Notes:
Took me longer to update, my bad!
Here's the new chapter, the next one won't take this long, thanks for readin
Have you ever had those nights where time seemed simply to have stopped?
Those long hours, where the sunrise never seems to fill the room up, the birds remain quiet, in absolute silence and the sleep you have, if you're lucky enough to get any, is dreamless, tasteless, of no use at all.
Thomas and Leonor weren't strangers to that kind of night. It was almost their unsaid rule by now, not the exception.
But that night, to their surprise, it was entirely and strangely different.
Leonor herself, if you were to ask her, wouldn't know if it was the opium that Polly gave her, in the hope of calming the stoic girl down.
And Thomas wouldn't be able to tell if it was the strike to head he took on.
But both of them had a surprisingly good night's sleep.
He woke up first, or at least he thought so.
Stirring on the bed, Thomas turned his head to the side, wincing at the feeling of the cotton pillowcase against his tender scalp.
He looked at the window, and there was no hint of the sun in sight, no rain as well, just the moisture from the garden that made little droplets of water stain the glass.
Looking down, he only saw the top of Leonor's head, the shiny black wavy hair, spread all over his chest and the golden ring, almost too loose around her finger.
"Leonor?" He tried, his voice rough and dry, just like his throat.
Thomas wondered what to say whenever she woke up. Whether he should bring up the subject or not this earlier in the morning.
As he dwelt with the idea, his hand made its way to her hair, his fingers stroking the silky strands, the floral scent soothing and discreetly wafting in the air as he twisted a lock around his index finger
It wasn't until he realized her breathing had changed, not as slow, followed by a yawn that revealed that Leonor had woken up.
"What time is it?" She asked in a sleepy voice, not looking up as she rubbed her eyes.
"Early." He mutted, keeping his hand still, as his fingers remained on her hair. "And you're awake."
His voice had a hint of humor, almost in a teasing manner. Leonor was never one for early mornings and Thomas had realized, by now.
But the joke flew past her head, and she sat up in a halt.
"Am I not?" Leonor asked, her eyes scamming the room. When she did, she frowned, bringing her hand up to her head, a throbbing pain bothering her.
"Oh, I am." Leonor realized, lying down again, this time by his side, covering her eyes in an attempt to soothe that pain away.
Thomas chuckled in amusement, scratching his chest, feeling the cold absence.
He had expected her to awake in a raging fit, furious or disgusted by him and his actions from the night before, so it was a pleasant surprise that all she did, was complaining about a headache, caused by the use of opium.
"You can go back to sleep if you want." Thomas groaned, tossing the sheets, frowning as he sat up, the motion followed by a light dizziness. "I have a long day ahead."
Leonor wanted to bring the subject up, ask Thomas what had led Tony to act up that way, what prior discussion led to it, or if he was just one dot on her husband's long list of enemies, who infiltrated their house.
And she would curse herself for it later that day, at the frivolity of it, but she nearly gasped at the thought of what they've done to the guests, the party, or the body, but the sight of his bare back and the scars splattered around his skin, diverted her from the idea.
Thomas noticed the worry wrinkle between her eyebrows and wished to smooth it out, but she beat him to it, rubbing her knuckles on it, her eyes searching for his in a failed attempt of discreetness. "Glad you're feeling better."
"I'm not feeling better," Leonor admitted with a shrug. "Nor do you."
"I'm fine." Thomas however, was not as transparent as her, so he lied. The throbbing pain was as sharp as present on his head. "Had worst days."
"As did I." She sighed, lowering her eyes, resentment for past experiences flashing across her face as Thomas reached out his hand, stopping himself mid-way, the sound of nails across the hall changing her expression.
He sighed and walked towards the door, opening it as he fished out a cigarette from his case.
"Good morning, sweetheart." Leonor nearly jumped off the bed, crouching to stroke and kiss the dog's snout. She could feel Thomas's eyes on her as she played with her unnamed dog.
"Now you're feeling better, eh?" He scoffed, blowing the smoke towards the ceiling. "Glad to know the dogs do it to you."
"You don't have to be jealous of her." Leonor joked, struggling to pick the pup up.
"The day I get jealous of a fucking dog is the day I'll fall to my bloody blade," Thomas spoke with disdain but the expression on Leonor's face made him reconsider his word. "This was-"
"Juliet, of course!" She gasped, clapping with a smile on her face. "It's perfect Thomas, thank you!" Leonor laughed, jumping as she hugged him. "Come now, Juliet, Mr. Shelby has much to do, we can't be in his way!"
