Sitting across from Ada at the dining table, Elizabeth took a sip of her tea as the youngest Shelby sibling held her cup in her fingertips. Elizabeth kept glancing over to her, worry taking hold of her as to what the woman was feeling. Ada had hardly said anything since Finn had taken Karl out for a little while. Charlotte was with Frances and Tommy was talking to his brother about business.
"We don't have to talk," Elizabeth said, the silence engulfing them as Ada looked over to her, eyes wide and cheeks pale. "But if you wanted to talk then you know that I am here, Ada."
"I know," Ada said with a nod of her head. "It is…I told Tommy that I felt nothing but friendship for Ben, but I am going to have his baby. The thought of him not seeing this child ruins me even more than anything. He was a good man, Liz. He did not deserve this. He did not deserve to be caught up in Tommy's schemes."
"I know," Elizabeth said and Ada took a sip of her tea.
"I just need time," Ada said. "We have lost so much, Liz. I just wonder when it will stop."
"You are not the only one," Elizabeth said and took a sip of her own tea before Ada tilted her head back and closed her eyes. She let out a deep breath before looking over to Elizabeth again and moving to her feet. She stood up with her cup of tea and wandered along the length of the dining room, looking outside to the grounds.
"He is in over his head," Ada said and Elizabeth left her cup of tea on the dining table. She too moved to her feet, hands on her hips as wandered forwards. "He has no idea how to handle the likes of Mosley, Liz. We both know he is more powerful than Tommy…he can play dirtier."
"I know," Elizabeth responded and sat down in the window seat as Ada took a seat next to her. "I am worried, Ada. I am worried about him."
"I know that is getting involved deeper with Mosley, but I also know about the opium shipment. He told me when he came around the other week."
"And I do not like that at all," Elizabeth admitted, hands grasping the sides of the seat. "I never thought we would end up here, Ada. All of this feels so surreal."
"Have you never wanted to get out?" Ada enquired from her. "I think about it often, Liz. If I had gotten out…left years ago…how different could my life have been? Would Freddie still have been here? Could we have seen a doctor sooner if we had left Birmingham?"
"Ada, you cannot think that," Elizabeth said. She had never met Freddie, but she had heard about him. "And you know that everything…everything that happened was not your fault."
"I know," Ada said.
"Ada."
Looking to the door of the dining room, Tommy walked into the room, hands in his pockets and cigarette dangling from his lips. He moved one hand from his pocket and reached for his cigarette, pulling it from his lips and blowing a puff of smoke.
"I invited Ada around," Elizabeth said to her husband, moving to her feet as he approached, an arm going around her waist as he kissed her on the cheek. "I said that she could stay here for the night instead of going back to London with Karl."
"Sure," Tommy shrugged. "How are yer 'oldin' up, Ada?"
"As well as I can," Ada said back to her brother and also stood up straight, hands going to her hips. "I need to go and see Aunt Pol. Do you have anyone who could drive me?"
"Yeah, Gold is outside and headin' back to see 'er."
"Can you look after Karl for a little while?" Ada asked Elizabeth and she nodded her head.
"Of course," she said. "I will keep an eye on him."
"Thanks, Liz," she said. "I will see you both tonight."
"Aye," Tommy nodded and Elizabeth squeezed Ada's shoulder as she passed by, giving her a kind smile.
Once Ada had left the room, Tommy went over to the ashtray on the small table by the door and stubbed out his cigarette. Running his hands down his cheeks, he let out a shaky breath before closing the dining room door and Elizabeth sensed there was something going on. She looked at him with an arched brow and folded her arms over her chest. Tommy moved back to his wife and sat down in a chair at the table, pulling another one out and urging for her to take a seat next to him.
"What is it?" she asked, hesitantly sitting down next to him.
"Micky, the bartender at the Garrison, yer know 'im?"
"I have heard of him," she replied and nodded her head.
