Elizabeth had been looking for a gift for Ada. She was shopping in the Bullring, knowing full well that two of her husband's men were keeping their distance and following her. She sighed, picking up a baby grow as she stood in the department store and noticed them in the aisle next door. She did her best not to tell them to leave. She hated them following her, but she knew why Tommy insisted they did it. He was worried. He was always worried, but ever since she had been attacked, he had grown even more worried.

She picked up a white baby outfit and looked over it, doing her best not to think about her own lost babies. A hand went to her stomach and she felt a sense of emptiness, knowing that she would never have another child. There had been a time when she had been in hospital when she had worried what Tommy might say.

"Listen to me," he whispered, sitting on the side of her bed, his hands holding hers, squeezing them tightly. He looked down to her, seeing the tears staining her cheeks. She was trying so hard not to cry, but she was failing. The doctor had left them minutes earlier after delivering the news. "All I need is you and Charlotte, okay? Yer need this operation, Liz…I need yer, alright? We can't risk another child, not again."

"But…you…you wanted a son," Elizabeth managed to blurt out and Tommy shook his head against hers. "You said you wanted a son."

"Hey, it doesn't matter."

"What use am I to you, Tommy? I can't give you another child."

"Never speak like that again," Tommy demanded from her, his voice forceful. "You are my wife, Liz. I love you. I need you. Do you understand me. Never, ever speak like that again or doubt us…we've got through worse before, yeah? We can get through this, but you come first. Yer health comes first."

Elizabeth snapped herself from her thoughts and went to pay for the clothing item, noting a stuffed bear on her way. She smiled sadly and picked it up, adding it to the collection. Tommy was due to travel back to London the following week after he went with Elizabeth to her check up that had rolled around so quickly.

Carrying the bag out of the store, Elizabeth ignored the men following her. She walked down the streets, heading towards the bakery and butchers. She had intended on cooking a stew herself that evening and she intended to pick up a piece of cake for Charlotte. Tommy had brought her some back from the local bakery and she had gained a sweet tooth for it that Elizabeth had tried to restrict, but every so often she knew that Charlotte deserved a treat.

She was about to walk into the butchers across from the bakery before she spotted a young boy. He was wearing a smart grey suit, but it was shabby. It looked like it was too big for him and there were tears in the sleeves. His trousers had dirt on them and his shoes were also scuffed. His hair was long and blond, clearly in need of a cut. He had a bruise on his face along with a spec of dirt. He walked into the bakery and Elizabeth heard the shopkeeper yell as she passed by.

"What are yer doin' back 'ere?" the head baker demanded from him.

"I wondered if there was any work going?"

"You ask the same thing every day and it is always the same answer," the man responded. "Now clear off before I kick yer out."

"But I don't even want paying!" the boy called out loudly. "If I could just 'ave a loaf of bread or somethin'…anythin'…"

"Do we look like a charity? Now clear off!" the baker demanded.

Elizabeth watched as the boy left the store, his face clearly showing disappointment. He was about to head to the butchers when Elizabeth intervened. She stepped forward and called out.

"Excuse me?" she spoke.

The boy turned around, his eyes widened. He looked at Elizabeth as she offered him a kindly smile. Standing before him, she figured that he could not be older than thirteen. He had a shocked expression and he watched Elizabeth, almost horrified at the sight of her.

"Mrs Shelby, I didn't take anything, I swear-"

"-No, no, no," Elizabeth said, shaking her head. "I know. That is not why I called you…how do you even know who I am?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I used to sell papers and saw yer face in it," he said to her. "Yer 'usband is famous around here."

"Hmm, I know that," Elizabeth mumbled. "No, I just wanted to know…well…do you need anything to eat? Do you have somewhere to go?"

Elizabeth suspected the answer was a no. He almost looked sheepish as she spoke. She took the initiative, sitting down on the sill outside the shop so that she was down at the same height as him. She held the bag with her purchases in her hand, folding one leg over the other. The boy continued to stand, stuffing his hands into his pockets and shrugging his shoulders.

"I'm fine," he mumbled. "I'm just…well…there's a nice place down by the canal that's quiet. It's near a warehouse, but it's hidden."

Elizabeth frowned. "You don't have a home?" she asked him.

"No, ma'am," he responded.

"What about your parents? Where are they?"

He scratched the back of his neck then. "Dad died when I was a baby and mum died a few months ago…drink." He explained no further, but Elizabeth suspected that he had not had a particularly good childhood. She knew that she was a soft touch.

