I think this is the quickest updating I have done in a long time. One of the only benefits of staying at home. I hope everyone is okay and I know I say it with every update, but I would like you all to stay safe.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter, there is a sneak peek at something to do with Tommy's plan and I think you're all going to enjoy.

Please stay tuned for more excitement between Elsie and Tommy

Stay safe xx

Love Comet96 xx


I was feeling smug. I knew Prince Alfred was going to win and it wasn't because I'd fixed the race. He was a horse breed from two racehorses. It was in his blood and his training was perfect to the tee.

"I'm not surprised," Tommy said, chuckling as he slipped a cigarette in his mouth. "You're a good trainer."

"I'm the best trainer you know," I told him, turning to face Percy and George. Tommy had told them they could come in to watch the race as long as they didn't draw attention. "Did you enjoy the race?" I asked, noting the large smiles on their faces.

I thought it was sweet of Tommy to let them watch the race. The young lads were two of his newest recruits and he was trusting them to be here with us as one of their first jobs. They seemed happy to be chosen and I knew he'd done it because they didn't look like his other men, warn and rough-looking from the war.

"Your horse is amazing," Percy said, the giddy look on his face running into his voice. I doubt he'd ever seen a horse race before.

"Thank you, Percy." I smiled at him and turned to Tommy, pressing my hand against his. "I'm going down to talk to Richard, don't draw too much attention to yourself," I said, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

As I left the box, I was surprised that both Percy and George followed me. Tommy was taking this protection thing seriously. He wanted to bring Gunner with us but I put my foot down. Dogs weren't allowed in the boxes, not unless Billy Kimber changed his mind about that.

We made it down to the stables just as Richard, Prince Alfred's jockey, was talking to David and Tim about the horse's aftercare. Richard cared about every one of my horses he rode and he was passionate about their aftercare.

"You did amazing, Richard," I called out, taking his hands in mine as he turned with a smile on his face. "You're due a raise. Have I given you one?"

"Aye, Elsie, you give me one every time we win a race," Richard said, slinging his arm over my shoulder as he pulled me into a hug.

"We only win the races because of you," I teased, patting him on the cheek as I moved over to Prince Alfred. He was looking good and I could tell he was itching for a run. "Good boy."

"Lady Cromwell!" The gruff, confident voice of Billy Kimber echoed in the stables as he swaggered over to us. He was an arse and he was full of it, but he owned most of the racecourses in England. "Lovely to see you again." His eyes roamed over me, settling on my breasts as he smirked. "Blue is your colour," he said, flicking his eyes up to meet mine.

"Thank you, Mr Kimber." I knew to be polite to the man. He had a lot of power and he knew all the right people.

"Lady Cromwell," a softer voice said and I turned to the man standing next to Kimber. I knew his face, I couldn't remember his name but I knew he was Kimber's accountant. "There was an unusual amount of bets placed for Prince Alfred to win considering it's his first race. You do understand the implications of this, don't you?"

They thought I cheated. I couldn't help the smirk as I turned away from them and ran my hand down Prince's neck.

"Alrigh', ya been fixin' my races?" Kimber shouted, and I could guess his face was red with his anger. He was always quick to anger. Anyone could see that when his horses lost. I was always certain he'd end up killing his horses, but he never did.

"I don't fix races, Mr Kimber, I train horses to win," I told him, turning back to face him as I raised my eyebrows, daring him to argue.

Kimber chuckles, his eyes moving around the stables and resting on Percy and George who had made themselves look busy by helping David and Tim with the horse. They were trying to blend in and not draw attention to themselves, probably an order from Tommy.

"Aye, alrigh'." His eyes came to rest on mine and he gave me a smug look. "I'll forget about it if you have dinner with me."

I almost laughed at the offer. I knew it wasn't dinner he wanted. He was bartering with sex. He thought I'd sleep with him just so he'd stop bothering me about the supposedly 'fixed' race.

