Chapter Eleven: the dreaming


This had been the longest hour of her life.

Kimber had tried every trick in the book and she'd rebuffed each one on the ride to his home. He was becoming more impatient as his final hour began to start. Kate knew it would be just a matter of time before he lost all patience. They were now in the library and Kate had been determined to remain at least three feet away from him.

"Why don't you teach me how to dance properly?" he said as he put on a record, a slow song, naturally.

"How about," Kate moves a few steps away, still clutching onto her purse. "you hire someone to teach you?"

"I wanna dance with you."

"Well, I don't want to dance with your or anyone else." Kate says firmly. "Didn't Mr. Shelby inform you I'm in mourning?"

"He did, but," he looks her up and down, practically licking his chops. "you're too young to be in mourning for long. Besides…what are you doing out in public, not wearing black?"

"Just because my required mourning period is over," she says patiently. "doesn't mean my heart is done mourning him."

"Well, he'd want you to live it up a bit. Ever been in a house this big?"

Kate nods. "Yes, I have and I've been here before Mr. Kimber."

He laughs shortly. "Do you take me for a fool?" he inhales. "Look at you. You're like a bloody film star." He reaches out and toys with her hair. Kate jerks her head away from him and that sets him. "Do you think I'd forget a face like yours?"

Kimber grabs a hold of her and forcefully kisses her. Kate digs her nails into his face, causing him to howl as she shoves him away from her. As he lunges for again, arm raised to strike, she pulls the gun from her purse and points it at him. "That's close enough!" he freezes as she cocks the gun. "Keep away from me, or else your wife is going to be the sole occupant of this estate!"

"Easy!"

"You're going to shut up and listen to me!" she snaps. She is frightened, but she knows she has to pull this off. "Do you know Gilbert Kovach?"

Kimber's face goes slightly pale. "Yes."

"He's my father." she bites out.

"Hell." Kimber swears violently. "Shelby didn't say nothing about that!"

"Because even he doesn't know." Kate steps towards him. "My father has me investigating into the peaky blinders. Now, if you interfere anymore, your life is over."

"Tell me what to do," Kimber was almost begging now. "and I'll do it."

"First, you're to conduct your business with him as usual. Nothing changes. If you tell him anything that I've told you, I will inform my father that you raped me."

"I didn't lay a hand on you!"

"Trust me, he'll never believe you. I'm his daughter, so why would he believe you over me?" Kimber swallows, but says nothing. Kate knew her father probably couldn't care less, but what did Kimber know about that? "Now, have we got a deal?"

Kimber nods. "Fine. Now get out of here."

She smiles as she tucks her gun back into her purse. "A pleasure, believe me. Stay in here until the others get back."

Kimber nods and goes straight for his brandy. Kate closes the door to the library and exhales shakily. She escaped unscathed, but she felt dirty and cheap. She'd never felt like that in her life. She wanted to go home and take a bath right away.

Kate hurriedly rounds the corner as Thomas bursts around the corner, knocking her to the ground! She lets out a gasp as she hits the marble floor with him atop of her. He looks down at her in surprise. "Kate?"

"Get off me!" she pushes him away as she gets up without his assistance.

"Kate?" he hurries after her. "Are you alright?"

"If you mean, is the deal still in place, yes it is!" she snaps as she wrenches open the front door and attempts to slam it behind her, but he catches a hold of the door. She groans and hurries down the gravel path towards the front gate.

She can hear Thomas ordering grace to get in the car, but she keeps moving. She makes it to the front gate first and the gateman hurriedly opens the gate for her. She can hear Thomas shouting for the man to open the gate behind her. She hops off the road and walks on the side of the road.

"Kate!" Thomas bellows over the engine. "Will you get in the car?"

"I'll walk, thank you!" she says tartly. Even though she's not injured, she's still furious as to how Thomas had been able to manipulate her into such a situation

"Kate."

"Just leave her Tommy." Grace says, her voice finally raised somewhat. "She wants to be left alone."

"I can't just leave her here."

"Yes, you can." Kate snaps. "Go away!"

"You're a f**king bastard blackmailing her into going there." Grace says as Thomas brakes the car, leaving the engine idling. "Thomas!"

Kate looks up, holding onto her hat to see that Thomas has hopped out of the car and is now approaching her. She glowers at him. "Will you just get in the car?"

"No!" she snaps. "I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"Did he hurt you?" He reaches for her hand, but she smacks him.

"Get your hands off me!"

""Kate, I'm just trying to help!"

"Trying to help!" she screams. "You set me up to be raped! I won't want anything to do with you at the moment!"

"Kate!" he makes the mistake of grabbing onto her wrist and Kate snaps. She's been manhandled enough by one man, she's not letting another treat her the same way.

She hits him in the face with her purse, causing him to groan and grab a hold of his forehead. "Damn you, Kate!" He exhales as he grabs his pocket-handkerchief and puts it to his forehead. Kate stares at the blood in shock.

"How did I-

He removes his hat and flips it over, revealing the razors sewn to the band. All the anger whooshes out of her and Kate looks into her purse for the small bottle of antiseptic she always carries. She takes his handkerchief from him and starts to dab at the wound, which fortunately isn't too deep.

She then pours some of the antiseptic on the handkerchief and begins to dab the area. They both won't look at each other during this process, but there's a strange pull in the air that makes Kate glad he won't look at her. After she's satisfied that the area is clean, she corks her antiseptic.

"There."

"Will you get in the car?" he asks without looking at her.

Kate doesn't answer him; she simply nods and turns back towards the car. Instead of sitting in the front, she climbs into the back seat and closes the door before Thomas can help her. The ride back to Birmingham is long and fraught with tension. Kate was sick of this, she was sick of their constant bickering. It was then that she made a decision.

From here on out, she would stay away from Thomas Shelby. If distance couldn't allow them to reconcile their differences, she'd leave Birmingham after making sure the restaurant was in capable hands.


Idcam: Yes, he really did. Kate had to reveal her identity to Kimber, but he'll keep quiet.

Shariebery; Yes he should be, but Thomas doesn't do apologies.

Angel029: Not this time.