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TALKING ABOUT MARRIAGE
ROSE BRUSHES GENTLY through the mane of the snow white horse in front of her. The stables were ice cold as the midland breeze blanketed the atmosphere, leaving frost jewels on the green pastures outside. No fire, no sun, no stove, could warm up the brisk biting cold of December in Small Heath. Yet Rose loved to see it; to see the Christmas decorations, the children in their mittens that were always too big for them, the ruins of a snowman and the look on mother's faces as their sons from the city came home for the holidays.
"Look what I brought for you." Rose takes off the blanket over the basket of apples and the horse immediately neighs. "I know, I know. You're hungry. Here." She takes an apple out. "Easy, girl."
"Rosella." The familiar deep voice of Tommy slightly echoes, he chucks his cigarette away and walks up to her.
"Thought I'd find you here." The warmth of his breath hits the back of Rose's neck as he stood behind her.
"Martha's getting old, Tommy." Rose dusts dirt off the horses thigh with her hand.
"Hello, hello." Tommy greets gently to the horse, letting her sniff his hand. "How are you, eh?"
"She doesn't have the same spring in her walk, you can tell it's not easy for her anymore." Rose continues, watching Tommy. "She's always been my favourite."
"Yeah. Martha's a good one. Got good instinct."
Tommy stares at the horse that he knew ever since he was a young boy. No matter how lame or useless her legs got, he vowed to never put a bullet in her head.
"I told my aunt about the engagement." Rose turns to Tommy. "I just bloody said it. Wasn't even thinking. Did it on the dinner table, she nearly choked."
Tommy sighs, moving her hair out her face. "You can come stay with me if you have to."
"Let's just wait until after the wedding. She's not that mad. I promise." Rose was trying to convince herself more than Tommy.
"All she said was, 'I'm not upset with you getting married, I'm upset with who you're getting married to', I was expecting her to say something worse actually."
Tommy didn't know what it was going to take to win the approval of Rose's aunt.
Renie Lovell was a tough one. Although she was one of Polly's oldest friends, the Shelby boys had never really been in her good books.
Tommy and Arthur used to throw eggs at her house when they were boys. Arthur even chucked her cat out the window. It still landed on its paws. John would play tricks on her too. Plus, the Shelby boys were really bad influences on her sons and made them act out.
"She'll come around." Was all Tommy could say.
With a weak smile, Rose nods. Inhaling deeply, she puts both her hands on his chest.
"I love you." Rose whispers, looking into the sapphire eyes that forever held her heart captive.
Tommy places his hand on her stomach, silence clouds the stables for a while, as well as the fog coming in from outside. A train whistles in the distance, a horse neighs, it was raining now.
"I love you both." He finally responds, his voice so quiet that Rose didn't even hear him.
"Did you speak to the reverend father? Can he marry us at St George's?"
"I did. It's happening."
Rose let's out a happy sigh of relief, immediately she presses her lips against his, kissing him.
What Tommy really meant was, he got Arthur and John to pay him a visit and practically bully the reverend into marrying them. It was ironic for Tommy to get married in the house of God, and the reverend knew that.
"Go with your aunt and pick out a pretty dress, okay? Maybe something white." He lights the cigarette in his hand. "You can take out as much as you need from the family fund."
"Renie's stubborn, she might not come."
"Then let Polly take you or Ada."
"Polly isn't talking to anyone after your meeting with her." Rose takes his cigarette, smoking it too.
"Well, she'll have to talk to one of us soon because the wedding is in a couple days."
Rose freezes and locks eyes with him, his words were still repeating in her head. "A couple days?"
"I've already got Lizzie to send the invites. We need to get married fast."
And Tommy meant fast. There was danger. If anything were to happen to him, he needed Rose in legal possession of certain belongings and funds. He needed to know she'd be secure. But not only that, he wanted to at least see her, the girl he loved, walk up to that alter with flowers in her hands.
•••
Tommy pours himself another drink, staring at the picture of Rose on his desk. His office was silent, dim and empty. Now, he was just left with his thoughts, a dangerous and confronting thing.
Yesterday, Inspector James had given Tommy a mission, one encouraged by Winston Churchill himself. A mission also supported by the two Irish people that blew up The Garrison.
They all wanted him to kill Feild Marshal Russell. They had dirt on him they could use if he refused to do so. Tommy could hang.
Russell's assassination would be a political move and a mission carried under The Crown. Russell was suspicious and plotting against the government.
Inspector James had promised Tommy complete protection whilst carrying out the murder but, Tommy didn't trust him or his word.
"You're still here." Lizzie says, waking Tommy up from his ponder as she enters.
"Here's some documents." She places folders in front of Tommy. "Also, Doctor Quinn has agreed to be Rose's permanent doctor. She needs to sign this."
"Okay, good." Tommy takes the file off her, putting it in his inner coat pocket.
"I... I don't normally ask questions but, why does she need him as permanent doctor for the next upcoming months? Is she okay? Does she have like a terminal illness?" Lizzie questions, slightly suspicious.
"Don't worry about it." Tommy responds, writing something down.
Lizzie nods slowly to herself. That was the best answer she'd probably get off him.
Tommy notices the expression on her face. "She's alright Lizzie."
Then it hits her.
"She's pregnant, isn't she?!"
Tommy sighs, not responding. He gives her a look.
