Disclaimer: See chapter 1 please
Chapter 5
Back in London Bill and Nancy sat at a table in the Three Cripples sharing a drink with Bet and Toby. The pub was crowded, loud music and raised voices filled the air, to say nothing of the smell of stale beer, sweat and other 'pleasant' odours.
"I got a line on a job Bill." Toby said quietly, leaning across the table, smiling.
"Yeah?" Bill said.
"It's a good one Bill and it's in the city too, it can all be done in a matter of minutes." He went on. "No traveling and ducking in an' out of old farmhouses and wot not."
"It's not a put-up then is it?" Bill asked.
"Naw. The gent that lives there is goin' away on business for a week or more an' the house'll be empty. It's chalk full of silver and gold."
"When's 'e leave?" Bill asked, refilling his glass.
"Tomorrow, so we can go in tomorrow night." Toby grinned.
"Alright then." Said Bill. He raised his glass which Toby then struck with his own. Nancy and Bet looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "The two of you couldn't find honest work, could ya?"
Bill glared at Nancy, warning her to keep her comments to herself.
"She's only kidding Bill." Toby said trying to distract the man, not wanting to see Nancy hurt. "This'll be a good 'un. You'll see."
Bill turned his attention to Toby and the two began discussing their plans for the crack while Nancy and Bet slipped off, not really wanting to know what the men's plans entailed.
"Bill's actin' a bit off today." Bet noted, looking at the man from across the pub.
"Yeah, he had a rough time up country the other day." Nancy said.
"Fagin said as much."
"He told you?" Nancy asked in surprised.
"Not directly, I 'eard him tell Toby." Bet answered, twirling a loose curl in her fingers.
"Well, did he tell anyone else?"
"Naw. He told Toby to keep quiet about it. He just wanted to let 'im know incase Bill was actin' weird on a job." Bet said.
Nancy leaned her head on her hand. "It's dangerous for too many people ta know about this sort o' thing."
"He giving you a hard time?" Bet asked.
"No more than usual." Nancy said with a shake of her head. "No more than usual."
It was well after midnight by the time Bill and Nancy got home.
"Fagin told Toby about the business in Shefferington, Bill." Nancy said, once they were inside.
"He would." Bill sighed. He was drunk, tired, and past the point of anger for a rare moment. He staggered over to the bed and collapsed on it, asleep the moment his head hit the mattress.
Nancy couldn't help but smile as she made her way over to the sleeping man. She pulled off his boots and hauled him all the way onto the bed, tucking him under the covers and placing a pillow beneath his head. She hung up his coat and new hat, which he had already managed crush when he passed out upon their arrival home. Bill groaned in his sleep.
"Nancy." He mumbled something incoherent, rolling over and reaching for her missing form.
"I'm comin' Bill." Nancy called to the man. She quickly threw some coal on the fire and crawled in to the waiting arms of the housebreaker.
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David met the cart driver the following morning, just as the first rays of sunlight were making their way over the tree tops, and they began the long bumpy trip into London. The man sat in the back of the cart, just as Bill had several days earlier, absent mindedly fingering the stitches beneath his pant leg. He soon occupied his thoughts with debating just what he would do when he found the man who sent his brother to jail, and most likely to be hung. The only thing he had decided on thus far was that it would not be pleasant.
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"Ow." Bill's mind was jolted into wakefulness by a sharp pain shooting up his leg.
"I'm sorry Bill." Nancy said, she had accidentally kicked the man while rolling over. "Are you alright?" She asked, laying a caring hand on his shoulder.
He shrugged it off and rolled away from her, burying his face in the pillows, half-heartedly cursing her overly large feet in jest.
"Now you just leave my feet out of this Bill or they'll be kickin' ya elsewhere." Nancy laughed, she poked at him playfully.
"There any food?" Bill asked drowsily, scratching his head and stretching out amoungst the tangled sheets.
"Are you actually hungry?" Nancy asked. "After all you'd had to drink last night I would 'ave thought the last thing on yer mind would be food this morning."
"And I thought ya knew me better than that Nance." Bill replied pushing her off the bed, smiling at the sound of her laughter. "Get busy."
Nancy stood and straightened her night shirt before going about preparing the morning meal. As she did she caught a glimpse of her reflection in a glass and went about straightening her hair. Bill rolled over in time to catch the last of these ministrations and smiled to himself, admiring how beautiful the young woman was. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind one ear and then continued on with getting breakfast ready. As she set the table for two she paused to push back the shabby curtain that covered the little window and the sunlight that streamed in caused her reddish blonde hair to glow in the most breathtaking manner. Bill pushed himself out of bed and walked silently up behind Nancy and grabbed her by the waist, kissing her neck.
"Oh Bill, your beard is tickling me." She laughed, pulling away slightly.
Bill laughed roughly and pulled her back against him, rubbing his beard of a weeks growth against her pale cheek. She slapped his chest before he captured her lips with his. They stayed that way for a wonderful moment before Bill broke it off. "What's for breakfast?"
