Tommy looked to his wife as he sat at the head of the table and her to his left. He bit down on the inside of his cheek as she sipped on her glass of water and picked at the expensive slice of beef in front of her. The guests were talking animatedly, but Tommy was thinking about his wife, wondering what Mosley had said to her. He continued to bite down on the inside of his cheek, knowing that it would be something that would upset her. Elizabeth didn't like him. She had made that clear.

"Yer alright?" Tommy asked his wife, looking to her as she moved her gaze back to him.

"Fine," she said, forcing a smile onto her face. He knew that she was lying, but they had guests. Elizabeth placed her cutlery down on her plate and then moved to her feet, bending down to whisper into Tommy's war. "I just need a minute."

"Do yer need me?" Tommy asked as she placed a hand onto his shoulder and he moved his own hand on top of hers.

"That would look suspicious," she said, offering him a slim smile and kissing him on the cheek. "I will be back in a minute. Trust me, I am fine."

Tommy nodded his head and watched her sweep from the room. Everyone continued talking and laughing as Tommy sipped on his wine. Elizabeth went into the study and sank down in her chair, her dress crumpling as she collapsed into a heap, her hands resting on the arms of the chair. Closing her eyes, she tossed her head back as she closed her eyes. Letting out a deep breath, she longed to go back to her bedroom and go to sleep. She wanted to forget all of the guests. She wanted to forget they were there and spend time on her own.

She wanted her daughter and her husband. She wanted them with her and she wanted everyone out of their house. She stayed in her place before she heard the noise of bangs. Opening her eyes, she looked around and moved to her feet. Looking outside, she saw a worrying sight. There was a car in the driveway, her husband stood in front of it with Arthur and Pol. Elizabeth wondered how she had heard nothing as she moved into the hallway and through the front door.

"Tommy?" Elizabeth called for her husband and he looked over to her and held his hand up as she looked over his shoulder and saw Linda on the floor, writhing around in pain. Placing a hand to her mouth, she stumbled forwards as Tommy took hold of her waist, stopping her from advancing any further.

"Linda? What the hell is happening here?"

"She came 'ere…Pol shot 'er," Tommy said to her and she shook her head, fear coursing through her as Arthur helped his wife to her feet, blood dropping from her shoulder. "She was goin' to shoot Arthur for what 'e did to 'er friend…thought she was 'aving an affair."

"She needs a doctor."

"No," Pol said firmly as Arthur hauled his wife into the house. "She needs alcohol and some opium. She'll be alright."

"Tommy!" Elizabeth snapped at her husband. "We need to take her to a doctor."

"Pol's right."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Tommy took hold of her by the hand, dragging her into the hallway as Arthur carried a screaming Linda into the living room. Standing by the door, Tommy took hold of Elizabeth by the shoulders, his grip strong as he looked down to her, his gaze intense and full of pleading as his thumbs roamed along her soft skin.

"I need yer to keep people out," Tommy urged his wife. "Please, Liz."

"Fine," Elizabeth agreed, not wanting anyone to know what had happened. "But hurry up and come back to me, okay?"

Bending down, Tommy kissed Elizabeth swiftly before stepping into the living room and closing the door. Elizabeth raked a hand through her short hair, tossing it behind her shoulders. She turned on her heel and walked back through the hallways to the dining room, but Mosley was already on his way out. He closed the door to the dining room just as Elizabeth was about to bypass him and walked into the room.

"These are the kinds of things that your husband cannot do once he is part of my party," Mosley said. "He is going to learn how to be classier."

"Tommy is fine as he is," Elizabeth said.

"He could learn a thing or two from you," Mosley commented. "He could learn about class."

"I do not teach Tommy anything," Elizabeth said. "He does the right thing. He always does the right thing."

"You-"

"-There you are," a new voice interrupted and Elizabeth almost felt relieved to see Michael appear over Mosley's shoulder, a glass of whiskey in his fingertips as he sauntered around Mosley and looked to Elizabeth. "I heard there was a commotion."

"There was," Elizabeth said.

"Come on then. We had best see what is happening," Michael said and looked to Mosley. "I trust you can hold down the fort for a few moments?"

Mosley forced a smile onto his face. "Of course," he declared.

Elizabeth took hold of Michael's arm that he held out to her. Wandering away from the dining room as Mosley closed the door, Elizabeth slumped down into the chair by the door as Michael stood up, Linda's screams echoing through the room. Bowing her head, Elizabeth rested her head into hands as Michael took a drink of his alcohol.

