In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Part 1 - 1919
The slamming open of the door pulled Charlotte out of her work as she sighed, rubbing her eyes. She hears loud drunken voices, attempting to be quiet, as they stumble around next door. Thankful her task is almost complete, Charlotte finishes her final total column then puts her pen down, relief flooding through her at the thought of going home and falling into bed. Getting up she feels her back muscles protest at her movement after hours spent hunched over at the desk. The voices in the next room are still attempting to be quiet but failing in their drunk state, she could hear Arthur loudly boasting, while John was chatting away. Charlotte turns down the oil lamp extinguishing the flame as she picked up the account book.
Opening the office door Charlotte ensures she makes enough noise so as to not to alarm the men in the next room as she walks into the Shelby's front room.
"Lottie, come in have a drink." Arthur greeted without turning around as he grabbed another glass and poured out a generous measure of whiskey handing it to Charlotte.
"What you doing here still Lottie?" John asked holding out his own glass for a refill, Arthur filled his glass spilling whiskey on the floor in the process something which Charlotte knew the so far quiet Shelby brother was watching with interest.
Charlotte takes in the three Shelby brothers. Arthur and John both look several sheets to the wind, suits dishevelled from their time at the pub Tommy looks slightly more put together but Charlotte knows he will be far from sober. Taking the glass Arthur offered her Charlotte answers "Getting the books ready for tomorrow. One of us has to do the work around here." She sips the whiskey feeling the liquid burn down her throat.
"That's what we pay you for Lottie." John retorted spilling some of his whiskey as he gestured with his glass to Charlotte.
'"Lucky, then, that I do the books so I know I'm worth every penny that you pay me." She retorts downing the rest of her drink. Turning to the thus far silent brother, Charlotte holds out the current account book which he takes, his piercing blue eyes watching her carefully. A lesser person would crack under the intensity of Thomas Shelby's analysing look but Charlotte Hawthorne at 27 has grown accustomed to this stare, her tiredness however forces her to break their stalemate first. "I should be off if we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
"I will walk you back." Tommy says finally breaking his silence he places the book on the table in front of him not bothering to check her work. He stands up putting his own glass down grabbing his hat as Charlotte grabs her own coat and hat off the coat pegs.
"Don't stay up too late." She calls to Arthur and John as they walk out the door, Charlotte vaguely hears the two other Shelby brothers grunt in response from the kitchen. Charlotte and Tommy walk in comfortable silence down Watery Lane towards Charlotte's home on Great Barr Street, the normally busy roads quiet at this hour.
Tommy doesn't look at Charlotte as they walk along, knowing he must have something on his mind Charlotte eventually prompts. "You gonna tell me what your problem is with Arthur?"
Tommy ignores her comment, asking his own question instead. "The books all in order?"
"You mean are you making money quicker than Arthur can drink it away, then yes the books are in order." Charlotte hesitates on the last part of her sentence, something she knows Tommy will pick up on.
"But?" He asks finally looking at Charlotte.
"If you don't start making more money and current spending continues then you'll be broke in six months. Times are hard people dont wanna gamble at the moment."
Tommy looks thoughtful before answering. "Sounds like we need a stroke of luck." Tommy took out his cigarette case taking one out.
"More than a stroke. I know you're planning something Arthur won't like."
"'What makes you say that?" He said placing the cigarette in his mouth.
"I know you Thomas Shelby." Charlotte looks at him as she says this to see if he reacts, finding his face as impassive as ever, she looks away as he lights his cigarette. They walk in silence for another minute eventually arriving at Charlotte's door, before she can open the door Tommy grabs her arm gently turning Charlotte to face him.
With his free hand he removes his cigarette. "What would you suggest then?"
"There's a girl in the Chinese quarter they call a witch she will give you your stroke of luck."
"Arthur won't be happy if I go against orders." Charlotte notices Tommy watching her reading her reaction to his plan.
"I'm sure Arthur will be too drunk to realise." She eventually answers. Tommy doesn't say anything taking another puff on his cigarette as Charlotte finally opens her door. "Night Tommy, I'll see you in morning."
"Sweet dreams Charlotte."
Charlotte undresses quickly falling into a restless sleep with dreams of horses, magic and bewitching blue eyes.
