This chapter takes place between S2E5 and S2E6.
He knocks at her door in the middle of the night. He's anxious. He hasn't seen her since the night they made love, it was a month ago.
That she had still been thinking about marrying her lawyer, after what they had shared, all he had felt with her in his arms, had hurt him so much.
She didn't seem as shaken as he was by their evening.
They had parted ways on a sour note that night.
But despite the way the night had ended, the next day he went and broke things off with May. May was smart enough to accept the business deal without the sexual partnership.
He has had so much to plan, so much to think about since then… Nothing before has seemed so important, so final.
And yet, at night, he was still thinking about Grace, about their conversation. He has dealt with it the wrong way, he hasn't said the right words.
Now that he had had more time to think about it, he couldn't really fault Grace for thinking about securing her future with a marriage to a rich man. It seems to him that he has nothing to offer her right now. He is bogged down in this mess between Churchill, Campbell and the Irish factions, trying to benefit from it, but mainly trying to survive.
He had thought it would be better to leave things as they were.
But, on that last night before the race, before the assassination, he needs to be with her once again…Maybe one last time.
As soon as Grace opens the door, she looks alarmed, "Tommy? Are you hurt? What's happening?"
"Can I come in?"
She lets him come inside.
"I needed to see you. I couldn't stop thinking about you. "
"I've never seen you so nervous, what is it?"
"Tomorrow… I can lose or win everything tomorrow."
"It's the Derby you're talking about? "
Her question is met by silence.
"This isn't about the races is it?" Grace asks.
"No, this isn't about the races…"
The silence is hurting them both. He can't talk to her, and his mistrust slices her heart.
Tommy comes closer to her, his eyes pleading, "would you help me? "
He touches her arm, he feels her shivers. They kiss and without sharing another word they make love.
(...)
She fondles his hair until he falls asleep. But he doesn't say anything more to her about the situation that anguishes him.
She is watching him sleep, he seems so exhausted, his face so hollow, his eyes so sunken and circled.
She wonders if he has slept at all in the weeks since she last saw him…
What they have shared tonight was such a different experience than the last time. Last time was about passion and love. This time it was about despair and comfort.
She feels so sad. Once again they are in the same place, needing each other, but unable to speak, unable to overcome the betrayal… She finally closes her eyes…
(...)
She awakens when he's dressing, "Were you going to wake me up or just leave without saying anything?"
"I have important things to do today." He is really tense again.
"What is going to happen at the Derby, Thomas ?"
She gets up and puts on her negligee.
"We're going to get all the legal pitches." he answers curtly.
"That isn't all, you wouldn't have come to me last night if it was all."
"I can't tell you Grace."
"You come to me, you ask for my help, but you can't talk to me…"
Again that silence.
Tommy has his hand on the door:" I have to go."
"Tommy, I've told him I wasn't going to marry him. "
Tommy turns around to face her, "Why did you tell him? Why now?" he sounds angry.
She comes closer, locking eyes with him, "Tell me I was right to refuse his proposal, just tell me that, Tommy, agree with that…"
"Yes. Yes, Grace…" The tension seems to leave his body for a moment.
She caresses his cheek, "Because the thing is… I love you Tommy. I love you, not him."
"That is a thing." he looks at her with wonder, he seems kind of shocked and at a loss of words.
"Go to your race" she gently turns him towards the door.
"Yes…I need to go." opening the door, " But when I come back, we'll talk, Grace. I promise. I'll come find you."
"I'll be waiting."
He closes the door behind him.