"I'm a married woman, Mr Kimber," I told him, waving Percy off as he made a step towards us. It wouldn't do for him to start something with Mr Kimber. "My husband won't be very happy with your offer."

"And I'm a married man." He gave a fake smile but when I pursed my lips he turned to his accountant. "Roberts, sort her out," he said to his man before storming out, the men that had joined him following. Only one man stayed with Roberts.

"Mr Kimber has charged another twenty pounds to you in an account of the race today. We believe you didn't fix the race, Lady Cromwell, but Mr Kimber would like an assurance it doesn't happen again," Roberts muttered, his eyes flicking between me and Percy and George as they stood either side of me.

"I'm sorry, Mr Roberts, but I think your request is something I can't agree to." I smiled at the wide-eyed look on his face. "I'll pay the twenty pounds, but I can't help it if my horses are the best and win the races." I opened my bag and pulled out the twenty pounds he wanted and handed it over to him. "Tell Mr Kimber I look forward to seeing him in the future."

Without wasting any time, I walked away from him and made my way out to where the car was. As I expected, Tommy was standing by the car smoking while talking to Scudboat. At Tommy's feet was Gunner.

"I knew you'd find a way to bring the dog," I called to him, shaking my head at the things my husband would do.

"Gunner, find your mum," Tommy said to the dog causing me to laugh as the black dog bound to my side and looked up at me, his tongue hanging out. I ran my fingers over his head, clicking my tongue to get him to follow as I joined Tommy.

"Billy Kimber came looking for me," I told him, climbing into his car. Percy climbed into the back and whistled so Gunner would follow him. George walked off with Scudboat over to a van which was slowly being filled with more of Tommy's men.

"What did he want?" Tommy asked as he started the car.

"He thought I fixed the race."

"Did he?" I could hear the smile and as I turned to face him, I almost rolled my eyes at the delighted look on his face.

"He asked me out for dinner." That caused his smile to drop. "We both know it wasn't dinner he was asking for."

Tommy turned his head to look at me and I bit my lip at the tense look on his face. My dear husband was jealous. I didn't understand why because he knew I wouldn't cheat on him.

"What did you say?"

"I told him my husband wouldn't be very happy."

"Aye, he wouldn't," Tommy muttered, turning his gaze from the road back to me for a few seconds and shook his head.

"I had to pay him an extra twenty pounds to 'forget' about the race," I told him, reaching over a squeezing his arm. If Kimber could be paid off that was good for us. "We should tell Papa, when do you think he's free to come down." I hadn't seen Papa since we left London and that had been two weeks ago. Didn't Tommy say we were having dinner at the estate? Wasn't that last week? "Weren't we meant to have dinner last week? What happened to that?"

"I was going to tell the family about the plan, but things changed in London and your grandfather couldn't make it." That seemed right. Papa had called to say he wouldn't be down. "We've arranged it for next weekend."

I was wondering how Arthur would take the news. He knew we were going after Graves but I didn't think he knew the details. Tommy kept that to himself. The only person he had told was me. Papa knew because he wrote the contracts with Tommy.


I enjoyed Sunday mornings. It seemed that everyone was quiet on a Sunday morning.

No betting, no drinking and no fighting. That had always been the way it was in Small Heath.

Sunday was the day of God and even if Tommy and his boys didn't go to church, Polly had installed it into them that Sunday mornings belonged to the Lord. She could never guarantee what the afternoon would be like, but a Sunday morning was peaceful in Small Heath.

"You alrigh', Ellie?" Harry asked, hovering in the doorway of the backroom of the Garrison.

"I thought I'd sort through the books," I told him, going back to my usual Sunday morning job. I had always looked over the books for Harry on a Sunday morning. While he did his best throughout the week, I always added everything up on a Sunday. "Did you know, Tommy and the boys go through about two bottles of whiskey a week? I don't even want to know how much beer they have."

"It's Tommy," Harry said as if that should be reason enough.

"Maybe you should accept the money he gives you, Harry. You're losing twenty per cent of your money each week because of him."

