Ekaterina entered the house in Watery Lane at noon. Ada sat at the table, eating some bread with marmalade and clearly just having gotten out of bed. She envied the brunette girl, looking fresh and rested. The blonde had spend half of the night and all of the morning bringing a healthy baby boy into this world. She was happy and content, but tired. "I have your prescription." She announced to the eating girl, who in turn smiled at her. "Thanks Katy, you're the best."
The blonde looked at her friend, now concern in her gaze. "Why the iron, though? Do you have problems with your period again?" When the war was still ongoing a lot of women had problems with irregular periods, because of the scarce and unbalanced food they were forced to consume. In order to feet their children lots of women only ate once a day and mostly the same, cheap stuff. This had consequences for their health and they lacked nourishment. In order to make their period regular, at least, iron tablets often helped.
Polly and Ada had been the same. They had forgone a lot of meals in order to be able to feed Finn and Johns children. But this should be a Problem of the past. The Shelbys should be stable again; financially, at least. Ada didn't have to starve herself anymore and she didn't. Proof number one was her stuffing her face full with bread and marmalade. Ekaterina narrowed her eyes. "Are you still seeing Freddie?" Ada shushed her with a wave of her hand. "Damn, Katy. Not so loud! What if Tommy hears you?"
Ekaterina barely knew Freddie Thorne, but she knew that Ada had always been in love with Tommy's ex best friend. She had talked about him constantly when he was away, even written a couple letters to him and when he had returned they finally got to date. The brunette had been over the moon when she had told her best friend that she was finally dating her childhood crush; even though they had to do it in secret because of Tommy. Truth be told, Ekaterina wasn't Freddie's biggest fan. She despised communism and Freddie was a passionate follower of Karl Marx. But he made Ada happy and he was friendly enough when she saw him sometimes, not talking about communism with her as was surely ordered by the Shelby girl.
"What I mean is, are you sleeping with him?" The blonde clarified and the brunette simply smiled and shrugged. "We are both adults, Katy." Ekaterina sighed. "That's not... Ada, you'd tell me if you are pregnant, wouldn't you?" Ada looked at the small girl with big eyes. Pregnant? She hadn't even thought about that... but then she laughed. "I'm not pregnant, Katy. I'm just a few days overdue and it's not the first time. I'm sure it's just the iron again." Ekaterinas green eyes bore into Adas blue ones. "Okay then." The blonde nodded her head. "Do you know if Thomas is here?" The brunette looked at her in surprise. "You're looking for Tommy... voluntarily?" Ada knew that her friend and her brother weren't exactly friends and that they preferred not to see each other if possible. Out of all of her brothers, Katy was the least friendly with the most powerful one. And she didn't know if that was a good thing or not.
The blonde shrugged her shoulders. "I have to talk to him." Ada pointed at the double door before them with her chin. "Should be in the shop." Ekaterina looked at the delicate watch on her wrist. She still had a bit of time. "Okay, thanks. See you, Ada." The brunette waved at her. "Bye Katy. Don't get eaten by him." The blonde scoffed. "He will spit me out again, don't you worry." Ada smiled after her friend. Somehow, the picture of the small girl going toe to toe with her tall, powerful brother seemed hilarious.
A minute later Ekaterina was knocking at Tommy's office door. Said man looked up from the book he was writing in, surprise on his face when he saw who it was through the window. That certainly was a first time. He signaled her to come inside, what she did. "Good day, Mr. Shelby." She greeted him. "Miss Smith." He greeted back. "Take a seat." She did. "So, what brings you to me?" The girl didn't waste anytime. "It's about Danny Whizz-Bang." Tommy frowned. "What about him?"
Again, her piercing gaze was set solely on him. "He has the Flanders Blues." The man shrugged his shoulder and took out a cigarette. "So?" He asked while lightning it. "Everyone who was in France does." She lightly cocked her head. Did that mean him as well? "I've been to Rosy Owen this morning, Mr. Shelby." She explained. "She saw me walk by her house when I returned from a childbirth and begged me to come in. He had an episode again this morning. He attacked her, before he ran out of the house." She leaned forwards lightly, boring her gaze into his. "She is afraid of him. Afraid he will attack their little sons next."
