Chapter 10: Big Stripey Lie


Thomas gripped Kate's hand as he helped her out of the car. "Thank you." She smoothed her skirts before taking Thomas's offered arm. Her soul was burning to know if Thomas really meant what he said to the children, or was he putting it on for their benefit? Did he really want to be more than friends? He gave every impression of a man who was interested in courting her, but he was a hard man to read.

She bit her lip as he led her towards the club. Her blood stilled as she realized that she was going to be stepping into the Bleu Masque for the first time in nearly fifteen years. She inhaled sharply and bit her lip.

Something was wrong with this picture.

Ivan Bertani had fought for years to keep this club; there was no way that he would surrender it to Thomas Shelby. Her father had helped him keep this club, killing whoever was threatening Ivan to ensure he'd keep it. Thomas had lied to her when he said that he was buying the club. He needed to get inside, but he wasn't allowed in. So that made her deduce one thing. That Thomas Shelby was using her to gain entrance to a building from where he was banned. And that knowledge stung as surely as if he'd slapped her face.

"Ah, Arthur." Thomas's voice broke her out of her troubled thoughts. She glanced up as an older man, with a mustache approaches them. Thomas flashed her an indulgent smile. "Arthur, this is Kate Carter, the American novelist."

Her blood is boiling as she shakes Arthur's hand. "A real pleasure." He says as he removes his hand. "So, you're the one who's kept Tommy from losing his mind when he lost Lizzie." Thomas shoots him a strict look. "I don't mean nothing by it Tom, just nice she was there for you."

"You're welcome." Her voice comes out lighter than she feels. "Mr. Shelby has been a good landlord and I genuinely liked Lizzie."

"Shall we go in?" Thomas asks as he leads her towards the entrance of the club.

She's unsure what to do. Half of her wants to rip away from him and head off down the street, after slapping him. The other half of her knew that he'd been extremely kind and generous to her while letting her live in the cottage, so, she should just allow it.

"Hold it." Someone, presumably the manager, approached them with a sneer the moment they crossed the threshold of the club door. "You're not allowed in here."

"Excuse me?" Thomas said calmly, though she knew him well enough to know it was a facade. "Do you know who we are?"

"Yes. Thomas and Arthur Shelby." The man snapped his fingers at two of the bouncers. "You and your floozy are not allowed in here.

Her mouth dropped and Thomas bristled. "You dare to call a lady a floozy, to her face?"

"Forgive me," the man snaps tightly. "I meant, whore."

Kate's blood boiled over and she decided that she was going to unleash her anger on this man instead of Thomas. "Where the hell is Bertani?" Kate demanded, her tone was so strict that all 3 men turned to look at her in amazement. "Is he in?" The man didn't answer her. "I will not repeat myself! Answer me now!"

"He won't see you."

"I demand that you tell him Katerina is here." She snapped. "At once!"

"I certainly will not." The man sneered at her. "I'm not sure what your game is, tart, but I will not be privy to it."

Kate peered around the man's shoulder and shouted. "Emilio!" Someone cursed in French before spinning around. She waved at the older man as his face lit up joyfully. All the men looked on in confusion as Emilio approached them, speaking rapidly and happily in French. He hugged her and she gladly returned the hug. "Merci. Would you please fetch Bertani? I've been refused admission with my guests and this buffoon called me a whore."

Emilio's eyes widened and he began laughing. "Thank you for coming Katerina. I've been waiting for this…buffoon to lose his job for a long time now!"

Emilio ran off towards the office. Thomas glanced at her. "You're a little scary Kate."

She shot him a look, warning him to be silent, lest she turn her tongue on him. he, however, didn't cower from that look, he dared to match it head on. At least, until Arthur nudged him and shook his head, suggesting that he not stare her down while she was in this mood. Thomas would be on the receiving end of her ire as soon as they were in a position where they couldn't make a scene. They stood silently in the entrance, everyone seemed to be waiting for the right moment to draw breath. Even the bouncers seemed to be dreading the wait.

"Katerina?" Kate stepped around the manager towards Ivan Bertani. The man let out a huge laugh as he enfolded her into a hug. He was a lot larger since the last time she saw him and his brown hair was growing thinner. However, his green eyes still held the zest for life that she knew so many years ago. "Oh, my girl! So good to see you again."

"Thank you Bertani." She smiled before pressing a kiss to his cheek. The faces of the manager and bouncers had gone to a deathly shade of white. "I was in London and I decided to bring a few friends to dinner. And your manager," Ivan shot a death look to the manager who seemed to shrink. "denied us admission. When I demanded that he inform you that I was here, he called me a whore."

Ivan turned towards the manager and struck him so hard across the face that the man fell down! "Get him out of my club!" Ivan barked. "Throw him out now."

"She's with the Shelby's!" The man whined as the bouncers pulled him up from the ground. "We cannot allow them in here!"

Ivan's eyes narrowed as he turned towards her. Kate kept a calm and straight face as she held Bertani's gaze. "This is strictly pleasure, we're not here for business. You have my word."

"I trust you Katerina. No need to explain. If he is your guest, I'll allow it." Thomas and Arthur shot each other a look of surprise. "However, I do not want to see them in here again without you."

"That's a deal." She gave him another hug around the shoulder. "Thank you. I am starving."

"You've always had a healthy appetite, nice to see in a woman." Kate laughed as Bertani reached for her coat. "May I?"