"He was the one who made the call to kill Younger," Tommy said and saw his wife's face drop. "He's been workin' with the Titanic gang…the one's who also knew about Arthur's opium exchange the other night. Arthur said they got in the middle of what was goin' on. Micky was the one who did that. He told 'em."
"What are you going to do?"
"See him after the family meetin' in a few days time," Tommy said. "I 'ave to go down to London to see Churchill tonight. I need to go in the next hour. I will deal with Micky and Arthur is dealin' with business up 'ere."
"How long will you be gone?"
"Two days at most," Tommy said to her. "I 'ave Gold keepin' watch on the 'ouse. Yer 'ave the best security."
"Tommy, I do not want security," Elizabeth said, her hand going onto his thigh and holding it as Tommy placed his hand on top of her hand. "I want you. That is all I want."
"Soon, Liz," Tommy said. "As soon as I 'ave dealt with Mosley, we will be free, alright? I promise yer. This time, I promise yer that will 'appen."
"It better, Tommy," she said to him and he squeezed her hands. "You should say goodbye to Charlotte before you go. She is with Frances in the living room."
"I will," he assured her. "I'll go and see Churchill and then deal with the family business and then deal with Mosley."
"Not much to do then?" Liz arched a brow and said with a teasing tone as Tommy chuckled and nodded his head, bowing his head as she saw the weight of it on his shoulders. Taking his cheek in her fingertips, she drew his gaze onto her, looking him in the eye. "You do not have to do this. You can walk away from Mosley."
"No, I cannot," Tommy replied. "I have to do this because it…because Mosley has said too much…he is not to be trusted."
"And they say you have no heart."
"Who says that?"
"Oh, just whispers," Elizabeth responded.
"Well, only yer can know I 'ave a 'eart, alright? Yer know why that is."
"Why?"
"Because it belongs to you."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Her smile returned to her face and she moved her arms around his neck as Tommy's lips arched slightly. He bent over at the waist slightly, his forehead brushing against hers as he kissed her chastely.
"You hopeless romantic," she commented.
"Only for you," he responded, kissing her again. "Always for you."
….
Elizabeth awoke early the morning that Tommy was due to return home from London. He had called a family meeting for later in the day and she was uncertain if she really wanted to attend it. Frances was taking Charlotte to school after Elizabeth had asked her the evening before to take her. Elizabeth had intended to spend the morning looking over some of Tommy's books that he had asked her to check before he left for London.
Sitting at her desk in their shared office, she looked over to Tommy's empty desk and stopped working. Dropping her pen onto the table, she leant back in her chair. Clasping her fingertips over her stomach, she closed her eyes and tossed her head back. She didn't want Tommy to do any of this. She wanted him to come home and just be with her and Charlotte. She just wanted him safe.
Opening her eyes as she heard the door to the study open, she saw Pol stood in the doorway. Her sunglasses were still on her eyes and she had her hands on her hips. Elizabeth arched a brow at the matron of the family as Pol pulled her glasses from her eyes and Elizabeth laughed once.
"Late night, Pol?" she asked her, noticing her red eyes and the bags under them.
Pol glared at her and sauntered into the room, closing the door behind her as she sat down across from Elizabeth on the leather chair.
"Aberama insisted we celebrate our engagement…again," Pol told her. "Usually men can't drink me under the table, but he can."
"Well, it looks like you had a good night," Elizabeth said. "Did you drive here?"
Pol rolled her eyes. "I can see straight," she said. "I just don't want to see alcohol for another few days."
"As long as that," Elizabeth said sarcastically and Pol shot her another glare and Elizabeth chuckled. "What are you doing here, Pol? Tommy is on his way back from London."
"I know 'e is," Pol said. "And I know that 'e 'as called a meetin' for this afternoon. I 'ave a sinkin' feelin', Liz."
"What about?"
"About Michael," Pol said. "I don't even trust my son, Liz."
