𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐃 ᵖᵉᵃᵏʸ ᵇˡⁱⁿᵈᵉʳˢ

41

Lottie sat braiding Rory's hair, watching as Isaiah sat drinking with Reggie and Ronnie.

"It's nice to finally see you both" Lottie stood, Aurora at her feet. "Amen" Ronnie nodded, pushing his glasses up. Reggie smiled down at Rory and outstretched his arms which Rory willingly ran in to.

"Nice house this, when did you get it?" Reggie asked, sitting Rory on his lap. "When i first found out i was pregnant" Lottie nodded, sitting beside Isaiah.

"John had given me money for my birthday, used it to buy the house"

"Well it's fucking lovely, it is," Ronnie said, his cockney accent stronger than usual. His head looked around the room whilst they sat.

"So then, how's Arthur getting on?"

Isaiah looked at Lottie, laughing at her sudden annoyed expression. "Found a religious woman, Linda she's called" she leaned back, crossing her arms. "Right prick" she nodded.

"Is he still a mad man?" Reggie asked. "It's Arthur Shelby, Reg, once a mad man, always a mad man" Siah said.

Reg looked down at Aurora who was tugging at his sleeve. "Youse getting married then or what?" Ronnie spoke up.

Isaiah and Lottie looked at each other. "Soon" she nodded.

"I always knew" Reggie started, looking at them, "ever since you were fourteen, Lott, and when Siah was fifteen, i always knew you'd end up together"

"And look where we are, you have a child, and a house together. I was right, i was fucking right" He laughed, shaking Rory as he lifted her into the air.

Despite Rory being two years old, she didn't talk much. A sentence every now and again. But not a lot.

"Fucking right" Rory repeated the boys words and Lottie's mouth fell open. "Aurora Rose" she scolded.

Isaiah covered him mouth, hiding his laugh, checking his pocket watch. "It's getting late, shouldn't she be in bed" he asked.

"I'll call Francis, get her too take her up" Lottie groaned, taking the small girl from Reggie's arms.

Francis, one of their many maids.

"Francis" she called out, walking to the main room. "Yes Miss Shelby"

"Would you mind taking Rory up to bed, we have guests over" Lottie asked politely. "Of course" Francis nodded, taking the girl.

-

Tommy checked his pocket watch, sitting across from the priest, Hughes. "So will it be just boys in your charitable institution or girls as well" the irish nan asked.

"Both"

"You must divide them" the priest told him. "You know how the little creatures can get"

"Where are your people? You said they'd be here by five" Thomas huffed.

"They are law unto themselves. You can never quite grasp who they are. Like gripping wet soap"

"I've done me research" Tommy tilted his head. "Perhaps you know them as the, uh, Economic League" Hughes suggested. "Only once did i get a letter from them headed 'the vigilance committee', which tips the hand a little"

Tommy clicked his tongue. "No" he shook his head. "The name i've heard is Section D"

"That's what special branch calls them" he continued. "Business men, MP's, army officers"

"Yes, it will be fun to bring such men to a Gypsy scrapyard" Hughes mocked. Thomas scoffed. "You asked for privacy,"

"Since the election, the government has decided that we are the enemy" Hughes stated. "When all we are trying to do is save the country from revolution"

"Are you political Mr Shelby? Because these Odd Fellows believe that the time is coming soon when everyone must choose a side."

"Are your people coming or are they not" Thomas asked, frustrated.

"Mr Shelby, you will learn that these men are far too grand" He laughed, "For the clock to govern them"

"You'll get used to meeting in the small hours of the morning. They're like monks"

Tommy avoided his gaze.

"So when is your charitable institute opening?" he asked. "When i fucking say" Tommy nodded.

"Well, i'll stop by from time to time. To hear confession from the little creatures." The priest nodded. "You'll meet Mr Patrick Jarvis, MP. He'll probably want to become a trustee. It's just his thing, to drop by in the evenings after a few drinks"

"We'll make it a formal arrangement as a bigger part of the deal between us, i will have an office there"

Tommy cleared his throat, standing up and placing a chair facing away from him. "My god, some devil gets into you doesnt it boy" Hughes mocked.

"Mr Shelby, if i want to play the squire in your place of false charity, then i will. Ambition for respectability doesn't make you a saint. Am i wrong?"

A bell tolled, interrupting him.

"Oh lord, that's 6.00 is it?" Hughes sat forward. "Well, i wish you a good day"

"Where the fuck are you going?" Tommy questioned, stopping him in his tracks. "Did i not make it clear? They said if they weren't here by morning prayers, then the meeting has been canceled"

"Perhaps Mr Jarvis has been held up at the house of commons. Perhaps a admiral Halls been held up at the house of lords. Am i impressing you?"

"Or perhaps they have decided they don't care for doing business with Gypsys in scrap metal yards, which would be a poor outcome for you"

"You give then my message from me, Priest" Tommy looked down. "You tell them i've been to the factories, and the armoured vehicles are in good condition."

"How many?" Hughes asked. "Twenty Seven"

"And the foreman is ours"

"This is someone you'll meet, today at the Ritz" he handed Thomas a piece of paper. "I have meetings today"

"You have one meeting, this one" he corrected. "In London, so you'd best catch the milk train"

Tommy sat in silence as the man walked away, his blood boiling, He didn't like the priest one bit.