Chapter thirty-three: Sat in your lap
A week later,
A tap on the library door causes Thomas to let out a growl. "What?"
"Thomas?" It's Kate. "Can I come in?"
"Yes." He stands up and heads towards the door.
Kate enters and immediately holds out her hand to push him away from her. "Don't get too close to me. I can still be carrying the germs."
"Kate, I doubt it. You've turned the nursery into a hospital and the children are improving." He leans forward and kisses her forehead. "How are they this morning?"
"Ah, life should be back to normal for them in a day or two. The vomiting stopped last night and their fevers are gone. They're actually drinking broth without spewing it all over me. However," she exhales with a smile. "Polly is now showing symptoms."
His brow arches. "And you'll never get that woman into bed to recover."
Kate laughs as she moves towards the bookcase. "Don't I know it. So, I had Elton alert the staff and told anyone who comes into contact with her to wear gloves or at least wash their hands."
"What are you doing down here?" he asks. "Borrowing a book?"
"That and to give you a status report." He chuckles. "I know, old habits die hard. How have you been?"
"Business as usual." He steps towards her, placing his hands on her hips, causing her to still for a moment. He plants a kiss in her neck, causing her to smile faintly. "I've been missing my wife. It's very dark and quiet when she's not here."
"I thought you enjoyed silence." She teases.
"I do, but," he spins her around and gazes at her intensely. "I find I miss her rather irritating interruption for stupid things like party lists."
"Stupid? Really, Thomas?"
"Yes, they're stupid, because…there are so many other things we could be doing."
"Really," her green eyes dance playfully as she loosely drapes her arms around his neck. "such as?"
"Well, this," he leans forward to kiss her. "Mrs. Shelby."
Kate lets out a quiet cooing sound in the back of her throat before leaning into his kiss. God, they'd been married almost a month and she was finally settling in with him. In fact, she'd said she loved him. She loved him. She told him so herself, now, he'd find out how much of it she meant. If all went well, he'd wind up seducing her against the bookcase.
Kate was compliant, parting her lips just slightly as he pulled her against him. She let out a moan, but didn't pull away. He moved with a slow earnest as he worked his mouth against her, teasing her. Her hands moved from his shoulders to cup his neck, pull him further into her. He dipped her back slightly, thumping her back against the desk. Forget the bookcase, the desk was closer.
However, Kate, being Kate, with that movement managed to turn her ankle and nearly fall over. She broke the kiss with a squeal and he grabbed her tightly, keeping her upright as she held onto him. He exhaled raggedly as she looked downwards and rolled her eyes.
"Thomas," she knelt and picked up the book he'd thrown at Arthur earlier today. Thomas inhaled deeply as she looked up at him, a dozen scenarios filling his head at the moment and none of them Kate was anywhere near willing to try with him. "what's Gatsby doing on the floor?"
He shrugs as he grips her under her arms and lifts her up from the ground. "Chucked it at Arthur."
"Why on earth would you-
He simply picked her up and set her on the edge of the desk. She smiled up at him. Her eyes were dancing and she maintained eye contact with him, encouraging him not to stop. He didn't. He stepped towards her and kissed her deeply again. To his delight, Kate didn't stop him; her hands went to his sides, lightly resting there. He worked his lips expertly against hers and teased her mouth open. Once her lips parted, he slipped his tongue in her mouth. She let out a faint cry, but she hesitantly began to match his movements. After a few moments, he broke the kiss to study her face in this moment. She was blushing, breathing heavily and she looked so beautiful. "Been wanting to kiss you like that for almost a week."
His admission caused her to flush an even deeper shade of pink. "I don't think," Kate hesitates, trying to find the right words. "exchanging fluids at this time was such a good idea."
"They call it French kissing Kate."
"Always the French." She mutters before patting his chest. "I could pass my germs to you and you could get sick."
"I never get sick." He states. "Don't have time for it."