Elizabeth thought back to what Michael had said to her at the party. He said that he would never betray them. He had reminded her how he had gotten Charlotte back for them. He was family. He knew that she was tired of the life Tommy lived. He had said as much.
"I…I might be being naïve," Elizabeth said in a small whisper, bowing her head for a second and shaking it. She looked back up and then over to Pol. "But Michael is still Michael…he saved Charlotte…he told me he never wanted to hurt Tommy or the family business."
"I know," Pol said. "I know what 'e 'as said, but 'e 'as Gina in 'is ear. I know how women can be, Liz. I've seen you with Tommy."
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?" she demanded from her.
"It means that I know 'ow Tommy looks at yer. I know 'ow Tommy listens to yer. Yer the only one 'e does listen to sometimes," Pol said. "But I know that yer 'ave 'is best interests at 'eart. I don't know if Gina does with Michael."
"I guess we will find out this afternoon," Elizabeth said with a shrug.
"Yer, come on," Pol said. "Tommy called me and asked me to come and pick yer up. He is meetin' us at The Garrison."
"You forgot to mention that."
"Other things on me mind," Pol said and placed her sunglasses on her eyes and stood up. "Get yer coat. We're off to the meetin'."
….
Walking into The Garrison, Elizabeth saw Tommy stood by the bar. He had a glass of whiskey in his hands already and took a sip on it as his wife walked in. She smiled over to him, seeing that everyone was already there. Michael and Gina were sat down. Curly was sat in the corner and Arthur had barged past Michael, nudging his chair. Finn was leant against the bar next to Tommy as Elizabeth approached and he looked to her, remember the cruel things he had said to her before.
"Alright, Liz," Finn was the first one to speak and she looked to him, wondering where that innocent boy had gone. She managed a smile and nodded her head.
"How are things, Finn? We haven't seen you at the house in a while…Charlotte misses you," Elizabeth said and that was no lie. Charlotte adored Finn. He had always been the one to play with her and read to her whenever he stayed over. He coughed into his fist as Tommy looked at his brother, his face stoic as he waited for him to respond, knowing that he had best speak the answer that kept his wife happy.
"Yer," Finn muttered. "I'll come over sometime."
His non-committal voice told Liz that she probably would not see him. She suspected he no longer found it worth his time playing with his niece.
"Do," was all Elizabeth said as she turned her gaze to her husband and he greeted her with a soft kiss to her cheek, whispering in her ear.
"I missed yer."
"I missed you too," she responded as Arthur took a sip of whiskey and Pol looked to Aberama for a second.
Charlie walked into the room and Curly poured him a drink. Aberama remained at the bar with Jeremiah and Johnny Dogs, who Elizabeth had not seen in a long time.
Tommy looked to his wife and nodded once, kissing her softly once more before he went to stand at the font, his hand going to his tie and straightening it out. Elizabeth watched him move over and clear his throat, beginning the meeting as he spoke. Elizabeth remained stood by the bar, leaning back against it as Tommy spoke clearly about Colonel Ben Younger and how his life had been taken. He told them all that he hoped to see Ada happy one day, but she was currently absent as she had no appetite for the meeting. Elizabeth could understand that.
They all raised a glass for Ada, Liz lifting her orange juice that Tommy had ordered for her before she had gotten there. Her eyes remained on her husband as he moved on to item number two.
"So, item number two, regarding Michael," Tommy began.
"Before you go on, Tommy, there is something that I want to say," he said and Elizabeth's gaze shifted to Pol as she noted the woman blow out a puff of smoke from her cigarette, her gaze tense as she looked to her son. "I need to say it to the whole family regarding finances and the future of the company."
Looking back to Tommy, Elizabeth pursed her lips as Tommy's opened slightly, his brows knitting together and his forehead creasing.
"According to your own estimations," Michael continued, "the venture and shipment of opium will bring into the company about two million pounds a year. So, because of the amount involved, I think this company needs to be restructured."
"Michael," Pol warned her son, "this can wait until after the meeting."
