she curtsied. He took her hand and encouraged her to stand. "Ah, you are the beautiful Shay, who has our young duke snared." He lowered his head and kissed the back of her hand. "Samuel has told me of your work with the poor and in particular, children. Perhaps on another day, you and I will have a conversation on this subject." He tilted his head and smiled at her puzzled look. "It is my intention to change many things in this area. My hope is to make the lives of unfortunates much better. Children should not be forced to work as they do." He let go of her hand and grasped Samuel's. "I was sorry to hear of your time away, Samuel. Slavery is another subject I wish to address." King William pulled Samuel into a hug, and then stepped back. He looked from one to the other, and then focused on Samuel. "You have made a wise choice. I approve very much of your marriage to this lovely lady." He gave Shay another smile, and then patted Samuel lightly on the shoulder as he moved onto the next guest.

As Samuel led her away, Shay couldn't get the king's words out of her head. "I was sorry to hear of your time away, Samuel. Slavery is another subject I wish to address." She wondered what he meant by that. Was Samuel a slaver? All she knew, was that Samuel had disappeared. He had been assumed dead until a year ago, when he had miraculously reappeared. Shay had heard snippets of gossip. They ranged from his being abducted and held to ransom, to him having run away with an older woman, and had been living abroad. Not knowing anything other than him having killed someone, upset her even further. Shouldn't a woman know more about the man she was marrying, than such a horrid detail?

"Shay. Shay."

Shay jolted her head up to see Samuel peering at her. A man she didn't recognise was standing beside him smiling at her.

"This is my uncle, Lord Leopold Denyer." Samuel held his palm towards his uncle. He wondered what was going on with her now. If she was rude to Leo, there would be hell to pay. "Uncle this is my betrothed, Miss Shay Lytton."

"Yes... Miss Lytton. I am very happy to finally meet you. We have heard so much about you. Sammy hasn't given any of us time to meet you properly." He took her hand and placed a kiss on her palm. "He's a bit of a scoundrel, is Sammy. From what we have heard, I am sure you are the right woman to put him in his place."

Shay smiled at Leopold and quickly looked at Samuel. He was trying to hide a grin by rubbing his fingers under his nose. She opened her mouth to let Leopold Denyer know exactly how she felt about the upcoming wedding, when she noticed Lady Amanda Neilson within hearing. If looks could maim a person, Amanda's would have Shay bedbound. Shay quickly changed her course. The last time she saw Amanda, she was sprouting all sorts of things about Samuel favouring her, and that her mama was sure she would be the woman he chose to marry. Shay had never been afraid of humiliation, but there was no way she would have Amanda know the truth of Samuel's proposal. She beamed and curtsied. "My Lord Denyer. Please forgive me. My mind was elsewhere. I am in awe of just having met King William." She slipped her arm through Samuel's affectionately, and smiled adoringly up at him. "Yes. Samuel is a scoundrel. I'm sorry you and I haven't met sooner. We've had so much to do in organising the wedding." Shay quickly glanced at Amanda. It looked like she was about to burst. A bubble of laughter slipped through Shay's lips. She quickly put a stop to it, and looked up to see Samuel's furrowed brow.

Something was up. Samuel was sure of it. Shay willingly taking hold of his arm. Not possible. He looked over her head. The moment he saw Lady Amanda Neilson and her mother peering across at him, he knew Shay's behaviour was an act put on for their behalf. If she wanted to put on a show, then he'd go along with it. In fact, he'd take it one step further. Samuel grinned inwardly. The wrath that would come his way would be worth it. Shay would have no choice but to marry him. As Leo said his goodbyes Samuel felt Shay attempt to move her arm from the crook of his. He bent and whispered in her ear. "A scoundrel, am I? And what exactly is it, that you have done to organise the wedding?" She tugged her arm again. He held on tight. Samuel gently touched the side of her face as a lover would. He tilted her chin upwards and murmured. "If it's a show you want to put on, then a show you will have." He put his lips on hers and chuckled at the sound of the Neilson ladies' gasps of horror.

Pulling away, Shay hissed, "What are you doing?" She stood frozen staring up at him, knowing exactly why he had done what he had. She had only herself to blame. It was as if he had no consideration for her or her family's character. Just because he had the privilege to not care what others thought, didn't allow him to cast her reputation into the gutter.

Samuel smiled at her and put on a contented face as he murmured, so no one else could hear, "I have just sealed your fate with a kiss. You want to play games, Shay. That's fine. You need to understand that I am not a game player, but rather, the rule maker. You now have no option but to marry me." He chuckled at the look on her face. "The Neilson's were a fine choice to act in front of. I only finished what you started."

"If you would please let me go." Shay tried to act dignified. Inside she wanted to cry. "I need to freshen up. My Lord." As she pulled her arm from his, he let her go. Shay turned on her heels knowing all eyes, who had witnessed the kiss, were on her.

Samuel, I don't think you'll win her like this :(

But, I guess he just played the game Shay started.

Picture taken from agefotostock