Thank you to everyone that is still sticking with this story. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please forgive me for the long wait and any mistakes.

Much love, Comet96 xx

ONE EVENTFUL WEDDING

Daisy and Sam had been all smiles when we arrived and while I was happy for them, I just wasn't happy.

I wasn't happy that Tommy wasn't here. I wasn't happy because Graves was driving a wedge between my family. I wasn't happy because I missed my husband.

It was confusing and I was tired.

I waved off the invitation to join them for dinner and went straight to my room, Gunner following and curling up on the bed next to me. He was getting awfully protective lately since Tommy had been gone.

I knew it was rude but I wanted to be by myself until Tommy came in the morning. I hated to admit it but I was miserable without him.

I woke to the feeling of being watched. I knew a lot of people said that was a lie, something wives told children to get them to stop staring at people, but I knew it was a gypsy thing.

While Mah-mee could see the future, I had the sense of being watched.

"You're back," I muttered, rolling over and turning my back to my husband.

"Yeah, I promised you," he replied, leaning on the bed and pressing a kiss to my cheek. "You need to be up, Daisy's freaking out and Meave's looking for you."

"What's she freaking out about?" I asked, taking the cup of tea set on the dresser and taking a sip. I scrunch my nose up at the taste, hating how bitter it tasted. Someone obviously hadn't added any sugar.

"I dunno, something about flowers," he said, lighting a cigarette and rubbing it against his lips. "Polly's 'ere with the boys."

"Did you sort your business with Graves?"

I climbed out of the bed, sliding my feet into some slippers before going over to the lavender dress hanging by the window. Glancing at Tommy over my shoulder, I slipped my nightdress off and pulled on a fresh set of undergarments and a slip. My fingers brushed against the soft cotton of the dress when Tommy slid his hands over my sides and pulled my back against his chest.

"I have. There won't be any business for a couple of weeks." He pressed his lips to my cheek and let them trail down my neck, his hands sliding around and settling on my stomach. "We can go away. Just you and me."

"Yeah," I said, a smile on my face as I thought about us leaving for a while. "I've got a cottage in Cornwall, right by the sea."

"Bit of sea air will do us some good," Tommy said, turning me around and pressing a kiss to my lips. "I'll go check and see if everything's ready."

"I'll see you downstairs then," I replied, turning back to my dress and pulling it on.

Daisy wasn't freaking out about flowers. It was the wedding cake.

She was freaking out because the wedding cake they had ordered had been sent but one of the dogs had gotten in the way as it was being carried in and had been dropped.

"Of all the fucking things," I muttered as I ran my hands through my hair as I made my into Tommy's office to phone Mary and ask her to give Kyle the best cakes she has at the bakery. "Ughh." I held the desk as a wave of dizziness came over me and I quickly placed my hand over my mouth to stop myself from throwing up. "That fucking tea," I said as I thought about the cup of tea I'd been given as I entered Daisy's room. It hadn't tasted right and I regretted drinking it.

"You alright, El?" Tommy asked as he came up behind me, his hand settling on my back.

"Yeah. Don't drink the tea, I think it's gone bad," I told him, leaning into his touch before laughing at the thought of Tommy drinking tea.

"What are you doing in here, huh?" he asked, coming around the desk and pulling out a sheet of paper from his drawer. He scribbled a note onto it before folding it and slipping it into an envelope, followed by a fair amount of money. Before I could ask, he slipped the envelope into his breast pocket and raised his eyebrow waiting for my answer.

"I was going to phone Mary and ask her to send over her best cakes."

"Polly's already sent Percy to grab them while Violet calms Daisy down." Huh. Had it really taken me that long to get from the kitchen to here? "You sure you're okay?"

"Hmm? Yeah, I'll be fine, just a little tired." Now that I thought about it, I did feel tired.

"We don't want to be late," Tommy said, his hand on my lower back guiding me from the office.

I was surprised to see that the manor was full of people, a lot of them gypsies, but remember that Daisy said her grandmother invited family from all over.

Catching sight of Polly ushering the boys out into the garden, I placed a hand over my stomach as it began to churn.