"Always the first time." She smiles as she rubs her hands up and down his forearms. "Thomas, one of these days, I'd like to talk about your use of opium." All those words kill all his plans of seducing his wife on the desk. He moves to get away from him, but she hops off the desk, holding onto his forearms firmly. "Hey, I know you do it and thanks to having to get things for the children, I now know you use it nightly."
"It stops the nightmares." He explains.
"That's not what I saw or heard last night, Thomas." she said softly. "Your mind may be sleeping peacefully, but believe me, your body is in torment."
He groans in exasperation. "I don't want to talk about this with you Kate."
"I know that, but I'm your best option as you won't go to doctors." He glowers darkly at her, causing her to smile. "That look may strike fear into the hearts of your enemies, but it doesn't work on me." She places a hand on his cheek, stroking it gently with the back of her hand. He grabs her hand, not wanting her to soothe him. "Thomas, I care for you. I don't want you to hurt yourself."
"I'm fine Kate," he snaps. "believe that."
"All I want for the moment is for you to read a pamphlet I ordered, ok?" he lets out a groan. "That's all I'm asking for now."
"You're a bloody nuisance."
She laughs. "Yes. You married a nurse; you know I'd eventually bring up to opium use. There are better options."
"I tried them all."
"Thomas, you're not the first soldier, suffering from shell shock," his fingers dig into her wrist, causing her to wince. "to become addicted to opium."
"No more Kate." He growls. "I mean it, not another word."
"Or what, you'll break my wrist?" he inhales and his grip loosens. "I also know that you think that no one can understand what you've been through-
"No one does." he bites out. "there aren't any f**king words for what happened over there."
"I know that, I know." Kate states as she holds onto him tighter. "I understand the frustration. I saw it too, remember? I was even there with you back then in France and I'm here with you now. You're not going to scare me off Thomas Shelby." He inhales deeply. "You helped me find my peace…I want to help you find yours." A honking car horn couldn't cause them to break eye contact with each other. "I'm patient, I can crawl through it with you every step of the way. I'm here if you need me…just remembering that. Do you understand me?"
"Yes." He studies her carefully, she's firm, but she's not pushing him. Kate has a point. She knew, she understood and somehow…the past didn't torment her. He wondered, if she could really help him find put his soul at ease. He didn't know, but, it was worth a try. "I'll read the bloody pamphlet, but don't go getting excited."
"Hey," she smiles broadly at him. "you agreed to read the pamphlet. That's a step in the right direction."
There's a tap at the door and Thomas groans. "What?"
"Mr. Shelby, there's a Lady Edith Kovach," Kate gasps in terror and pulls away from him, shaking her head. "here to see Mrs. Shelby."
"Oh dear God. Not her!"
He frowned. "What the hell has got you-
"My grandmother!"
Elton opened the library door and Kate dove behind his desk. Thomas stared as she crawled under the seat to hide! He stood up as a woman, swept into the room. He'd seen many a glare from a sergeant when in the army. This woman, made him straighten his posture.
"You must be Thomas Shelby." She states as she approaches him. He approaches her, not wanting her to get near the desk. "Where's my granddaughter?"
"No idea, I haven't seen her this week." He states politely. "Why don't we go to the parlor and I'll see if Elton can find her?"
"I prefer libraries." Her grandmother declares.
"I don't like people in my library." Thomas stated, his tone ending the discussion. "Shall we go? I'm sure Kate will surface at some point." As he exited the library, he observes Elton preparing to shut the door behind him. "Leave the door open Elton, it's a bit stuffy in there."
"As you wish Sir." The confusion is evident in his voice.
"Also, fetch my aunt and Arthur. Tell them we've got a visitor."
"Of course Sir." As Thomas steps aside to allow Kate's grandmother to enter the parlor, he glances towards the library as Kate makes a mad dash up the stairs. Something tells him, that he is not going to be able to escape this horrible tea as easy as she managed to do.
