Elizabeth had stood by the door when she heard raised voices in the kitchen. It didn't take her long to hear a member of Tommy's family disagree with her being there. She couldn't blame him, of course. If anyone placed her mother in danger then she would want him or her gone. She struggled to make out what else was said, as voices seemed to dip. Sighing, she moved back to Tommy's bed and dropped down to sit on top of it again.
The jacket she wore had a particular odour of smoke that entered her nostrils every now and then. It also smelled of some form of peppermint and musk. She couldn't explain it. It smelt like nothing she had smelt before, but it was oddly comforting to her.
"Your father has the streets of Birmingham covered."
Tommy opened the door with haste and closed it just as quickly. He looked to Liz before moving to his heavy curtains. He pulled them shut, shrouding both of them in darkness. Pulling the matches from his pocket he lit the small lamp on his bedside table, illuminating the room to keep it from the pitch black.
"Why?" Liz dared to ask.
"He found out where you worked and your rooms were untouched," Tommy told her. "He thinks you couldn't 'ave gotten far because you 'ave nothin'. We don't know how long he will be 'ere for."
"But there must be a way out?" Liz worried and Tommy shook his head at her.
"Unless you want to run the risk of bein' caught?" Tommy wondered and Liz sighed lowly. It was useless. "You'll be stayin' 'ere until they clear out."
Shock took over then as Tommy moved into his wardrobe. She watched him with intrigue as he pulled out another jacket and draped his arms into it, the cold truly catching up with him.
"But if they find out," Liz worried, "surely you will be in trouble."
"Then they will 'ave to not find out," Tommy told her. "It isn't up for discussion, Miss Kimber."
"Don't," Liz whispered and Tommy wondered how to tell her that her own father had supposedly killed her mother? She already hated her family. It would only add fuel to her fire. "Don't call me by his name."
Pursing his lips, Tommy nodded. She had a right to know what had happened. Never before had Tommy had to deliver news like this to anyone. His Aunt Pol had told Finn and John when their mother had died. Tommy just had to cope with his own grief. He didn't know how to cope with anyone else's grief.
"Liz," he spoke her name and sat down by her side. "If I tell you somethin'…you need to know…it is a rumour…"
Tommy watched as her wide eyes grew in size, intrigue clearly taking hold of her. He watched her lips part as he took a swift glance down to his lap. She said nothing to him, choosing for him to speak first instead of her. Biting down on her lip, she waited patiently until he was ready.
"A man saw…well…he thinks he saw your father's men…they were the one to shoot 'er," Tommy said as bluntly as he could. Drawing out the conversation would do no one any good. It would just bring her cause to worry more.
Glancing back up to her, Tommy could see her cheek tint red. She was angry. Her hands had balled into fists by her sides at the news. She hadn't dared to think it. She didn't know why her father would do this. Why? What did he gain from this? She couldn't think of anything. Better yet, she didn't want to think of anything. Her father was married to her mother. She was his wife. And he had ordered this. Was it because she had run? Was it because she had lied? Liz needed answers.
"Liz," Tommy spoke her name as he saw her push herself to her feet and storm to the door, her hands in tight fists as she went.
"I want answers," she snarled. "I want him to pay! I want both of them to pay!"
Tommy moved with haste, striding to the door and catching her hand before she could pull the wood open. He grabbed her around the waist, his arm encircling her as he dragged her back a step.
"Think about this, Liz," He hissed at her, his other hand trying to grab her flailing arm. "You go out there and he takes you…you get your confirmation and he takes you. Do you want that?"
"I want him to suffer!" Liz roared, still protesting against Tommy. "I want him to suffer like she did…my mother…I hate him!"
"I know," Tommy promised her, moving his hand to her cheek, running it down her skin and feeling the tears there as his hand moved to her neck. "But this ain't the answer, Liz. You know that…think of yer mother…"
His words seemed to have the desired effect on her. She stopped her struggling and chose to go limp instead. She managed to turn around, her eyes level with Tommy's white shirt covered chest as the young man moved his hands to her cheeks, stroking away the tears sat there as she finally did something he had never expected.
She leant against him then, her cheek pressing against his chest as her arms dangled limply down her sides. Tommy moved his hands from her then, shocking coursing through him at this girl. He had never held a girl before. He barely embraced Lizzie when he was finished in her bed. She had often tried to press herself against him, but it made Tommy uncomfortable. He didn't know why.
