Chapter 117

Monday was tense. He posted a few men at Bullock Street, to keep an eye on the goings on, but the majority of the blinders were off at the races. It was their eighth one, and Tommy expected an imminent bone throw from Kimber if it went well.

It would be sod's fucking law of course that after seven races of everything going exactly as planned that this one would be the one when something would go wrong - and he had repeated himself a million times that morning to Arthur and John that it couldn't. They'd rolled their eyes, not concerned with his concerns before they'd headed off, looking too much like they were heading off on a jolly for his liking. They'd got cocky, thinking they'd been the ones who'd scared the Lees off from turning up.

They hadn't been of course - it was part of the terms of their ceasefire, the Lees stayed away from the races until Tommy wanted them there. When the time for the takeover came.

As long as they were allied by that point. As long as they were kin. He still hadn't decided what to do about Lizzie - but that was a problem for another day. He had other things on his mind now.

He'd been half tempted to go with them to the races, oversee it himself, but whilst he waited for news from Bullock Street, and with most of the men away, he didn't want to leave number six totally unguarded. Didn't want to leave the kids unguarded.

There was also part of him remembering what Rosie had told him, about giving his brothers responsibility, showing them he believed in them, giving them proof he thought them important, capable. Showing them he trusted them.

But, her advice and his worries about number six aside, he also didn't trust that Campbell would let Finn's file go missing without at least trying to retrieve it, even with the offering of the address to tide him over until Tommy was ready to hand back the guns. His mind was on Rosie most of the day, wondering if anything had been said at her work, if the files had been brought up, enquired after. He couldn't settle, so much so that at quarter past four he was outside interrupting the kid's games.

Lily looked a little worried as she came to him when he called her. He imagined the tension he'd been feeling all day had been in his tone - and that Saturday's events were fresh in her mind still, and she'd be more sensitive than usual to any signs of dissatisfaction on his part. For a while at least.

"We're going into town bab, we'll go get Rosie from her work," he explained, hoping to reassure her.

"Why?" she asked, her brows knitting in confusion.

She had two black eyes for her trouble of the weekend, and it was odd to see her with them and a wrinkled brow.

"Because it'll be nice for her," he replied, reaching for a cigarette.

"We don't go other days to get her from work," she pointed out as he lit it and inhaled.

"Well we're going today. Special occasion."

"It's not her birthday."

"I know, but we're going. Give me your hand," he said, holding out his free one.

She didn't refuse him, there was no resistance in her at all, but she still looked confused as she slid her hand into his.

"Finn!" he raised his voice, attracting his brother's attention from where he was, a little further down the street than Lily and the girls had been, his bike - scraped and dirty, Tommy noted - being passed around the other boys.

"C'mon," he said, nodding his head at the space on the other side.

"Where we going, Tommy?"

"To get Rosie from work," Lily answered on his behalf.

Finn wrinkled his nose.

"You putting that bike away before we go or…?" Tommy asked, raising an eyebrow and inclining his head towards where Isaiah was standing with it, watching Finn, waiting for him to come back.

"Do I have to go Tommy?"

Tommy gave him a look in place of a verbal response, not willing to argue about it.

He logically knew he was probably being ridiculous, that really if anything he'd sent Finn out to school that morning and that putting him in a government building was probably the most vulnerable place to put him. It occurred to him then that maybe yanking Finn out of school wasn't a bad idea. Keep him where he could see him. Though he could just see Rosie's face if he suggested it.

But she knew, more than anyone, didn't she? She'd been the one telling Lily she couldn't say anything at school for the past few years about the fact their mother had gone away, about them living alone, then about them moving to Watery Lane. She'd insisted Lily stay home that day, on account of the black eyes. Wanted to avoid any questions being asked. She'd understand his worry more acutely than most.

But if he took Finn, he'd have to take George - and Katie and the twins if he really wanted to be safe, even though they hadn't been involved in the railway nonsense, hadn't had files made to give any basis towards why they might be taken. But there was a reason Katie had gone to school too early, the reason she was ahead of Lily when she shouldn't be - cause putting them in school had offered John some respite. A precious few hours of the day to recover, to concentrate on their own business. And he still needed John focussed.

