When I woke up, I wasn't sure where I was but I knew my head hurt. Looking around the dark room, I realised that I was actually in a caravan and the events from the day came flooding back. I sat upright quickly, scrambling to get the blankets off me and out of the bed. I found my shoes on the floor and quickly slipped them on, taking care to be as quiet as possible.
I must've been louder than I thought as the caravan door swung open to reveal a woman. She was around Polly's age and reminded me of Polly in many ways. She had almost black curls that she allowed to roam free around her shoulders, piercing green eyes and creamy skin. She wore a scarf around her head and her dress was dark and went to the floor. "Evelyn, you are safe. We will not harm you." she told me, watching me closely. "My name is Zilpha." she added, coming further into the caravan. "I would introduce myself but you already know me." I told her, an edge to my voice. "Where am I?" I questioned, eyeing the woman. "You are on our camp." Zilpha explained, sitting on a stool. "Camp?" I asked, confused. Then I remembered the moments before I was knocked out.
"You're a Lee." I realised, subconsciously bringing a hand to my stomach. She looked down at my hand before looking back up at my face. "And what my niece said was true, you are with child." She said. "I don't see how that's any of your business. I suppose you think it makes me more valuable to the Shelbys." I told her, defensive. "I am sorry for the way my brother treated you but you are one of us and he knew you wouldn't come voluntarily. He didn't know about the child." She explained, gesturing for me to sit on the stool next to her.
I took a step back, sitting down on the bed. "What do you mean, one of you?" I questioned, confused. "What has Polly Gray told you about your parents?" She asked. "That they were gypsies, she was friends with my mother and when my mother heard there was a hit on my father she hid me with Polly." I explained, recalling the story that Polly had told me. "That's right. However she missed out the part about who your father was. Your father, my brother, was the leader of the Lee clan. Practically a king amongst gypsies. Your mother and father loved you very much but they wanted to keep you safe." She explained. "They couldn't trust any other gypsy families with you, knowing your holding with us so they gave you to Polly Gray. They knew the Shelby family reputation and knew you would be safe there." I nodded, it all slowly making sense. "So you're my aunt?" I asked. She nodded. "And you're the leader of the Lee clan?" She nodded again. "When your mother and father died, it was up to me as next eldest." She explained. I nodded, slowly.
"Your real name is Evelyn Samantha Lee. Well, I guess it's Shelby now." Zilpha said, indicating my stomach. My face flushed. "No, no. I'm not a Shelby. John and I aren't married." I explained, fiddling with my fingers. "But you plan to be?" She asked, brow furrowed. I shrugged, "I guess, yeah. We haven't really discussed it." I told her. "You will marry. It'll either be John Shelby or we will find someone else. The princess of our clan will not have a bastard child." She told me firmly, reminding me of Polly. "I guess I could always ask Tommy." I joked, trying to lighten the mood. "They are your two options then. Thomas is the leader? I will arrange a meeting with him for tomorrow and we will discuss. If neither of them will marry you, you have plenty of cousins." She finished, standing up. I looked up at her shocked, surely she wasn't being serious. "Get some rest, I will send word to Thomas Shelby." She told me before leaving. I watched the door for a moment, stunned at what had just happened. I was a Lee? And tomorrow my aunt, who I have never met, will decide whether I marry the father of my child, his brother or my own cousin? One thing I knew for certain, I was going to need some sleep to deal with this tomorrow.
In the morning, after some very disturbed sleep, Zilpha introduced me to some of my cousins. Duke was a few years older than me and seemed to be one of Zilphas right hand men. He was a tall man, with stocky shoulders but a kind face. Lottie was the same age as me and had quickly become a good friend, reminding me of Ada. Her small frame and wild curly hair resembled mine. She had leant me a dress of hers to wear, a beautiful dark green that brushed the floor as I walked, even in my heels, and a dark red shawl to drape around my shoulders. Duke had been tasked with introducing me to everyone and making sure I had what I needed. Once I had met over half of the gypsy clan, I was taken back to Zilphas caravan to wait for Tommy to arrive. She had given me a cup of tea while we waited, a slightly awkward silence settling over the caravan.
I looked up from my tea as there was whistling outside. Zilpha nodded at me, she already knew what it meant. I pulled my shawl around me and stood up, taking Dukes hand to help me descend from the caravan. I watched as Johnny Dogs came up the track with his white scarf tied around a stick and Tommy by his side. Tommy locked eyes with me instantly and I went to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Are you okay?" He asked, hands on my waist and looking over my head at the Lees gathering around us. "I am, they have treated me well." I told him, pulling away from him. He looked down at me, brushing a black curl from my face and tucking it behind my ear. "Aunt Zilpha wants to speak to you. And I may have told her that you would marry me if John doesn't." I told him, moving to stand by his side. It was as much information as I could give him with the Lee's watching us so closely. He gave me a sideways look but quickly masked his shock and confusion with a nod, and we walked through the campsite.
