The Epsom races was a few days later and, despite Arthur still being in prison, Tommy's plan was still pushing forward. "Are you sure this is a good idea without Arthur?" I asked John lowly as he counted out some cash and put it in a bag, making sure the rest of the men couldn't hear. "Tommy wants everything to go ahead as planned." he told me, downing his drink before taking his revolver off the table and kissing Lily's head. She squirmed in my arms and I moved her so she was sitting on my other hip. "It'll be alright. Trust me." he assured me, kissing me deeply before putting a lit cigar between his lips and leaving the gated room.
I followed him out and stood to one side as he locked it back up. "Who are we?" he shouted, riling up the waiting men. "Small Heath Rifles!" they chanted back. "Let's go!" he told them, a grin in his voice as he shouted. He pinched Finns cheek as the men filed out, turning to give me a wink over his shoulder as he followed the shouting men with his brother. The room was oddly silent as he slammed the door behind him.
"Well, it's just you and me, babe." I smiled at Lily as the door opened from the kitchen. "Polly." I greeted. I think she was still angry at me. "What are you and Lily doing today?" she asked, going to the gated room and unlocking it, going straight for the safe. "Not a lot. Might go down to the Bull Ring and do a bit of shopping. What about you?" I asked, following her into the room. "I am going to the races, Evelyn." she told me, matter-of-fact. "Epsom?" I asked, incredulous. "Yup. I'm not going to let those men have all the fun." she told me, not looking up.
"I'm coming with you." I told her, shifting Lily on my hip. "It's no place for a baby, Evelyn." she told me, finally looking up at me. "I'll drop her off with Eliza on the way, she said she'd want a bit of practice." I told her, firmly. "I am going, Polly." I added. She watched me for a moment. "Well, you better get a nice dress on, my Evie." she grinned. "I've just got to drop this basket off for Michael then I will meet you at the station." she told me. I hadn't seen Michael since that day, telling Tommy that I needed a few days off from the offices and work. I nodded at her, unsure of what to say at the mention of his name.
Stepping into Epsom was like stepping into a completely different world. There were people everywhere and I quickly got separated from Polly who told me that she had some business to take care of before sauntering off. "Evie!" a familiar voice called and I quickly turned to be pulled into Adas arms. "Hey, Ada." I smiled as she pulled away from me. "You look amazing." she cooed, resting a hand on my swollen stomach. "Says you!" I laughed, looking her up and down. "Oh, shush." she laughed, brushing me off. "James, come meet Evie." she called behind her. "James?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at my sister. "He's my lodger." she told me, narrowing her eyes at me as I noticed the slender man walking over. "Is that what they're calling it?" I whispered before grinning at the man.
"Hey, I'm Ada's sister, Evie." I introduced, holding my hand out for him to shake. "James. Ada has told me a lot about you." he replied, shaking my hand. "Don't believe a word she says." I laughed, glancing at her from the corner of my eye. They both laughed as James released my hand. "Are you here with John?" Ada asked, looking around and trying to spot her brother. "Um.. yeah. He's around here somewhere. You know what him and Tommy are like." I laughed, dismissively. Over James' shoulder, I saw someone that I did not want to see. "You two better go and find a good spot to watch." I told the pair, bringing my eyes back to them. "Find that brother of mine then come see us." Ada told me, kissing my cheek before leaving with James in tow.
"Evelyn!" A cockney voice greeted me. I looked up into the face of Alfie Solomons. I raised an eyebrow at him, crossing my arms against my chest as he stopped in front of me. "What's with the face, eh?" he asked, searching my face. "Maybe the fact that you betrayed my family. A good man is dead because of you and my brother is in prison thanks to you." I replied, my voice steely. "Ah, come on, mate. That's just business, yeah. Nasty business we are in, love." he told me. I rolled my eyes at the man. "You didn't have to do that. You didn't have to betray us." I told him. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find my husband." I added, turning without giving him a chance to protest. "Goodbye, Mr Solomons." I called over my shoulder before ascending the nearby stairs.
The betting office upstairs was busy but she stuck out like a sore thumb and I couldn't help but roll my eyes as she approached. "Evie.." Grace started, worry in her eyes. "I don't want to talk to you." I told her, trying to push past her. "Evie, have you seen Thomas. I think he's in danger." she told me, holding my arm. "It's Tommy, Grace. He's always in bloody danger." I retorted, pulling my arm from her grip. "Please, Evie. I'm pregnant." She told me. "That's nice for you." I scoffed. "It's Tommy's." she added. "That was stupid of him." I replied, a hard look on my face. "I don't know what you are doing here, Grace, but I am not about to exchange pregnancy tips and braid your hair just because you're carrying Tommy's bastard." I told her, sternly before walking away from her.
