Part 10!
The Garrison was bustling with people and chatter. Beer and champagne flowed freely and the evening was just getting started.
Arthur had mounted the bar, standing up on it with a bottle of champagne in his hand. Dessa stood by his side on the floor. Her flute filled with champagne held at her side.
"Shuddup all of ya's! I'm makin' a toast!" Arthur bellowed gaining everyone's attention. Violet stood near the back with John pinned to her side. Drinks in hand as well waiting for the toast Arthur prepared.
"I know ya all think this is just a pub, a place where ya can escape ya woman an drink till ya can't remember ya name!" He began gaining laughs and cheers from the various men.
"But this is more than a pub ta meh! This is an investment in ma future! An now theres only one thing missin' in my future." Arthur held up his hand, pausing before tilting his head down to face Dessa. He jumped down from the bar, Jolting everyone with the sudden stomp. His hand placing the glass bottle on the bar, freeing his hands to grab Dessa's hand. She blushed from all the attention that was put on her.
"Dessa, meh future would'nt be much wit out a wife to look afta meh. Now I'm a respectable pub owna, I can ask ya ta be meh wife! Now whaddya say Dessah?" Arthur had sunk to his knees, a gold diamond ring between held up to her. The room silent, everyone holding their breath as they waited for Dessa's answer. She tried not to choke on her breath, she hadn't expected this, her heart felt like it had stop drumming just at the thought of this being real.
"Yes!" Dessa cried, feeling herself ready to burst. The room burst into hoots and hollers everyone holding their glasses to the couple.
The ring slipped with ease up Dessa's finger, making her feel faint with shock. Arthur pulled her into a tight hug, maneuvering back to kiss her hard in front of the whole pub.
Violet squealed jumping for joy at her friend's happiness. She always loved weddings. John shouted along with the rest of the room. Peering to Violet and laughing at her childish like scream.
Dessa showed off the ring to those who approached her, congratulating the couple.
"Yup, Polly help me pick it out." Arthur stated proudly, his arm around Dessa's waist holding her close. Dessa met eyes across from her, Polly was smiling brightly up at them.
Violet barely saw Dessa all night, with all the fuss of her engagement everyone was crowding the couple in hopes of getting all the details of how they met and plans for the wedding itself. It was all very daunting to Violet, the room seemed to be overwhelming her. Mentioning to John she had to step out for some air. Which he let her go with out a hassle.
Reaching in her purse retrieving her cigarettes and matches. She shakily lit the match and just as swiftly put out the match. Inhaling deeply feeling the calmness wash over her.
Dessa was beaming with the attention, she had to keep looking at her hand to remind herself it all happened. Arthur kept looking to her with love in his eyes, smiling to himself feeling utterly happy with the nights events- With his woman and now the pub- the family business going well he never wanted to feel anything but this happy ever again.
Tommy was sitting at the table with Polly, both enjoying the conversations around them. John rounded the table sitting next to Tommy.
"'Scuse us Pol, men's business." John signaled for Polly to leave them. Polly did walking over to Dessa and Arthur. Tommy took a sip from his drink feeling drained at the the thought of what John wanted to say to him.
"Listen Tommy, I don't want Violet goin' ta the races. It won't be safe." John started staring at his brother. Tommy's features stern as he let out a small sigh.
"She told ya." He wasn't mad, it was her business who she told he supposed.
"Yeah she did. Where do ya git off askin' Violet ta work for ya?!" John's voice started to rise, growing frustrated with Tommy's vacant stare.
"She's a grown woman John, she can make up her own mind." Tommy stated growing bored with the fight John obviously wanted to start.
"I mean it Tommy I don't want her to go to any bloody races!" John called after Tommy, whom started to leave the table. He needed some air he concluded. Once outside he say a very frazzled looking Violet. A cigarette held tightly between her fingers as she stared off into space.
"Ya alrigh' Violet?" Tommy asked grabbing his own cigarettes placing on between his lips. She jumped at the sudden appearance of Tommy Shelby. And nodded, realizing he wasn't looking at her she spoke.
"Yes. Just-" She started, words mulling over in her head. She hadn't quite figured it out herself. Both of them blowing out smoke at the same time.
"Does this have anything to do with working for me?" Tommy asked, even if it pained him to. But he had to know.