"I know that you do not trust me, Liz," Michael said, "but what is Tommy doing with a man like Mosley?"

"I don't know," Elizabeth whispered, knowing that it was a slight lie.

"You are tired of all of this, aren't you?" Michael asked her and moved to kneel down in front of her and she looked into his eyes. "How could you not be? It tires me, Liz. I just want peace."

Elizabeth chuckled. "You are in the wrong family if you want peace, Michael," she informed him and he placed his glass on the ground next to him. "Whatever is going to happen, I have no intention of letting Tommy get too deep."

"And I have no idea what he is getting into. I have no information, Liz. I am being kept in the dark."

"You know why."

"But I didn't do it," Michael said. "You know that. I didn't go against Tommy. I would never go against him. What happened was…I was stupid, but not a traitor."

"Liz!"

Tommy's voice rang out and she looked over to him as he moved over to the dining room, pointing at the door. "I thought yer were entertainin' them?"

Elizabeth said nothing, simply rolled her eyes as Michael moved to his feet and looked to her. "I didn't do it, Liz."

Elizabeth moved to her feet and nodded. She placed a hand on his forearm. She gave it a slight squeeze before looking away and over to her husband who was the stood in the doorway. She let go of Michael as he watched her go back to the dining room. However, she didn't enter. Instead she stood in the doorway as Tommy remained there. He stopped her from moving, his hand on her forearm and dragging her back to him. She felt his grip move further down her skin and he took hold of her hand.

Looking, she finally saw Mosley stood in the centre of the room, his voice booming and loud as he addressed the guests who had now stood up and were drinking. Elizabeth listened in, trying to get the gist of what he was saying as Tommy's grip remained vicelike on her. Michael stood behind them, his mother making her appearance too. Mosley kept on talking, his voice loud and booming as he spoke about newspapers not representing their issues. He spoke about how the Labour party was not doing enough to protect the people. As he finished, he looked to Tommy, declaring how he would be part of the new party. The British Union of Fascists would be born in the following year.

"Tommy-"

"-I know," Tommy interrupted his wife as he felt her cling onto his hand, her grip now tighter than his. Mosley finished his speech and Tommy kept hold of her hand, moving into the hallway as Pol shook her head.

"Let me guess," she said as Tommy passed her by, "we just need to trust yer?"

"Always should," Tommy mumbled.

"No," Elizabeth said as she looked at him and they hid by the staircase. "Tommy, you fought in the war. You went to war…you fought for this country, but not for this…not to be a part of this. This isn't you."

"I know," Tommy told her, "but I 'ave to do this. I 'ave to do this from the inside."

"No," Elizabeth said firmly. "This is too far. If they think you are associated with this new party…then what? What about Jessie Eden? You are still in leagues with her?"

"I know what I am doin'," Tommy promised her.

"You always say that," Elizabeth responded, "but why does it always have to be you who risks things?"

"Because no one else can do this."

"Mrs Shelby."

Elizabeth wanted to turn around and slap that smug look off of his face, but she restrained herself as she turned her head over her shoulder to see Mosley stood behind her. She turned around to face him as Tommy placed a hand to the small of her back.

"I need to borrow your husband for a moment," Mosley informed her and she bit down on her tongue and nodded. "Worry not, I will not delay him too long."

"Let's go," Tommy said and moved in between Mosley and Liz, hoping that Mosley would follow him. But Mosley lingered behind. He reached for Liz's hand, kissing the back of it as his wife remained silent. She dropped her hand from his grip as soon as he smirked and turned away, following Tommy back to the study.

Looking to Pol as she approached, Elizabeth frowned and Pol chuckled. "Not a fan, I take it?"

"Difficult to be," Elizabeth mumbled. "How is Linda?"

"Sleeping. I have her some of my opium. I was goin' to use it tonight to celebrate."

"Celebrate?"

Pol held her hand up and Elizabeth's eyes widened as she saw the ring protruding from her fingers. Elizabeth took hold of Pol's wrist to inspect the jewel as the older woman chuckled once. "He asked?" Elizabeth checked with her.

"He asked," she said.

"And you accepted?"

"Judging by the ring, I would say so," Pol said to her and Elizabeth smiled. "Aberama is waiting for me upstairs so I shouldn't keep him waiting…unless you want help getting' rid of yer guests?"

"I can manage," Elizabeth shrugged. "You go to him. Congratulations, Pol. I am so happy for you."

"You and me both," Pol said with a small wink and left the hallway, heading up the stairs.

