Gentleman

Chapter Fourteen

Tommy forcefully pushed Roselie into the drawing room, after separating her from the others "Ow Tommy, your hurting me" Roselie cried as she snatched her hand away from his right grip.

"You treat me like I'm stupid" Tommy snapped "I know you left the party early last night, and I know you paid Joseph King a visit..."

"It's not what you think" Roselie realised however she played this, the outcome was not going to be a good one "I...I had to see him, Alfie revealed something and..."

"What? What does Alfie know?" Tommy looked hopeful.

"Nothing, He doesn't know anything it was just hearsay" Roselie was quick to deny everything. The last thing she wanted was for Tommy to go marching around to Joseph's house and declaring war.

"So what happened afterwards?" Tommy asked.

"I came home" Roselie exhaled.

"And that's everything?" Tommy knew Roselie wasn't being completely honest, but he also knew how stubborn she could be and that pushing her for the truth would only have the reverse effect.

"Nothing happened Tommy" Roselie started to walk out of the room.

"Don't you want to know who could have done this? Who is threatening you?" Tommy asked. Roselie turned back to face him and smiled weakly.

"I've been threatened like this my whole life Thomas, usually it's from someone who wishes you dead" She then spun on her heels and continued out of the door.

"Roselie" Tommy spoke out "Just promise me you will be careful"

××××

Roselie found it difficult to sleep once she was in bed, it was like all her thoughts had flooded in all at once.

Suddenly her mind flashed back to the night she was arrested, the night Campbell violated her "I'll be seeing you" he said in his Irish accent. She got out of bed and found herself in Tommy's office "I need to see you, now" Roselie spoke and then ended the phone call with hast.

It was dark outside as Roselie walked across the courtyard and towards the trees that surrounded the grounds of Shelby Manor. Standing in the thick of the shrubs was Joseph "What is it Rose, you sounded scared on the phone. Is it Tommy? I swear if he's laid a hand on you..."

"No it isn't, He wouldn't...when I came home I found this?" Roselie handed the piece of paper to Joseph. He exhaled deeply and loudly and screwed up the paper.

"Campbell" He said between gritted teeth.

"But how can it be?" Roselie replied.

"How can't it be? He isn't likely to forget what you did? What you know?" Joseph touched Roselie's face "I'll deal with it, is that the only reason you called?"

"Yes" Roselie rolled her eyes as Joseph smirked suggestively "Not every meeting has to end in sex Joseph King"

"It doesn't? Well tell me where's the fun in that?" Joseph sulked "Come on Rose, you can't let me onto Shelby territory with letting me take advantage of you under your brothers nose" Roselie slapped Joseph's face hard.

"I'm not a fucking toy Joseph" Roselie spat "I'm not just here for your pleasure"

"I know and I'm sorry" Joseph reached into his jacket and pulled out a hand pistol "Here take this, I'd sleep alot better if I knew you had it with you"

"What about you?" Roselie took the gun and looked at Joseph.

"I like to think I'm a little more handy with my fists than you" Joseph laughed a little "Besides no-one coming after me"

"My brothers will be if you don't get outta here before dawn" Roselie grinned.

"Ooh I'm trembling" Joseph was amused by Roselie's threat "I'm serious now darling, please be careful. And perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to tell Tommy about Campbell"

"I will" Roselie replied, she kissed Joseph gently "Now go, before we both get slaughtered"

Joseph nodded and did as Roselie asked. She watched as he disappeared  through the other side of the bushes.

"Jesus Christ Rose" Johnny Dogs voice echoed from the distance "Gave me a fright you did, What are you doing out here in the darkness? You'll catch your death"

"I thought I'd lost my necklace" Roselie lied.

"And you came to look for it in the dark?" Johnny was a little slow, but he wasn't stupid.

"I couldn't sleep, I know it was a stupid idea I just..." Roselie replied quickly.

"Listen I know it can't be easy for you, being cooped up in this place. It's sort of like trading one prison for another...but Tommy is only doing what he thinks is best" Johnny tried to talk some sense to Roselie.

"For who..." Roselie replied sarcastically "I'm sorry I know you're loyal to my brother Johnny, but sometimes I think the only person Tommy likes to suit is himself"

×××××××

Roselie was sound asleep when Polly checked on her, she closed the door gently so not to wake her.

"So who do you think sent it?" Polly asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"I don't think it takes a genius to figure that out" John snapped a little "Campbell"

"He wouldn't dare" Polly replied "Would He?" she asked as she turned to Tommy "Would he be that bold?"

"Who knows" Tommy shrugged.

"Well perhaps you'd better find out then" Polly snapped "Because if it is him, then we've got a problem"

"How come?" Arthur hesitated.

"Because if Roselie finds out from Campbell that she went to prison so you could protect Grace...tjen We might just lose her to Joseph King afterall" Polly explained.

"But Rose has put him in the past" John said looking between Polly and Tommy "Hasn't she?"

"Not exactly" Polly sighed.

"Then why haven't we done anything about it?" John banged his fist on the table.

"Because we need to keep him close, And of that means letting him think he has Rose...then So be it" Tommy finally spoke.

"Christ Tom we really are all just pawns in your game aren't we" John snarled "First Ada and now Rose, they are your sisters Tommy not just whores on your pay roll"

"We're all whores for the right price John, or have you forgotten where your house came from" Tommy sniggered, causing John to retaliate by flying across the room.

"Alright that's enough stone throwing, as much as I hate to admit it Tommy's right. We need to keep King close..." Polly stood between both men.

"And what about Alfie Solomans?" Arthur spoke up.

"Alfie is part of the bigger picture borther" Tommy exhaled "Its best not to ask question about things you can't understand"

Polly was angered by Tommy's cold response to his brothers. But she also realised that Tommy did have a plan and keeping King onside, with Roses help was a massive part of that plan.