Tommy exhaled the cigarette smoke. He was sympathetic with Danny, but didn't understand what exactly the girl was expecting from him. "So?" He asked. "I heard that you are a good friend to him. He respects you and you can calm him down when he is like that." She answered but he just continued to stare at her. "Look, I've already seen a couple cases like him." She clarified. "And from what I've seen, when a man is in a state like that, he usually ends up hurting himself or someone else. I just wanted you to know. Maybe you can talk to him. He listens to you. That's all." She looked at her wristwatch. "If you would excuse me now, my next appointment is soon and I really need some coffee before that."
She stood up. "Why do you care?" Tommy suddenly asked. Because, really. What did she care about someone like Danny? Her eyes, again, bore into him. "I just do, Mr. Shelby. I care for Small Heath... and the people in it." Then she was gone as suddenly as she had arrived.
.
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Ekaterina entered the Garrison and was thankful that it usually was quiet at this time of the day. Harry and that barmaid were manning the counter together. "Good day." She greeted, and both people turned to her. "Miss Smith!" Harry greeted her with a smile. "Coffee?" The girl nodded with a smile of her own. "Yes, please. I had a long night and I need all the caffeine I can get to get through the day." He turned to the barmaid. "Grace, I just explained the coffee maker to you. You think you can do it?" Ah, Grace was her name. She nodded. "Yes, I think so."
A few minutes later a steaming cup of coffee was standing before her. "Do you want any milk or sugar?" Ekaterina shook her head. "No, thank you. I prefer black coffee." She took a sip and sighed. "Not bad for your first time." She complimented. "Though it could be a tad bit stronger." Grace smiled at her. "Thank you. But I have to admit I think it a bit strange to come into a pub solely for coffee." The girl took another sip and then put the cup back down on the saucer. "I would prefer a cafe as well." she admitted. "But Small Heath doesn't have any and the next good ones are over in the Italian territory. But as I'm not always up to date how the Peaky Blinders are standing with them I feel it's too dangerous for me alone. It's known that I work for them." she explained and then rolled her eyes. "The Shelbys like to make enemies left and right without a care in the world, it seems. One day they are at war with some group, the next they are best friends again." Grace listened attentively, weighing if anything the small girl said was in any way useful. She had seen her just recently with Thomas Shelby. That meant she had to be important in some way, right?
"So, your name is Grace?" The girl suddenly changed the topic. "Ah- Ehm, yes. Grace Burgess." The girl nodded, taking the cup into her hands again. "Grace Burgess, okay. My name is Katherine Smith." She introduced herself. "But most people just call me Katy." Grace nodded. "And where are you from, Grace?" Ekaterina continued. The barmaid took a cloth and wiped the counter. "Galway." The girl pulled up an eyebrow. "Ireland, huh?" She asked and then giggled. Grace frowned. "Yes, Ireland. Why, is it funny?" The girl stopped giggling. "No, it's just... did you know there is a new copper in Small Heath?"
Grace sweat dropped. "Oh, ehm, really?" Ekaterina nodded. "And he's from Ireland as well! From Belfast, though." She leaned her upper body slightly forward, bringing her head nearer to Grace's. "Isn't that an amazing coincidence?" The girl whispered conspiratorially and giggled again. Grace felt how the sweat gathered on her face. Had she just been found out, before she had really been able to do anything?
The girl suddenly looked down at her wrist. "Dang it, time flies when you have fun, doesn't it?" She took her cup, drinking up the rest of coffee in it. "My next appointment is in 10 minutes." She then explained. "Chickenpox are slowly spreading in Small Heath, so be careful if you've never had it before." She warned, pulling out a coin and setting it before the barmaid. "Harry said it's on the house." Grace stated but Ekaterina didn't take the money back. "Then see it as a tip for you. Thank you for lending an ear to me." She smiled. "I'm sure we will be good friends in the future."
Ekaterina turned around and cheerfully bid the barmaid and the pub owner goodbye. But the moment she had stepped out of the building her face fell back into its usual, emotionless mask. Grace Burgess from Galway, Ireland, huh. No way in hell was this a simple coincidence. As someone who was hiding something as well Ekaterina could sniff out liars 10 kilometers against the wind. She had to tell the Shelbys about Grace ASAP.
.