I could see the fighting down on the track from the balcony. I quickly spotted John and Arthur. John had his arm around a bookmakers neck while Arthur burned, what I assumed was, the mans license. Even from where I stood, I could see the wild look in John's eye as he threw the man to the floor, kicking him for good measure. I tore my eyes away from the scene and saw Tommy sneaking off somewhere. I quickly followed him, pushing my way down the stairs and trying to keep track of where he was going.
I hung back when I saw three policemen grabbing hold of him. He went surprisingly calmly as I walked around the nearby stall to cut in front of them. Two of them were holding him while the other one was putting handcuffs around his wrist. His face was blank but I could see the flash of fear in his eyes as they started walking with him.
I caught Tommy's eyes as they were leading him away but I knew better than to say anything. "You're now a prisoner of the Red Right Hand." one of the men said, pushing him towards an awaiting car. I could see the panic rising in Tommy's eyes as they approached the vehicle. I stepped out from where I was standing. "Sorry, sir!" I apologised as I bumped into one of them. "Think I've had too many bubbles." I laughed, feigning drunkness. "It's okay, ma'am." He replied in a bad Irish accent, adjusting his hat and letting me have a good look at his face. "My apologies." I smiled, stepping to the side for them.
As soon as they walked passed, I spotted Finn. "Hey!" I shouted, walking towards him. "What are you doing here?" he asked, as I walked closer. "Why are you not with one of your brothers?" I replied, raising my eyebrows at him. "I was being the look out but I can't find any of them now." he told me. I searched his face for a moment. "Alright, let's go find John and Arthur." I told him, threading my arm through his elbow as we walked into the crowd.
"Well, isn't this fucking cozy." I said, as we approached the table where John, Lizzie and Arthur were sat. Lizzie and John were hugging but quickly pulled away when I spoke. "What the bloody hell are you doing here?" John asked, standing and gesturing for me to sit in his seat. "Why? Ruined your moment?" I asked, staying standing. "I don't see the same thing in your eyes as Tommy." Lizzie said, looking up at John. "You should get out. You both should." she told us. I glanced at John, raising an eyebrow.
"Where is Tommy anyway?" Arthur asked, looking around. "He's been put in the back of a car by some Irish." I told them, nonchalantly. "What? Where are they?" Arthur shouted, standing up and grabbing the tops of my arms. "Arthur, it's fine! I recognised one of them. I went to fucking school with him. He's a fucking Birmingham lad. Tommy will be fine!" I told him, looking into his eyes. "Trust me. Tommy may not know it. But he'll be fine!" I assured him. "Fuck sake, Evie. Nearly gave a man a fucking heart attack." he chuckled, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into his chest.
Later that evening, it was carnage in the shop. Our very own private Peaky Blinder celebration party. "I wanna fucking marry you." John slurred, wrapping his arms around me. "We are married, my love." I laughed, resting my hands on his forearms. "Oh, yeah. But I want to marry you again. And again. And again." he told me, his eyes twinkling. "And I want to have ten kids." he added, punctuating his sentence with a nod. "Ten?" I asked, my eyebrows raised. He nodded at me before bringing his lips down to mine. "I fucking love you, Evelyn Shelby." he told me once we broke apart. "And I love you, John." I replied with a smile.
"Well, all right!" Arthur shouted, bringing us both out of our happy bubble. We turned to see him standing on a chair and grinning at the room. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to raise a toast!" he told us, raising his glass. The whole room cheered and I got jostled into John. "Hey! Fucking watch it!" he threatened, pushing whoever it was that had crashed into us. "To the Small Heath Rifles." Arthur said and the room chanted it back. "To the Lee boys…" Arthur continued, a cheer went around the room, I quickly caught Uncle Razs eye who winked back.
"And to the Peaky fucking Blinders." Arthur finished, earning the loudest cheer of the night. Everyone downed their drinks at his words. John drank most of his before offering me the last mouthful which I gladly took, grinning up at him as he kissed my head. "Who's gonna stop us, eh?" Arthur shouted and another round of shouting went around the room.
A/N So that's the end of Season 2! What did you all think? Please leave a review and favourite :)