"I don't feel too good," I told Tommy as we followed everyone out to where Daisy and Sam would be married by Daisy's grandmother.

"It won't take long," Tommy promised, his hand settling on my leg as we took our seats. My limbs felt like they were melting and then solidifying just as fast.

My breath was speeding up and then just as quickly slowing down until it became almost impossible to breathe. I was finding it hard to keep my eyes open, my vision blurring at moments and coming back into focus.

There was a moment where I was aware of Daisy and Sam kissing and I felt the crowd cheering around us and then in the next moment I was in the entrance hall as Tommy walked me round to greet the guests.

It left me feeling erratic.

"Tommy," I muttered, my eyes on two men as they came into the hall, both wearing butler uniforms, but not one of the men we had on staff. "Those men don't work for us."

Tommy stiffened beside me, his arm tightening around me as his eyes locked on the two men I mentioned. As if he was seeing into the future, Tommy pushed me down, his gun already out and firing off a round.

I was barely aware of one of the men going down because as I dropped to the floor, my hands caught me as my vision started mixing together. I was seeing double, seeing triple, and then I wasn't seeing anything at all.

There was someone holding my hand.

That wouldn't be strange normally, but in this case, I knew it wasn't Tommy.

Why was there a stranger holding my hand?

Opening my eyes, I frowned at the blonde woman as she looked down at her watch. What was she doing?

"Jesus," she said as her eyes locked onto mine and caused her to jump. "Mrs Shelby, you're awake."

I almost rolled my eyes at her, and I would have done if my head didn't feel so heavy. Of course, I was awake.

"Where's my husband?" I asked, looking around the room, feeling concerned when I couldn't see him.

"He's down in the study. I'll get one of the maids to get him," she said, rising to her feet and leaving the room. I could hear her talking to someone in the hall and waited patiently for her to return. When she did, I reluctantly allowed her to help me into a sitting position, her hands fluffing my pillow as she poured me a glass of water. "Mr Shelby will be up soon."

"Who are you?" I asked, feeling much like my husband with how blunt I was being.

"I'm Rose, Mrs Shelby, I'll be here to assist you while you recover," she said, her face turning pale as if she'd said something she shouldn't have.

"Recover from what?" I frowned as she shook her head and dismissed herself. "Rose?"

"Ellie," Tommy said, rushing into the room, his face revealing a look of relief as he settled onto the bed beside me. I was surprised when he brought my face into his hands and looked me over. "I was so scared."

"Why?" This was too confusing. What was Tommy so worried about? Had one of those men hit me with a bullet? What had happened at the wedding?

"You were poisoned."

Was I?

Huh. I guess it did make sense. The dizziness, the nausea, my vision going funny. The way I felt did have me believing that I was poisoned.

"How?"

"Someone slipped something into your tea." I knew it. I knew it tasted wrong. "You were lucky enough to have a little amount in your system. The doctor said anymore and you might not have made it."

"This … who … how did this happen?" I asked, grabbing hold of his hands to stop them from shaking.

"I don't know how it was. One of the men you spotted died when he pulled his gun out. Arthur's dealing with the other one."

"What do you mean he's dealing with him? Oh, Tommy, you haven't got some man tied up in our house have you?" I wasn't disappointed. I just didn't want blood on any of the floors.

"Don't worry," he said, rolling his eyes as if he'd already taking into account what I would say. "He's in the stables."

I chuckled, hitting him lightly on the shoulder as he leaned into me, his eyes closing as he held me close.

"I thought I was going to lose you."

"It's going to take more than a little bit of poison to take me from you, Tommy," I said, brushing my fingers through his hair as I held him to me. He was being too silent and I knew there was something he was keeping from me. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Your grandfather was poisoned as well."

"What?"

"He's not doing too good, he's asked for you."

This wasn't good.

There would be no reason for Papa to ask for me to come to him if he didn't fear his death.

It was major to call all family members to the household of the ill in case of death. I bet cousin Robert was already there, waiting to see if he'd inherit anything if Papa did die.

