One pill that Grace struggled to swallow was the fact that she couldn't and would never be Charlotte, that no matter how hard she tried, no matter how high she jumped, she would never reach the pedestal everyone held Charlotte on. It was the type of pill that stung to swallow, that seared as it made its way down, churning in her stomach. It bothered her that she felt that way,that she couldn't fight
the insane amount of jealousy that soared through her at just the slight mention of the girl.
Surprisingly it wasn't just the fact that she had Tommy whipped, to put it bluntly. Or the way she felt a bitter surge of distain when she watched the way tommy looked at charlotte, a certain way he had never looked at her, or anyone else on that matter. A part of her felt jealousy from a woman's perspective, she envied how Charlotte caught the attention of the entirety of any room she walked into, how her bubbly aura balanced perfectly with a certain level of class she held, even as a women she noticed the endearing vibe that charlotte carried naturally, how everyone's attention effortlessly gravitated towards her even if they were none the wiser to it.
It was also the way the Shelby's adored her like their own, watching as she held a different bond with every one of them, however they all loved her the same. Although, that jealousy did in-fact stem from tommy, the fact that she was well aware that no one would be good enough for their tommy other then Charlotte, but perhaps what really got to her, is that she knew they were right.
Black star day was approaching, and too quick for Charlotte's liking. Tommy had told her all he had planned one night as they layed in bed, it was when Tommy often found himself relaying most of the information to her, in the lightly dimmed room, the ambience warm and serene. A slight moment of weakness for him.
There was another person however, that was also aware of the monumental day that was approaching, i think you can calculate who that person may be.
As tommy lay in bed that same night after updating Charlotte with everything that was to come, he fought the urge to shut his eyes and heavily sigh in disapproval of his own actions, in the midst of a slight argument with Charlotte he had found himself caught up in conversation with grace, letting her in on sacred information that he knew should of stayed within family and family only.
In all honesty, he didn't know why he had told her and why he felt like he could in the first place. It was only now when he thought back to his initial intention's to get closer to the girl, he mentally scowled himself. He was aware that the first assumption would be because he trusts her, perhaps feelings slightly stronger then that. However when he thought about it he didn't, he definitely didn't. Especially when he had his girl under his arm sound asleep, his mind didn't even trace to the blonde.
He was confused and conflicted, one thing Tommy Shelby rarely was, but here he was, confused and conflicted indeed.
The next morning, Charlotte sat with Arthur helping him with the adding up, that she had to say was shockingly bad.
Laughing and joking, their heads popped up as grace strolled into the pub, taking her hat off and walking towards the bar. "Hello Grace" charlotte nodded, clearly unbothered about her presence.
Oh, and that's another thing that got to grace, Charlotte was always so evidently unbothered whenever grace was around ,significantly contrasting from her own state of irritation and jealousy. It displayed another one of Charlotte's untarnished traits, maturity.
"Hiya Charlotte" she nodded, smiling to Arthur.
Arthur was never too fond of grace, to be honest he didn't have much of an opinion on her at all really, he didn't see her as a threat to the business at all however it irritated him how competitive she was with charlotte, because he knew full well amongst all the other Shelby's, that she wasn't competition in the slightest.
"Right, i'll go change the barrels" she rose from her seat, straightening up her dress. "don't touch em again arth, leave it to me next time" she chuckled, in reference to the books.
"yeah alright Lottie" he laughed, also rising from his seat. "whiskey please Grace" he nodded, as charlotte descended into the back room.
Taking note that the brunette had dispersed for a short while, she cleared her throat turning her full attention to Arthur. "Do you want me to check that for you, Arthur?" making her way round to the front of the bar.
"if you like, lottie's sorted it though" he shrugged, not taking much notice of the blonde.
Feigning concentration, she scanned her eyes over the book,although what she was really contemplating was how she about to receive her new batch of information.