"Of course." Thomas and Arthur approached her as Bertani helped her slide out of it. She heard Thomas inhale sharply as her shoulders and back was exposed. Truth to be told, she wasn't sure why she bought this dress. It was just so lovely, that she couldn't resist purchasing even though she had nowhere to wear it. Now, it seemed as if she had bought it on Thomas's behalf. Now, from the way he was looking at her, she knew that purchasing it was a mistake.

"I'll take that." Thomas stated as he stepped forward, smoothly extracting the coat from Ivan. "She is with me, after all."

Bertani glanced at them and smiled knowingly. "Ah, I see its Thomas you're fancying."

Kate blushed and rubbed her neck. "It's just dinner, Ivan."

"I'm still rather surprised Katerina." Ivan gestured for them to follow her. "I thought you hated politics and here you are having dinner with a Member of Parliament."

Kate blinked and glanced at Thomas. "I had no idea that you were a Member of Parliament Mr. Shelby."

"What, you never picked up a newspaper?" Bertani laughed as she rolled her eyes. "Who am I kidding? You never liked to pick up a newspaper and keep up to date. How'd he manage to get you out on a date if you hate politics?"

"Because I didn't know he was a politician." Bertani guided her through the crowded club. "But that is irrelevant, you see, Mr. Shelby saved my life and now I'm returning the favor by promising him the best dinner in London."

Bertani studied Thomas a moment after seating Kate at the table. "You treat this one good, she's a good girl. I fancy her to be like the daughter I never had and you best treat her well or you have me to reckon with."

Kate rubbed her neck uneasily as Thomas nodded. "I intend to."

"Good to hear. Now," Bertani clapped his hands together. "Everything is on the house." Kate shook her head. "I insist. I make enough money and besides, you're like family. And speaking of family, how is your father?"

Kate was silent before admitting. "I haven't seen or spoken to him in a few years." He opened his mouth and she cut him off. "I do not wish to speak of it."

Bertani is silent for a long moment before saying. "He's a good man Kate. Never forget that." Kate said nothing and fortunately, the headwaiter came over to the table take their drink orders. Bertani squeezed her shoulder. "I'll let you enjoy your evening. It's good to see you looking happy again Katerina."

Kate smiled at him, but she wasn't happy. She was upset, but at least she knew Bertani had bought her performance. She turned to the waiter and promptly ordered. "I'll have the French 75, thank you."

"Whiskey for me." Thomas stated. "And the same for my brother."

"The gentlemen will try the Ward 8. Make it strong please." She stated. The waiter nodded and hurried away with the drink orders. She removed her gloves and slapped them on the table. "The Ward 8 has whiskey in it. Ever had it?"

"Never 'eard of it." Arthur stated.

"I figured as much." Kate grabbed the menu and began to peruse it.

"It's a great place." Thomas stated as he pulled a cigarette from his pocket. "Thanks for getting us in Kate."

"You, shut up Thomas Shelby." Both men froze in shock at her words. She didn't stop there as she grabbed the cigarette from Thomas's mouth and slapped it on the table. "If either of you stoop to using me like that again, you will be sorry."

"Now Kate-

"I am not a fool." She snapped angrily at him. "It's quite clear that you're here to scope out the place, for what, I don't know nor do I want to know what it is you're both planning."

"Listen here Kate." Thomas leaned forward, his tone low. He paused as the waiter approached with their drinks. Kate didn't even wait for the waiter to hand it to her. She grabbed it off the tray and took a long drink. He studied her, the woman could drink. Thomas realized that he might have underestimated just how well she hid the scars that the eye couldn't see.

The man was a bit too cheerful as he asked them. "Are you ready to order?"

"Not yet." Thomas stated. "Come back in five."

"I'll have a second round of this." Arthur stated as he took a drink. He nodded approvingly. "It's good."

"Ward 8 and thank you."

"Kate," Thomas growled. "it's not what you think it is."

"I grew up with Ivan Bertani." She snapped. "I know for a fact that there is no way in Hell that he'd ever sell to you. He's already stated he wants to be burned in his club when he dies." Thomas's face stiffened as he realized the game was up. She hissed angrily at him. "I don't know what it is you're up to, but clearly you needed me to get in here. I'm telling you, that I will not be used in such a manner again!"

"I didn't use you!"

"I don't believe you!"

"Right, not completely." She took another drink. "I just needed your celebrity status as a decoy to get in."

"That I figured out immediately. But since I found out that you're in parliament, clearly that wasn't enough to get you through." She set the drink down and crossed her arms. "And after we were in? What then?"

"That's up to Arthur." She was almost tempted to believe him. "Everything else, the dinner and the dancing…that I wanted to do with you."

"Then there's only one way to save this evening." She leaned forward slightly. "I want to hear an apology Thomas Shelby."

Arthur choked in laughter on his drink. Thomas leaned forward and glowered at her. "I don't do apologies."

"Oh, I know that," she growled back. "but you will apologize to me, regardless. You forced me to have to use connections from a past I had burned almost 15 years ago to get you two in here for whatever purpose. You have no idea how difficult it was for me to even come out tonight with you! I told you, I didn't do this sort of thing anymore!"

"How are you connected to this place?" He inquired firmly. "This isn't a place for a socialite like you to normally associate with."

"Yet, you felt comfortable enough inviting me here." She said sarcastically. "Bertani gave my father boat fare to get to America all those years ago. My father paid him back and gave him enough money to build this business. I am…asking you to give me the respect that I deserve and not use me like that again." He opened his mouth, but she cut him off quickly. "I am not a violin, Mr. Shelby. I don't dance to your tune and I refuse to allow you to pick me up and play me whenever it suits your needs!"