"I need to go," I mumbled, pushing him away from me and trying to climb out of the bed.

"Elsie, you need to rest."

"Do not!" I snapped, raising my hand as I tried to calm myself down as the blood rushed in my ears. "Do not tell me what to do. My grandfather is possibly dying and you want me to stay here?" He looked ashamed and turned his head away as he shook it in frustration. "I'm not going to beg for you to let me go, Tommy, but it would be easy if you were agreeable."

"You need to recover."

"Then I'll do that in a car or on the fucking train. I need to go to him because we both know that if he dies and I'm not there, I'd never forgive you."

Tommy had relented but he had rules.

Rule one; I was not to travel alone. This meant that Rose Hampton, the young nurse tending to me was now hired as my personal nurse. It also meant I had Kyle with me at all times. Tommy also felt a need to send Zara, one of the maids down with us for conversation.

Rule one also meant Tommy didn't trust the train and had called for Edison to come and collect us.

Rule two; I had to call him as soon as I woke every morning, during lunch, and just before I went to bed. He was a bit too paranoid but I was agreeing to it just to leave.

Rule three; I wasn't to leave the house as soon as I got to London. If I needed anything I was to send Zara to fetch it for me and I had to do as Rose instructed when it came to my health.

I was sure there'd be more rules if Polly didn't come barging in the moment she knew I was awake. He did make it very clear though that Gunner would be coming with me, even when the dog whined when Tommy sent him away.

It was why, four days later, I was sat in my room, Zara and Rose keeping me company as I read Pride and Prejudice.

"How are you feeling?" Rose asked, setting down a fresh cup of tea and a sandwich beside me.

"The same as when you asked twenty minutes ago, Rose," I replied, flicking a glance to Zara when she let out a light laugh.

"I heard your cousin, Henry has come to stay and help out with the business while your grandfather recovers," Rose said, her cheeks flushing at the mention of Henry.

"Have you met him?" I wondered, smiling slightly at the flush of her face.

"He caught me in the kitchen. He's very sweet."

"Hmm, he is," I muttered, sharing another look with Zara as she laughed again.

"How is my grandfather?" I asked, changing the conversation as Rose started to flush crimson.

"Doctor Hughs said he's getting better, which is remarkable considering how bad he was a couple of days ago."

"My grandfather's a fighter," I said, jumping as the phone rang beside me. It had been by Tommy's insistence that a phone got fitted in my bedroom. Grandmother had been furious but Henry had given it the go-ahead and seeing as Papa had left him in charge in case anything happened to him, she couldn't argue.

"Hello," Rose said, lifting the phone and smiling lightly into the phone. "I'll pass it to her right away, Mr Shelby."

"Hello?"

"I miss you."

"I miss you too," I muttered smiling into the phone as he huffed down the phone.

"When are you coming back?"

"You really miss me that much?" I teased, sharing another look with Zara. It had been the same phone call every day since I arrived here and I'd only been here for four days.

"I'm so bored, Ellie. Tommy won't let me leave the house and Aunt Pol's been mad as hell."

"Finn, you know you're not to swear," I said, shifting into a comfortable position as I knew I was for a long conversion. "Look, if you're still bored on the seventeenth, I'll talk to Tommy and have someone bring you to stay with me here."

"Really?"

"Yes, Finn. I'll have you come stay with me in London, but first, I need to get better and Papa needs to wake up." I was hoping that would be in the next seven days. From what Rose has been saying, the doctor thinks Papa's improving, and hopefully he'll be away in a couple of days.

"I just miss you, Ellie."

"I miss you too. Why don't you get Tommy to take you to ride Storm?"

"He's too busy."

"Ask Maddox to take you then. He's looking after the horses for me, just let him know I sent you."

"But it's not the same without you." I frowned as Gunner jumped up onto the bed, his head resting on my lap as he gazed up at me. It was as if he was missing his master and was reluctantly putting up with me because Tommy sent him with me.

"I miss you too. I promise to talk to Tommy later."

"I love you, Ellie."

"I love you too, Finn. I'll speak to you tomorrow."

Thank you for reading xx