Ada pulled a chair out for the two girls to share from one of side tables only to have Estelle tugged by her waist between Arthur's legs that hung over the edge of the table that he sat upon. Knowing Arthur's hands by the roughness that encircled her Estelle leaned back in him, she knew what he wanted. While he was very much trying to be the leader of the Peaky Blinders she knew he grew nervous as Tommy started inching his way to command. Holding her tight she knew Arthur calmed, she brought his back to the present.
Glancing back at Ada Estelle rolled her eyes to which Ada giggled. She knew Estelle was very much touchy feely and personally it didn't bother her when Arthur always kept her in arms reach but in public that was another story.
Estelle zoned out as she thought about what she would do now that Ada and her had been kicked out of the Red Cross nursing class. Replaying the scene in her head she giggled slightly remembering the jokes Ada told during the introduction part.
"This woman looks like she should be the dead body, not teaching 'bout em" Ada has whispered into her ear as the head nurse started to explain what dead bodies looked like to the rows of girls.
"What are you laughing about little girl?" Arthur questioned, his breath tickled my ear as he whispered trying to be discreet.
"Adas jokes" she whispered back, shifting her hips on the hard edge of the table the wood dug into her. Sensing her uncomfortableness Arthur scooter back on the table pulling Estelle up with him sitting her butt on the table too.
Not expecting to be lifted even if it was just a few inches up Estelle let out a small gasp that happened at exactly the same time there was a silent pause in the dialogue.
All eyes turned to the pair, Polly glared hard and Ada rolled her eyes as everyone shifted slightly unsure what to do. Having a young girl who wasn't being courted by said man it wasn't a whore was seen as just wrong. There was no word or phrase that could describe the kind of relationship Arthur and Estelle had and no way to explain it to others. It left everyone who didn't know them guessing.
"Sorry" Estelle uttered softly her head dipping a little in embarrassment that all eyes were on her. Her small soft hands fiddled with the edge of Arthur's suits sleeves. When she looked up after a moment to feel the stare of Thomas Shelby on her. Not her smartest move but she sunk back further in Arthur's chest when the two locked eyes. His blue eyes seemed so cold and it sent a shiver up Estelle's spine. With every passing day she felt that her days of being in the Shelby house were growing slimmer, with Tommy taking the lead and the way he chose to show his lack of interest in her she had a feeling she was seen as a burden to his family.
Once the meeting got back on track Estelle was nodding off against Arthur seemingly bored with the context of the meeting until Polly announced that supper would be served.
Shaking herself from her own nap she planted her hands on Arthur's thighs and pushed off sliding down off the table. Everyone started making their way to the kitchen to grab their meal but someone trailed behind.
"Arthur are you coming?" Estelle inquired as she turned over her shoulder. The man in question still stayed on the table.
"I'll be right there, save me a seat" he said shooing her with his hand in the air as his other pulled a glass of whiskey from amidst the papers.
"Arthur?"
"I'm fine I'll be right there" he said finally.
It was a few minutes before Arthur finally joined the rest of the Shelby's and Estelle. John sat on the bench with Ada and Finn, across from them Tommy and Polly sat in chairs. Estelle was just passing out bread to Ada and herself when Arthur came in.
Plopping down in her chair next Ada and another empty one Estelle started on her soup as the conversation they were having earlier continued.
"So what did you actually do to get kicked out?" John asked again slurping his soup loudly.
"Technically only Essie got kicked out from giggling-"
"You got kicked out?" Arthur interjected with his mouth full.
"I told you that-" Estelle said rolling her eyes, "I swear you never listen to me"
"Anyways I got kicked out because I called the nurse a hag" Ada proudly informed the group.
"What ladies I'm raising" Polly said looking up as if talking to God asking for help.shaking her head she asked what the ladies were going to do instead.
"Ada and I actually had a suggestion for that..." Estelle excitedly announced as she set her bowl down on her lap.
Looking between Polly and Arthur Ada picker up where Estelle left of, "we were reading the newspaper t'morning and we saw an ad"
"You two reading? I'd pay to see that" John jester laughing nudging Tommy trying to get him to join in.
"Anyways- we I mean Essie saw an ad for a help wanted at-" Ada started to explain as she looked at Tommy and then Polly then back at a Tommy wide eyed.
"Ada-" Tommy started to say but Arthur beat him to it.
"No fucking Shelby is going to be working for anything other than us. That's it-" Arthur sternly bit out punctuating his sentence with a bite of his bread.
"I for once agree with them, getting out of the house is one thing but I'm not sure either one of you are suited to be someone's help, it's dangerous out there" Polly tried to reason.
"Fine then I want to take on more accounting in the bet shop. I've been doing the same amounts since I was Finns age, I can handle more" Ada declared as she straightened her back as if being a little taller would give her more respect.
"Hey! I want to do some stuff too!" Finn exclaimed with his mouth stuffed, his words coming out more bread than anything.
"No Finn. We're not discussin it, the answers no just like it was five minutes ago when you tried to ask about the meeting." Polly scolded sending him a glare and pointing to the stairs, "you need to b'gettting to bed now anyway"
The young boy rolled his eyes but slid off his spot saying goodnight to his family and Estelle and scampered off to bed.
"Ada I don't see why you can't take on more" Tommy said casually. Ada smiled brightly, clapping her hands together in excitement as she leaned back smirking feeling as if this was a victory.
Estelle on the other hand just stayed quiet, she wasn't a Shelby but she knew bringing up her desire to work outside of the betting shop wouldn't go any further than it did with Ada she left it. Her mind was churning too much to to speak about it right now.
Dinner had finished relatively quiet after that, the ladies and Polly stayed to clean up while the Shelby boys left for the Garrison.
Estelle was drying their dishes when Ada stopped her with a hand on her own that was drying.
"Polly went to check on Finn, quick tell me what you're thinking before she comes back. I can see your mind working" Ada encouraged as she searched her friends face hoping it would give her plan away.
"They said no fucking Shelby would be working for anyone but a Shelby. I ain't no Shelby. I'm going to get myself a outside job"