"No, nothing like that." Violet shook her head, she hadn't even been thinking about that other than when she thought to tell John. She had though John was in on the ordeal but when she told him he was bewildered and to the best of her knowledge he seemed a bit apprehensive about the deal.
A silence passed through both of them before Violet figured she might as well say what's on her mind. Knowing she shouldn't burden Dessa on the night of her engagement, and honestly who else could she turn to? She thought of her sister Penny, she was such an wild child. She ran away from home so many time Violet couldn't even count them on her fingers. Laughing internally as she remembered. Violet hadn't thought of Penny in a long time, not since they opened their first shop back in London. Planting flowers was the only thing her mother and sister could stand doing. Violet never really considered herself for having a green thumb, nor did she care for tedious up care for perfectly bloomed flowers. But she remembered how happy the three of them were when they were out in the garden.
"I don't have a very big family, in fact I can count the members on one hand." Violet started offering the information to him to take how he wanted. Tommy remained silent knowing she had more say.
"I never was the most nurturing, I guess I got that from my mother. She was a stern woman, liking her things done her way. Always quick to set me and my sister straight if we were doing something not her standard. I sometimes catching myself doing the same to Dessa. Structure that's something I like to have in my life." Violet paused.
"My sister, she was the mother I wished I had, she had endless amount of love to give. She accepted anything as long as you tried your best. She was so carefree and happy. I always wish I had tried to be like her more, rather than my own mother." Violet poured out her feelings, unsure if she maybe had too much champagne. Tommy seemed to drink in her childhood as she told it to him.
"I see, and what does this have to do with John." Tommy asked, his blue eyes shifted to her sullen eyes. Her lips upturning at the length of his insight, he had knew what was bothering her before she could even finished.
"He has four kids, Tommy." Violet muttered, the words again hitting her like an oil drum.
"Aye, he does." Tommy cleared his throat.
"The kids need a mother." Violet swallowed she still hadn't wrapped her head around the idea of actually being a mother. After running away from her own after her sister's passing, she had never thought about it.
"I suppose they do." Tommy finished, his mind working just as hard as her, as they both take in the thought of Violet possibly becoming a mother to John's children.
Dessa and Violet had went to work the next morning-Dessa in a great mood as she was now to be Mrs. Arthur Shelby-she was talkative about wedding plans and what sort of cake to serve at the reception. The mention of cake had held Violets attention for a bit but she soon was deep in thought about Tommy and what job he was going to be having her doing for him.
The first customers of the day were Tommy and Arthur Shelby-though it wasnt flowers they were there to pick up. Tommy had a brown paper package with him and sat it on the counter in front of Violet as Dessa went round the counter to Arthur-giving him a kiss on his stubbled cheek, even though she had just left him a short time before. Their morning activities not giving him time to shave.
"Whats this?" Violet asked eyeing the package.
"Today is the Cheltenham races.- The day we fight our battle against the Lees-and that is your uniform, soldier." Tommy smirked. "Go and pop it on."
Violet opened the package and pulled out a dress-it was floral print-hazel colored that matched her eyes. "I'll be right back-lets see if it fits."
"It'll fit." Tommy said sure of himself after Violet had already went into the side room.
"Can I come to the races?" Dessa asked after a moment, realizing Violet was going with them and she wasn't. A day at the races sounded fun-far better than a day in the shop.
"Not this time." Arthur answered straight away eyeing Tommy-as though they had already expected this to happen.
"But -You'll be spending the day at the races and Ill just be here?" Dessa began.
"We arent going there to have fun-This is business." Arthur said adopting a fatherly tone-reminding her of her great uncle before he died. "We'll be working-you stay here an mind tha shop, where it's safe." Dessa wasn't happy about being left behind but the fact her, newly proposed fiancé, Arthur was being protective of her made her love him even more.
"It wont be safe?" Violet said having been well within ear shot of Arthur's voice. She came back in the room wearing the dress Tommy had brought her. Tommy didn't answer as he took in the sight of her. Even Arthur found himself staring-mentally noting he should buy Dessa a dress like that for the time he could take her to the races.
"How unsafe can the Cheltenham race track be?" Dessa looked to Arthur as he turned his eyes to her-she was obviously not as enthralled with her friend in her new dress as the men in the room were.
