Chapter forty-nine: Oh, to be in love


Kate yawns and stirs to find the bed empty. She frowns; they've always woken up together. "Thomas?" She calls as sits up and looks around the room. She then remembers she's naked and pulls the sheet up to wrap around her chest.

He comes around the corner, pulling on a shirt. "Kate." He steps towards her, sits on the edge of the bed and kisses her. "I'm sorry. I forgot to tell you last night that I have to be in Birmingham this morning." At her disappointed look, he adds. "I had put all business on hold for the first week of January. You," he kisses her neck. "talked me into ravishing you a week early."

Kate laughs as she tilts her head back, allowing him access to her throat. "So, it's my fault?"

"Yes." He exhales deeply before standing up. "I'll be back as soon as I can get away."

Kate nods. "Just stay safe."

"Well, having spent all night with you," he shoots her a pointed look as he resumes buttoning up his shirt. "I'm in a hurry to get back to you."

"Can you pass me my nightdress?" She asks, as it was on the floor.

"I'm running late," he commented as he begins to put on his tie. "get it yourself."

She rolls her eyes and huffs. "You're no gentleman, Thomas Shelby."

"Well, you're no lady." She throws a pillow at his head, which he easily ducks. "Hey, I took you good last night and I know for a fact," he smirks impishly at her. "that no lady screams like that."

"Been with many ladies, have you?" she inquires as she begins to pull the sheet free from the bed. "Not that I'm jealous," she assures him, noting how he stiffened up slightly. "I just know for a fact that you're far more experienced than I am in regards to sex. not to mention, you're a terribly attractive man and any woman wouldn't hesitate into jumping into bed with you."

"You didn't." he pointed out as he turned towards her, pulling on his vest.

"I actually considered it," she finally got the sheet free and stood up out of the bed. "that night in the hotel."

His brow arched in surprise. "What made you decide not to?

"Because I wanted to be more than just a one night thing to you. that was the moment I knew that I wanted to be your wife."

Thomas laughs lightly, causing her to pull the sheet tighter around her. "That…was the same night I made up my mind to go buy you a ring. And then," he steps towards her, pulling his suspenders up over his shoulders. "get you pregnant with my third child."

Kate laughs. "Why Thomas Shelby, you did intend to get me pregnant after all!"

"Yes, but not this soon. As to your other question…let's just say I know enough to know that a proper lady wouldn't marry a peaky blinder."

"Well, lucky for you, I had a lapse in my proper judgment and fell in love with you." She picks her nightdress up from the floor, shaking out the wrinkles in the chiffon fabric. It was at that moment Thomas grabbed her around the waist and spun her around in a tight embrace. "Tommy!" She squealed as he dropped her atop of the window seat and got atop her. His laugh mingled with hers as he looked down at her, his blue eyes dancing. She ran her fingers through his hair. "You're incorrigible!"

"Maybe I am." He leaned forward and kissed her on the mouth before pointing out to her quietly. "You called me Tommy again."

She paused and reflected back. "I suppose I did."

"Say it again." He requested.

"Tommy." She repeated as she brought her hands up to caress his face. He kissed her twice and warning bells started to go off as he began to untangle the sheets from around her. "Tommy, not here."

"Yes." His hands began to unwrap the sheets. "Here and now, wife."

"No, no, no." she grabbed his hands and sat up. "You've got to be leaving, there's no time for this."

"They can wait a bit….you, need to be satisfied."

"As much, as I would love to be with you right now." She stretched upwards to kiss him. "You need to eat and take care of whatever it is that's going down without any distractions from me." She leaned over to grab her peach robe that was almost out of reach. Thomas gripped her elbow, keeping her from falling on her face until she sat up. "I'll be waiting for you when you get back."

He exhales. "Fine." he pulls her up from the window seat and helps her into her peach robe. She knows the gesture is meant to appear as if he's being helpful, but Kate knows better. She's appreciating the view and his hand wanders on occasion. "Don't be wearing anything too difficult to get out of once I get back."

"As my husband wishes." She chuckles as she turns towards him as he kisses her. the moment his lips touch hers, that's when the nausea hits her. "Oh God." As she bolts to the bathroom, she swears that she can hear him chuckling at her.


Kate comes down the stairs, pouty look on her face. "Ahh, here's my lovely wife." Thomas says from the doorway. He steps back inside the house as she steps towards him. "How are you feeling?"

"I hate you." she moans.

"I know, I'm sorry." Thomas kisses her cheek. "we should be back in a few hours and maybe by then, you'll be feeling better."

"I'll be right here waiting for you two." she waves as she leans against the door, breathing in the crisp, cool air. "Stay safe you two!"

Both men waved at her before hopping into their car.

"Close the door." Polly says from behind her. "It's freezing out there." Polly suddenly starts to stare at her. Kate keeps a straight face as she watches the men depart, but Polly has a penetrating stare. "You forgot to powder the back of your neck, where he clearly made sure that everyone in this house knows that he finally got you into bed with him."

Kate gasped and slapped a hand on her neck. "He didn't!"

"He did." Polly's tone made her smile wobble. "He was whistling for a few seconds as he came trotting down the stairs. Haven't heard him do that in years. It was nice to see. Come, let's go have breakfast."

Kate's stomach moans in protest. "Maybe just some tea."

Polly frowns. "Your stomach still upset?" she nods as Polly sighs. "I'd still say you were pregnant but, considering you just started indulging in matrimonial activities last night, it's unlikely. Human nature hasn't advanced that far ahead."