And now he stood there with this girl sobbing against him. A girl he barely knew. Tommy tried to see reason. She was upset. She had no one. Did it make sense that she would need someone to be there? He suspected it did. Thinking about how his mother had comforted him whenever he had been upset, he moved a hand cautiously towards the back of her head. His hand engulfed the back of her head, cradling it softly as his fingers tangled in her knotted hair.
It was the most awkward thing Tommy had done, but he said nothing of that. Choosing to bite his tongue, Tommy stood where he was stiffly until she was ready to move from him.
….
Weeks seemed to pass by and Liz hadn't even left the Shelby household. She had tried to go, but Tommy had told her not to be foolish. She had been in the kitchen a couple of times. Aunt Pol had tried to be welcoming, but Liz could see the stress the woman felt. She met Ada, but the girl was not entirely interested in getting to know her. The one conversation they held proved that they came from opposite worlds. Liz had tried, but Ada only scoffed at her most of the times.
The most hatred she felt was from Arthur Shelby. The eldest of the Shelby boys detested her presence and he had made it known. He never sat at the dinner table when she was there. He looked at her as though she was the cause of all of his problems. He loudly stated how Robert Kimber was still in Birmingham and his men were still searching the area thoroughly.
Finn and John were both young lads and Liz had found them curiously staring at her as she sat by Tommy's side at the scratched wooden table when they ate meals. Tommy had picked at his bread silently as Liz sipped on the broth on her spoon. She was accustomed to the finer foods in life, but she refused to complain. Aunt Pol and Ada were kind enough to feed her instead of leaving her to starve.
Liz had tried to make conversation the first time she had stepped out of Tommy's room when she had finished her crying. She had asked of the family business. She discovered it revolved around gambling, but she knew no more. Everyone kept silent about to her and she had never pushed for information. Anything she said earned either a grunt or a chuckle at her naivety. None of them trusted her. Except Tommy.
He would look to her during dinner to be certain that she wasn't about to burst into tears like she had done the first few meals. Liz would only occasionally look back to him, his stare so intense that she looked away after a moment.
Pol had noticed the glances he sent her. She had noticed the way he would pull her chair out for her before a meal. She would see the way his hand would rest on her back when he led her anywhere. She couldn't pretend not to notice.
Tommy had been sleeping on the couch for the past three weeks. He had asked Ada for clothes for Liz. He had even rushed upstairs when he heard Liz screaming in the middle of the night from her nightmares. Pol had woken too and headed upstairs only to peer through the crack of the door. He was there, knelt by the bed as Liz rested on her side. He hadn't touched her, but he had hovered by her side until she was well again.
This was not the Thomas Shelby she knew. Pol had always seen Tommy laugh and smile, but he had never shown concern.
"I am not blind," Pol informed him one evening when everyone had gone to bed.
Tommy was waiting to sleep, his gaze set on the roaring fire in front of him as Pol took a seat on the stool near him. He looked to her, his brow arched as he wondered what she was speaking about.
"The girl," she spoke in a softer tone than usual. "You are different around 'er."
Shrugging, Tommy wondered where this conversation was going. He kept quiet before shrugging. "Never met anyone like 'er before. She's not from 'ere."
"That's not what I meant, Tommy," Pol spoke in a lower voice than usual. "You look at 'er differently. You're kind…"
Tommy chuckled at that. "Would you rather I be mean?"
"No," Pol rolled her eyes.
"Then what would you 'ave me do?" Tommy enquired. "She lost her mother. 'Er father is a murdering bastard. She has nothin'. She had everythin', aye, but now she has nothin'. I pity 'er. That is it."
Pol was unconvinced. She pitied the girl, but she didn't feel the need to make conversation with her or tell her that everything would be alright. She never felt the need to do that.
"This is somethin' else, Tommy," Pol said. "I'm warnin' you. The girl is trouble. You know that."
Tommy grunted. He didn't need to be told by Aunt Pol what the girl was. He didn't need to be informed of what he should and shouldn't do, especially when he had no intention of doing anything anyway. What he felt for the girl was pity, but that was all. She was a lost cause. She didn't belong in the same world that Tommy did.
"You 'ave nothin' to worry about," Tommy assured Pol. "Do you think a girl like 'er would even go for me?"
"That's what worries me," Pol mumbled as Tommy resumed his staring in front of the fireplace.
….
"Are you insane?"
Tommy had to chuckle at hearing her ask him that. He had housed her for the past four weeks so he thought that he might be insane. He had kept her locked inside and her father had finally decided to start leaving Birmingham. There was only so many times he could demand to enter people's homes and not find his daughter there. Tommy almost pitied the man.
"Possibly," Tommy told her as he held the door to the small back yard open.