"But what about the orphanage?"

He looked down then and sniffed. "I ran away."

"Why?" Elizabeth asked, increasingly aware that the two men Tommy had watching over her seemed to be quite anxious. But then again, Elizabeth was asking quite intimate questions. She smiled sadly at him. "Sorry, I should not be nosy. If you do not want to tell me then you do not need to."

"They weren't very nice," was all that he said to her. "I'd rather fend for myself, ma'am."

"Elizabeth," she said to him. "You can call me Elizabeth."

He looked slightly uncomfortable at that, but Elizabeth persisted. "And what should I call you?" she wondered from him.

"James," he said. "James Mullen."

"Pleasure to meet you, James," Elizabeth said, holding her hand out. The young boy was still hesitant, but he took it and she shook his hand, establishing initial trust. "Now, you said you were looking for food, yes? What can I get you?"

"No, ma'am, I shouldn't…I can get my own food."

"It's Elizabeth," she corrected him, "and I do not doubt that you can, James, but let me help you. So what can I get you? Do you like bread rolls and cake?"

His eyes lit up. "I haven't had cake in such a long time."

"That's settled then," Elizabeth said and moved to her feet.

"Mrs Shelby, you shouldn't be associating with-"

"-Do not finish that sentence," she interrupted him, holding a hand up and glaring at him. He seemed to have the sense to remain silent, his lips pinching shut tightly. She nodded once at him and then turned back to James. "Wait here and I'll get you something, okay?"

Elizabeth walked into the shop and ordered plenty of food for the young boy. She had to admit that she would have preferred to take her custom somewhere else after the way the baker had spoken to James. But she would go elsewhere in future. She let him know exactly what she thought once she had paid for the food.

"Everyone needs help every now and then," she said to the baker. "Charity is not beneath anyone who can help."

Walking out of the bakery, she handed the brown bag to the young boy. He peered into it and his eyes widened. He looked ecstatic. He tugged out the bread roll and instantly took a large bite into it. Elizabeth stifled a laugh at the sight of him, but her face genuinely looked happy for him.

"Thank you," James said in between mouthfuls. "This is the best thing I've 'ad in weeks…probably months."

"You are more than welcome," Elizabeth said to him.

He put the rest of the bread away and held the bag by his side. "Thank you," he said again. "I should go and let yer leave…but…well…thank you for bein' nice to me."

"You are more than welcome," Elizabeth said to him.

He inclined his head kindly and began to back away. Turning on his heel, he started walking away. Elizabeth bit down on her bottom lip and tapped her foot against the pavement, watching the back of him.

"James!" she called out and he turned back to look at her. She made her way over to him, still smiling. "Would you like to come for dinner?"

Elizabeth was in the study with Andrew. He had popped around with some more paperwork and Elizabeth had been working on the plans, drawing up a list of potential candidates who could teach at the school. Tommy had given her a list of donors, but she had insisted that Mosley stay out of her business. She didn't want his money.

"He should be in school," Elizabeth said, sitting in her chair as Andrew sat across from her. She shook her head. "He was in the orphanage that Tommy donates to, but I don't think Tommy knows what happened there. If he did then he would be outraged."

"I don't doubt that," Andrew said to her. "Your husband is an intimidating man, but I have seen him with Charlotte…he knows what is right and wrong."

"You think Tommy is intimidating?"

"All of Birmingham does, Elizabeth," he said to her.

"I suppose so," she mumbled. "Anyway, the point is that we need to get this school set up as soon as possible. How many other kids are there like James out there?"

"A fair few I would say," he replied to her. "We will get it set up as soon as possible. We are almost there…the building is being renovated and it looks good. I called in on my way to work the other morning."

"Excellent," Elizabeth said. "Tommy is going to take me to see it this week sometime. I was hoping that we could maybe arrange the rooms…sort out where bedrooms will be and classrooms."

"I would say that the east wing is probably the best," he replied.

"Agreed," she said, making a note on a piece of paper.

"Liz!"

Elizabeth dropped her pen as Tommy walked into the study. She smiled over to her husband and stood up. Moving around the desk and towards him, she took hold of his shoulders and leaned in to kiss him chastely. He watched as his wife smiled at him and Andrew stood up from where he had been sat. Tommy had seen his daughter playing in the garden, Finn entertaining her while he was not being watched.

"I should get going," Andrew declared, reaching for his coat and shrugging into it.