Much to her delight, her eyes pricked up at a payment that was marked in the book, to a Danny whizzbang. Clearing her throat she lifted her head "Arthur it say's here, you pay a danny whizzbang every Thursday" she perplexed, under the illusion he was dead. "yeah that's alright" he shrugged once again. "but i thought he was dead?" she tried her luck once more, praying he wasn't reading into her. "yeah well that was just a show to satisfy the wops, he's working for us in London now" he carried on, much to charlottes dismay as she left the back room, wincing slightly at what he assumed to be,meaningless oversharing.
At the presence of Charlotte, Grace rose from the seat, simply nodding. A smug sensation consuming her as she couldn't help but sing with happiness inside, jackpot.
-
Sat in-front of Inspector Campbell, Grace fought the urge to sigh as she mindlessly glanced back down to the floor, like she has continuously done for the past fifteen minutes she's been in his presence. "Mr Campbell, i no longer feel the need to avenge my fathers death" she spoke gently, not missing the small look of disapproval that accompanied his face.
"i feel as though our military mission has come to a natural end" she lightly nodded, apprehension consuming her.
"i didn't know you were going to involve yourself with Thomas Shelby" he stated, watching as her face contorted lightly.
"in his way he's been kind to me" she sighed,fighting the urge not to look smitten.
"I think i know where to find the guns" she spoke in a hushed tone, watching intriguement now take place on the inspectors face.
"but i want your word as a gentlemen, that Thomas Shelby will not be harmed" she prospered.
"will you give it?" taking her hand in his, he turnt towards her.
"yes you have my word" he nodded.
"but grace, you mustn't let your own desires fool you, tommy loves that charlotte. he's done nothing but show us the extents he would go for her this whole mission,you'd be fighting a losing battle." he squeezed her hand lightly, a gesture to try to portray the sympathy he certainly did not feel. Ingenuity riddled the "grateful" smile she shot back. "you may be under a different impression, but it's undeniable, you and i both know that." he added "Now guns".
Charlotte and Millie sat in the Windsor girls home, filled with serotonin as they sorted through the clothes they had bought on the shopping trip they had opted to go on that same morning.
As you can imagine, in finding out Charlotte would be going on a shopping extravaganza Tommy insisted on supplying her with a decent sum of money for her affairs, as much as she protested it didn't get her anywhere, and was really just a waste of breath.
"go and treat yourself Lottie" he insisted, and in all fairness Charlotte knew he wouldn't be happy if she returned without the bits she had wanted. So now she sorted through the stunning dresses she had bought, with the help of her best friend, shattered from the day of activity's.
Sprawling out on her sofa, she revelled in the satisfaction of her legs taking a break and her muscles relaxing, basking in the warmth that had consumed the room due to the crackling fireplace.
The gramophone filled the room with a relaxing ambience, descending down the stairs millie didn't miss Charlotte singing a small part of the song, very well to say the least. Smiling to herself she placed her small frame next to her best-friend turning to face her. "what?" charlotte laughed at the giddy expression on her face. "do you ever think about trying to pursue that voice of yours?" she questioned, watching as charlottes cheeks became slightly rosy.
"shut up mill" she attempted to dismiss her "I'm being serious! you've always been told your talented" earning a shrug in return.
"so what are you doing?! get your ass to the capital Lottie" she laughed, however her words held pure truth.
"Well i suppose i have" she shrugged once more. "never properly though"
"well why not?" the blonde frowned
"well...tommy" she bit at lip at the slight dilemma.
"he'd want you to do that though?" she perplexed.
"yes but his life is here, he wouldn't come with me" realisation became one on the girls face.
"so you'd want to do it?"
"but my love for tommy overpowers my desires" charlotte finished for her, watching as slight sympathy flashed upon millie's face.
Charlotte's eyebrow's furrowed lightly as millie glanced at her hands, picking at her painted nails. "Um Lottie" millie nervously spoke, continuing to pick at her nails. "yes?" her frown deepened in confusion.