"Ain't you supposed to be on your husband's side?" I raised my eyebrow at that. Did he think I wanted him losing out on money? "It's alrigh', it could be fifty per cent. Tommy runs this place."

"You're the owner, Harry. Tommy hasn't gotten his hands on this place yet. Just because you pay him for protection, don't mean he gets free drinks."

"That's the way it is, Ellie. I don't mind." Harry tried to assure me, but I felt like he didn't deserve it. Why should he lose twenty per cent of his profits because of Tommy?

"Is there anything you need?" I'll be sure to get the money from Tommy some way. "What to redecorate? Want a fresh coat of paint on these walls?"

"Nah, you're alright, Ellie. I don't mind. I know we've got protection here when it counts," he said, patting me on the shoulder as he placed some invoices on the account book.

He left me to it, closing the door behind him.

Something he said was nagging at me. 'It could be fifty per cent.' He was happy with the twenty per cent because it wasn't fifty per cent. Hadn't Graves said he was getting fifty per cent of Tommy's betting money?

"But Tommy said…" I trailed off as I remembered what Tommy had said. Twenty per cent Tommy said. Why would Graves say fifty and Tommy twenty? Someone was lying.

Pushing away from the desk, I closed the account book and made my way to the door. Harry was pottering around the bar, stocking shelves and organising glasses. I must have looked flustered because he frowned as I rushed through the pub.

"I'm just running an errand, Harry," I called to him as I rushed out of the pub and down Garrison Lane.

"You alright, Mrs Shelby?" Percy asked, rushing after me as I made my way down Watery Lane. I hadn't even heard him coming after me, but I should have expected it. Tommy had wanted Gunner with me, but I told him I needed to speak to Harry about the dog before I took him to the pub.

"I just need to speak to Tommy," I told him, as we neared the house. No one was standing outside today and when we walked through the betting room John was mucking about with Al and Jimmy by the blackboard.

As I approached Tommy's office I could see Arthur sat by the desk talking to him. At least this time Arthur wasn't shouting at him. I didn't want to interrupt them but what I was coming here for was important.

"Thomas," I started, opening the door as I called out to him. Arthur turned to look at me, giving me a soft smile as he rose from his seat.

"Alrigh', Ellie?" Arthur asked, clapping me on the shoulder as he slipped past me and closed the door behind him. At least he understood why I was here.

"What's wrong?" Tommy asked, leaning back in his chair as he watched me come to his side. I bit my lip as I smiled down at him. He looked good in his suit. I settled on the edge of his desk as I took his hand in mine.

"Something Graves said has been bothering me," I admitted, clasping his hand tighter in mine worried he'd pull away.

"El, you can talk to me," he said, resting his other hand on my hip as he moved closer.

"How much money goes to Graves from your bets?" I wanted to see if he said the same thing as before. Did he believe it was twenty per cent or was he lying?

"Twenty per cent, I told you this." I could hear the tone in his voice. He was annoyed with me.

"Did you know Graves thinks it's fifty per cent?" I watched his face carefully, knowing he was good at keeping his face from showing how he felt. His brows furrowed and his mouth opened a little, two tell-tell signs that he was confused.

"No, it's twenty per cent." He shifts and pulls open the top drawer and pulls out a couple of sheets of paper. He fiddled with the papers until he found the one he was looking for and pointed out a section on the paper. "Look," he said, tapping the section again.

I leaned closer and realized he was showing me the contract he and Graves signed.

This contract is entered into by and between partners, Thomas Shelby and Alfred Cromwell, and Jeremy Graves. The terms of this Agreement shall begin on January 11th, 1919 and shall continue through its termination date of January 12th, 1920.

The specific terms of this Contract are as follows:

-One of Mr Shelby's horses will be entered into the races under the name Graves and 20% of any monies made of the horse will be given to Graves.

-At specified dates, the group known at the Peaky Blinders will assist Mr Graves in the transporting and protection of his goods. These dates cannot be given without five days notice and will not be delegated without the confirmation of both Mr Shelby and Lord Cromwell.