XXXXXXXXX
Charlotte woke up late the next morning her body protesting the lack of sleep after her late night balancing the books. Throwing her covers off Charlotte jumps out of bed splashing cold water on her face before dressing quickly in her second best dress and brushing her brunette locks putting them into her customary up do of a bun with its two ornate looking hair combs. In no time at all she was rushing back to 6 Watery Lane the smell of Sulphur from the iron works already thick in the air. Knocking on the door Finn the youngest Shelby opens it on her second knock greeting her as he does so. "Lottie."
Charlotte takes in Finn's smart suit thinking how he looks like a young Tommy or John that thought causes her a stab of pain and she decides to focus on the task at hand. "Morning Finn, they up?"
From the kitchen she hears Polly call "Is that Lottie? I got her toast ready."
Walking into the kitchen Charlotte takes off her coat and hat greeting Polly the matriarch of the Shelby family as she does so.
"You shouldn't have stayed so late last night." Polly says as she places a plate in front of her with two slices of toasted bread. Charlotte spreads both with jam and takes a bite out of a slice.
Once she had finished chewing she answers "Books are balanced though ready for today."
"You should let them do it if they are so eager to cut us out." Polly says still rushing around the kitchen preparing food for John's kids. A cup of tea is placed before Charlotte.
"It's ok, it's my job."
Polly doesn't reply instead sitting down opposite Charlotte smoking while she drinks her own tea lost in thought about the day ahead flicking ash into the already full ashtray she says. "Just remember it will only be your job until they find a man able to understand the numbers."
"You getting all suffragette on me Poll?" Charlotte teases having another bite of her toast.
"I'm just worried is all. They come back and think they know what's what."
"Luckily we are still around to steer them in the right direction then." Charlotte hears footsteps and excited voices behind her and doesn't turn knowing its John and his brood of kids. "You'd be lost without us wouldn't you John?" Charlotte doesn't complain as John steals her second slice of toast in their regular morning ritual.
"Yeah whose toast would I steal?"
Polly rolls her eyes at his antics jumping out of her chair and starting to serve up breakfast for the children who crowd around the table.
"Lot Lot." Martha, John's youngest calls excitedly from her father's arms her small arms reaching for the woman sat at the table.
Charlotte holds out her arms taking Martha from John letting the toddler sit on her lap feeding her spoonfuls of the porridge Polly places in front of her. John remains standing while Finn, Jack and the twins Andrew and Joe eat their own porridge.
John finishes his stolen toast before pronouncing "You're gonna be late for work Lottie." He walks over to the double doors opening them onto the already busy betting shop. Charlotte follows him giving Polly an apologetic as she hands over Martha and picks up her tea cup before walking into the shop.
Several members of the gang were rushing around getting the shop ready. "Two minutes boys." Arthur says from the middle of the organised chaos checking his watch with one hand the other holding a bottle of whiskey.
Charlotte keeps her face impassive at Arthur drinking so early in the day and takes her seat in her office finding the book she balanced last night on her desk with a note from Tommy. Will find the stroke of luck. Charlotte screws the note up and throws it in the bin knowing Arthur will not be happy. She hears the doors to the betting shop open and the first few customers trickle in as she sits down and starts working finding peace in the numbers.
It was a couple of hours later while Charlotte is on the main floor checking a book with Scudboat that Jack runs into the shop followed by Finn. "Dad your never guess what uncle Tommy did!" he called excitedly.
John who is stood with Arthur by the main blackboard talking seems disinterested in what Jack has to say, but John decides to humour his son when Jack repeats his question. "What's that son?"
"He got a Chinese witch did the powder trick to bless the 'orse now everyone knows he is gonna be a winner." Finn says before Jack gets to tell his farther the news. Jack pouts at Finn, while Charlotte quickly pretends to look engrossed in the book while she and Scudboat both wait for Arthur's reaction, they were not disappointed when they heard his roar of rage.
"What did you fucking say?!" The few customers who had been placing their bets in the shop quickly rush out not wanting to bear witness to Arthur's tantrum. "WHAT DID YOU FUCKING SAY?!" Arthur repeats himself more loudly this time his anger directed at the two young blinders.
Charlotte says nothing as she watches John step forward placing a hand on his brother's arm stopping him. "Leave them Arthur they are just the messengers."