"You don't 'ave to," Tommy said to him. "If the two of yer 'ad business then keep goin'."

"No, we were almost finished," Andrew said. "It can wait until tomorrow when I come back. Besides, I need to get back to my own daughter. She will be wondering where I am."

"Of course," Elizabeth said. "Goodnight, Andrew. I will see you tomorrow."

"Night, Elizabeth…Mr Shelby," he said and left the study, showing himself out.

Tommy watched his wife as she moved her hands back to his shoulders and he took hold of her waist. She bit down on her lip and tilted her head to the side. Tommy watched her with intrigue as she looked at him with caution, almost as though she had something she was nervous to tell him.

"Promise not to be mad with me when I tell you this," she demanded from her husband.

Tommy arched his brows then. "I guess it depends on what yer goin' to tell me," he responded.

"I went shopping today," she began, "and there was this boy, his name is James. He was trying to find work in the bakery, but the baker…well…he threw him out. I bought him something to eat and spoke with him. He told me that both his parents had died and he was homeless."

"Alright," Tommy said, wondering where this story was going. "Is that it?"

"Not quite," Elizabeth admitted to him. "I kind of asked him if he wanted to come back for dinner…and well…he…I kind of then asked him if he wanted to stay the night and get a good night's sleep."

Tommy sighed and Elizabeth spoke quickly, trying to make her husband see sense, her hands going to rest limply against his chest.

"Tommy, his clothes were tatty and he hadn't had a good bath in weeks," she said. "Frances is upstairs cutting his hair. He has been sleeping near an abandoned warehouse by the canal. He is only twelve. He…he's been trying to find work, but no one will take him."

"Yer such a soft touch," Tommy muttered. "And what about an orphanage?"

"He was in the orphanage you fund," she said to her husband, "but they were hurting the children, Tommy. They probably still are."

"What?"

"I know, I couldn't believe it and I knew you wouldn't know."

"Well now I do," Tommy mumbled. "I'll sort that, don't worry. Anyway, this kid…'ow do yer know he isn't a spy or somethin'?"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Tommy, he is a child."

"Children can be used."

"He isn't," she assured him. "I initiated contact with him. He was almost too scared to talk with me initially."

"And yer said that he could stay the night?" Tommy checked.

"Yes," she said. "Tommy, just let him stay the night and we can see how we can help him. If we can find him somewhere safe to go then that is fine."

"Fine," Tommy muttered. He would have Finn watch the boy's room and make sure that he was who he said he was. He would keep it quiet from Elizabeth, preferring not to involve her in those matters.

"Really?"

"I can't exactly kick a kid out, can I?" Tommy said to her.

"He's a good kid," Elizabeth promised her husband. "He was quite shy when I first spoke with him, but he soon became chatty on the drive home. He knows about you though…so just be…be nice."

"When am I not nice?"

"Tommy," Elizabeth deadpanned with her husband. "Come on, we both know you can come across as broody."

"Broody?" he checked.

"Yes, broody," she said, moving to brush her forehead against his. "And while I do find it rather attractive sometimes, it is not the way to be with a child. Now come on," she urged from him, kissing him quickly and then taking his hand.

Tommy allowed her to pull him up the stairs and towards the guest bedroom. She introduced him to the young boy who was wearing pyjamas that must have been Finn's as they were too big for him. Frances was cutting his hair, a white towel draped around his shoulders. Tommy shook his hand and noted that the boy had turned shy.

"It is nice to meet yer, Mr Shelby," the boy said politely.

"Yeah, likewise," Tommy reported, standing back and he felt his wife rest a hand on his back, silently urging for him to be more talkative. "Anyway, yer welcome to stay 'ere for the evening. Liz and I will try to find somewhere better for yer, alright? Somewhere for yer to go."

"Thank you, Mr Shelby," he responded.

"Yeah," was all Tommy responded with and Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"You get used to him," she said to the boy with a wink and Frances chuckled to herself. Tommy's lips arched as his wife led him from the bedroom and down towards their own bedroom.

Closing the door behind him, she leaned against the wood. "What do you think?" she asked from him.

"He's a kid," was all Tommy said.

"So not a secret spy?"

"A good spy wouldn't give the game away," Tommy retorted and Elizabeth smiled despite his comment. She moved towards him and wrapped her arms around his waist as he held onto her. "He seems polite," Tommy settled on saying. "We'll 'elp him."

"Thank you," Elizabeth said, moving to kiss him once more.

….

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