"It'll be safe enough for 'er-dont you worry. We'll keep a close eye on 'er." Arthur put a reassuring hand on Dessa's shoulder but she wrapped her arm around him and gave him a squeeze-she was sure Violet would be safe with the men there around her-it was him she was really worried about. "I'll go round up the lads." Arthur kissed Dessa goodbye and left.
"I still don't see why I cant just go stand at the…" Dessa tried one more time to come along but Tommy interrupted her.
"One flower girl is enough to worry about today-come on." Tommy pointed Violet to the door.
-ooo
Violet sat up front with Tommy in the car. Arthur and the rest of the Blinders followed behind in a larger truck and they made their way up the road to the Cheltenham race track.
"I still don't understand what I'm meant to be doing." Violet said to make conversation on the way.
"You will be helping us to strike a blow at the Lees-to get on Billy Kimbers good side."
"And how am I meant to do that?" Violet asked. She didn't know who Billy Kimber was but she remembered the Lees and was sure she wouldn't be much help at striking any blows to them.
"You remember the Lee boys from the faire?" Tommy asked. And Violet nodded. "Well, one of them-Erasmus Lee-came up the other night to do some sort of mischief to pay us back for the fight-but he didn't realize we were having the bonfire-too many eyes about for him to do much damage. He managed to see you though-with John." Tommy added. "…and according to our contacts with the gypsies. He has been spreading it around the campsites he plans on making off with ya."
"Me?" Violet asked-not believing it. None of the gypsy men had looked twice at her or Dessa the day at the creek-besides when Johnny Dogs had tipped his hat at them.
"If he sees you at the races-as much talk as he's done-he'll try to approach you-and most likely let his guard down."
"And how does that help you with Billy Kimber?"
"The Lees have been working Kimber's bookies-and his muscles getting paid to look the other way. We take down the Lees and Kimber will contract us to watch his pitches." Tommy explained. "Besides-Erasmus needs to learn a lesson, he shouldn't look at Blinder women."
Violet grinned to herself at being called a Blinder woman.
-00000
Violet stood by Tommy near the door right inside the betting area.
"Just go and stand by the ladies- " Tommy told her. "Act like your waiting on your friend to come out. Erasmus is sure to be by soon. He likes to hit marks in the gents."
"You'll be nearby?" she asked sounding a bit more scared than she would have liked. "-watching?"
"I'll be up with Billy Kimber-but youre in good hands Arthur, John and the rest of the lads are just over there-they'll be watching. You're working for the Blinders now, Violet. Go on." Tommy turned and headed towards the boxes-as if he stayed longer he might've changed his mind.
Violet walked to the ladies room-it seemed safe enough. There were plenty of people around she was sure no one could get far with her-and really why did it bother her Tommy wasn't there to watch her anyway-she had John watching her-and that was all that mattered. John wouldn't let anyone hurt her.
She acted like she was waiting for someone in the ladies-she checked her bag-played with her gloves-sighed dramatically and kept looking at the clock on the wall. It didn't help she knew Johns eyes were on her.
To distract herself she started scanning the faces of passers by-unsure she would recognize Erasmus Lee if he was right in front of her-but that turned out to not be true-She spotted him and recognized him almost immediately-not by his face but by the fact he just looked like a pikey.
He seemed to double take at her then look around as though looking for John or any other Shelby. Violet did her regular mime and called into the Ladies room for someone to "hurry up"-This put a smile on the gypsies face-as he then assumed she was just there alone-or with that other lass she was with before at the faire. He strode to her in long strides and was nearly on top of her in seconds.
"You're that Blinder girl, aintcha?" he asked in a thick Romani accent.
"Im-" she found she didn't know what to say. The pikeys look was offputting to say the least as he looked at her as though he were a starving man and she were a meat pie.
The gypsy reached up for her arm and was about to say something but it never got a chance to leave his mouth as John came from almost nowhere and shoved the gypsy into the Gents.
Arthur followed into the gents behind John-a cheeky 'Allo Raz, Hows business?' as he went. Three other Blinders went in as well-Scudboat being the last, telling Violet to stay outside and that she wouldn't want to see what was about to happen inside.