A lot of the Lee men, followed us and Duke was right next to me, his top priority was to protect me and he was ready to pull me out should a fight begin. Erasmus also followed closely, shotgun in hand. The women around called their children to them as we got closer to the highly decorated caravan. Johnny banged on the door with the stick and Duke went round us to open the door. He then stood to the side, offering me his hand again to steady me as I climbed the steps. I sat down at the table opposite the door and Tommy followed, sitting beside me so that he was opposite Zilpha.
Once the door had been closed, she reached for the Holy book in front of her and held it out for Tommy. "Put your hand on the Bible." she instructed. "I don't believe." he told her, lowly. "I know I didn't come here to lie. This war is cutting us all off." he added. She laughed at him. "You are all children." she responded. "I say enough. Your boys tried to kill me and it didn't work. I come here with a proposition." Tommy slipped in and out of Romani as he placed a bullet on the table. Zilpha glanced at me before picking it up. "I thought he was your ally." she said after examining it. "I plan to betray him."
"No wonder you won't touch a Bible." Zilpha said, a hint of humour in her voice."I have ambitions." Tommy admitted. "You want to play a switch." Zilpha guessed. "I need your boys." Tommy told her. "For what?" she questioned, placing the bullet on the table. "Kimber's not the brains. There's a gadze who runs the races. I'm collecting smart people. But I need strong men too. Now your boys should know this. We get the winner in one of every three races before the race even starts. No need for chalkers or rafflers. I'm talking certainties." he explained, watching her. "You come in here, saying you're going to do someone down, and in the same breath ask me to trust you." Zilpha laughed. "On my mother's side, we are kin. And this baby is both of our kin." Tommy gestured to me as he spoke.
Zilpha looked at me before turning back to Tommy. "Yes, this baby. Evelyn tells me that your brother will do the right thing yet he has not come to do that." she said, leaning forward slightly. "He will. I told him not to come today as it would have caused a fight. He would lay down his life for her and his child. Give him and chance to do the right thing by her and you and he will." Tommy explained. She paused for a moment, thinking. "Then it will be done and our families will be one. We will fight alongside you as long as Evelyn has a husband and the baby has a father." Zilpha told him, spitting in her hand and holding it out to him. He did the same, taking her hand in his and shaking on their deal.
"May I speak with Evie, alone?" Tommy asked. Zilpha looked between the two of us before nodding. "You may." She told him before turning to me. "Duke will be right outside." She said then got up and left the caravan, leaving the door slightly open. I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding before turning to Tommy. He quickly pulled me into a hug and I welcomed it, sinking into his familiar and comforting arms. "You're sure you're okay?" He asked. I nodded against his shoulder. "I'm fine, honestly. How is John?" I asked, pulling away from the hug. "He won't sit still for five minutes. We had to talk him down from marching up here to get you about five times yesterday. Arthur finally managed to get him drunk enough to fall asleep." Tommy laughed.
I laughed with him, knowing what a nightmare John can be once he made his mind up. "I think Zilpha wants me to stay with them again tonight." I admitted, looking towards the door. Tommy nodded. "I don't think she'll let you out of here without a husband." He joked. "Did you seriously put my name forward?" I rolled my eyes. "Well Arthur's too old and Finns too young, you were the next best Shelby." I laughed, shrugging my shoulders. "I'll tell Arthur you said that." He laughed. I shoved him slightly, still laughing. "I better go tell John to get a new suit." Tommy told me. "Oh tell him to wear that light gray one!" I told him, smiling. "Aye, I shall." He replied. "Make sure you look decent too. Can't have my back up husband looking bad." I joked, still smiling. "Yeah, you say that but I don't think your aunt was joking." He laughed.
"Can you do something else for me?" I asked, unsure of how to phrase my request. He nodded, frowning slightly. "Anything." he responded, watching me closely. "Reach out to Ada. I want her here." I told him. I watched his face, his eyes filling with emotion before putting on a hard mask. "You know I can't do that, Eves. She certainly won't come out just because I tell her to." he told me, looking away. "Don't tell her to. Get word out that I'm getting married and she is safe to come. Get the word out and it'll get to her, she'll come." I pleaded, putting a hand on his arm. He looked down at my hand before looking at me. "I'll see what I can do." he told me, with a sigh and a smile. "Thank you!" I replied, throwing my arms around his neck. He laughed and hugged me back, rubbing my back. We pulled away after a few moments.
"I'll see you tomorrow then." Tommy said, standing. I nodded, standing with him. "Tell John I love him." I called as he left. He nodded, waving as he descended the steps.
A/N What did you think? I wanted to show a bit more of Evie/Tommys relationship. Let me know what you think :)