Thomas stood by the door, dumbfounded as he watched Leonor run down the stairs, the newly named dog, Juliet just a few inches behind her as she shouted for Mary.
He was taken by a wave of relief, grateful for her unexpected reaction to the past night's events, but that feeling soon vanished as he remembered how good of an actress his wife was.
How the smile on her face, as beautiful it could be, could be as fake as the laughter it followed.
But business wasn't as composed as her and he really had much to do that day so he figured it was best to deal with it later.
—------------------------------------------------------------
"Have you ever been to the English country, Mrs. Shelby?" Mary asked her, proceeding with extra caution since what had happened the past days.
Even though the subject was past news, the somber energy lingered still, especially amongst the remaining staff.
"No, I have never been to most of the places in this country," Leonor responded with no real interest in the conversation, scratching the base of her head, and looking out at the dog's reflection in the mirror. "Have you?"
"No, Mrs. Shelby." The governess couldn't help but laugh, nodding as she brushed Leonor's long hair. "Of course not."
"That wasn't funny." She muttered, turning around, and looking up at the woman, whose smile now faltered. "What's to laugh? Do you take me for a fool, Mary?"
Mary lowered the brush, stuttering her words.
"No, Mrs. Shelby-"
"You do. All of you do." Leonor scoffed, shaking her head as Mary opened her mouth to protest, but she cut her off with a sharp gesture. " You can go, I'll finish myself." H er tone left no room for negotiation.
She watched as Mary hesitated for a moment, then stormed out of her room.
They think of you as Thomas Shelby's trophy wife, shiny and pretty but empty inside. Nothing about you, you're just an accessory, something to get close to, to get close to him, something to hurt, something to kill, an unkind voice spoke in her head, which sounded awfully like her aunt's.
Leonor shook her head, stopping herself mid-way to hit the silver brush on her head, and stood up, passing around the room, yet the brush was still in her hand. "You don't think that little of me, do you, Juliet?" She asked the dog, whose ears perked up in interest. "Or maybe you do too..." However, as soon as Leonor crouched by her side, the puppy turned her belly up in an inviting manner. "But it's ok if you do, you're just too cute."
"Lady Shelby." All that playing was interrupted by one of the staff, who hesitantly informed her that her husband was arriving at the manor, she nodded a yes and scratched her head again. "And, ma'am, hm, Mr. Shelby asked you to wait by the driveway, ma'am."
"I'll be down in a minute." Leonor glared at him before turning to the window, spotting his car's upcoming road. "And it's either Lady Leonor or Mrs. Shelby."
"Oh, I'm so sorry Mrs. Lady." The man blurted out, then closed his eyes, embarrassed. "If you'll excuse me." He nodded his head and quickly moved away.
Leonor did her best not to laugh as she walked past him, calling out for Juliet.
The entire staff had noticed how her behavior towards them had changed. She was not as kind and patient as before, even towards Mary, whom she had not seen chatting with in a few days.
The only person left unaffected by her unforgiving mood was Mr. Thomas Shelby himself. Who for once did notice something different, a slight change in his wife, but chose not to say anything, figuring it was just part of her aristocratic package.
Well, he and Juliet, the dog gifted by Alfie Solomon that followed her everywhere.
Leonor waited by the door, with Juliet by her side and she realized that the cold wind, the sharpness of it, against her cheeks no longer bothered her.
"You're home early." She noted, smiling as he stepped out of the car. "I was about to hop in the bath."
"Leave it for later, eh?" Thomas reached out his arm and laced it across her shoulders, leading her towards the back of the house, in the stable and lake's direction. "How's getting the dog to speak going so far?"
"...silent." Leonor shrugged, the proximity new to her. He smelled of leather, cigarettes, liquor, and cologne, all at once.
And that smell, such as the icy wind, didn't bother her also. "How was your day?"
"Fine." He sighed, and uneasiness around him. "Now close your eyes."
She frowned, looking out the lake and back at him. "Why?"
Thomas did not respond, he just stared at her, before losing patience and taking mather's in his own hands, covering her eyes.
"Be a good girl and keep them closed for me." His voice was so deep and so close that Leonor felt shivers down her spine, to which if you were to ask, she would say that they were caused by the cold air.