Violet still stood close to the door and could hear the louder things-John yelling like a mad dog telling Erasmus he knew better than to try and touch a Blinder's girl-the unmistakable sound of Erasmus's head hitting the hard porcelain sink repeatedly, she assumed by John's hand. And then Erasmus's loud cries of pain-and Arthurs voice ringing out that 'Raz should hold still or he would take off his whole ear.
Violet shivered and backed up a bit from the door at that. It seemed almost surreal the same men her friend and her had celebrated with the night before were now torturing a man not five feet from her.
John exited the Gents first-his face darker than she had ever remembered seeing it. It was clear he hated that Lee more than anything at that moment.
He stomped toward Violet as Arthur and the rest piled out of the room-Arthur holding the Lee's large bag of takings.
"C'mon-" John said to Violet pulling her to him- "We're gonna watch the race."
"We got more work," Arthur reminded John. "Tommy said he wanted all the Lee's takings."
"Tommy can go fuck himself." John popped off -mad Tommy had brought Violet after he had a word with him the night before. "She shouldn't be left alone-and you all don't need me for the Lees."
"Alright." Arthur said accepting that Violet shouldn't be left alone while they shook down the remaining Lees.
John and Violet watched a few of the races, but Violet could tell John wasn't really interested, still upset about something-she assumed Erasmus Lee.
"Racing's only fun if you're betting." he said right as the crowd around them cheered the winning horse -Harpers Hat. "And its no fun betting when you know they're fixed." he added darkly after the cheers died down.
"It's nice to take in the country air." Violet said trying to look on the bright side.
"The country air smells like horse shite." John remarked. He then sighed heavily when Violet didn't reply-he knew he was taking it out on the wrong person-it wasn't Violets fault she was here, but he had wished she'd said no to Tommy.-but Tommy was a hard man to say no to-even for him.
"Sorry, Vi-I know I got a sulk on. Stupid fucking Raz-got my head all wrong. Seeing him come afta ya." He lied.
"Its alright, John" she said glad to finally know the cause of his grim mood. "He couldn't have done anything to me with you there. I knew you wouldn't let me get hurt."
"Fuckin' right I wouldn't." he grinned for the first time in an hour. "Come on. Lets go and wait by the car. Promise ya it'll be more fun than watching these fixed races." He said with a cheeky grin and led her out of the area they were by the fences towards the car Tommy brought her in.
John and Violet had piled in the back of the Shelby family car and without much hesitation John threw his toothpick out the window and began to kiss at her neck-his hand grazing her knee and running up to where her stockings met the straps that held them up-relishing her bareskin there against his finger tips.
"Now, I wont lie." John began -pulling back slightly from her neck. "-I didn't want ya comin today-but seeing you in that dress, Im glad you did."
Violet laughed-hoping he had noticed the dress Tommy had picked out for her-as John kissed lower on her neck-as far as the material would allow.
"I 'ave 'alf a mind to take you right 'ere." he said enjoying the sudden gasp that came from her mouth.
"John, no-what if t -" She caught herself-she'd almost said what if Tommy saw?
"What if, what?" John led on as his hand got higher-finding her ass and went under her knickers, pulling her closer.
Violet didn't answer, her head was swimming-why had she thought of Tommy?….so, what if Tommy would see her and John together. What should it matter -any more than if Arthur or Scud caught them? It shouldn't matter to her a lick, but it did….She didn't want Tommy to see John fucking her in the back of his car with the dress he'd picked out for her. -not to mention the days events had made her forget Johns kids-but now that she had thought about them she couldn't stop thinking about them-and…..
"JOHN BOY!" Arthurs voice rang out across the car lot.
"Oh for fucks sake." John plopped himself back on the car seat-unhappy yet again now that his fun seemed to be coming to a stop. "Wot Cho Wan, ArFur?!" John called back.
"There you are." Arthur said coming up to rest on the car-grinning slightly to himself as he noticed Violet straighten herself back up. "Wondered where you two got off 'ta."
"Well, you found us, now fuck off." John said annoyed at Arthur's intrusion.
"Nah-its over; the lads are comin. Look. We did it." he added a bit out of breath. The rest of the Blinders were making their way toward the two vehicles. All patting themselves on the back for a days work well done.
Violet watched as they got closer-her eye catching Tommy coming up behind. He looked as he always did when he walked-as though he knew exactly where he was going-like he always had a purpose to everything he did.
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