It was a few weeks after Grace's funeral and I woke up early, it was still dark outside and John was snoring beside me. I had the desire to go for a ride, despite the early hour. Laying awake and staring at the ceiling was doing nothing to fight the urges so I gently untangled myself from Johns arms and dressed quickly in some plain riding trousers, one of Johns shirts and one of his jumpers.
I could hear some of the maids outside and I bumped into one as I came out of the bedroom. "Please can you ask someone to prepare my horse?" I asked her as I scraped my hair up into a bun on the top of my head. "Ma'am, it's not even four in the morning yet." she told me, confused and looking concerned. "And I need my horse." I reiterated, "If that is an issue then I can prepare it myself." I told her, raising my eyebrow. "Of course not, Mrs Shelby. I'll make sure it is done straight away." she replied before hurrying away.
By the time I had found my riding boots and a coat, my horse, Phantom, was waiting for me. I climbed easily onto his back before looking at the waiting stable hand. "If I am not back by half eight please let my husband know that I will meet him at his brothers." I told him before tightening my legs around Phantom and urging him on. I think Phantom knew where I needed to go before I did as an hour into my ride I realised that I was heading towards Tommy's house.
The light was just breaking through the clouds when I reached the boundary of the manor house. I stopped for a minute, taking in the scene when I noticed smoke coming from one of the fields. I automatically knew that was where Tommy would be. I urged Phantom on, galloping towards the bonfire and the silhouette of a broken man. Tommy barely looked up as I slowed to a stop in front of him, climbing down off Phantom and walking to the man.
"Good morning, Thomas." I greeted, sitting down next to him and taking the cigarette from his mouth. I took a long drag from it before handing it back. Tommy was silent. "You been out here all night?" I asked, resting my shoulder on his. "I feel trapped in the house." he admitted, quietly. "Yeah, I know that feeling." I replied, gazing into the fire. "You're up early." he said after a while. "I feel trapped in the house." I repeated his words, fighting a small grin as he scoffed beside me.
"Can I rely on you, Evie?" Tommy asked after a long silence. I turned to look at him, frowning slightly. "Of course you can, Tommy. Whatever you need." I told him, looking into his icy blue eyes. "You're the only one focused on the bigger picture. John is a ticking bomb. Arthur is well and truly under Lindas thumb. Michael is distracted and Polly, well, she's Polly. I need someone with brains that I can rely on for everything." he told me, searching my face. "I'm here, Tommy. This is why I came back full time. This family and this business is going to shit." I replied, taking his hands in mine. "I need to tell you about the Russians." he admitted, still searching my face.
I don't know how long we were sat there but he explained everything that had been happening over the last few months to me. Everything with the Russians and Father Hughes. I stayed silent the entire time, nodding along to let him know that I was taking in everything that he was saying. "Fucking hell, Tommy." I breathed once he had finished. He offered me his half smoked cigarette and I took it, inhaling the warm smoke deeply before exhaling it back out again. "Now only Polly knows about the Russians and you know about everything and I want to keep it that way." he told me as I took another drag. I nodded, letting him know I would keep his secret. "You can trust me, Thomas." I told him, looking into his eyes once more. "Come on. Everyone will be here soon." I added, standing and taking one last long drag from my cigarette before discarding it and making my way over to Phantom.
The ride was quick, galloping until we reached the gravel driveway of the house. I could see Ada, Polly and Michael watching us from the window as we came to a gentle stop. One of his stable hands came to meet us, taking the reins of Phantom and Tommy's horse as we both dismounted. I followed Tommy inside the house, smiling in greeting to the trio watching us. "When did you get here?" Polly asked, raising an eyebrow at me. "A few hours ago." I told her as Tommy crossed the room. "I've already spoken to Evelyn. Polly, Michael." he said simply before going into his study and slamming the door.
Polly and Michael had been in with Tommy for about 10 minutes when we heard the cars pulling up. Ada and I had moved to the big fireplace, the roaring fire not doing much to warm us. I had taken off my muddy riding boots and borrowed some of Adas thick socks. My feet were propped up on a chair, angled towards the fire, as John and Arthur walked in. "Good morning, girls." Arthur greeted, kissing the top of Ada's head and then mine. "Morning." Ada replied, taking a sip of her steaming tea as John sat beside me.
"You were up early." He commented, rubbing his hands together. "Couldn't sleep." I replied, looking at him with a small smile. "Were the kids okay?" I asked and he nodded in response. "How's he doing?" Arthur asked Ada. "Not great. He's been sleeping outside, only coming in once Charlie is awake." She told him, shifting on the uncomfortable wooden chair. "He'll be alright. Just needs his family around him." I told them as John reached over and put a hand on my thigh. "You'll talk some sense into him, Eve. You always fucking do." John told me, giving my leg a squeeze as I heard the office door open.
"Right, let's go." Arthur said, standing as Polly and Michael walked towards us. The three of us were sat around the fire as Ada made tea. "Uh, we've already seen him." Polly admitted, gesturing to herself and Michael. Michael looked at the floor as Arthur and John looked at them. I shared a look with Ada as the boys both looked to her. "He wanted to see people in a particular order." she explained. "I can normally read him, but he's difficult to read, so be careful." Polly told them, walking closer to the pair. "I thought it was a fucking family meeting." John said, glaring up at Polly from his seat. "All of us together, I thought." he added, gesturing around the room.
"John, he's grieving." Polly said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "To see everyone together would be too much." she reasoned as he shoved her hand off. "Yeah, well, come on, John." Arthur said, patting his brother before walking towards the study. I watched John as he glared at Michael who was now standing behind me. "We need him back, Arthur." I called after the eldest Shelby. Polly nodded in agreeance as she turned to her nephew. "I've had Solomons and Sabini sending condolences and flowers." I told the room. "So it won't be long before they come trotting up the A1 like wolves." Polly added as John stood.
"Go on. There's a timetable./" Ada interrupted, walking past Michael and her brothers with a tray of freshly made tea in her hands. John looked at me before glaring at Michael. "Only good news." Polly called as John followed Arthur and Ada. "There is only good news, Polly." Arthur replied, without turning back.
It wasn't long before I could hear John shouting. Polly and Ada looked at me. "What?" I asked as Tommy started shouting. "They shouldn't be shouting at each other." Polly told me, raising her eyebrows at me. "For fuck sake." I muttered, standing and scraping my chair backwards. "Apart from Finn, I'm the fucking youngest. Why is it always me breaking them up?" I asked before storming towards the study. "Do this, John. Do that, John. Kill your fucking school teacher, John." I heard John shouting as I opened the door. Only Arthur noticed my presence as I stayed stood at the back of the room. There was a tense silence as John and Tommy stared at each other. Tommy looked away first. "This is how it's gonna be. Alright, listen to me. I'm glad you're here, Eves, to listen to this." Tommy told us, John looked over his shoulder at the mention of me.
"There's going to be a little war in a little place that no one gives a fuck about. And the side that is gonna lose needs a little bit of help. And they're willing to pay. When that business is done, legitimate business is the priority. Now, do what's on the list and fuck off." he told his brothers before sitting down. John sniffed, rubbing his face before turning towards me. I looked up at him as he avoided my gaze, leaving the room. "You go, as well, Eves. Keep them in line." Tommy told me, without looking up. "And when are you coming back, hmm?" Arthur asked. "I'm back, Arthur." Tommy told him. Arthur didn't seem to believe him but walked out anyway. I took a final glance at Tommy before following the eldest Shelby.
A/N What did you all think? How do you feel about Evie knowing about everything? How is she going to hide it from John? From Michael?