I really appreciate everyone that takes the time to read this story. I know everyone has lives and more important things to do, but I really do appreciate the time it takes for you all to read a new chapter.

I feel like this one might be a little bit of a filler, but I'm working on the relationship between Elsie and May, as I need it for when season two comes into this story.

What do you think of Tommy? Am I capturing him alright? I really am trying to keep him in character, but him being with Elsie will change him slightly as a person. I don't want it to be a dramatic change, but there will be one. I just want him to be a little sweeter when it's just the two of them.

Please let me know if there's something wrong, or there's something you'd like to see in the future.

Thank you for reading x Comet96 x

When we arrived at the town house, Eddison brought our bags to the door which was opened by a woman I had never met before. She must have been their new head maid.

"Lady Shelby, Mr Shelby, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Mrs Cope," she greeted moving out of the way allowing us to enter. "Lord Alfred is unfortunately not feeling well and insists that you take a meal in your rooms."

"That's unlike him." I was concerned to hear about Papa and wanted to see him but knew it was best to wait until morning. "Where's my Grandmother?"

"Lady Elizabeth is in her rooms and doesn't wish to be woken." I knew it was a lie as soon as she said it. "Let me show you to your rooms.

She turned on her heel and with a shared look with Tommy, we picked up our cases and followed her. Without a word she marched up to the third floor and stopped in front of the door opposite my usual bedroom.

"Mr Shelby, this will be your room." She opened the door before turning to my bedroom door and opening it for me. "Lady Shelby, your usual room."

"Mrs Cope, I don't think you understand," I said, stopping her from leaving with a hand on her arm. "I share a room with my husband, there's no need to open a new room just for him." Letting go of her arm and giving her a curt smile, I grabbed Tommy's hand and pulled him into my room, slamming the door behind me. "That bitch."

"She was only doing her job, Elsie," Tommy said, rolling his eyes as he took our bags and started unpacking them.

"I wasn't talking about Mrs Cope, I was talking about my grandmother." I knew what she was doing. Trying to hurt my feelings by showing me she didn't like Tommy. It was rude of her to give Tommy his own room when she knew we'd be married this week. She was trying to separate us.

"Just ignore her, she's trying to get a reaction from you." I spun on my heel and looked him over, frowning when he looked so calm. This did not seem like my husband.

"What's happened to you? You're never one to not put up a fit," I said moving over to him and he dropped onto the bed, his elbows resting on his knees.

"I'm just tired." I couldn't help but smirk at his words. I moved until I was resting in front of him and pushed his shoulders back. With little effort I had managed to push Tommy back until he was lying on the bed.

"Did I tire you out, my dear? I suppose you're too tired for another round?"

Tommy and Papa were gone by the time I woke and I didn't realise how late it was in the morning until one of the maids brought in lunch.

"Mr Shelby said you were feeling unwell, ma'am," she said setting the tray down on the small table by the window. "Do you need me to call the doctor?"

"No, I'm just tired from the journey," I said, climbing out of bed and taking the dressing gown she offered. "Would it be possible to have a car ready in twenty minutes?"

"Of course my lady, I'll have Neil waiting out front for you." With a dip of her head she quickly left, taking the dirty pile of clothes folded by the adjoining bathroom door.

I settled at the table and buttered my toast thinking about the dream that kept playing over last night.

Tommy was with a dark-haired woman, holding her hand at her bedside and I could see how unhappy he was. At first I thought it was Polly or Ada because of the dark hair but her eyes were too dark to be of the Shelby blood. Tommy was younger as well, it was probably years before I would meet him.

It was something to ask him about tonight. I knew it must have been important if I was dreaming about it. It was either really important for our future or something he was hiding from his past that could be damaging to us.

With a last bite of my toast, I pushed away from the table and went to the bathroom to freshen up and change for the day.

Ten minutes later I was on my way to the door, stopping as Mrs Cope stood like a soldier, guarding the door.

"Lady Shelby, your grandmother insists you see her," she said and I felt like it was more of an order than a request. If she thought I was going out of my way to see her after everything she'd done then she could think again. I had plans for today and I wasn't changing them.

"You can tell my grandmother that I'm going out and to expect me back this evening," I told her, stepping forward and waiting for her to move. She stood her ground and I knew why grandmother had hired her. She had a backbone and wasn't afraid to show it. "If you'll excuse me." With a raised eyebrow, I slipped past her and left the house.

There was a car waiting out the front and two men were standing outside talking as they waited for me. I was very familiar with one of the men and cursed Tommy as I drew closer.

"Mrs Shelby," he greeted, taking his cap off his head as he shuffled shyly on his spot.

"Kyle, I gather my husband sent you here?" I said, rolling my eyes as the other man, Neil, opened the back door for me.

Kyle hovered by the door and looked impish as he shrugged his shoulders.