Liz had complained at the lack of sun she had felt on her skin, but she didn't know that Tommy intended to let her out. She had lived in fear as much as his family had. The relief that her father was leaving brought her nothing but happiness. She could run then. She could finally go to make something of herself.
"It is a small yard. No one will see you," Tommy promised her. "The sun only shines so often in Birmingham…besides…yer gettin' paler by the day."
"Thank you," Liz scoffed, looking to the uneven cobbles in the small walled yard. She could see it was brighter than what she was accustomed to. The fresh air brought her nothing but relief too.
Tommy could sense she was hesitant. She hadn't stepped outside in weeks. She was taking a step back into the unknown. It was only right that she be slightly worried. Letting the door sit against his back, Tommy held his hand out to her. Liz looked down to it for a moment, wondering what he was doing.
"I'm not askin' for yer hand in marriage," Tommy said, a smirk on his face. Liz had rarely seen his plump lips move upwards to resemble anything like a smile. "I'm askin' you to trust me."
Liz managed a slim smile then. "After four weeks of you hiding me, I think I can trust you," she informed him and he nodded at her.
"Then follow me," Tommy told her.
Inhaling, Liz took his hand. His fingers were warm as his hand delicately took hers. He held his arm up slightly, allowing for her to walk outside first as he kept the door open. She went past him and he watched as her boot covered feet touched the cobbles.
He kept his hand inside of hers as she walked to the middle of the small yard. He let her go when he saw her look up to the sun, which had managed to break through the white clouds above them. It was warm and Liz basked in it, closing her eyes as Tommy chuckled at the sight of her. He had to admit that she was a sight in Ada's clothes. The plain white shirt she wore was tucked into her black skirt that hung down to just below her knees.
"Nice, ain't it?" Tommy asked her.
"Better than I had imagined," she nodded, turning to look at him.
She smiled sadly to him and Tommy looked down to the ground, his hands moving to his trouser pockets. She knew what this meant. If it was safe to go outside then it was safe for her to leave Birmingham. She had known that this day would come for a month now, but she didn't know how she felt about it. She knew that Tommy would keep her as safe as he could. She had no reason to doubt that.
"I suspect this is the part where I thank you for everything you have done for me," she said. "And you tell me that it is safe to leave Birmingham?"
"Do you want to leave Birmingham?" Tommy asked from her.
"I hate it here," Liz said and Tommy looked taken back. "My mother died here…it always seem to be grey…I don't fit in…but there is one thing here that has made it worthwhile."
"And what might that be?" Tommy asked of her, truly unknowing as he pulled his cigarettes out.
"You," Liz honestly answered him, stopping him from pulling the cigarette from his pocket. "I know that is foolish, but you have to have been the only man to show me kindness…and for that I thank you. I doubt that I can ever thank you."
Tommy had not expected that. Saying nothing, he watched as Liz pushed her hands through the pleats of her skirt, her long curls obscuring her face from him. She had red tinted cheeks. Embarrassment coursed through her. Looking across to him after a moment, she found his intense blue stare on her.
"You don't 'ave to go," he told her.
Liz shook her head. "I do not fit in here. How long would it be before someone noted and pieced the puzzle together? I cannot stay."
"You can learn," Tommy told her.
Shaking her head, Lizzie knew that was ridiculous. "People have seen my photo," she told him. "My father might have gone, but he can always return. You know that, Tommy. It is safer for all of us if I went."
Tommy knew that she was speaking sense. So why did it hurt him to hear the words fall from her lips? He had known that this day would come all along.
"You're right," Tommy agreed with her.
Nodding, Liz tucked her hair behind her ear. "At least I have nothing to pack. It should make travelling lighter."
"Should do," Tommy agreed, not knowing what to say to her.
He needed to stop this. The girl was dangerous to be associated with. She was upper class. She would never fit in with him and his family. Who would believe that she was his distant relative? No one would ever believe that. It wouldn't be safe so long as people remembered the name Elizabeth Kimber. And Tommy doubted that folk around here would forget it after what had just happened.
"This is ludicrous," Liz spoke, feeling herself well up. "I don't know why I'm…why this is so hard…I never belonged here…"
"No one said it would be easy," Tommy warned her. "I'll have Curly sneak you to the canals in the morning when he is on his way there…he'll see you safe…"
Liz almost looked disappointed. "How sad," she said, her voice dry. "I had hoped that you would come to wave me off."
Tommy chuckled. "Safer not to."
