Part Three
The year was now 1922, it had been two years since the day where Tommy and Florence thought they were to be executed. In that time a lot had happened, Grace's husband was found hanging and she was annulled from her marriage to him. The circumstances of his death were suspicious however Florence didn't want to know, he was nothing to her so if Arthur or Tommy had played a part in his death she really didn't care enough to ask.
Grace had given birth to a daughter, they had named her Charlotte, Florence felt that this was a bit of an insult given how close it was to her sons name but she'd gotten over it. Arthur was a wonderful father to her, having her in his life seemed to settle him somewhat he drank slightly less and consumed less cocaine.
She had eventually forgiven Tommy for that day in the field, it had been a month before she sent word to him to come back home. They spent a long evening talking all night about how things were to be from now on. She wanted to be involved, it meant that Tommy could no longer keep anymore secrets from her. He couldn't work alone, he had to tell her what his plans were and for the most part he had stuck to this. If he didn't, she had warned him that she would take Charlie away for good, she'd move to America and start a new life. He knew she was serious about this, he'd found a bag she kept stashed in her dressing room. Not hidden as she wanted him to find it, but it contained passports and a large sum of cash, more than enough to settle down into a new life in America.
Their son had grown so much, he was almost four years old now and the image of his father. He had his piercing blue eyes and dark hair which Charlie insisted was cut like his fathers. The little boy had a fascination for horses too, she and Tommy had planned to buy him a pony of his own for Christmas and she couldn't wait to surprise him with it. For now, he was taking lessons with the Lee's who still lived on the edge of their estate. Florence was glad of this, it made her feel safer whilst Tommy was away on business.
It was an exciting day in their house today, it was Arthur's and Graces wedding day. It was Florence who suggested it be held at their estate, it was grand enough for Graces family and she could keep a closer eye on the Shelby men. All of the men on Graces side were cavalry men in the war and she knew there would be a lot of bad blood between the two families anyway.
They had gathered in the church in the village, the Shelby's side being much rowdier whilst Grace's family were subdued. She got the feeling that they didn't approve of the match, but Florence couldn't be happier for the couple. To keep up appearances they had a full mass with hymns and readings, John struggled to keep his children quiet and they ended up playing in the aisle. Much to the other family's disgust, Charlie joined in, Florence and Tommy didn't care what the pompous toffs thought. They had broken their promise to Grace to not wear their uniforms anyhow, so she didn't feel the need to respect them.
The walk back to the house was a short one, with Charlie running off ahead with his cousins.
"I thought Grace said no uniforms to them?" Florence asked Tommy as he pulled out a cigarette.
"She did" He muttered
"They are asking for a fight" John butted in.
"No John, I've already said no fighting. You will not ruin Graces or Arthurs day" She scolded.
John laughed, Florence grabbed a hold of his sleeve and pulled him closer"
"I'm warning you John, you will not do anything to embarrass them. It's one day and you won't see them again" She growled.
"Fine" John rolled his eyes "But I'll get them tomorrow before they get their train 'ome"
"Good, I don't care about tomorrow" Florence smiled "Tommy remember you need to have a word"
Florence joined Graces family in the drawing room where they were enjoying drinks before the wedding reception. Grace pulled Florence to the side
"Where is Arthur?" She asked
"They are having a family meeting, Tommy's teaching them about Grace and decorum" Florence smiled.
"I never thought I'd see the day" She laughed
"Me neither, but he's under strict instruction to keep the family under orders"
"Whose orders?"
"Mine, now I better join them"
Florence made her way into the kitchens were Tommy had already gathered the men and started his speech.
"Despite the bad blood I'll have none of it on my carpet" She heard him say
"No, it's new" She joined in "It's Arthurs big day and none of you will spoil it, those fuckers are her family but you don't fight any of them today. Tomorrow is fine, but not today. And not here I ain't cleaning toffs blood off me walls."
"No fortunes, no racing, no fighting, no sucking petrol out of their fucking cars" Tommy slapped Finns face in warning "And no cocaine"
"No matter what they do or say to you, you do not fight today" Florence warned.
"Now lets fucking celebrate" Arthur shouted and the men roared.
The two families had been sat waiting in the table for the couple to arrive for half an hours.
"I'll go and find them" Florence said to Tommy, she made her way up the stairs and into the guest room where the married couple would spent their wedding night. She walked in to find Grace on top of Arthur riding him
"Jesus Christ!" She shouted, "There's a house full of people waiting for you, you are supposed to wait until after you've cut the bloody cake to consummate the marriage."
"Sorry Flo" Arthur groaned "We're almost done anyway"
"Good, lets hope Tommy doesn't mention this in his speech" She laughed
"He better not or he'll get gut" Grace threatened.
