Tommy lay in the hospital bed cursing himself. He lived his whole life on horses, yet he had just gotten out of a painful surgery due to being thrown. If it was any limb other than his leg, he wouldn't be calling Arthur to represent Shelby Company Limited at the business meeting in Scotland.
Arthur walked into Tommy's hospital room and looked at him.
"What happened Tom? You've never been in the hospital because of a horse before." Arthur said shaking his head.
"Yeah well, if I hadn't walked on it back to the house, I wouldn't have needed surgery." Tommy said resentfully.
"If you hadn't walked on it, you'd still be down by the creek waiting on someone to find you." Arthur said and Tommy shot him a look before clearing his throat.
"I have a job for you Arthur." Tommy said, changing the subject.
"Alright." Arthur replied, willing and excited to have a task to do.
"I need you to go to Scotland to represent Shelby Company Limited in finalizing a business deal."
"Alright. When do I leave?"
"You'll leave tomorrow morning. And you'll be there for at least three days, possibly longer depending on how long it takes to reach an agreement."
"I can do it Tom." Arthur said with confidence, but Tommy's confidence in Arthur was considerably less.
"There's more." Tommy said before taking a deep breath. "This is a joint venture. You'll be there with Alfie Solomons."
Arthur's face fell, his nostrils flaring. "What? I'm not doing business with that fucker again! Not after the last time-"
Tommy took a deep breath, expecting this reaction. "Yes, you will. You'll go to Edinburgh, you'll represent our company, and you'll agree to the outline I give you. If this goes well, we will be earning greater than 250,000 pounds along with passages up north and to the east. We need this to go well."
"Why is Alfie going to be there?" Arthur said, a sour look on this face.
"Because Sir Callahan wanted access to some of Alfie's contacts in the jewelry business, so he made him part of the deal with me. We need Alfie for this deal, so whatever you do…." Tommy paused staring with authority into his brother's eyes. "Do not fuck this up."
"Why me? Why not send John or Polly?" Arthur grumbled.
"Sir Callahan won't do business with a woman and Esme is due to go into labor any day."
"So? He's been around during the other 6 births, one won't hurt to miss."
Tommy stared at his brother.
"What about Michael? He-"
"I promised Polly he would stay away from this part of the business." Tommy interrupted, beginning to get angry. "Now. You're going to go, and you are going to be civil and work with Alfie. Not against. Is that clear?"
Arthur stared into Tommy's blue eyes, his mouth going into a flat line before he looked away and mumbled. "Yes, Tom."
The next morning, Arthur awaited Alfie's arrival in Birmingham.
"I don't know why we can't drive separate." He said with his arms crossed, reminding Tommy of a small child.
"Alfie insisted the two of you ride together to 'cleanse the air' before you got there." Tommy looked at his brother, an air of sympathy around him. "Look, Arthur. I know Alfie can be difficult."
"Difficult?" Arthur said before he scoffed loudly, shaking his head.
"I know." Tommy put his hand on his shoulder. "But this is important. So regardless of what he does," Tommy paused, forcing Arthur to look into his eyes and see the seriousness of his expression. "do not let it get the better of you. Eh?"
Arthur gave the smallest nod before the door opened and Polly Shelby walked in the hospital room.
"They're here. He's walking in now." She said, pursing her lips with an unmistakable twinkle of humor in her eyes.
A few seconds later the doors to Tommy's private hospital room burst open and Alfie Solomons walked in with his arms wide.
"Hello, Tommy." He said as he walked to sit in the chair beside Tommy's bed, clasping Tommy's hands in his. "Now, I want you to know, right, that I am going to look after your brother and we," He said as he turned to face Arthur. "are going have a lovely time. Mm?"
Tommy looked at Arthur who looked back at him and produced a strained smile and nodded. Alfie looked back at Tommy, his eyes full of mischief, and grinned before he stood and departed with a reluctant Arthur.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? He did almost have Arthur killed, you know." Polly pointed out.
"That was business." Tommy said.
"And what is this?"
Tommy didn't answer, knowing it would be in Alfie's best interest not to perform another assassination attempt. His brother's life would be safe, though he couldn't say the same for his sanity.