"Of course," Liz nodded as the clouds suddenly knitted together in the sky, coming together to block the sun from the streets. "Well…I should…yes…"
Liz couldn't think of a reason to leave the small yard. She had nothing to do or anywhere to go. She could only scuttle brusquely by Tommy, her hands holding onto her skirts as though she was trying to refrain herself from doing something foolish. Tommy could only turn on his heel to watch her go back inside. He said nothing to catch her attention. He chose only to pull that long overdue cigarette from his pocket.
….
The following morning came around quickly and Liz had made herself as respectable as possible. She still wore plain attire. Polly had made her take a case of a couple of outfits along with soap and a brush. She managed a small smile as she told Liz that a girl always had to look her best. Liz suspected she was smiling from relief more than anything.
No one was awake early that morning when Tommy told her that Curly would be there for six. She was to wait in the back alley for him. Liz had barely slept the night before, preferring not to miss as she stared at Tommy's clock on his bedside table.
She moved downstairs at ten to six, wondering if she would disturb Tommy from his sleep. He was already awake, dressed in his black trousers and a white shirt as usual. He looked to her as she gave him a soft smile. She carried the small case in her hands as Tommy made a move to stand.
"All packed?" Tommy checked with her.
"Yes," Liz whispered.
Tommy took the case from her and led her to the back of the house again, opening the door and leading her to the alleyway. Liz pulled her coat tightly against her, the cold morning air causing her spine to tingle as she closed the door softly behind her.
"Once again, I should thank you," Liz whispered.
"No need," Tommy assured her. "You made life exciting around 'ere."
"I doubt your family see it that way," Liz said and Tommy's deep chuckle echoed through her.
"Aye, that's true," he told her. "Anyway, 'ere."
Tommy moved his hand from his pocket to produce a small wad of notes. Liz looked down to it and Tommy followed her gaze.
"It should be enough to get you a room," he told her. "Travel is free…someone owes me a favour…but get a room and a job, right?"
"Of course," Liz said as Tommy pressed the notes into her hand.
She deposited them in her deep coat pocket. She wore Tommy's long black coat, but she still looked as though she blended in. Tommy noted how she couldn't even hold his gaze. She was looking anywhere but his eyes. She was struggling. Shaking his head, Tommy heard footsteps approach down the alley. Turning his head out from the yard he saw Curly moving towards them, rubbing his hands together to create warmth.
"Mornin' Tommy," he mumbled as he stood in the gate to the yard. "And this must be Liz?"
"Aye," Tommy nodded. "You're to take her to Jim's boat, right? He's smugglin' her down to Camden."
"Course," Curly said.
Liz looked to the man. He was tall and broad, a kind face with a small smile on his face. He wore a flat cap on his head and his body was covered in an unfitted suit. Tommy handed him her suitcase before resting his hand on Liz's back, leading her down the alley to where a horse was tied up with a cart on its back. Tommy stood by the cart as Curly placed her case on it. The streets were eerily quiet, but Liz suspected that was why they were going so early.
"Keep down, and hide under that blanket if needs must," Tommy indicated to the black rug on the other end of the cart. "Stay hidden on the boat and find a room as soon as you get to London, got it?"
Liz nodded as Tommy took her hand and helped her to step onto the cart. She sat down on the ground, knowing that it would more than likely contain dirt. Tommy nodded once to Curly as Liz pushed herself to lie down on her side awkwardly.
"Look after yourself, Liz," Tommy demanded with a stern nod. "Try not to cause any trouble, aye?"
"I make no promises," Liz said, trying to manage a small smile for him.
Tommy chuckled. He looked to Curly who was on the horse, waiting for the order. "Keep 'er safe, Curly…she's precious cargo…"
It was then when Tommy noted her sniff loudly and place a hand to her mouth. She looked to the ground and Tommy knew that she was crying. Why? She was safe leaving. It was for the best. She had to know that.
Before Tommy could say anything the cart was moving away from him. He stepped back as he saw Liz collapse to the wooden floor, her body shaking. He had grown accustomed to seeing her cry after these weeks. Had he caused that? Was she that sad to leave? Did she not understand the danger she was in if she stayed? And why would she want to stay? She had given him one reason…and that had been him. Christ, Tommy had even tried to persuade her to stay. Why had he done that?
What was going on in his head?
What was going on in her head?
Resting his forehead against the cold wall, he closed his eyes. It was too late to find out now. She was gone. She was leaving and it didn't matter. Tommy tried to convince himself that.
But that didn't explain why he found himself running towards the docks ten minutes later.
...
A/N: Thank you so much to everyone reading and reviewing! The reason why Kimber wanted his daughter back so much will be revealed in the next few chapters!
