Chapter three: Them heavy people
That night,
"I don't want her here Thomas." Lizzie's tone told him that there would be no arguing on the subject. "I want her off this property."
But he was going to argue with her anyway. No matter what she said, he was the boss and one of these days; she'd learn that. "You moved her into the cottage in the first place without consulting me.." He stated as he kicked off his shoes. "She won't do it any harm."
"We had an agreement." She stated as she closed her book with a snap. Her dark brown eyes glistened with a fury. "No other women under this house."
Thomas let out a curse. "F**k, is that what you think? She's not my type Lizzie."
"Don't play me for a fool Thomas Shelby." Lizzie snaps at him. "I saw the exchange between to two of you. How long have you known each other?"
"Twenty minutes." He began undressing, dropping his clothes on the chair without even glancing at her. She'd been in one of her moods this morning and damned if he knew why. "I never met her before yesterday."
For some reason, he felt as if he was lying. There was something about this woman, this Katherine, which he couldn't place. Her eyes and her touch were familiar to him; he just wasn't sure how it was possible. Her touch…he couldn't recall where they could have met and it was driving him silently mad. He could feel it in his skin that it had been important, but it must have been ages ago.
"You're a crap liar Thomas Shelby." Liz bit out. He shook his head, Liz was jealous and there would be no reasoning with him. "She did a better job of lying to me this afternoon than you did. I'm no fool though, I saw the way you two looked at each other in the library."
"Think what you want Liz, I'm tired and I won't hear no more of this nonsense." He went to his side of the bed and got under the covers. "Katherine's moving in to the cottage tomorrow and it's a done deal."
"Thomas, you promised that there'd be-
"I know Liz and I haven't broken it. Kate's just renting the cottage. That's all."
Liz is silent for a moment before hissing. "If that's all…why are you calling her by such a familiar name?" He frowns slightly in confusion. "Kate? Not Katherine, or Miss Carter, but Katherine. You know her."
He had no logical answer for that. It just felt natural on his tongue. "Just let it go. You'll make yourself ill thinking up such crazy things." He blows out the oil lamp on his nightstand. "Goodnight."
He turned on his side, with his back to her. Lizzie was silent for a moment before placing a soft hand on his shoulder. "Do you want to-
"No." He cuts her off and closes his eyes.
She's silent a moment before stating quietly. "It's our anniversary."
He feels a twinge of guilt but he brushes it off. "Not in the mood Liz, especially after that. I'm not having an affair with her Liz. She's just business." She said nothing. "Night."
For once, Liz remained silent that entire night. She kept her back to him and her whole countenance was cold. She shook her head and flopped onto her side of the bed and turned out the light. He could feel that she was furious but didn't want to push him. It seemed each night that the wall between them got stronger. He could see he was hurting her, breaking her heart, but he didn't care. He married her to give her child a name. He didn't love her, he never did. The bit of his heart that had been capable of loving had stopped beating when his beloved wife, his Grace, had died.
The following morning,
"You painted my shutters green?"
Katherine turns towards Thomas Shelby, a smile on her face. "Yes. It's a lovely shade and I like it. The inside could do with a coat of paint though." She scratches her cheek and steps towards him, carefully setting the paint brush atop of the open can. "Good morning to you."
"Morning. You've got green on your face."
"Oh." She reaches for a wet rag, with smudges of paint on it. She scrubs at the area, removing the paint from her face. Somehow, she always managed to be in a state of disorder while he always looked perfect in his suit, tie and vest. "Thank you. Am I decent?"
"No." His blunt response causes her to laugh. He pulls out his pocket-handkerchief and wipes at the stubborn green paint. She keeps a passive face as he carefully removes the paint. Once pleased with his handiwork, he tucks his handkerchief back into his pocket.
"Thank you." She turns and gestures towards the cottage. "Shall we?" He nods and steps towards the cottage. "So, do you approve of the green or not?" Thomas stumbles over the one step that's higher than all the others. "Sorry, watch that step."
"This place really isn't fit for a famous lady writer to live." He states as he looks around the cottage. "It's a mess."
"Please, I do my best work in places such as these. It's a lovely cottage and I've already written five pages. It's a very inspirational setting here." She steps into the cottage and watches him survey the place. His blue eyes taking in every detail of the place top to bottom. "It just needs a few minor repairs and a few feminine touches, like curtains."
"I can tell you already started working in here."
She nods. "I just repaired the chair and table. A lot of the furniture in here is need of some loving attention."