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It was late at night when her work day was finally over and she walked down Watery Lane. She was just about to knock on the door, as she didn't want to just barge into the house this late, when the door was suddenly opened and Thomas Shelby came outside. As usual, the first thing she noticed about him were his bright, intense eyes so blue, it's shade was deserving a name of its own, in her opinion. All of the Shelby siblings had blue eyes, yet Thomas', still, were somehow unique. They were framed by eyelashes so long that Ekaterina actually had been a bit jealous when Ada had shown her a picture of him for the first time. Then there were his high, sharp cheekbones. All in all it was almost ridiculous how good looking he was. No wonder he had been quite the heart breaker in his adolescence; or so Ada and Polly had told her. Though, since France, it seemed like these days were over. Now people said Thomas Shelby didn't want anything or anyone.
"Oh, amazing timing. Good evening, Mister Shelby." She greeted him when she noticed something on his shirt collar. "Wait- is that blood? Are you hurt?" She raised her free hand as if wanting to touch his collar, but then let it sink again. Thomas stepped around her on the street. "It's nothing." He said. "It's not my blood. In fact, it's not even human." She frowned. "Now you've lost me. Did I miss the Shelbys opening up a butcher shop or something?" He stared down at her, a frown forming on his forehead in view of that ridiculous answer and explained "I had to deal with Danny."
She immediately perked at that. "Did something happen?" Tommy fished out a cigarette, lightening it. "Killed an Italian." She sighed. "I knew he would escalate sooner rather than later. So are the Peaky Blinders at war again?" He took a drag of his cigarette and then shook his head. "I took care of it. No war." Her gaze bore into him, her eyes flickering to his collar and then back to his face again. She nodded. "Okay then."
Remembering what she came here for in the first place, she continued "Actually, I wanted to speak to you." Tommy raised his brows. Two times in one day? He seemed to have risen in her recognition. She looked up at him questioningly. "I can go to Polly if you don't want to talk to me. Though it would be quicker this way as what I have to say concerns all of you and you will hear about it anyway." As Tommy looked at her face he could clearly see the dark shadows under her big eyes. He remembered her saying that she had to work nights as well, often because of some kind of emergency.
"You on your way home?" He asked and she nodded. "I was just seeing a sick child, but I think I can sleep through the night for once, after this." She announced, almost seeming happy. Thomas blinked. "Right. So let me walk you home. We can talk and I have to go somewhere anyway, after this." Ekaterina looked at him surprised. "Why, thank you Mr. Shelby. Who thought I'd ever see the day of a Shelby man behaving like a true English gentleman?" At that he grinned lightly. "Well, I'm sorry if I've destroyed the Lady's picture of us Shelby men." He reached out with his arm. "So lead the way."
They walked silently for a few moments, her walking stick clicking every two steps, and Thomas noticed how elegantly she walked and held herself. It was almost as if she was dancing, all alone on the street. And again he noticed how out of place she seemed in Small Heath. They walked by the Garrison, were, coincidentally, Grace stood outside, talking with someone. Her blonde hair had caught his eyes and he couldn't help but compare both women; the barmaid and the nurse.
Grace was tall, her face more angular and her hair a gold blonde, shoulder length and wavy. Katherine, on the other hand, was small and petite, her face all round and soft. Her hair was a brighter blonde, almost silver, straight and long. The most striking difference between them both, however, was how they carried themselves. Even though Katherine was almost a head shorter than the barmaid she appeared to be taller, more regal. He wondered if that was part of her personality or the way she had been brought up. Katherine was no ordinary girl, of that he was sure by now.
The barmaid noticed them walking by and Tommy nodded at her. Katherine waved with a sunny smile, what startled him for a moment. "That's actually what I wanted to talk about." She said when Grace had walked back into the pub and her face changed back into its usual state. "Grace Burgess is not a simple girl and I don't believe she is here for simple reasons." He looked down at her. "Do you." She hummed. "I talked with her today and I don't trust her for a second." Tommy didn't say anything, smoking another cigarette, and she continued. "She says she is from Ireland. Same as that new copper. Two people from Ireland appearing in Small Heath at the same time?" She suddenly stopped walking. "This is no coincidence, Thomas. I think she works for the police."
At the sound of his name he stopped, too. He had to admit that it indeed was strange. "Aye, it does sound suspicious." She walked up to him. "So what are we doing?" He puffed out some smoke. "We are doing nothing. You continue your work, Miss Smith. And I will think about what to do with Miss Burgess." He didn't know how he expected her to react to his order. But she seemingly didn't react at all. With a neutral face she stared up at him. "So be it. You are the boss, sir." She simply said and then continued to walk. He brought her right to the entrance of the house she lived in and then went his own way.