-Mr Shelby will help Mr Graves by helping with a previous client, Gideon Smith. The dealings with Mr Smith must be completed by March 31st, 1919 or all contracts between Shelby, Cromwell and Graves will be null and void.

In consideration of the mutual promises set forth herein, the First Party covenants and agrees that it shall abide by the contract and request that Mr Jeremy Graves shall not be harmed during the process of this agreement by Mr Thomas Shelby or Lord Alfred Cromwell or anyone within the Peaky Blinders; including John Shelby and Arthur Shelby. If this agreement is broken, all monies consisting of the agreement 25,000 pounds will be paid over to Jeremy Graves and a further 5,000 pounds each month for a year.

The Second Party covenants and agrees that it shall abide by the contract and pay for one pitch each race for Mr Shleby's horse. Mr Graves also agrees that no harm shall come to Mr Shelby or Lord Cromwell by his hand of the hands of anyone under his employment. If this agreement is broken, all monies consisting of the agreement 25,000 pounds will be paid over to Thomas Shelby and a further 5,000 pounds each month for a year.

This contract may not be modified in any manner unless in writing and signed by both parties. This document and any attachment hereto constitute the entire agreement between the Parties.

This Contract shall be binding between the Parties and if broken by one Party, said Party will comply with the penalty. If broken by both Parties, the Contract will be void and no monies shall be exchanged.

The contract was intense and well written. I could understand why Papa and Tommy had spent so long writing it up. There was no way Tommy would break this contract. Not with that sort of money on the line. I let my eyes slide past their signatures and found the small print at the bottom of the page.

Squinting my eyes, I leaned closer and found myself muttering the words as I read them. When I started to understand what the small print said, I glanced up at Tommy in shock.

"The small print says that—"

"Graves didn't understand it," Tommy said cutting me off as he pulled the contract away from me and set it back in his drawer. "He still signed it though."

"Why would he do that?" Surely if he read the small print he'd have known what it meant. "Tommy, are you sure this is—"

"Hey, don't worry about it," He said, resting his hand on my knee as he stood from his chair. "It's all going to plan, Ellie."

He sounded so confident and I wanted to trust him, but how could he believe this was going to plan? What he'd done to Graves … when Graves finally understood the small print … this wasn't good.


Ada was sitting in the Garrison again while I worked but this time, instead of her sitting at the bar talking to me she was sitting at a table with two girls. I recognised one of them as Helen, her blonde hair looking perfect as it bounced on her shoulders.

They were in for lunch as Ada said. Helen and her friend had come from the dressmakers they worked for and were having a quick drink. I didn't understand why they were here and not somewhere more suitable for young women that worked in dress shops.

"You got a problem with 'er?" Kyle asked and I turned to face him as he sat at the end of the bar, keeping his eye on me.

"She fancies Tommy," I told him, making my way down to him and setting a glass of water in front of him. I would have given him a beer but knew Tommy would say something about it. "How are you feeling?"

"You know Tommy won't have anything to do with her," Kyle said, flicking his eyes over to the blonde by Ada."She's just jealous." He shook his head as he turned back to me as if he knew I was worried about him. "I'm fine."

"You sure, you're looking a little pale." I was concerned seeing as he'd been hurt because of me.

"I'm alright, trust me." I gave him a nod even though I didn't believe him and glanced over to the table where Percy was sat with two others.

I recognized them as two of the lads that helped when Donnie was stabbed. Daniel and Edward. Only this time they were wearing peaked caps. Tommy must have given them jobs and it seemed they were also to be keeping an eye on me. Did that mean I had four of his men preoccupied with watching me?

Rolling my eyes at the overprotectiveness of my husband, I flicked my eyes back to Ada's table and looked at the blonde as she giggled at something. I didn't like her.

"That your dog?" I looked away from Helen and turned to the voice, surprised to see Freddie leaning against the bar. I glanced down at Gunner as he lay on the floor by the entrance of the bar.