"Restructured how?" Tommy pushed on, hands in his pockets after he had placed his glass down on the table in front of him.
"Because of the amounts of money involved," Gina piped up and Tommy turned his attention to her, "shipment and dispatch will become the primary source of income for the company. It is simple mathematics," she said, leaning back in her chair and taking a hand to her chin as Michael moved to his feet.
"And with the help of my wife," he said stood behind Gina, hands on her shoulders, "I will deal with business in America with a narcotics business which is just beginning to grow. I have contacts across the US who I have spoken with and Gina has family. According to them, with a regular supply, the narcotics business in America could bring in twenty million per year."
Michael's gaze turned to Liz. "That is enough for you all to enjoy and to ease the burden that you all feel."
Elizabeth turned her gaze away as Tommy looked to his wife, wondering what she was thinking before he looked back to Michael.
"See, I know the scars and the wound…they're on the inside and as a member of the new generation I can take that burden. This is a new decade. New opportunities will come and we can make more money than ever before," Michael looked around as he spoke before settling his gaze on Tommy. "Tommy, you can still do the good work that you want to do. You can live in that big house…live with your wife and daughter in peace…all of you can live in peace…the new generation can take over."
Gina handed Michael a folder and he moved to Tommy, throwing the folder on the table in front of him as Elizabeth saw Tommy lift his side, sizing Michael up and she felt her stomach lurch. Stepping forwards tentatively, she didn't know what Tommy was going to do.
"This is my proposal," Michael gestured to the folder, "I will be director and you can be non-executive chairman under a non-assumed name so that you can protect your reputation. Everyone will receive a percentage of the money and you no longer have to engage in the associated activities. Take a look at the future, Tommy. Read it with an open mind…at least for your wife."
"Michael," Elizabeth warned him.
He shrugged. "Is this not what you wanted?" he asked her. "Are you not tired of it all, Liz?"
Tommy looked to his wife and arched a brow. "Did yer know about this?"
"Of course not."
"She had no idea."
Both Elizabeth and Michael protested, one voice defensive and the other hurt. Elizabeth looked taken back at her husband's gaze. Tommy sighed and shook his head. He should have known she wouldn't know. She would never have kept something like this from him. His Elizabeth did not keep secrets. She would never keep secrets like that.
"It's gettin' cold in 'ere, Michael," Tommy commented, picking the folder up and throwing it into the fireplace as Johnny Dogs laughed.
"The Americans want to deal with me, Tommy," Michael said.
"Item number three," Tommy said, trying to push on.
But Gina didn't let him. "Tell him the truth," she urged her husband. "Go on, he can take it."
There was a dark silence then as Tommy moved his head from side to side. "Tell me the truth, Michael."
And then Michael looked right at Tommy as he spoke. "The Americans don't want to deal with an old fashioned back street razor gang. Those days are done."
It was then when the door opened wide, the back of it banging against the wall. Elizabeth startled as she looked at the figure walking in. It was one of the boys who said something about Barney having bitten through the rope. Elizabeth had heard Tommy mention Barney. They had been in the war together, but he was in an institution. What was he doing? She had no time to ask as Tommy demanded for them to go and the majority emptied out, leaving Elizabeth, Gina, Michael, Tommy and Pol.
"Tommy, it is time to move on," Michael said as Tommy turned around and rested his hands against the fireplace. "Liz knows that this would make sense. Do you not see what you do to her?"
"Michael, stop," Elizabeth demanded, seeing that Tommy was already on edge as he shrugged his shoulders.
"You know it is the truth," he said to her. "Liz, you have lost two babies and did you ever wonder why? Did you ever think that it was the stress of being part of this family that caused the miscarriages…that night at the match…the Italians…"
Tommy whirled around then, grabbing his glass and throwing it to the fire as Elizabeth jumped back and Pol stood up, moving to stand next to the woman as she saw tears drop down her cheeks.