"I was sent down on the train this morning." He shared a look with Neil and waved him off as he offered to help me into the car. "I'm to go with you to see your friend."

"You can stay in the car with Neil."

May's home was as beautiful as I could remember, but it seemed with the end of the war it lifted the darkness that had once fallen upon it.

Her house was sat on the edge of London, about half an hour's drive from Papa's town house. She had a large field for the horses to roam during the day and her stables were outstanding too. I looked down at the troth as something caught my eye and smiled at the little fish swimming around in the water.

"Like my fish?" May asked as she joined me, handing her horse over to one of the stable boys.

"I see you took my advice then," I said, joining her as she took off her riding gloves. May shook her head and let out a cheery laugh. She brought me into a hug before pulling away and giving me a large smile.

"I've taken your advice on many things which is why I'm glad you're here." I frowned as she waved me towards the stable and over to the corner where a grey mare was stood, whining as she pounded on the floor with her hoofs. "She's been in labour since early last night, but nothing seems to be moving on."

"You want my help?" I asked, slipping past her and into the stable, carefully reaching out for her mare. "What's her name?"

"Bonnie." I could hear the concern in her voice and knew that she must have cared about this horse very much.

"Hey there, Bonnie. Can I come closer?" I asked, clicking my tongue as I walked over to her and gently ran my hand over her neck. I pressed my head by her ear and whispered to her as my hand slid down her neck and over her back "Let me help you."

Running my hand over her back a few times I moved down her body until I was in line with the middle of her body. I slipped my hand down her stomach, and rubbed under her trying to feel how she was doing. Leaving my hand on her stomach I closed my eyes as I breathed with her.

"She's really tense, I think she's carrying twins which is making it hard for her," I said, running my hand over her belly. I pulled away from her and gave May a sad smile. "Mother's don't tend to survive the birth and at times it's rare for the foals to live too."

"Can you help?"

I didn't want to give her hope that Bonnie and her foals would be safe, but I didn't want to give up completely. We had once seen another case like at the farm and unfortunately only one foal survived and the mother was left weak barely able to care for her living foal.

"I can try, but I can't make any promises."

With the help of May and a few of her stable hands, I had everything I needed to help make Bonnie comfortable. Fortunately, May had a few herbs on hand that would help relax and calm Bonnie which we mixed with a few oats.

We'd been out here for a couple of hours now and I was expecting May to leave at some point to change but she stayed with the whole time. She did her best to comfort her horse and she was always there to help me when I needed it.

When the first foal started to come, I thought it would be too much for her, the blood that covered me as I helped ease the foal out would have seen the meekest of men cowering in the corner. May didn't even bother batting an eyelash as she helped me move the foal away from the mother and clean him up.

There wasn't much time between the birth of the first and the arrival of the second. Bonnie whined in defeat and shifted on the floor, but the second foal wasn't coming. I gave May a tense smile and rubbed my hands over Bonnie's back, hoping to help her relax.

"I'm going to have to help her," I said, running my hands over the hoofs showing and giving them a gentle tug. It seemed to do the trick and with a gush of water, the second foal came sliding out into the ground at my knees. "That's a girl."

"Oh my God," May cried, running her hand over Bonnie as she looked at the two foals. She must have been surprised that they both made it alive and that Bonnie seemed to be doing well.

"Have someone keep an eye on them tonight. I wouldn't leave them alone, anything could happen." I didn't want her thinking it was going to be easy just because they survived the birth. They could all die from infection during the night or take a turn for the worst.

"Thank you, Elsie. I don't think we could have handled it without you here," May said, taking my hand in hers, not caring about the blood covering me.

"I'll phone the farm tomorrow and have Mah-mee send one of the boys down to help you for a few weeks." We knew from past experience how a twins birth in horses could turn sour.

"I'll have lodgings sorted for him," May said, shaking her head when I went to argue. "I'll have none of it, Elsie, bed and board for as long as he needs to stay."

"Well, I'll not argue with you." I gave her a smile as I rose from the floor, pulling a stray bit of hay from my hair. "I should be heading back, Tommy will be worrying." If he didn't know that Kyle was with me I'm sure he would have been on his way round here already.

"Yes, that husband of yours might send out an army to find you," she teased, climbing to her feet and wiping her hands on her trousers. "I really do appreciate your help."

"I know you do, May. Don't ever hesitate to ask for my help." I wanted her to know that she could rely on me for anything.

"I'm sorry we didn't get to have the catch up we were expecting, perhaps in a couple of weeks you can visit again."

"I had fun, May. If I'm being honest, I prefer being with the horses than sitting inside pretending everything's right with the world and having idle chit chat," I said, pausing to see if I had offended her. She gave me a smile as if she understood and laughed lightly.

"I think I prefer this too."

Giving May a last sincere smile, I bid her goodbye as I made my way to the car where Kyle and Neil were sat asleep in the car. If Tommy saw Kyle right now, he'd surely give the boy a whack for his useless guarding.