"FUCKING TOMMY, THINKS HE RUNS THIS FAMILY. THINKS HE CAN FIX RACES LIKE BILLY FUCKING KIMBER."
John doesn't remove his hand from Arthurs arm trying to calm him down he says. "Let's go get a drink in your office and when Tommy shows his face later you can yell at him yeah?"
Arthur looks at John for a moment swaying slightly from the whiskey he has already drank that morning. Everyone in the shop silently holds their breath waiting for Arthur to calm down or start smashing stuff up. "Alright then." Arthur says shoulders slumping slightly in defeat. She waits until John has ushered Arthur into his office and closed the door behind him before she lets out the breathe she was holding and escapes to her own office.
Charlotte is not surprised when a while later Arthur stumbles into her office the smell of whiskey wafting in with him as he slams the door behind him.
Hitting his fists on the table he growls "What did he tell you?"
Charlotte looks up from her book meeting Arthurs gaze. "I know as much as you Arthur."
"Bullshit." He shouts smashing his fists on the table again. Outside the office Charlotte can see several members of the peaky blinders looking into the office anxiously.
Charlotte raises an eyebrow at Arthur's behaviour hoping that no one interrupts them and sets Arthur off on a rampage. She remains silent knowing Arthur needs to have his rant.
"I know he talks to you. WHAT DOES HE SAY?"
Scared of Arthur's actions Charlotte puts down her pen and stands up knowing she needs to choose her next words carefully to calm Arthur down.
"He doesn't tell me anything Arthur not since he got home, not since…."Charlotte trails off that train of thought knowing Arthur will calm down with the implication of those words. "I know what he is thinking just as much as you do."
Just as she hoped Arthur softens at her words his anger quickly disappearing. "Lottie, I."
"Arthur the day I know what Tommy Shelby is thinking is the day I run off with the Lee's to tell fortunes."
Arthur snorts at her suggestions "I'm sorry Lottie."
"It's ok Arthur. I'm gonna get back to work and so should you, it's a big day."
Arthur walks out the office closing the door respectfully on his way out, Charlotte sits down glad in his drunken state he didn't realise how much he had scared her. She feels bad deceiving Arthur but it is clear to her in the numbers that Arthur is running the family business into the ground with his drinking and his temper. Let Tommy deal with his family's mess Charlotte thinks picking up her pen once more.
It was getting late when Charlotte sees Tommy walk into the shop he doesn't come into her office instead Charlotte gives him a warning glare as he walks past summoned into Arthur's office.
She attempts to finish her work as she hears Arthur shouting at Tommy and then Tommy walking back out of the shop while Arthur yells after him that there will be a family meeting later.
The office goes quiet again and Charlotte is packing up when she feels someone watching her. John lounges in the door way chewing on a cocktail stick which is his method of giving up smoking, his arms crossed relaxed despite the day's drama. Charlotte smiles in greeting. "Come to save me from work John?"
"Always Lottie. It's dinner time let me walk you back to Great Barr Street."
From his tone and stare Charlotte realises that John must need to talk. "I'm ready now if you are." She finished straitening a pile of paper work that she will deal with the next day before turning off her lamp once again and walking out the office.
The door to 6 Watery Lane has barely closed behind them when John asks what has obviously been on his mind all afternoon "Do you know what's bothering Tommy?"
"If I had a pound for every time someone asked me that question I wouldn't need to work anymore, I tell you that John." Charlotte senses John's lack of satisfaction with her answer and so tries again. "I don't know what's wrong with Tommy, you know he doesn't talk to me like that anymore not since the war."
"But today with Arthur."
"Tommy would never do anything to harm the family John, he only wants what is best for everyone."
"I know that but..."
Charlotte interrupts him again. "Tommy has always been good at reading situations and playing his cards when the time is right. I am sure he as a reason for talking to Arthur that way." Feeling the need to lighten the mood Charlotte changes track. "Now enough talk about that moody git, tell me about your new lady."
"How did you know?" John asks surprised
"We went to school together John. Now we go to the same bath house."
John stops walking forcing Charlotte to slow down and turn to look at him. "Promise you won't tell anyone. Not Polly or Ada and especially Tommy."
Sensing his distress Charlotte smiles encouragingly. "You have my word John."
John doesn't start walking again one hand playing with his watch while he refuses to meet Charlotte's eye. "And you don't judge me? Don't think it's too soon?"