Tommy turned back around then, a wild look in his eye as Michael held a blade up to his face. "Go on, Tom. Go on, cut me. Like the good old days…or see this for what is has to be. It is a natural succession…and you get to go and live in peace with your wife. You can go and keep her safe."
"Like I haven't before?"
"I remember having to save your daughter," Michael commented. "And I know that Elizabeth threatened to leave you then. How long will it be before she makes the same threats?"
"Michael!" Elizabeth snapped at him as Tommy took deep breaths.
He shook his head. "I gave you a chance, Michael, and you betrayed me. I want you gone when I get back." Looking to Gina, he spoke lowly. "And you can tell your family…"
"Let me guess," she said, her eyes straight ahead before she looked up to Tommy, her gaze almost mocking. "Don't fuck with the Peaky Blinders?"
Tommy said nothing as he swept from The Garrison and a smirk formed on Michael's face at his wife's wit. Pol moved then, slapping Michael across the face, the noise echoing through the room as Elizabeth sunk down into a chair opposite Gina's hands going to her face.
"Liz," Michael spoke as Pol left the pub. "You know this is right."
"You shouldn't have done that," she said to him.
"Liz, you're tired," Michael said and crouched down next to her chair. "I know you never wanted this when you married Tommy. Mum told me everything. She told me how you loved him before the war…how you just wanted him and none of this baggage. You can have that."
"That isn't Tommy," Elizabeth shrugged at Michael. "Before the war, maybe, but the war changed him, Michael. It changed every man who came back. Tommy needs this business…he needs to keep his brain going…what I want…I can have…I just want him."
"And how long before he gets himself killed?"
"He won't."
"You never thought your daughter would get kidnapped and look what happened," Michael said and reached for his coat, shrugging into it. Gina stood up too as Elizabeth watched them move. "Talk to him, Liz. Get him to see sense."
"Because there are other options," Gina said, her voice slightly wavering.
Elizabeth frowned. "What does that mean?"
"Nothing," Michael said quickly. "Just think about it, Liz."
The two of them left The Garrison then and Elizabeth realised she was on her own. Leaning back in her chair, she placed a hand to her stomach, remembering the two nights she had miscarried their child. A tear fell down her cheek. She knew there was no truth to Michael's words. She had miscarried because the doctor said there was something medically wrong. It was just bad luck. It was her body betraying her.
But what he had said sounded tempting. She was not going to pretend that it didn't. Tommy could step back from everything. He could give it all up. He had vowed to do that so many times before and that had never happened, but Elizabeth had never left him. She had sat back and let him do the job. She let him become an MP. She let him get involved with Mosley. She had seen him get involved with the Russians, but he had promised never to do that again. The Italians had come, but that was because of John and Arthur's doing. Mosley was a different fish. She knew Tommy didn't like him. He didn't like his message.
But then there was everything else. There was the opium. There was the distillery. She knew all about his illegal businesses and she had never taken the moral high ground. She just accepted it. She accepted everything he did blindly. Did Michael have a point? Shaking her head, she had to get out. She moved out of the door, forgetting her coat that she had shrugged off.
Moving down the street, she saw Pol sat in the car, clearly waiting for Liz. Elizabeth was heading over to her when she felt Tommy grab her forearm, stopping her from moving as everyone else went into the pub.
"Liz…yer forgot yer coat," he said to her and shrugged his own coat from his shoulders, draping the grey material over her shoulders as she turned to look to him, her eyes wide.
"Will you ever stop?" she asked him.
"What?"
"All of it," Elizabeth said, her arms stretching besides her as she looked around. "We have enough money to live comfortably for the rest of our lives…to see Charlotte through school...through everything…I know you need to keep busy, Tommy. I know that you need enjoy doing this. You enjoy keeping busy."
"Has 'e got inside yer 'ead?" Tommy demanded from her and she averted her gaze and he smirked for a second and shook his head in disbelief. "He has."