Knocking on the window, I laughed as they both jumped in surprise and Kyle reached for his gun. He glared at me when he saw who it was and quickly grew concerned as he took in the blood covering my dress.

"Mrs Shelby, are you okay? Did someone attack you?" What he really wanted to know was if he was going to be killed by Tommy.

"I was helping May with her labouring horse, remember?" I had told him what was happening with May's horse when he grew concerned by the people running around the yard.

"Oh." He paused and scratched his head as he looked at my bloody dress once more. "Umm, I guess you're not hurt then? Should we go back to the house?"

"I couldn't think of anything better."

Lavender had always been a relaxing smell to me and a bad day on the farm I would always long for a lavender infused bath. It helped relax my tired muscles and brought peace to my mind. The hot water was also a comfort as I allowed it to wrap around my body and consume the tension from my muscles.

Today had been stressful and definitely not what I had been expecting when I went to see May. While it had been adventurous, I had wanted a little less craziness for just a short time.

While I love Tommy and our family, he did bring a lot of trouble to our door. Even today he'd been making more trouble and I wasn't even sure he was still alive.

"Is that blood on your dress?"

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

Turning my head to the door, I ran my eyes over my husband making sure he was as intact as he was the night before. His suit was perfectly ironed, only with one or two creases from his day. His hair wasn't out of place and there were no signs of damage to his face.

"I helped May's horse give birth," I told him, seeing no point in keeping it from him. Kyle would have mentioned it whether I did, so there was no reason to shy away from it.

"Was it a bad birth?" He could never hide his interest in horses and even now he was concerned about a horse he didn't know.

"A twin birth. It was messy and tiring for both me and the mare, but all three came out alive." I shifted in the bath to reach out for my towel. I rose from the bath, smirking as Tommy ran his eyes over my naked form and slipped the towel over me.

"You've had a hell of a day then." He followed me out of the bathroom. "We've got dinner with your cousin tonight."

"Yes, Mrs Cope told me when I returned. She also reminded me it would be socially acceptable for me to dress suitably."

"I think you'll be fine whatever you wear or don't wear."

I smiled at Tommy as he seemed to realise just how that sounded. He rolled his eyes and turned from me, pulling his clothes off and replacing them with a new, finer looking suit that laid out on the bed next to a light blue dress I was to wear.

"I think I'll leave my clothes on, Tommy," I said, dropping my towel and sliding my undergarments on. He was getting dressed beside me and it felt very domestic of us to be doing this side by side.

"If it's what you want."

Would this be how our lives ended up? Dressing up for dinner with family? Not enjoying said dinner because my grandmother despised my husband?

That was not the life I wanted for us. Nit for Tommy.

Perhaps one day we'd live at Cromwell Estate with our children and it would be normal. It would better suit Tommy then, but now? Now I felt like I was forcing him to be a man he wasn't. I knew this is what he aimed for, he'd said it enough times for all of Small Heath to hear, but forcing him into this way of life now wasn't something he was prepared for.

While he could handle it, he always seemed to handle things like this, I didn't want him to change because of it.

I knew change was inevitable, everyone and everything changed, but there was a gradual change and I didn't want him resenting me.

"I dreamt about you last night," I said, changing the topic on my mind. I didn't want to dwell on thoughts of Tommy resenting me. "You were with another woman."

Tommy paused, his fingers fumbling with his cuff links. He titled his head to look at me and I was touched by the frown on his face.

"I haven't been with an—"

"I know. It was before we met." I knew this because he had looked younger in my dream. His face spoke a thousand words and he didn't have the haunted look France gave him. "It was before the war, you were younger."

"Elsie." He was hesitant, wondering if what he was going to say would end up hurting me.

"You loved a beautiful woman, Tommy. Don't feel like you have to hide things from me. You had a life before we met and you're older so I expect you've had a few girls to love before me." I was not foolish. There was ten years between us and I've heard rumours about the Shelby boys and the way they are with women. "I'd just appreciate that none of your past flames come back and take you from me."

Tommy took my hand in his and brought it to his lips. His eyes were sincere and promising me things he wouldn't say out loud.

"I love a beautiful, caring woman now and I wouldn't replace you for anyone," he said, pulling me closer and wrapping his arms around me. "You don't need to worry, Ellie."

"I know."

"She's gone anyway. It was another dream in another life."

"I know."

"You're this dream, in this life."

"You're getting a bit romantic now, Mr Shelby. I remember you promising me you wouldn't do romance." I smiled at him as I rested my hands on his face and pressed a small kiss to his lips.

"I've got to treat you sometimes," he teased, running his hands through my hair. "Let's go face your Grandmother and listen to how you could have married better."

"I couldn't have. I've got the perfect marriage with you. There's no one out there better than you, Tommy."

Thank you for reading xx