"They're old, I can order in new stuff."
"That's nonsense since they're clearly fixable."
He ignores her and peers over at her typewriter and all the notes that are scattered on the table. "The Haunted Cottage?"
She crosses her arms. "It's a work in progress Mr. Shelby. It probably won't even have that title by the time I'm done with it."
He shrugs before glancing around the cottage, examining the walls. "Needs a coat of white wash in here."
She clears her throat. "I actually like the wood look. Maybe just sand and stain it?"
He bites his lip and nods. "I can do that. The floor seems solid." He steps towards the kitchen and checks the stove. "You'll need a new stove. What about an ice box?"
"I've been using the well." She points out back. "I don't have much fresh produce and it seemed more economical to use the well." At his frown she adds. "It's an American thing." He opened a cabinet and looked inside. "I already repaired the hinges on the cabinets. They need a light sanding and stain as well, it's a beautiful light oak."
"Were you a worker before you were a writer perchance? Because you seem to know a lot about craftsmanship that a lady of your standing shouldn't know."
"Blame it on the American in me."
"I may." He looks upwards at the ceiling. "The roof is in need of repair. I'll have a man out first thing. First rain we get, the roof is coming in."
"Thank you for that. I doubt you'd have approved of me replacing the roof myself." He stepped into the water closet and looked around. "The sink runs rusty water." She pointed out to him. "Apart from that, it's good."
"I'll have a plumber stop by."
"Thank you."
He stepped into the master bedroom and she followed him. He nodded as he looked at the furniture she'd already moved in. She had painted the walls white last night. "I can tell you've been working hard in here and it looks good."
"It's very therapeutic for me. How is Lizzie this morning?" She inquired. "Is she feeling better?"
Thomas snorted. "The woman is still as demented as ever."
"Demented?" She frowns. "Whatever gave you that impression?"
"Since she accused us of having an affair last night." He stated as he cracked open a window. "I'll have new windows added. They shouldn't stick like this."
Katherine choked in surprise. "What? You're joking!"
"I assure you, I am not." He turned toward her, his hands in his pockets.
"Well, you're a married man." She felt the blood drain out of her face. This pass of events stunned her. She had genuinely liked Lizzie from the moment she met her. They'd conversed for almost 2 hours! True, yesterday, she'd been semi-cold, but she'd attributed it to the argument between husband and wife. "I have no need of someone else's husband."
"I basically told her so, but the woman can't let an idea loose once it's gotten a hold of her." he holds her gaze. "She wants you off my property."
Katherine bites her lip and nods. "Ok, I'll be off."
"No, you're staying." She frowns at him. "Not to tick off my wife, we had an agreement and there's nothing going on between us. You'll be here writing and there's no reason to believe that we'll be seeing each other. I'm just making you aware that Lizzie isn't as good a friend to you as she appears."
"I appreciate the warning, this is…a shock to me." She exhales and sits on the corner of her bed. "Whatever gave her such a thought? We only met yesterday!"
"Damned if I know, but I did tell her." he steps towards her, pulling a cigarette and matches out of his pocket. He lights it, takes a long drag on his cigarette before exhaling. "However," he hesitates for a moment. "there is something."
Her heart pauses in her chest and she crosses her arms. "What?"
"Nothing more than a feeling." She bites her lip, not wanting to hear what's going to come out of his mouth. "And…it's nothing personal, more like a suspicion."
"Like we've met before?" She inquires, glancing towards him.
He nods. "Yes. You've got it too?"
She nods as he exhales in relief. "Yes, I've got the same feeling. But I for the life of me cannot remember how we may have met or where it might have been." She tilts her head to the side. "Maybe we knew each other in a past life."
"No idea." He smirks. "I never forget a face. But as soon as I remember where we met, I'll let you know."
"The same." She bits her lip before asking. "And you've no idea what might have upset Lizzie to draw her to such a confusion?"
"As near as I can tell… she took offense to us shaking hands."
She blinks. "That's all? Should I talk with her?" He shakes his head. "I'd really feel better about having a word with her."
"It's not needed. She wouldn't believe me, so she probably won't believe you."
"You're her husband, what woman would what her husband says?" She points out to him. "Remember, us females are suspicious by nature and would chalk it up to another tale."
"Are you implying I'd lie to her?"
"I didn't say that. I'm saying that's what she's thinking." She explains. "Some things that don't occur to men, occur to women."
"Well, it's not because I promised her that there wouldn't be any dallying with women on the estate." He states. "She should take me at her word."