"No, he has not," Elizabeth said and looked back to Tommy. "You are still the head of the business, Tommy. You always will be, but…one day…don't you want to walk away?"
"One day," Tommy said to her. "But I need to deal with everything else."
"Do you?" Elizabeth wondered. "I know that you don't like Mosley. I don't like Mosley, but why does he have to be your responsibility?"
"Because if not me then who else?" Tommy asked her, shrugging his shoulders.
"No one…someone else…I don't know," she flapped her arms once more. "But I have always told you that you are not invincible, but I stand by your side through everything because I love you. I love you more than anything and will always support you, but I need you…I just need you…"
"To do what?" Tommy demanded from her.
"Nothing," she said. "I don't want you to do anything. I just want you and I worry that what Michael says will be true one day. One day you will get yourself killed and I cannot imagine life with you. I don't want life without you…not after everything we have been through."
Tommy moved his arms around his wife, dragging her into his embrace as he held her and felt her shake softly. He moved a hand to cup the back of her head, pressing her cheek against his shoulder as his chin rested on her forehead and she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"I'll always be 'ere," he promised her. "I am goin' nowhere."
Pulling back, Elizabeth looked up to him. "Tell me the plan and tell me the truth," she urged from him. "How do you intend to stop Mosley?"
"At the rally," Tommy said to her. "I broke Barney out."
"Best marksman you knew?" she checked.
"Exact one," Tommy said. "He is goin' to deal with Mosley."
Elizabeth bowed her head. Tommy picked her gaze up for him to look back to her, his finger curling under her chin.
"You know who I am," Tommy said. "You know what I have done and you know what I do and you just sit there…sit there and accept it…support me…you 'ave supported me through everythin'. What did yer think I was goin' to do?"
"I just…the men you have killed before…the men who wronged you…I could accept that to a certain extent," she said, "but Mosley feels bigger. Everything about him feels bigger and more dangerous."
"Because it is," Tommy said, "but I 'ave to do it."
"Again," Elizabeth said, voice slightly hysterical as she looked to the sky. "Because I have to," she echoed back to him. "This is the thing, Tommy! You don't have to! You don't have to risk yourself. No one is making you do this!"
"My brain is," Tommy said, pointing to his skill as he hissed at her and she stepped back. "My brain doesn't let me rest, Liz. It doesn't let me let men like Mosley get away with what they want to do. It won't let me and that is all there is to it."
"And then after Mosley?" Elizabeth asked him. "How long does this keep going on for? How many more men are you going to pick fights with?"
"Liz-"
"-I am serious," she interrupted him. "Because Michael has a point. I'm tired. I'm tired of worrying. I'm tired of having to put a brave face on everything. I support you through everything. I support you always…I just…killing…picking sides…you and Michael going against each other…this isn't what it is supposed to like."
"What is it supposed to be like?"
"It's supposed to be you and me and Charlotte," she said to him. "That time when I threatened to leave you and your promised me that would happen. Why can't we have that?"
"One day we will, but not while the likes of Mosley and Michael are out to ruin me," he said to her.
"And that day won't be too late?" she asked him.
"No, it won't be," he assured her in a soft voice. "I promise you."
"And I will tell you again, Tommy," Elizabeth said, "you're not invincible. I can't keep watching you pick fights like this."
"Michael brought the fight to me," Tommy said.
"I am going to pick Charlotte up from school with Pol," Elizabeth said to Tommy, handing him his coat back, but he shook his head as he urged her to put it back on. "I can't talk to you about this right now."
"Why not?"
"Because you aren't going to listen," she said to him. "Nothing is going to change because that peace and quiet you always promise…always say you want…it is never going to happen because you won't let it happen. You can't let it happen."
Tommy watched his wife walk away to Pol, climbing into the car before Pol drove away and Tommy tugged his hands through his hair and looked to the sky, wondering if his wife had a point.
….
A/N; Do let me know what you think!