Rosie wanted to put Lily in one of those private girls only schools once she had legal guardianship. Maybe there was something in that. A school where the teachers were on the payroll of the parents - and of private donators. He liked that idea actually. A school under his control. One who would obey him before they'd obey the local authorities or the council.

But for now, they'd need to stay where they were. Maybe he'd have to set it up that someone watched the schools every day, watched for Finn or George or any Shelby kids really being taken from them. But for now, he wasn't for leaving his brother on Watery Lane whilst he went for Rosie and their other brothers were still out at the races. There were workers, men, in the house - and Polly of course - but irrational as it was, Tommy felt better about Finn being on the street only when he was in the house himself, only if he was there to be called should anything happen.

"You putting the bike in or what?"

Finn sighed, "Will we be back before dinner?"

Tommy rolled his eyes and nodded.

"I'll just leave it with the boys then."

The boys. Tommy almost wanted to smirk at Finn calling his little group of lads the boys, the same as Polly referred to him, Arthur and John. 'You and the boys go and get yourselves killed.' 'You and the boys go do as you like, why bother listening to me?' 'The boys will take care of it.'

He supposed it wasn't funny though, Finn would need to be one of them soon enough and, hard as it was to imagine the kids Finn ran about with now as becoming blinders, some of them would, in their time. Then they'd really be The Boys.

For now, their main job was taking charge of Finn's bike for the hour or so they'd take to get in and out of town.

He walked them the long way, making sure to avoid The Garrison, knowing Grace would be working with Harry that day since Arthur was away on blinder business, and they waited across the road and down a little from the council building, his grip on Lily's hand tight as he waited for Rosie to appear, only softening slightly when she appeared and spied them. She held his gaze for a moment, trying to work out if he wanted her to come to them there or whether she should walk on and let them follow as she had done when he'd waited for her the week before.

The latter was probably the safer option, and if he hadn't had the kids in tow he would have let her do it. But he knew it would confuse them too much, so he inclined his head and pulled at Lily, starting to walk to the end of the road, leaving Rosie to follow them this time, though the baby's shouting of Rosie's name and confused turning against the way Tommy was trying to pull her to look back at her sister probably rendered it a pointless exercise.

He gave up and released his hold, letting her run back to her as they reached the end of the street, and Rosie hugged her tightly, crouching down to kiss her forehead and her cheeks and ask, "How was your day sweetheart, were you a good girl? Did you stay out of the shop for Aunt Polly? How's your nose?"

He watched with a tender swelling in his heart as Lily answered all the questions, filling Rosie in on the small details of her day, then the redhead straightened up, took her hand and came to him and Finn, repeating the questions and getting Finn's less expressive, "Aye, fine," in place of Lily's babbling.

Rosie laughed and ran her fingers through his hair, resting them at the back of his head as she said, "Nothing much to say on it then, suppose that's the best you can hope for sometimes, hmm?" Before she turned to Tommy and asked, "And yours?"

He nodded, "Boys aren't back from the races yet but the shop's been going smoothly enough. Yours?"

She nodded, understanding the real question, "Fine. Good actually. Nothing out of the ordinary in a worrying way. Flowed smoothly enough too. And I think I managed to intervene on a case enough to stop a kid getting referred to the reform."

"Good," he nodded, relief flooding him, "That's good. Well done you, eh?"

She gave him a small, slightly bashful smile and nodded. They had another day in the clear. And it sounded like she'd actually got to do something for once that wasn't sorting files. He'd ask her about it in detail later. Let her know how proud he was of her.

For now, "Home then?"

Rosie shook her head, "I need to go to the shops - need something for dinner and it's Monday so there'll be new comics out."

Tommy snorted, but was happy enough to lead their little group out of the business quarter and towards the row of shops where the butcher, the greengrocer and the newsagent were located, Lily holding one of his hands and one of Rosie's, jabbering away, Finn loping along beside them.