"Do you think he'd be here if he wasn't," I said, getting him a beer before he could ask. "Where have you been?" I hadn't heard or seen Freddie in weeks. Ada was still seeing him but he'd been sneaking around.

"Here and there." From the devilish look on his face, I knew it was nothing good. Why did it seem all the men in my life were always up to no good? "So Tommy got you a dog. Has it got anything to do with Graves taking you last week?" So he knew about that.

"That's not your business, Freddie." He shouldn't be asking about Tommy's business and he knew that. If I told Tommy, which I wouldn't because I cared about Freddie, then Tommy would hunt him down.

"He's already corrupted you. I didn't take you for someone that encouraged the pain of innocent people." I raised my eyebrow at him and pursed my lips. Freddie knew how to press my buttons.

"Stay out of Tommy's business, Freddie. I'm not going to tell you again," I warned, stepping away from the bar and glancing back over to Ada and her friends. Helen was looking at Freddie with a sly look on her face. "Look, because I care about you and Ada, I'm going to advise you to leave."

"What? Why?" Freddie went to turn his head in Ada's direction but I quickly reached over and grabbed his chin.

"Her friend Helen looks like she's about to come this way. We both know what Ada will do, Freddie and then it will spread that there's something between the two of you. I love you, Freddie, but I can't save you from Tommy when he finds out." I was being honest with him. I did love him but I couldn't protect him from Tommy.

"Aye, alright," he said, squeezing my hand holding his chin. He grabbed his beer, knocked my hand away from his face and downed his drink before giving me a nod and leaving. Just in time too because Helen was standing in his place as the doors swung behind him.

"Look at you, Little Elsie all grown up and married to Tommy Shelby." She was being bitter. I could see the tightness in her smile and the way her eyes zoned in on my ring. "Who would have thought you'd end up married to him?"

"It's actually quite logical, Helen, if you think about it," I said to her, wiping down the bar where Freddie's beer had left a mark.

"How so?" She spat, grabbing hold of my left arm and digging her nails into my wrist.

"I was at the Shelby home every day during the war and every day after. Ada is my best friend. I would have met Tommy in passing but we would have ended up working together anyway."

"Is that so?" I almost rolled my eyes at the way she tried to intimidate me. Her fingers held onto my wrist a little tighter and she pulled my hand towards her.

"Tommy's got business with horses and I train horses. As I told you, it's all quite logical." As her hand squeezed my hand tighter, her free hand came up and ran her finger over my engagement ring.

"That's a lovely ring." I flicked my eyes up to hers as her frown deepened. "Did he steal it?"

"No." I tugged my hand from her grasp, ignoring the throbbing where her nails dug into me. "He didn't steal it. I also don't see how it's any of your business." I flicked my eyes over to Ada to see her watching us with concern. "I know you fancy Tommy, Helen, but I'm going to be damn right honest with you." I reached over and pulled on her hand, smiling when she stumbled into the bar. "You never stood a chance."

"You bitch!" she screeched, pulling away from me and baring her teeth. "The only reason Tommy married you was because you were loose and couldn't keep your legs shut. Mrs Miller was right. You are a whore!"

I watched as she stormed back over to Ada, spitting something at her before snatching the arm of the girl next to her and storming out of the pub.

"What happened?" Ada asked and she rushed over, looking flustered. I gave her a sad smile as I bit my lip.

"She's not very happy that I married Tommy," I admitted, shrugging as I turned my back to her and sorted the shelves out.

"People need to start getting over it. By gypsy standards, you would have been a suitable match and you're married now. It's not going to change." She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "You're good for Tommy. He needs you and he tells you everything." He didn't tell me everything. Just more than he told everyone else.

"He doesn't tell me everything, Ada," I said, wanting her to know that he didn't. I didn't need Ada getting this back to Arthur because I didn't need Arthur thinking I was higher than him in the business. After all, in Arthur's eyes, I was a woman and I had no business being part of the business.

"You should give yourself more credit, Ellie," Ada replied, resting her hand on mine gently. "He needs you."


Thank you for reading xx

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