Chapter nineteen: Waking the witch

"Why hasn't she called?" Thomas demanded. "It's been 5 days, it's now October!"

"Just stay calm. No use in getting worked up!" Arthur states in a tone that is excessively calm to suit him. Thomas snorts as he lights another cigarette. "I know you care about her, but just for me, how serious is it?"

Thomas responds by opening the drawer in his desk and pulling out the ring box that has been taunting him all week. Arthur's brow arches in surprise. Thomas nods as Arthur reaches for the box. "Very."

Arthur looks at the emerald and diamond ring inside the box. Kate, probably would have preferred something simpler, but the stones reminded him of her eyes. "Are you sure about this?" Arthur asked. "You haven't even known her a whole year yet."

"Kate, if she says yes, will most likely insist on a long engagement. But yeah," he nods. "I'm sure. It's time to move forward and…I want to do it with her."

"Do you know about her past?" Arthur asks. "You know she has one."

"Kate's been telling me more and more. I know enough." His phone rings and he grabs it quickly, causing Arthur to chuckle at him. "Hello?"

Thomas? It's Kate and her voice is a dry croak. It's me.

"Kate?" he sits on the edge of the desk as he exhales. Arthur stands up and heads out of the library to give him some privacy with Kate. "Thank God, I've been worried."

Sorry. She clears her throat, but her voice is shrill as well as scratchy. They've kept me sedated for 5 days after the surgery.

"It was cancer, wasn't it?"

Yes. Kate sniffled. I-I, they removed my breast. Good thing I'm a recluse…otherwise, I'd be a freak.

"Kate, stop that." he said firmly. "You're alive. That's what matters."

But-

"But what?" he asks. "Everyone here has been worried about you. Elton, even dares to ask me once a day if there's any news. Ruby and Charlie refuse to let me read King Arthur to them and they come running each time the phone rings." On cue, they both run into the library, their eyes wide with hope. "You're still beautiful to me Kate." Their eyes lit up. "No matter what you're thinking right now."

Wait until you see me.

"I am seeing you." he stated firmly. "I've seen inside you and it's a wondrous sight Kate. And Kate," he had to censor himself because remember and Charlie were in the room. "remember that night in the hotel?" She practically stopped breathing. "Nothing's changed for me."

Kate was silent for a moment as she sniffled. God, you have a way with words at times.

"Because I've been hanging around you." He kneels on the floor and motions for Ruby and Charlie to approach. "Someone wants to say hello."

"Kate?" Ruby asks loudly. "Are you alright?"

"Don't shout." He says gently. "She's just waking up."

I will be. He leans close to hear her voice. The three of them are so close their heads are actually touching. I'm in the hospital.

"We missed you." Charles said. "We didn't start the book without you, we waited."

That's so sweet. Kate's voice sounded a little bit more cheerful. But he knows she's trying to keep the pain from her voice for their sake. How's Lass doing?

"She's doing well." Charlie said. "She follows me now."

That's good. And Ruby, have you talked to dad about dancing yet?

That was news to him. He glanced at Ruby, who shook her head. "No. Can we visit?"

"No." he answered that one first. "Kate needs time to rest and get better."

"But I miss her!" Tears started rolling down Ruby's cheeks.

Ohh, honey. Kate started sniffling. I miss all three of you as well. I'll try to get better soon.

"Kate," Thomas ordered firmly. "stop crying." He heard her hiccupping softly on the other end of the line. "As much as we all love and miss you, we want you back here completely recovered. Stop stressing and try to relax."

Ok. The nurse says I have to get back in bed, but, I will check in later.

"Right. I'll hope to hear from you tomorrow. Goodbye Kate."

"Goodbye!" Ruby and Charlie called loudly into the phone.

Goodbye.

The phone clicked and he hung up the receiver with an exhale. It was then he realized that he said he'd loved her. True, he meant it as all of them, but he said 'we' as to include him along with the children. He wondered if she'd noticed, or would the sedation prevent her from remembering?

He turned towards Ruby, who was swabbing her eyes with her chubby fists. "So, what's this about dancing, ruby?"

Kate spent two more days in the hospital before the doctor cleared her to go home. Her father actually showed up with his car to make sure she got home safely. The ride home was slightly awkward as it was mostly silent. Then, they were five minutes away before he spoke.

"What is the man you're seeing like?" she lifted her head up to glower sleepily at him. "I'm not asking the name, obviously, you want privacy. But I want to know what he's like. What's he do?"

"He's a businessman, in the importing and exporting business." She stated honestly. "He has two children."

"And you sure you love him and not the children?"

Kate nodded. "I'm sure." She bites her lip before admitting. "He's a very good man. He's kind and very good to me."

"What do you like most about him?"

"Several things." She exhaled, knowing he was fishing for information and being careful not to provide much information. "He's honest with me and has a protective nature."

