The French in Birmingham 💌

Part Three 💌

That day Charlotte wandered down the dirty streets of Small Heath to the surgery. Truth be told Charlotte enjoyed her little walk down to the surgery each morning, she liked the time to herself and to prepare herself for the day ahead.
                  Walking into the surgery she was met with a bright smile off her new friend Marilyn. Marilyn was the same age as Charlotte the both were 20. Marilyn was a pretty girl with long brown hair and the most beautiful green eyes. Charlotte was often jealous of how immaculate Marilyn was compared to herself although she was often admired for her blonde hair blue eyes, Charlotte never felt as pretty as she actually was.

Marilyn was the first to talk to Charlotte when she joined the surgery and have been close ever since.. although it's only Charlottes second week in Small Heath- Birmingham the girl felt as though she had knows Marilyn for years and years.

"Hello Charlotte oh how i've missed you and it's only been a day!" Beamed Marilyn while squeezing the girl in a tight hug.
              "Hi Marilyn i've missed you lots too." Giggled Charlotte - "I've been meaning to ask you a question- uhm who is Thomas Shelby?" Hollered Charlotte.

Marilyn's smile was soon swept off her face and instead laid a serious worried face. This made Charlotte extremely confused. Did she do anything wrong? Did she say anything wrong?

"Dear god Charlotte we don't speak of the Shelby's when there's people around who knows who will report back to them. Meet me after my shift and i will tell you all about it while we have a drink at the Garisson." Hollered Marilyn.

With a smile both girls went off to work and before they knew it they were stuck back treating many patients.

Finally it was the end of both girls shifts and Charlotte waited for Marilyn puffing the smoke out of her mouth with the cigarette she had just lit. Marilyn then appeared and hooked arms with Charlotte and slowly walked through Small Heath down to the Garrison.

As soon as Charlotte pushed open the large doors to the pig she was met with the sound of laughter and people talking. Both girls walked over to the bar and sat on a stool overlooking the pub where a man named Harry gave the girls two glasses of Whisky.

Discreetly Marilyn leaned into Charlottes ear and started to explain to the girl who and what were the Shelby and the gang leader Thomas Shelby.

"Okay so the Shelby's are a family there's Arthur the oldest, then Thomas, then Ada, then John, and lastly Finn. Although Arthur is the oldest Tommy has the whits and so he is the leader. The Shelby's also have an aunt named Polly Gray her maiden name is Shelby so you also must be ware of her. The family leads a gang named The Peaky Blinders, all members of the Peaky Blinders wear a cap with a blade sewn into it and so if you ever cross them they will blind you with there caps.  Just please be careful Charlotte whatever you do you shouldn't speak to the Shelby's once they like you there's no getting away from them."

From this Charlotte was impressed with the Shelby's she wanted to know more. One part of her was nervous of the family but the other part was interesting. At the same time both girls downed there whiskey without a second thought.

As soon as both girls slammed there drinks diwn on the table with a slight laughter the doors to the Garisson burst open with thee good looking men standing side by side. All of a sudden the loud noise coming from all the people stopped and it was dead silent in the pub. Charlotte quickly guessed that these were the Shelby brothers and instantly recognised the middle man to be Thomas Shelby - the same man she met in her office back at the surgery days before.

Thomas Shelby have a quick glance towards Charlotte and quickly both men went into what seemed to be a snug. As if by a click of a finger all the loud noise retuned to the pub after the large doors to the snug closed shut.

About an hour went by of pure bliss. Charlotte and Marilyn joined in dancing together and just couldn't keep the smiles off of there faces. After the last song died down it was about 10pm. The doors to the Snug re-opened and out came the three Shelby brothers.
           One boy who looked slightly younger than Charlotte came over to both girls. With a toothpick in his mouth the boys offered a smile to Marilyn and then faced back to Charlotte.

"So what's a pretty girl like you doing in Small Heath?" Said the boy with a big grin.

"I recently moved here from France actually." Replied the girl. After a few drinks Charlotte wasn't bothered questioning the boy in why he was asking she was just rolling along with it.

"Ah no wonder i've never seen you around before. What's your name love? I'm John Shelby by the way." Offering a hand out to shake, Charlotte quickly offered her hand out to and shook the man's hand.

"My names Charlotte Blanchet, lovely to meet you John." Smiled Charlotte.

"Arthur. Arthur! Come over here and look who i've just met. Charlotte Blanchet from France she's just moved here recently."

Arthur looked considerably older than all the Shelby boys he was tall and had a bold moustache you could spot from a mile away.

"Hello sweet, my names Arthur Shelby  the oldest Shelby in fact.  What's a rich girl like you living here for?" Asked the older man while downing yet another glass of whiskey.

"Well my parents and brothers died not so long ago, my father and two brothers were in the war but later my father got into a rubbing with the wrong people and well they ordered a Vendetta to kill my family."

"How come they didn't kill you then." Winked John.

"My father was clever and never mentioned me in anything he ever did so no one knew who i was really." Answered Charlotte truthfully.

Quickly Marilyn cut in - "Charlotte! I'm going to head home before i'm here all night i'll see you tomorrow! Get home safe." Stumbled Marilyn over to Charlotte.
                   Charlotte nodded and ordered one more glass of whiskey before she herself would head home. Both men stayed with Charlotte for a while before leaving themselves to go back home.

Falling all over the place, Charlotte finally made it out of the Garisson and found herself digging in her pockets for her pack of cigarettes.  By now her makeup was all over the place the same as her hair. Charlotte sighed at the fact she couldn't find her cigarettes, when a cold hand touched the shoulder of Charlotte.