"i need to be honest with you but i completely understand if your upset with me" a lump of apprehension formed in charlottes throat as she swallowed, nodding lightly.
"um me and uh Jordan, we've been well... seeing each-other" she ducked her head in shame, as charlottes eyes intently watched the girls behaviour in shock.
"my brother?" she scoffed, not solely at the situation but also at how the girl couldn't even look her in the eye.
"for how long?"she questioned.
"since we both moved to London" she spoke, her voice small.
"so for what, almost a year?" she fought the urge to scoff again at the light nod of the blondes head.
"are you happy?" she further questioned, observing how the blonde reluctantly nodded.
"okay" she firmly nodded, rising from the sofa. "i'm going to go see tommy" she very lightly smiled down at the girl who looked distraught.
"i'll be back later" she finished, as she gathered her things before leaving her home.
Unbeknownst to Charlotte, Tommy had became aware of the discovery of the guns, frantically walking into the garrison he searched the pub for her, his eyes finding grace instead. "Tommy, Are you okay?"
he examined the pub before pulling her into the back room where there wasn't any unwanted ears. "i've lost my bargaining power, i'll need to lay low for a while" he confessed, as a minuscule hint of guilt invaded her eyes. "where will you go?" she frowned, even though it was her own doing there was no denying that she wasn't concerned. Before he could reply, Finn burst into the little room "tommy the police are in the lane" he heaved, clearly out of breath. "come with me" grace placed her hand round his arm as he turnt his head back towards the pub, searching for charlotte one last time before reluctantly following the blonde.
Entering the room she had been lodging in, tommy couldn't help but feel completely out of place and extremely uncomfortable, he hadn't been in an environment like this with another women for as long as he could remember and he certainly did not miss it. Anything with anyone else felt unnatural because he was in love with charlotte and that was the bottom line, but he swallowed his thoughts seeing as he had very little option anyway, unless he wanted to land in a cell that night. "you look as if you've seen a ghost" she chuckled, snapping him out of his daze. Shaking his head in an attempt to dismiss her, he glanced at her. "you want tea?" she questioned "tea, no" he shook his head as she chuckled lightly "i have rum" she offered "actually tea it is"
"are you trying to impress me?"
no i'm trying to convince you that i wouldn't rather be anywhere but here right now.
"yes."
"you have a gramophone?" he questioned as she shook her head "doesn't work" she smiled "are you trying to ask me to dance with you Thomas?" he prospered for a second before raising his hand for her to take, nothing harmless in a dance he thought, a way to pass time.
As the pair danced, they caught each others eyes more deeply, a sudden tension contaminating the room.
Tommy hadn't known what had come over him as she broke the small proximity between them, placing her lips on his. He reciprocated it ever so slightly before a wave of almost disgust fell over him, what the fuck was he doing. It felt so foreign and just fucking wrong all over,pulling away he shook his head. "This can't happen grace."
Little did he know, Charlotte had taken the shortcut to the garrison, in hopes of finding him and letting him in on the information she had just found out. This shortcut however passed Grace's accommodation, mindlessly glancing up to the window charlotte knew grace occupied she stopped dead in her tracks, recognising instantly the figure of her man. Her heart began to race at the sight of his lips on another woman's, his hand caressing her frame as they usually did her. An instant wave of betrayal and sadness consumed her, surging through her veins and churning her stomach. She stumbled back to the brick wall behind her, turning away from the scene just as tommy pulled away, shaking his head.
Tears streamed down her pretty face, as she kept her grip firm on the brick wall, emptying the contents of her stomach at the sight. The consequences of instant heartbreak, so strong it physically effected her ,sending pains through her chest. She attempted to pull herself together, not being able to stop the sobs that involuntary left her mouth as she walked towards her home.
Completely and utterly heartbroken.
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i apologise for next chapter before hand,hope your enjoyingg