Florence joined the table laughing to herself
"Everything alright?" Tommy asked
"They are fucking upstairs" She whispered
"Of course he is" He rolled his eyes, he turned to one of the staff "Open a bottle of champagne it might take a while"
Fifteen minutes went by when Grace and Arthur reappeared with not a hair our of place.
"The bride and groom!" Tommy announced and the Shelby's roared "Finally!"
"Speeches Tommy!" John shouted
"In good time brother" Tommy said as he stood up "Today we gather for Grace and Arthur's wedding day. Arthur needed a good woman and Grace is that for him, to Grace and Arthur" He raised his glass.
"That was short" Florence teased.
"What else did I need to say?" Tommy shrugged kissing her.
After dinner Florence went to check on Charlie who was asleep in the nursery, she came back down to hear Lizzie and Michael arguing
"And tell Tommy the girls in the office think he's losing his fucking mind" She heard Lizzie roar, she turned the corner and saw them
"The fuck did you just say about my husband?" She squared up to Lizzie, glaring at her.
"Did you hear I wasn't allowed to bring a man to the wedding" Lizzie shouted
"Yes, he had five different names. A man like that cannot be trusted and I won't allow someone like that in my house near my child" She sneered, lifting her hand up to grasp Lizzies neck "If I hear you speaking like my husband like that again in his own house, I'll fucking cut you. Understand?"
Lizzie nodded and blinked.
"Come on Flo, let her go" Michael urged.
"Only when she gets the message, I'm deadly serious bitch" Florence said staring at her
Lizzie continued to nod and gasped for air when Florence let go
"An you're mad an all" She cried.
"Don't fucking start" Florence snarled.
She left to join the main room where all the guests should have been, but it was surprisingly empty to what she would have expected. There seemed to just be the ladies Grace had invited, but no Shelby women, she knew something was going on. Her first guest was right the guests had come outside to the courtyard where the men were racing, she sighed as she saw Tommy watching them.
"I thought you said no racing?" She said as she joined him
"Yeah, that was before the Russian's made contact" He replied
"Today? On Arthur's wedding?"
"Aye"
"You sure it's them? Today would be a good day for someone to try something"
"They 'ad the right codeword"
"And the money?"
"Coming up with the Duchess"
"Of course it is" She scoffed "I'll be watching her with you, I don't trust the Russian's"
"You've dealt with them before?"
"No, my father did they screwed him over"
"They won't cross me, or fuck me"
"They'd better not"
It was after the first dance when Tommy pulled Florence away from the party to join him to meet the Russian. They stopped in a lane a mile from the house and they waited as car pulled up containing the Duchess, she'd had a police escort as planned by Tommy from the station. She was carrying ten thousand dollars, that sort of money could go missing in Birmingham very quickly. The policeman held the door open for her and introduced her
"May I introduce the Grand Duchess Tatiana Petrovna" She stepped out the car, she was beautiful much to Florence's disappointment.
"Mr Shelby" She held her hand out to him, looking him up and down, Florence didn't like the way she was looking at him.
"Where's the money?" She demanded
"I was told to give it to Mr Kaledin" She said stubbornly
"The man in my house gave the wrong name" Tommy muttered.
"What name did he give?" Tatiana asked
"No, I don't trust any of you. Now give me the money" Tommy shook his head
"What does he look like, I know him. Let me go and see him" She argued.
"No. I was told if they gave the wrong name they were an infiltrator from the Soviets. I don't want this shit anywhere near my house. I am following orders direct from Churchill. And you do this on my brother's wedding" He sneered.
"The money's in the car, get it and count it" She said.
"Finn" Florence ordered
The money was all there and they drove back to the house Florence sat in the front with Tommy.
"I really don't like this" She uttered
"I don't but I have orders from Churchill. I don't have a choice"
"I just pray this doesn't end badly"
"Say a prayer for me then"
"You don't believe in God"
"Neither do you"
Florence couldn't help but laugh at that, even with how tense she felt about the situation. But there was now a new issue, what to do with the infiltrator?
He wasn't an issue for long, Tommy told her to go up to Charlies room and stay with him until it was over. The man was then lured into the stables alone where Tommy killed him, his body would be disposed of after Graces family had left.
It was the early hours of the morning before Tommy came up to bed, she had waited up for him trying to ignore the grunts and screams coming from the newly weds room up the corridor. She held her sleeping child in her arms, he would sleep with them tonight. Whilst there were Russians around she wanted to keep him close, that's where he would be safest.
"Florence, what have I said about 'im sleeping in 'is room" Tommy scolded as she saw them cuddled up.
"Just for tonight Tommy, I want to know he's safe" She whispered
"I 'oped to have some alone time with you" Tommy murmured as he kissed her neck
"You would have done, if the Russian's hadn't turned up"
"Fucking Russians" He growled.