"Why didn't he visit you in the hospital then?"

"You didn't visit, either." She stated.

"You had me on the barred list."

She glowered. "I did not! Why would I bar you from the hospital?"

"Because you're mad at me!" Kate opened her mouth to protest, then she thought back on Thomas's words. He wouldn't….Kate laughed and shook her head. "What?"

"It wasn't me." she smiled broadly. "I know who it was."

"Him?"

"I'm fairly certain. He's got multiple connections in the city."

"Must be, if he can bar me from the hospital."

"He knows you and I have issues and he probably wanted me to get some rest." She shakes her head. "So you don't get a bad impression of him, he did call me twice a day to check in and I got to talk to the children."

"What would I like about him?"

"He was a soldier in the war."

"Do not say private." Her father groans in distaste. "You have the worst habit of falling in love with men who are unsuitable."

Kate felt anger surge through her, but she tapped it down. "He's a decorated sergeant major."

"Well, he's decorated at least. That's saying something. What did he do to deserve his medals?"

"I'm not saying." Kate states firmly. "I know you're trying to figure out who is he, I'm not falling for it."

"Fine, then what's he look like?"

Kate rolls her eyes as they pull up in front of the house. "He's got….the deepest, bluest eyes, I've ever seen. That's all you're going to get from me."

The doorman hurries down the steps to open the car door. Her nurse gets out first and helps Kate get out of the car. The front door opens and slams, causing her to jump.

It's her brother Anton and he's in a rage. "Father!" he half-shouts. "We've got to do something about that Shelby bastard."

Kate's heart stops in her chest and she's glad that no one, apart from her nurse has noticed her reaction. Kate inhales sharply, trying to find composure. It couldn't be Thomas, could it?

"Hold your tongue boy!" her father snaps. "Your sister, has come back from the hospital and you start shouting! You're scaring her."

Her brother exhales. "I'm sorry Kate. Its business, you know." she nods as he turns back to her father. "We've got to do something about Thomas Shelby." Now she knew it was him. "That damn gypsy is threatening to burn the house down unless you have a meeting with him!"

Her father's face stiffened and body went rigid. "He's threatening my house? Who the hell does he think he is?"

"He's in parliament." Kate's stomach swirled. Why did she have go and get this damn cancer? She wasn't there to keep him out of trouble! "What should you expect from an idiotic politician?"

"Politician or not, he should be taught a lesson." Kate moved towards the stairs, the nurse moved slowly alongside her.

"He also left this note." Kate glances back at them as the doorman opens the door. Her brother slaps a bloody note in her father's hand.

"Whose blood is this?" her father demands.

"Mine!" Anton snaps! Kate steps inside the house and fortunately, her father and Anton follow her inside.

"Why is-

"He and his brother, Arthur, jumped me in the alley! Their men took out both of my men."

The nurse went to lead her up the stairs, but Kate shook her head. "I'll be up in a moment. I want to get a book." She turns to the butler. "Show her upstairs please."

Her father and Anton head to the library, talking loudly. "This is insufferable!" her father shouted. "He thinks he can talk to me like this!"

"Now, do I have your permission to send those bloody gypsies to hell where they belong?" Anton shouted as they went into the library.

"Damn right you do!" Kate's heart rose in her chest as she gripped the banister tightly as she trotted up the stairs, each move hurt her chest, but she needed to move fast. Kate knew how her father and Anton worked well enough. The clock chimed that it was 3 o'clock. By four, everyone would be filled in on what was going down and by 4:45, they'd be at the estate. By 5, the entire Shelby family and household staff would be dead.

Kate stepped into her room to find the nurse fussing over her bed. Kate grabbed a heavy book from her bookcase and approached her quietly. She drew the book back and smacked her on the head, causing her to fall to the bed!

"May God forgive me." Kate breathes as she hits the woman in the jaw, knocking her out. Kate quickly checks her vitals before hurrying to her closet, pulls out as many of her scarves as she can carry. She then ties the woman to the bed and gags her with a handkerchief.

She retrieves her purse and coat from the closet and sneaks back down the stairs. She can hear her father and Anton arguing in the library. Kate heads out the front door, being careful not to latch it all the way and trots down the street away from that house. She then flags down a taxi, who takes off speeding down the road after she shoves nearly 30 pounds into his hands.

She wants to stop and call, but knows that her father has multiple operators on his payroll and she can't risk one of them overhearing. She hopes she can make it to the Shelby house in time!

She leans back in the seat of the taxi, hand against her chest. The wet stickiness causes her to jump. She looks down and see's that her hand is covered in blood. "Damn it." she curses as she tears a section of her skirt free to press it to her chest. She can only hope she makes it to the estate before she bleeds out.

Idcam: It's not over yet.