The French in Birmingham 💌

Part Two 💌

A few weeks went by of Charlotte working at the surgery and going back to work at the market on a Sunday.
Charlotte very easily could not work at all because of her parents fortune and the fact that now she now had all there money was an even better excuse to not be working. The problem was Charlotte craved work despised the thought of waiting around all day and doing nothing.

Back in France Charlotte lived in an expensive chateau with her two older brothers, her parents, three big dogs and maids all around, after her parents and brothers died the house was passed down to her but the girl couldn't bare the thought of living in the same home she once lived with her parents in. Charlotte left France for a new beginning.
Charlottes father was a wealthy man he was a high class lawyer but after a while he got involved with a very dangerous and popular gang named 'The Bonnot Gang'. After Antonie (Charlottes father) got into a bad running with the gang leader 'Jules Bonnot', he went out and assembled a Vendetta for the Blanchet family.

The Bonnot Gang successfully murdered Antonie and his dear wife Arielle and later found the location of Charlottes two older brothers Alexandre and Hugo.
Thankfully The Bonnot Gang never knew that Antonie and Arielle had a young daughter, so that was the end to the vendetta so Jules Bennot thought.

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Going back to work on the Monday was all Charlotte had planned that day . Usually it was just drunken men who got into fights or in fact men who were struggling with PTSD from the war who usually visited Charlotte. Charlotte knew the regulars well by now and always expected them to arrive.

By now it was getting dark and Charlotte only had a few more hours to go, the girl re-applied some lip balm and makeup and cleaned up her offers ready for whatever mystery man was next, or it could very well just be a regular drunk.

Walking into the  room was a tall man with a long heavy coat and a grey cap that sat perfectly on top of his head. You could see a blade tightly sewn into the man's cap with precision.
                     Charlotte gulped down the lump in her through. The man's cap covered the majority of his face and you could only faintly see his smooth lips.
"Hello" exclaimed Charlotte in a kind voice, "how can i help you" questioned Charlotte.

Before Charlotte could even ask another question the mysterious man grabbed her wrists and pulled her close making sure no one was around.
"What are you doing, please, please get off me!" screeched Charlotte.
Rapidly the man put his hand over Charlotte mouth in effort to shut her up. This however worked and Charlotte quickly calmed down.

"Who are you and what are you doing in my town" Said the man in a stern rusty voice.
"Why should i tell you? Ive never met you before, should i be scared of you?" Replied Charlotte with fear glistening in her voice.
The man quickly let go of his grasp and was beginning to leave when he turned around. His sharp jawline was evident and by now you could see his blue eyes. His eyes were like no other blue eyes you have ever seen, his eyes lured you in as soon as you saw them they were blue like the deep dark ocean.

"The names Shelby... Thomas Shelby and yes.. yes you should be scared of us."

Us, Charlotte thought who on earth was us. Charlotte quickly pushed herself off of the wall and dragged out a cigarette she had been deeply craving for all day long.
The poor girl scurried home and forgot about the rest of the night she had to work at the surgery grating patients, she just wanted to get him and be safe.

Later that night all Charlotte could think of was 'Shelby' who or what was Shelby? She repeated the name over and over and over again and decided that the next day she would ask one of the other girls who worked at the surgery what on earth was a Shelby and most importantly who was Thomas Shelby and also why should she be scared of them? No one ever mentioned for Charlotte to stay clear of a Shelby or in fact a Thomas Shelby so that's why the girl was so baffled.
Charlotte barley slept the rest of the night worrying the man would come back to her but a full bottle of whiskey after she finally nocked herself to sleep and slept the rest of the night only to be awaken early by the sound of the factory workers nearby. With a great sigh Charlotte set off to work and was ready to ask the girls who in fact was Thomas Shelby.