.
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A few weeks later the copper made his first move. Ekaterina made her way back from an appointment when she walked right into the chaos of Watery Lane, created by the police officers dragging out people and furniture out of their houses. Her first thought went to the Shelbys, but all of the boys were away at a fair today. Ada was meeting Freddie god knew were. As a communist he had to hide before the police even in more peaceful times and Ekaterina had deliberately told her friend to never tell her about Freddies hiding spots, so that she couldn't tell anyone; neither the police nor Tommy. She prayed that they were safe.
Her last thought went to Polly. She knew that the woman would be at church by this time and she ran. Whatever the police were searching for, she had no doubt it had to do with the Shelbys. She barged into the church just as a man was pushing the matriarch against the wall. The blonde girl immediately let go of her bag and took her walking stick into her hands, holding it up like a bat. The iron knob on it reflected the candlelight. "Let go of her, you brute!" She screamed as she ran at them - only to abruptly stop when the man turned around. She drew in a sharp breath, her eyes wide with shock.
"Well, well, well. I was actually talking about something else precious and stolen." Campbell drawled. "But looks like I'm lucky enough to even find something here in this hellhole I've been searching for so long: my lovely fiancée." Ekaterina looked at him with all the loathing she could muster. "I never agreed to that arrangement!" Campbell chuckled. "But your father did. The Earl gave us his blessings and that's all that matters, don't you think?" The girl raised her walking stick even more when the man made a step towards her and she screamed "Even if King George himself ordered me to marry you; I'd rather bite off my tongue and die right here!"
For a few moments everything seemed to stand still. Then Campbell slowly nodded. "Alright then." He turned around and walked up to a side door, opening it. Police officers flooded in. "Turn the place upside down." Campbell ordered. Then he turned back to Polly, who had only silently observed everything unfold. "Arthur Shelby said you would help us." She shrugged her shoulders. "If we don't know what you've lost, how can we help you find it?" The man narrowed his eyes. "But I have found out subsequently that I was speaking to the wrong man. Next time I want to talk to the boss." He walked over to Ekaterina. "Likey Tea Rooms. Friday, 10 o'clock. And when I say the boss, I mean Thomas."
He came to stand before the girl and the blonde could feel the sweat rolling down her brow. She was still holding the raised walking stick, poised to strike down, but - it was as if she was frozen. "As for you." He said in a quieter voice, lightly grazing her cheek with a finger. She shuddered at the contact. "I never expected your love, but I wanted your respect. You would have had an honorable, comfortable life as my wife. And a devoted husband in me. But you obviously don't want that." He leaned down, bringing his mouth to her ear. "See what your choices will bring you, little Katya." He gave her cheek a light kiss, then he walked away.
She didn't know how long she stood there, she had lost any sense of time. But then Polly grabbed her arm, pulling her out of the church, towards Watery Lane.
.
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Everything seemed to happen fast and slowly at the same time. She realized that she was probably in shock. But she had so hoped that this copper wasn't Campbell that the reality she had to face now was almost unbearable. He knew where she was. He would tell her parents. They would come and whisk her away, back to the life she had so desperately run from. The Peaky Blinders held their meeting right in front of her, and yet she could barely follow what was spoken.
Tommy curiously eyed the girl sitting quietly at the table, not contributing to the conversation at all. She was expressionless like always, and yet something was changed about her. She was white as a sheet and her normally so expressive eyes were empty. The angry looks Polly threw at her were out of place as well. Never before had he seen these two women at odds. His aunt had told him that she had rushed into the church with the intention to save her, even though there had been no need according to her. And yet Polly was angry about something.
"So, go on. Drink your beers, get out." the matriarch ordered. "You'd better show people you are still the cocks of the walk." Tommy then gave out some orders as well, all of the men preparing to go, expecting the conversation to be over. They wanted to act.
Polly got up and closed the door to the shop after Arthur had exited. Tommy had decided to stay, lightning a cigarette. He knew that his aunt was not finished yet; not with him and not with the blonde girl still sitting at the table, mentally absent. Polly sat down again and waited for the girl to start speaking. But she didn't. "So." The woman then said, to what Ekaterina twitched. "Tell us, girl. Who the bloody hell are you?"