"I bloody knew it!" Lizzie laughs. "You're good with secrets, Tom."
"You're one of the last people to find out, Polly, Ada, Harry and everyone else already knows."
John and Arthur had found out. Tommy told them to keep it hush, he didn't want Rose to know they knew until they both announced it.
But Arthur being Arthur forgot and when Rose walked in The Garrison, he blew a party blower in her face and got Finn to carry a sign board behind him that said 'congratulations on the newest Shelby' in all caps.
"I'm always the last one to the bloody party, aren't I?" Lizzie huffs, sitting down.
Tommy lights himself a cigarette and continues writing. He could feel Lizzie's eyes on him, he was trying his hardest to ignore it.
"What?" He gives up, looking up at Lizzie who had a gigantic smile on her face.
"Thomas Shelby as a dad." She starts, chuckling. "That's fucking beautiful. Like the ending of a movie they do down at Morley Pictures."
Lizzie gets up and leaves, still grinning to herself and leaving Tommy to think about her words. It was beautiful.
The phone in front of him rings, he stubs out his cigarette and picks it up.
"Tommy?"
It was like hearing the voice of a ghost.
"It's me..." The voice continues.
"Can you hear me?"
He grips the phone closer to his ear, sitting up.
"Yes Daisy, I can hear you."
"You know, it was me who sent those bullets—"
"I know." Tommy responds, emotionless.
Daisy had sent a bullet to Tommy and Polly. Yet, she hadn't sent one to Rose which actually seemed more concerning.
"I'm in Birmingham. Don't worry, I'm nowhere near Small Heath. Yet. However, I do want to meet. Can we?" There was no tone to her voice, she sounded robotic.
"Yes. We'll meet."
"When?"
"Next week. There are some things I have to do first."
•••
"Go on Arthur!" Finn eggs on from his seat as his oldest brother boxed in the ring.
"Come on Arthur!" King Maine, Arthur's trainer shouts, watching the fight intently.
"Look at those fucking punches, he's got a clean uppercut." Isiah comments, beside Finn.
Others were gathered around as Arthur boxed against Eduard Ross, a younger local boy that was also known to be a good boxer. It wasn't a proper match so there wasn't crowds of people, but it was still a significant event.
"Come on Eduard! Punch him properly, don't you want to be known as someone who knocked out a fucking Shelby?" Eduard's trainer encourages.
Something dangerous clicks in Arthur. He didn't know how or when but he was punching Eduard like his life depended on it. He had him on the ground now and a puddle of blood was forming around his head.
"Knock out a fucking Shelby, yeah!?" Arthur screams, still punching.
Finn looks at Isiah with panic as others rush into the ring to try pull him off Eduard, there was a massive commotion now.
When Finn sees Eduard's face, it nearly makes him vomit.
A man checks Eduard's pulse. He looks up.
"He's dead."
•••
Polly hears the sound of footsteps and quickly hides the bottle on her desk. She wipes her eyes and gets rid of her cigarette.
Esme walks in, wearing a long maroon coat. She sits down at her desk, glancing at Polly.
"You're against this expansion South, aren't you? You're against it the same as me, right?" Esme asks, breaking the silence.
"Look out for anyone putting big money on Divine Star at three thirty Newmarket. She's one of ours." Polly rubs her eyes, taking her pen. "Anything over a pound, tell me."
Esme gets up slowly, walking over to Polly.
Polly looks her up and down.
There was something captivating and mysterious about Esme's dark russet brown eyes, chestnut hair, her smoky eyeshadow and exotic jewellery.
"I don't wish to pry into your business Polly." She begins. "But you should know, they are other ways we can find your son if Tommy won't let you. We can find him through the crystal ball, Queen Mary Lee at the Black Patch can help."
"We?"
"Gypsies talk to each other, Polly. We help each other." Esme puts her hand on Polly's shoulder. "I heard some women talking at the wash house about why your kids got taken away. I'm sorry about your daugh—"
Immediately, Polly gets up and grabs her. She pushes her against the wall forcefully and clings onto the collar of her coat.
"Do not speak about my children." She cautions through gritted teeth.
"If you tell a soul about why or how my kids got taken away..." Polly pulls out a knife with the speed of light. "I will cut your fucking face up."
Esme leans further in her face. "I don't need a knife to stop me telling secrets given in confidence. It is a matter of honour."
Polly looks at her, quite taken back at how fearless Esme was. Swiftly, she lets go of her altogether and walks away.
•••
Rose had just gotten back from The Garrison. Ada was ranting to her about politics as they drank. She couldn't really get up and walk away. Once Ada started talking about Socialism, no one could stop her. Isaac had left quite the mark on his wife with his Christian and Communist views.
Running her hand through her hair, she enters her aunts home, hanging her coat up.
It seemed quiet. Too awfully quiet. There wasn't a single light in the house which was strange. It was only eight in the night and normally, Renie would be cooking something or listening to music.
The only light that seemed to be on was coming from inside the kitchen.
Slowly, Rose walks towards the door and opens it.
"You're home. Finally." Harry sighs.
Rose gives a confused look to her brother who was sat at the dining table with her aunt, Lucy and another woman who had her head turned.
"Rosella, this is your mum." Renie introduces, smiling and breathing heavily. "She's here."
Ethelinda turns around.
•••
the wedding is getting closer guys.