Grace was waiting for Florence when she arrived home, she'd forgotten about their meeting to go through the charity ball their charity was holding.
"I'm sorry Grace, there was a family meeting" Florence hugged her
"I wasn't invited" Grace said suspiciously
"It was about the company" Florence explained.
Grace had been very keen to keep herself out of the businesses affairs. She had learnt enough from her time undercover investigating them, she preferred to stay away from it and be a mother. But recently she'd taken on the running of the Shelby Institute, Tommy had wanted to be seen to be giving back to the poor. So Grace and Florence jointly ran it together, but it was mostly Graces baby. Florence didn't care for fancy dinners or socialising with the rich, it felt uncomfortable to her as it was so fake.
"Every person I invited has RSVP'd I've had to change the caterers five times" Grace said spritely, the dinner had been her idea to invite the wealthiest of Birmingham together.
"That's great" Florence sighed trying to be interested
"Am I boring you?" She muttered, rolling her eyes at Florence
"No I just have a lot on my mind"
"You sound like Tommy"
"I guess I do" Florence sighed, feeling like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders
"What are you going to wear? Arthur bought me a beautiful sapphire"
Florence smiled, that sapphire had been given to Tommy as payment for his work, she'd refused it as she didn't want to wear anything connected to Tatiani. She hated that woman with a passion, the sooner their business was concluded the better. She had wanted to throw the sapphire in the fire, but Tommy must have taken it away before she had the chance to. Anyway it would give her an excuse to visit the jewellery quarter and pick out an eye wateringly expensive necklace.
Tommy seemed flustered the next night he came home
"Florence where's the baby?" he breathed running upstairs
"He's upstairs, Tommy what's wrong?" She hissed chasing after him into the nursery where she found Tommy rummaging underneath Charlies pillow. He pulled out a card for a funeral company with RIP Charles Shelby written, he showed it to her gravely.
"What the fuck is this?" She demanded quietly not wanting to wake the child
"I deviated from the plan, we can't see Ada anymore" He sighed
"They are threatening our son now? You need to end this now"
"I can't, I told you it's Churchill planning this"
"Well until it's done our child will not be sleeping alone" She lifted the child out of his bed and carried him into their room.
The dreaded dinner had arrived, it was the last thing Florence wanted to go to, she hated leaving their son behind. Tommy promised her he'd be safe, Johnny Dogs and the Lee's men had moved into the house for the evening and Johnny would personally watch their son. She reluctantly agreed to go, she needed to support her sister in law after all, she just knew it would be hard pretending that everything was fine when her own child had been threatened. But she knew that Johnny was a good man and wouldn't allow any harm to come to their son.
Her gown was over the top, she'd let Grace order it for her as she was busy it was navy blue with plenty of sparkle. The matching headpiece was equally ridiculous.
"Florence! You look beautiful isn't the dress perfect?" Grace beamed, Florence sighed
"Go on, act normal" Tommy urged pushing her forward and he left in the crowd
"Isn't it wonderful?" Grace grabbed her arm and pulled her into a circle of people.
"This is Mrs Shelby, Tommy's wife she and I are co-chairs" She introduced Florence to a group of people. Florence nodded and smiled shyly, she grabbed the nearest champagne flute she could. If she had to attend this she may as well not do it sober.
Later in the evening when she re-joined Tommy she noticed he tensed as he saw a priest
"Who is that?" She asked
"No one you want to meet, I don't want you caught up with him. Go to Grace"
From the tone of his voice she knew it was best to listen and ask questions later, she noticed Tatiani and she decided instead to mess with her.
"Hello whore" She smiled
"That's no way to address a duchess" She looked her up and down.
"I won't be kissing your hand"
"You aren't wearing your sapphire?"
"No, I gave it away. I hated it"
"Good, it's been cursed by a Gyspsy. You'll never see me wearing it."
Florence knew that she wasn't joking and she pushed her way into the crowd were Grace was stood
"Grace take off that necklace" She muttered, loud enough for just Grace to hear
"Why?"
"Well…this is a charity dinner… you can't be seen to flaunting your wealth"
"Then take yours off"
"I will, but please just listen"
"No, you're just jealous that Tommy doesn't bring you home lovely things"
"Grace, stop. Please listen I'm trying to help you"
Tommy joined them
"Is there a problem?"
"Yes I was just saying it was immoral to wear such an expensive necklace at a charity dinner" she pulled him closer and whispered "That Russian bitch just told me a gypsy cursed it"
Tommy stepped forward "Grace, listen to me, take it off"
"Why Tommy?"
"Do you trust me?"
"Well yes."
"Then listen to me"
Grace reluctantly took it off and passed it over to Tommy who placed the necklace in his pocket. They relaxed now the danger seemed to have passed, Florence kissed Tommy on the cheek and he pulled her close.
"Florence I love you" He whispered "I can't wait to get you into bed later"
"You can have me Thomas Shelby"
Their embrace with Tommy was stopped abruptly when it felt like her ear drums had burst, her chest felt like it was bursting open with pain. She looked down to see a hole in her chest and blood started to trickle her world turned to black as she heard Tommy scream
"Call a fucking ambulance!"