"Shall we go in here then whilst Rosie gets what she needs for the dinner?" he suggested to the kids, steering them into the newsagents as Rosie made to join the queue of women at the butchershop, all of them there for their evening meal's main component.

He let his eyes linger on her for a minute, enjoying the sight of her engaged in her domestic tasks as he always did, so that he ended up being pulled into the newsagents by Lily rather than being the leader - and Finn was already through the door, standing eyeing a poster that was tacked up behind the counter.

Tommy released Lily to let her scamper off to the shelf where the comics were and followed Finn's eyes, wondering what had caught the boy's interest.

'Friday 4th November. Alexander Welsh vs Cormac Irvine. Bullring Boxing Ring. Tickets starting at 1 shilling.'

That was that coming Friday.

Finn had had the sense not to bring up boxing again since the events of August - when Rosie'd screeched at them all in the kitchen over the mess Finn, George and Isaiah had made of themselves with their boxing demonstrations and he'd hissed at them that there would be no lessons.

But he supposed the kid had done well to keep his peace for a whole two months, and he expected the match to be the end of that peace.

Still, Finn glanced at him, saw him watching him and followed Lily over to the comics without saying anything and when they got back to Watery Lane, the kids surrounding Rosie as soon as she came into view, greedy hands outstretched for that week's dose of stories, Finn went back to the boys and his bike, his own comic rolled up in his pocket, still without having actually asked the question.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

"Hope you've got something good for us tonight Rosie-girl!" John crowed as he came into the kitchen, crossing it to where she stood at the table, rolling pastry, putting his arms around her from behind and hugging her.

Tommy raised an eyebrow from his place standing against the sideboard.

"I hadn't made anything at all for you, you daft lump," Rosie grinned over her shoulder, "Don't you think I've got enough going on here?"

"Ah Rosie, don't be like that! We've been working all day!"

"Aye, so you have!" Rosie laughed, "I could smell the beer on you from the second you walked in the front door John Shelby - nevermind the fact I'm near enough drunk myself on the passive fumes from your breath now. Funny line of work you've got."

"Did it all go well then?" Tommy broke in to ask.

John grinned at him over Rosie's shoulder, "Easy as pie. They've all started staying away since the first few, they know we're the protection now."

"I hope you waited until you knew they were all away before you hit the bottle," Rosie said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oi you!" John clicked his tongue, his eyes still sparkling, too pleased - too drunk - to really be bothered, "You behave and mind your tongue or I'll be telling that Tommy you're needing your arse skelped."

"I think you'll find that Tommy might agree with me that it's a valid question," Rosie replied, giving him an amused look, "From a business point of view."

He lit a fresh cigarette and returned her smirk before nodding at John, "Agreed. It is a valid question."

"Rosie!" John moaned theatrically, "If I didn't think he'd cut my hands off, I'd smack your arse myself for being so mean."

"Asking if you handled the business properly - soberly - doesn't much count as mean in my book."

"You should be concentrating on women's business, Rosie girl," John said, releasing his arms from around her to gesture at the table of food, "Not on the racing business."

"Oh is that what you think?"

"It is," John nodded, drawing himself up and attempting to look serious, managing for half a second then laughing, "And I think you've plenty of food - so if you are going to be concerning yourself with racing business you can get congratulating me on a job well done with some of it, eh?"

"I've plenty of food John Shelby because I have a meeting tomorrow night so I'm planning to make most of tomorrow's dinner tonight and put it in the ice box, it's not spare," Rosie said, smacking at his brother's hand as John tried to lift a potato from the table - though what his plans with a raw potato were, Tommy wasn't quite sure.

"Tom - you seriously going to let her treat me like this? You seeing this abuse?" John said, lifting his smacked hand and shaking it in his direction.

"It'll teach you not to interfere with women's work, eh John boy?" Tommy smirked, catching Rosie's eye and winking.

"And what about her interfering with mine, sticking her nose in where it doesn't belong, eh?"

"If there's one thing I've come to learn about women John, it's that their noses go everywhere and there's little in a man's power to do much about it."