Elizabeth's smile fell as she moved into the dining room, only for it to be plastered back on as soon as she came into contact with people. She bid them goodnight, urging for them to keep in touch and come back soon. They suggested meetings and dinners and afternoon teas. They suggested everything that Elizabeth doubted would happen.

Once the final guest had gone, Elizabeth wondered if Tommy would be finished in his meeting. She headed towards the study and the door was wide open, seeming to suggest that he was finished. The house was quiet, almost eerily so. She bid goodnight to one of the maids before seeing one that they had hired for the evening move up the steps. Elizabeth was about to ask her if she was lost as she took a turn towards the guest room.

"Sorry," Elizabeth called out to her as she followed her up the steps and saw her stop. "Are you okay here? Do you need somewhere to stay for the night?"

"No," the young girl blushed. She must have been twenty. She was fair, blonde and slender. She began to blush as Elizabeth moved towards her, her footsteps light and her hands in front of her. "I…well…he asked me to come up here…"

"Who?" Elizabeth asked her. "Do you want to be up here?"

"Yes, Mrs Shelby," the girl said and Elizabeth saw him leave his bedroom, the door wide open and his waistcoat abandoned. He only wore his shirt tucked into his trousers. "What he said…it…well…I liked it."

"Believe me, Mrs Shelby, I did not ask her against her will," he finally said and the girl finally heard him. She turned around and looked to him as he smirked and moved his head backwards, urging for her to go into the bedroom. "I asked her to come and she clearly came."

"Clearly," Elizabeth said, a tone of distaste in her voice.

"You do not approve."

"Of sharing a bed with someone you are not married to?" she asked him. "I suppose when I made my vows I took them seriously."

"And does your husband?"

"How dare you," Elizabeth hissed.

He shrugged. "You cannot know what he gets up to all of the time…especially in London. Then again, he is devoted to you. Perhaps you have no reason to worry."

"I do not need that confirming by you," she snapped and turned on her heel as Mosley chuckled and watched her walk away.

Moving into her own bedroom, she closed the door to see Tommy sat on the edge of the bed, his hair hanging into his forehead and almost covering his eyes. She looked over to him and he watched her as she moved towards him. Holding his arms out, he urged for her to come into his embrace, but she didn't. Instead she ignored his arms and sat down in his lap, her arms going around his waist as she burrowed her face against his neck. Tommy wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as he rested his chin on the top of her head.

"What did he say to yer?"

"Nothing I could not handle," Elizabeth promised her husband. "He…he seems determined to know if we are satisfied in our marriage, particularly in the bedroom."

Tommy chuckled. "Out of everythin' that I 'ave issues with, pleasing you is not one of 'em."

Elizabeth blushed as she prodded him in the ribs and Tommy chuckled as she lifted her head up and he looked down to her, his eyes meeting hers. His forehead pressed to hers and he kissed her chastely.

"You are incorrigible," Elizabeth complained to him.

"Only when it comes to me wife," he responded. "Now come on, I promised yer we could go to bed after that dinner."

"I doubt I can sleep," Elizabeth complained, moving to her feet and changing into her nightgown as Tommy began to strip down, throwing his clothes onto the chair at Elizabeth's dresser. "Did you know that one of the maids has gone to Mosley?"

"I suspected one might," Tommy said. "He isn't exactly loyal to 'is wife."

"Speaking of marriage," Elizabeth said. "What is going on in your family? Linda was shot. Her marriage is in tatters. But your Aunt Pol is going to marry Gold."

"Arthur is with Linda now, but I doubt they can repair what they 'ave," Tommy said to Liz. "Linda…she hasn't been the same with Arthur for a while. He knows that…and Pol…well…she loves Gold. She needs someone and he needs someone."

"So odd…such an odd night," Elizabeth said, pulling her nightgown onto her shoulders and then moving to the bed and climbing into it as Tommy did the same. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he let her lean against his side, her hair tickling his neck.

"In the mornin' it will be back to normal…back to normal," Tommy repeated. "Mosley…I 'ave a plan and then things will go back to normal. He spoke badly to yer, Liz. No one speaks badly to yer. He'll pay for that."

"I do not want him to pay. I want you to be safe."

"Aye, I will be," Tommy promised her. "We'll get Charlotte tomorrow and we'll go and take 'er to the park, eh? Does that sound good?"

"Idyllic," Elizabeth whispered as she kissed him and laid down by his side, wondering if she would be able to sleep as he placed his arm around her.

….

A/N: Do let me know what you think!