Slowly, the girl raised her eyes, meeting the angry gaze of the woman before her. For a few moments everything was silent, the man and the woman staring at her. Then she opened her mouth. "What is there to say? You heard everything in the church." Polly scoffed. "That bloody copper called you his fiancée. He said your father is an Earl. Hell, the way you talked it seemed like you knew King George himself!" Tommy stared at the blonde. Well, her being nobility would explain quite a few things about her. "You already know who I am." The girl stubbornly insisted. "I just didn't tell you my real name." Polly scoffed. "For all that we seemingly don't know about you you could be the bloody crown princess of Great Britain."
Ekaterina sighed. "You know as well as me that that is not true, Polly." Tommy put on a cigarette. "So tell us who you are." Her eyes landed on him, but only momentarily. Then she looked down at her hands folded on her lap. Again it was silent. Polly broke it. "That copper called you Katya. Where does that come from?" A tremble went through the girl. "Don't remind me of that, please. It disgusts me hearing that from his mouth." Polly leaned forward. "Where does it come from?" she demanded now.
Finally, the girl looked up. "It's a nickname for my real first name. Normally only my family uses it, though." Tommy took a drag of his cigarette. "And what is that name?" The blonde fumbled with her hands. "Ekaterina." She then finally said, seemingly having made a decision. She abruptly stood up. "My full name is Ekaterina Victoria Mildred Chetwynd-Talbot; daughter of Andrew Chetwynd-Talbot, 20th Earl of Shrewsbury and Waterford... and the Russian princess Lisaweta Iwanowna Karágin." Then she made the most perfect, beautiful curtsey both of them had ever seen.
When she stood up again she stood regal and proud before them, gone the uncertainty that had inhabited her only moments before. "I'm British and Russian nobility... though, technically, there is no Russian nobility anymore." She mumbled, referring to the October revolution of 1917. Tommy was more than a little surprised, though he didn't let it show. Sure, he had always expected that she was from some posh family. But never would he have expected her to be of nobility for real. Because people like that didn't come to Small Heath. They would be crazy if they did.
"Why was Campbell calling you his fiancée?" Polly continued her questions, seemingly unfazed by her revelation. Ekaterina sighed. "Because he was chosen as such by my father." She looked to the ground. "He is the reason I ran away. In the spring of 1916 I had my debutante ball. Shortly afterwards I was introduced to Chester Campbell. I had no idea what that was all about at first. But I understood very quickly." She gritted her teeth. "My parents had promised me to a man more than old enough to be my father... without so much as asking me. The moment the courting began I was repulsed and disgusted. And the one time I showed him that he made me pay."
She turned around to the fireplace, hiding her face from them. "He slapped me and told me that it was already set I was going to be his and so he was free to do what he wanted with me. He forced me down on the settee and got above me." Her voice began to shake lightly. "I screamed and fought... but you saw him, Polly. He easily overpowered me. I thought- I thought he was going to rape me and no matter... no matter how much I screamed, neither my parents nor the servants came to help me, even though my screams were surely loud enough to echo through the whole estate... or so I thought." She swallowed. "Never before in my life have I felt so afraid and alone."
Polly swallowed down some bile. "And did he?" The girl turned around again, her face distorted by intense anger and hate. "No. I finally was able to get a hold of a letter opener lying on the coffee table. The moment he saw me wield my meager weapon he finally let up from me." She smoothed out her face. "But that was the moment I understood two very important things. First, my parents wouldn't protect me; no one would. And second, I could either accept my fate and seek release through death... or I could fight and search for luck somewhere else. Either way, Chester Campbell would never have me." She threw a passionate gaze at them. "I chose life." She then proclaimed and promptly left the house.
AN: So, you probably saw this coming, to what I have to say that the Earl of Shrewsbury and Waterford does really exist, in case you don't know, but my characters have absolutely NOTHING to do with the real family. Just in case that you're wondering. Also, I'm changing the story a bit by having Tommy suspect Grace from the, basically, very beginning. I'm sorry, but I always thought it so stupid that Tommy, who is supposed to be so smart, cunning and calculated, never even suspected Grace until the very end of Season 1. When there were quite a few things about her he should have noticed, or so I think. Maybe that's why I don't like her.
Anyway, please leave a comment if you like my story :)
Lulu