"You know I loved Martha, John she was a good friend like a sister to me. I am sure she would want you and the kids to be happy. As for what they might say, they forgot times were tough Lizzie did what many girls did, shit if things had been different I would have done the same John." Charlotte is surprised when John hugs her close.
"Thanks Lottie" He whispers in her ear before quickly letting her go and walking on Charlotte follows him and they finish the remaining walk in silence with John donning his cap to her as he walks away to put the kids to bed.
XXXXX
The next few days are uneventful for Charlotte as she works through balancing the books again after the influx of bets on Monaghan Boy. She sees little of Tommy which is probably for the best if Arthur is to believe she knows nothing about Tommy's 's the next Saturday Charlotte and Ada are walking back to Small Heath having gone window shopping in town while the football was on when they spot Tommy running out the Shelby house towards the Garrison.
"Where is the fire Tommy?" Ada calls after her brother.
"It's Arthur, the cops pinched him and messed him up bad."
The two women wasted no time in running into the Shelby house finding Arthur sat on one of the hard-backed chairs face a mess while he groans in pain. John and Polly are fussing about as Ada and Charlotte both take off their coats, Ada quickly rushing to boil water on the open fire while Charlotte inspects his cuts.
"John, wipe the blood out of his eye." Ada says ignoring Charlotte's inspection.
"Since when did you give orders?" Grumbles John.
Ada squeezes a cloth while answering. "I'm a trained nurse." Causing both Charlotte and Polly to roll their eyes at each other.
From his chair Arthur groans "Don't make me laugh, it hurts my face."
"I bloody am."
"You went to one first aid class in the church hall and got thrown out for giggling, Charlottes a trained nurse." John points out.
"Perhaps I should take over then." Charlotte says taking the cloth from Ada's hand and cleaning Arthur's cuts properly.
"Not before learning how to stop somebody from choking." Ada replies not bothered that Charlotte had taken over.
"I'm not choking."
"You will be when I wrap this cloth round your neck."
The door swung open as Thomas entered carrying the rum, Ada, John and Polly watch as he quietly unscrews the lid grabs a cloth and soaks it in the rum. His battle field training kicking in as he stands next to Charlotte and applies the spirit to the worst of Arthur's wounds. Arthur hisses at the pain as Charlotte moves onto strapping his thumb with tape while Tommy watches on approvingly.
"He said Mr Churchill sent him to Birmingham. National interest, he said. He said there'd been a robbery. " Arthur takes a sip of the rum.
John and Ada miss the look Polly sharply glares at Thomas in response to Arthur's revelation. Thomas steps back, not reacting to Arthur's words or Polly's stare.
Finishing his sip Arthur continues "He said he wants us to help him."
"We don't help coppers"' John said his anger evident in his tone.
Turning to Tommy Arthur says "He knew all about our war records. He said we're patriots like him."
Charlotte soaks another cloth and begins to clean Arthur's other wounds. "He said he wants us to be his eyes and ears. I told him we'd have a family meeting and a vote." Arthur stares at Tommy taking another sip while his words sink in.
"Why not? We have no truck with communists. Or Fenians." No one responds to Arthur as he continues to stare at Tommy. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Lottie, Polly, what is wrong with him lately?"
Charlotte doesn't answer her expression turning sad while Polly peers at Thomas for a moment.
"If I knew, I'd buy the cure from Compton's Chemists." Polly says hoping to lighten the mood.
Tommy turns and grabs his coat calling out. "Arthur, you're broken up pretty bad." As he pulls his coat on leaving.
Arthur growls trying to stand up as Charlotte turns to the stove keeping her hands busy as Polly calls out to Tommy.
John comes and stands next to Charlotte by the fire.
"No one blames you. He just needs time Lottie."
Throwing the bloody cloth into the water Charlotte replies "I know. I should get going."
"Lottie love thanks for looking after me." Arthur hisses drinking more rum.
"Tis not a problem Arthur. Can't let them ruin your pretty face now." Charlotte takes her coat from Polly who gives her a searching look Polly seems unsatisfied with what she sees as she hugs Charlotte close before letting her go.
Charlotte closes the door behind her to a chorus of goodnights from the assembled Shelby's taking a deep breathe she begins the walk home alone with her thoughts of another crazy week with the Shelby's.