Kate simply smiles at Polly. She was going to be so surprised when she and Thomas announced to the family that she was pregnant tomorrow night.


A slamming door caused Kate to jump from her typewriter. She'd been so engrossed in her writing that she hadn't even heard the cars pull up. there was some shouting, so, she stepped into her slippers and went downstairs just as the library door slammed.

Polly, Arthur and Noni were in a heated conversation. They both paused to look at her. Kate frowned. "What happened?"

Noni opened her mouth, but Arthur stopped her. "Orders from Thomas, we don't discuss peaky blinder business with Kate."

"I'll go talk to him and find out what happened."

"He said no one was to disturb him." a glass shattered in the library, prompting her to head to the door. "Fine, don't be surprised if he throws you out."

Polly laughs as Kate enters the library. "Be sure to lock the door behind you."

Kate ignores Polly innuendo and pushed the door open to see Thomas sitting at his desk. He's pouring himself another glass of whiskey and Kate spots the shattered glass by the fireplace. "Leave, I didn't want to be disturbed."

"So Arthur told me, " Kate latches the door behind her and steps towards him as he downs another drink of his whiskey. "but I'm not going anywhere."

He slams his tumbler down on his desk. "I said to leave!"

"And I said no!" she snaps back at him. "Thomas, I don't know what went wrong, but you need to calm down." He glowers at her as she perches on the edge of his desk. "I'm not leaving you because I know how you get into your moods and frankly, I don't think a man like you should be left alone with such dark thoughts." She pats his arm. "I'll just be reading over there on the couch."

As she moves to get off the desk, he grips her by the wrist and pulls her towards him, yanking her off the desk. "I've got you." He assured her as he caught her and pulled her into his lap. "Just come here."

She drapes her arm around his neck with an exhale. "Want to talk about what happened?"

"I did promise you to keep you out of the business, so, I won't go into details. Your brother…alerted a group that we were coming." Kate gasps in shock. "Several men got wounded, but…we took over the place. He's your brother Kate, and I'm going to respect the family ties, but he's interfering in our business."

"Go ahead and just shoot him."

"No. I draw the line at family." Kate glowers darkly and reaches behind her for the phone. He frowns. "What are you doing?"

Kate doesn't answer him and Thomas frowns at her as she dials a number. "It's me. Put him on the line, now" He sits up straight, shifting her on his lap. "Father."

He leans forward, so he can hear somewhat. Kate? Why are you calling me?

"Well, two reasons." She shifts in his lap, causing him to inhale sharply. "The first, being the most important to me. I need you to talk to Anton about his behavior."

I've been trying to Kate. I'm sorry about what happened today and believe me, once I find him, I will take care of it.

"You better!" Kate snaps. "Anton is dishonoring his promise to mother!"

Kate, he's upset. Listen, he feels bad that you had to marry Thomas Shelby. And he's been trying to rectify the situation ever since.

"Are you saying that he wants my husband dead?!" she bites out.

Let's say he wants the marriage over and he's trying to persuade your husband to consider it. He's not going to kill him, but he wants to make things difficult enough so he'll give you up.

"Well, you better set him straight!" Kate snaps. "Tell him that I want to talk to him."

Kate, I will but for the time being, but I need you and your husband will have to be patient. He sighs. You see, there's someone in your peaky blinder's group who wants your husband dead as well.

Kate looks to him, her face growing still. "Who?"

I don't know who, that's what I've been trying to find out. all I know is he's working with Anton. How else do you think he knew details about today?

"Please, find out soon." She inhales as she confesses. "I'm pregnant."

Her father inhales sharply. What?

She smiles. "I'm going to have a baby." her father lets out a happy exhale. "And if it helps," she looks directly at him. "I'd have married Thomas Shelby anyway, regardless of the circumstances."

I don't like him, , if he makes you happy, then I'm glad.

"He's a good man. quite calm and gentle, until his family is threatened. I've told him if he ever needs to deal with Anton to protect himself, I won't care."

He's my son Kate.

"And I'm your daughter, who will be having your grandchild. Anton, will most likely never marry."

I will most likely never have a relationship with you. Kate inhales at the sadness in his voice. While, I don't want to lose either of my children, forgive me for holding onto the one I do have a relationship with.

"And I'm sure if anyone was threatening mother, you wouldn't have hesitated to kill them, regardless of their relation to you. it's same for me and Thomas, I don't want to raise our child alone." Kate bites her lip. "I'm willing to try, but I'm going to have to insist that you leave your guns and business at home."

Yet, you're married to a man like Thomas Shelby. There's no way he wouldn't keep you in the dark.

"He would. He respects my desire to stay out of it. all he told me was that Anton interfered in whatever went down today."

Her father sighs. I'll call you with what I know in a few days. Try to keep him home.

"Oh believe me," Kate states as she shifts her position in his lap, causing her to grinds her hip against his. "that is something that I can do."

Thomas loses all patience and starts undo the buttons holding her robe. Her father chuckles. He treats you well then?

"Yes. I got pregnant didn't I?" Thomas lifts her up onto the desk and parts the robe, exposing her nude body to the cold of the library. "I've got to go, I'll talk to you later. Goodbye." He may have said goodbye, Kate wouldn't know for she hung up very quickly as she reached for Thomas.

"Well, Mrs. Shelby, I shall have to teach you a lesson for disturbing me while working."

"You were brooding," she states. "but now, might I suggest you put that frustration into good use?"


Idcam: Kate Bush helped out quite a bit. 'Song of Solomon' is one of the most sensual songs she ever wrote. As for love, they're going to need it because there's a few more things coming.