"Once upon a time there was plenty he'd say could be done," John told Rosie, "You've turned him all soft."

They were saved from having to answer by Arthur banging the front door open, clattering it off the wall and bellowing rather than singing, "There's tinkers and tailors and soldiers and all! Wae, hae, blow the man down!"

Lily's delighted giggles reached their ears - though as Arthur appeared in the kitchen, Lily being tossed up and caught as he continued the song, "They all ship for sailors on board the Black Ball! Give me some time to blow the man down!" Rosie looked suddenly less than amused and shot him a look.

"Alright Arthur," Tommy said, straightening up and going to him, putting his hands to Lily's waist, trying to pluck her off him, "Maybe don't be picking the kids up and throwing them around when you're merry, eh?"

Arthur looked grieved and hugged Lily tighter to him, "She's safe with me. Aren't you, precious?"

Lily pouted at Tommy and clung more tightly to his elder brother.

"Maybe sit down at least," he conceded, "And no tossing her about."

Rosie didn't look very convinced as Arthur yanked out a seat, almost knocking it to the floor in his enthusiasm, then plonked himself down on it, swinging Lily around so she could sit on his lap, but she didn't register any further protest, just asked, "Seems like you've had a good time too then, eh?"

Arthur grinned, then looked at the food she had been preparing before the interruptions, "You got any spare dinner going Rosie, eh?"

"No! I'm just done telling this one the same!" Rosie exclaimed, indicating John by bending her elbow back into his stomach.

"I'm just done telling Tommy he needs to give this one a good smacked arse," John grinned in response, "He's gone all soft."

"That he has," Arthur laughed, "Eh Lily - gone all soft our Tommy."

Lily frowned, not quite sure she was ready to agree to that from the looks of it, but before he got to interject, realising Rosie probably didn't want any chat about her arse getting smacked happening in front of her sister who needed to view her as an authority figure, Katie's aghast voice piped up from the doorway, "You can't give Aunt Rosie a smacked arse, she's a grown up!"

"Where did you come from?" John roared in delight, "Hiding until you needed to tell us what we can and can't do, eh? A proper little woman you're becoming Katie girl, eh?"

Katie snorted and looked to Tommy, giving him a similar amused look to the one Rosie had given him when John had first arrived.

"C'mere," John said, sitting down on his haunches, wobbling a little and holding his arms out for Katie, who thought about it for a second before she went to them, though she couldn't hide that an ear to ear grin as wide as her father's was spreading across her face at the attention.

Tommy's eyes flitted between his brothers, his niece, Lily and Rosie, and he walked around the table, whispering in her ear as John and Arthur struck up some new line of conversation, "You got enough to feed them all?"

She raised an eyebrow, "Like I said Tommy, yes - but my plan was to prep tomorrow's dinner tonight so it was just a matter of getting it in the oven before I need to go."

"Your Council of Women Civil Servants, eh?"

"That's the one."

"So you can tell them how you saved a kid from going to the reform today, hmm?"

She smiled, unable to help it it seemed, but tried to downplay it, as was her way, "I'm not sure the kids are their main objective, it's more the recruitment and advancement of women."

"Well, we'll be celebrating it. So why don't you feed the lot of them tonight and tomorrow night I'll bring in fish and chips and I'll see if I can get some sort of a special cake for you, eh?"

Rosie gave him a knowing look, then looked to the others, deep in conversation about nothing, Lily giggling at something Arthur had said, Katie looking pleased to be being hugged in at John's side.

"Ah Thomas Shelby, feeding this lot and getting me fish and chips. You really are going soft, hmm?"

"Whilst we're waiting to hear from Bullock Street, I reckon keeping us all as close as possible is a good idea," he retorted, then, glancing to Lily, checking she was still entranced by Arthur, he lowered his voice even further, murmuring in her ear, "And don't you be joining in with their nonsense or you'll get a reminder that I very much can give out a good smacked arse - even if you are a grown up."

Rosie blushed, shook her head at him and focussed on her pastry again, looking pleased.