She brought her hands up, her fingers hooking his, tugging them down. "Nah, just a few more steps." He clicked his tongue, leading her way.
They arrived at the spot he wanted, but even so, he didn't release her. The wind against her hair, made a few strands blow across his face, and he caught himself inhaling her perfume.
Again.
"There."
Thomas dropped his hands, waiting for her reaction.
Leonor watched in awe at the horse trotting around the stable, the dark blond mane loose in wavy strands, bouncing with the wind as it tested the ground.
The chestnut coat was thick and shiny, and all she wanted was to run her palm against it.
It was one, if not the, most beautiful creature she laid eyes on.
"You said you had all but time on your hands." His hand found the middle of her back, gesturing her closer to the gate. "He's yours to practice on."
"Oh my, he's so beautiful!" Leonor covered her mouth, looking at him and Thomas noticed she had blood under a fingernail. "I loved it, thank you so much! It's the better gift you got me so far."
"Best." Thomas corrected her, taking in her quick embrace. "And we need to get you the best teacher, so you can start your lessons."
"Can't you teach me?" She looked at him with hopeful eyes.
"Horse riding or English?" Thomas frowned, faking confusion and she laughed, slapping his shoulder.
"I think I can manage the language, thank you very much." Leonor rolled her eyes, then turned away, looking at the horse. "But can you?"
"I can." He stated, whistling at the horse, who turned his head and made his way towards him. "Can you whistle?"
Leonor waved a no with her head, looking worried.
"Tsc, then you need to get him a name now."
She frowned, micking his movements, stroking the horse's forehead. "I can't tell if you're joking..."
"I never joke." The horse snorted loudly and both of them couldn't help but laugh. Then they stood in a short comfortable silence, blue met blue as they locked eyes. "But he must have a name."
Leonor blinked, looking over at Juliet, who tried her best to get close to the horse, sniffing at a safe distance.
"Juliet." She called out, fearing the beast's outburst, then laughed again, looking at the horse.
Thomas's throat suddenly got dry, as if waiting for something to happen, something to spoil the quiet and pleasant moment.
"Romeo and Juliet." She looked at the horse, then at the dog. "It's just too perfect!"
It always is, until it isn't , he thought, watching as Leonor ate dinner early.
"Can we start my lessons tomorrow?" She asked between bites, expecting and hoping he would say yes.
"No, tomorrow won't be possible I'm afraid." Thomas cleared his throat, sipping his whiskey.
"Oh." Leonor was clearly disappointed but still tried not to show it. "You're busy, of course." The silence lingered for a while longer, followed by the clicking sound of his lighter. "You know what I realized today?"
He just waved his head, licking his lips before running the tip of the cigarette across them, before flickering his lighter again.
"We never had a honeymoon."
That made him stop, surprise taking over, yet his face remained the same, all but a smug smile on the corner of his lips as he stood up, covering the distance.
Leonor's cheek grew warm, and she wondered if she was blushing, the thought of it was mortifying. The realization of the lack of honeymoon came just at the moment. They've slept together once and the subject fizzled out, just like Tony's incident.
Thomas never brought up what had happened again, and neither did she.
"Do you want one?" He asked, humor covering his voice as he looked down at her, who remained seated on the chair.
She almost changed the subject, but the way his chest puffed out, how he put one of his hands inside his pocket, almost proudful manner, was more than enough to get her to stand her ground.
She refused to get cornered by him this time.
"Yes, I want one."
"Very well, I'll handle it." He nodded, slowly making his way back to his chair.
Fortune, for once, decided to favor Thomas Shelby. He was glad that didn't even have to create an excuse to get her to join him on his upcoming business trip as he had planned.
It's not like he could simply tell Leonor that he heard of yet another death threat towards him, towards them.
He should've, but Thomas was beginning to think that there was more to Leonor than he originally had thought.
That even though their background and upbringing couldn't have been more different from one another, they understood each other, better than he could ever have expected.
Like she saw him, the good and the bad, mostly the bad, and yet the sight no longer terrified her.
Notes:
Who's ready for their long awaited honeymoon wohooo
Next chapter won't take long to be up, but I do hope you all enjoyed this one, let me know :)
Also, I was dying to give Leonor a "face" and I had one in mind but there was no gifs available but I saw that one on Tumblr and was pretty much sold!
Thank you for reading!