"She should, but then you've also admitted to dallying with other women off the estate."
He shrugs. "She dallies with other men. We both act as if we don't know, but we do."
She nods and exhales. "Perhaps, this may put her mind at ease, you should tell her that…there is a man who's a part of my life. I've no need for someone else's husband."
"Who's the lucky man?"
She smiled sadly. "Emmett. Emmett Weber."
He nods. "I'll let her know, it should reassure her."
"Thank you." He takes another puff of his cigarette before standing up. "I've got to go. I won't charge you rent until January of next year. There are repairs to be done and you'll save me a bit of money with the labor you've been putting into the place."
"Thank you Mr. Shelby." He turns and walks to the front door. She follows him out onto the porch. "Will you please tell Lizzie that I'll be by tomorrow evening to talk with her?" He exhales and nods. "I know you think it won't do any good, but, I do like her and I want to reassure her that there is nothing to her concerns."
"Trust me, you can talk to her all you like. You can write it in a book and publish it, she still won't believe you. But you're welcome to waste time with her."
"Granting peace to a person's mind and soul is never a waste of time."
Back at the house,
Thomas walked into his library just as a book flew at his head! Thomas ducked, but it caught him at the corner of his cheek. "You bastard!" He looked up as Lizzie threw another book at his head. "You burn in hell Thomas Shelby!"
"What the f**k is the matter with you?" He demanded as he advanced towards her, avoiding the books that came flying at him.
"I saw the two of you!" she shrieked. "You promised me!"
Thomas ducked and lunged at her, catching Lizzie around the waist and taking her to the ground. "What is it you think you saw?"
"I saw you and her on the porch!" Thomas blinked dumbly. "I can imagine what you did after you led her into the cottage!"
"Oh for God's sake," he yelled. "nothing happened!"
Lizzie shouted at him. "F**k you!"
"I inspected the f**king cottage and left!" He shouted back in her face. "I didn't f**k her!"
"You're a liar! I saw the way you two looked at each other." Her voice rose. "You must think I'm blind and a fool to see that you don't want her!"
"There is nothing going on Liz, she's f**king engaged to someone already!"
"You're a liar! Katherine Carter has been single since she lost the man she loved in the war!" Thomas blinked in surprise and Lizzie spat up at him. "You can't fool me!"
"You are a fool! His name is Emmett Weber!" He exhaled. "I promised you Liz about there not being any others, why don't you believe me this time?"
"Because I can see it." she hisses. "I can see the two of you. I can see what's going on."
Thomas exhaled and got off her. "You will make things worse if you don't let this go." Lizzie pulls herself up from the ground. "Against her common sense, she actually likes you. Damned if I know why, but she wants to be your friend."
"I don't need friends like her!" Lizzie brushes off her clothes. "I've had enough of this."
"She's coming by tomorrow to talk to you."
Lizzie wrenches open the library door. "I won't be here."
"Fine with me!" Lizzie slams the door and he lets out another curse as he shoves his hair back from his face.
What was the matter with that woman? He exhaled and sat at his desk, sorting his papers that Lizzie had obviously been looking through. After sorting them, he resumed making his round of phone calls and handling business. After getting his business in order, he called a few of his men to take care of the upgrades to the cottage. Then, he had a long conversation with Churchill and another with Alfie Solomons.
A glance at the clock told him that it was drawing close to lunchtime and he'd been in there for a few hours. He leaned back in his chair, pondering what it was that had upset Lizzie so much. She said she saw something, but what exactly did she see? He'd helped Katherine wipe paint off her cheek, that was it, no reason for such poisonous anger to come at him. There was nothing between the two of them. Normally Lizzie was reasonable, but not today. Something was internally upsetting her and he wished to God he knew what it was so he could knock it out of that woman's head!
At that moment, the door flew open and his housekeeper ran in. "Mr. Shelby!" She screamed. "It's Mrs. Shelby! She's upstairs! I think she's dying!" He jumped up and headed for the library door. "I've already called for the doctor, but it may be too late!"
Thomas ran up the stairs cursing the day that he married that woman. He followed the sounds of the people towards the sun room. He pushed past people and found Lizzie on her side, vomiting and shaking. He felt the world get sucked out from under him as he knelt by her twisting body. His children were in the other room, crying and calling out for their mother. However, he knew the look in her eyes all too well. Liz was dying. And she would be dead before the doctor arrived.
So why the Hell was she smiling at him?
