Chapter Text
"I am a busy man, Mr. Shelby. Is your friend able to join us or not?" Aberama Gold paced around, impatiently, in his office.
Michael was standing straight and looking around nervously at his cousin. He was the one who had been in charge of making an appointment with the man. Where was he?
"Tommy, I said four o'clock sharp." he told him.
Releasing a puff of smoke from his cigarette, Tommy said, "Don't worry, Michael. You know as well as I do that Alfie has always enjoyed making an entrance."
"Frankly, Mr. Shelby, I am very surprised at how relaxed you seem to be, under the circumstances. And to see that Shelby Company Limited is doing business at a time like this." Aberama said, watching as Tommy occupied himself with documents upon his desk, his spectacles perched on his face.
"If you're referring to the vendetta, you know as well as I do that we are still pursuing a truce, just as long as Luca Changretta has my brother and I have his mother. The Company needs to thrive, and I am more than eager to share your proposal with Mr. Solomons."
"Still…it's very brave, Mr. Shelby." Aberama responded almost with admiration, but Tommy was not fazed.
Looking up from his papers, he eyed Aberama sternly and stated, "Do not forget the part that you play in this vendetta, Mr. Gold. Unless you would rather have our partnership end right here and now. You just keep in mind that I helped your son, as I said I would. He is now a champion as well as a Peaky Blinder. Your riffle and that of your other friends belong to me."
At that moment, Lizzie stepped into the office and announced Alfie Solomons, as well as Goliath. Neither one of them looked too happy to be present, but curiosity struck the Jew, especially since he saw who else was in the office.
"Tommy, ya know, mate, I enjoy our talks but not to the point of me being summoned like a dog."
"Close the door, Lizzie." Tommy ordered and the secretary did just that.
The looks that Bonnie Gold and Goliath were giving one another were of pure hatred. Goliath had taken the defeat hard the last time. And with Bonnie Gold being a Peaky Blinder, he had plenty of power behind him to make sure that the Jews don't dare exact revenge for the disrespect endured.
"So…what are you up to this time, mate? Make it quick, will ya?" Alfie asked, his eyes wandering over at Aberama Gold, quizzically. He saw that the gypsy assassin was smiling crookedly.
Leaning back in his chair, Tommy took the cigarette from his mouth and put it out. "Alfie, we appreciate you accommodating us today. Goliath." He greeted both men.
"As you can see, I have Mr. Gold and his son are here with me again. The results of the match pleased them. But now, they have come to me with a different kind of proposal."
"Hm? And what's that?"
"A rematch between Bonnie and Goliath here, ensuring Bonnie's win. The match will of course be fixed this time, ensuring that Bonnie wins. After witnessing this miracle boy right here win the last time, the whole of Birmingham will be betting on him this time. We ensure the win, take the profits and split the rewards evenly between the three of us. So, what do you say, Alfie?"
"I say you're a brilliant fucker there, my friend, but bad timing as always. Ain't you supposed to be thinking about them wops coming back?" Alfie responded almost immediately.
"As I have already explained to Mr. Gold here, yes, I am in a vendetta. But the truce is still going and I am not about to cancel all my business dealings just because there is a fuckin' Italian out there who wants to kill me. Do we have a deal or don't we?"
Tommy was getting impatient. He expected Alfie to give him a hard time. But Alfie had other plans.
"Alright. But I ain't accepting no deal without a negotiation. You want this nephew of mine to endure humiliation once again without his own fuckin' choice. I'm gonna need a forty percent profit."
"Thirty-five."
"Thirty-eight." Alfie snapped his counteroffer.
Aberama Gold was ready to protest, but Tommy said, "Done." and instructed Michael to draw up the papers, specifying the percentage of the shared profit off the betting, and nothing in regards to the fact that the match would be fixed of course. Alfie smirked, knowing what the leader of the Peaky Blinders was up to. Tommy's mind was not on this. The business needed to thrive yes, but when your ass was on the line, other kinds of deals were important.
"Pikey, you leave us alone now, would ya?" Alfie asked Aberama, all the while staring at Tommy. He was looking for a private meeting, one to which Tommy agreed instantly.
"Michael, please escort Mr. Gold and his son to Lizzie. Make sure the papers are signed and filed. Have two bottles of our fine whisky given to them, on the house of course."
As soon as Goliath was made to leave as well and there were only two people left in the room, Alfie decided to get cocky.
"You're making me red in the cheeks, mate. Giving away a percentage like that."
"The business of Shelby Company Limited continues to thrive despite the circumstances. But you got it right, Alfie. I wanted to get you here for a whole different reason."
"You still got doubts I'm on your fuckin' side, eh? What kind of friend you think I am?"
"May Carleton. I heard you entered into business with her. You're breeding horses now, eh, Alfie?" Tommy asked, not believing the latter information that came from his own mouth.
There was silence in the room, as Alfie was taken off guard. That didn't happen too often. He thought the discussions would be about his role in the vendetta, not the woman he recently met.
"What's it to you, Tommy?"
"I don't want her involved in this."
Alfie let out a laugh, shaking his head, "Ya know, Tommy, it's not your fuckin' business who I spend my time with, is it? The Lady Carleton is now my good friend. If I wanna spend time with her, I will."
Tommy eyed his Jewish friend darkly, which only fueled Alfie to continue this discussion.
"Alright now, the way I see it, right, you're fuckin' jealous, mate. Heard that pretty lady caught your fancy once or twice, but you didn't choose her, did ya? You married someone else." Pointing a finger at Tommy, Alfie continued with an accusatory tone, "And now, you got your own Russian duchess big with a brand-new kid, and an Eyetie up your fuckin' ass and ya come to me with all this shit, are ya? Well, fuck you!"
Tommy eyed him silently before softly saying, "Tatiana is not a part of this conversation."
"Not a part of this conversation, eh?"
"I happen to know May Carleton very well, Alfie. She doesn't appreciate the non-legitimate dealings. She doesn't get involved, and I don't want her to. She's a good woman. She's smart, but she can't handle this. Whatever you have going with her, put an end to it."
"But heard you got her invited at your party, now didn't ya?" Alfie accused.
"For the precise reason to warn her." Tommy argued.
"Nah, I think you still got…"
"Got what?"
"Tommy, you are a mad fucker, that you are, mate. Thinking about women and parties at a time like this."
"This is my town, Alfie. My town. When the Italians return, I will be ready. You just remember what we discussed, and do your part. This rematch will be beneficial and give us the opportunity to do just that. It will take place after Luca Changretta returns."
"And…uh…do Pikey and his son there know about this?"
"No. This doesn't concern them. You keep in mind that there are parts of my plan that only you know about."
"Yeah…" Alfie replied softly, with a small smile.
Their private conversation during that Christmas party sure made the Jew even more interested in his dealings with the Peaky Blinders. A brilliant mind this Tommy Shelby was. But also, mad as hell.
"Alright then. That's that." Alfie said and stood up. "I'll see you at this party of yours. I'll be wanting one of your own bottles there, just to see how much better mine are."
With the first genuine small smile to cross his face, Tommy nodded, "Alright, Alfie."
…
Back at Polly's, the remaining members of the family were buzzing about like bees, preparing the annual family New Year's party. But of course, because of Tommy's plans, the party was no longer for just the family.
Tatiana was doing her part as well, contributing to ideas for the decorations. But she wrinkled her nose when she saw the result. Despite all of the talks they've had, Polly and Ada had done things their way. "The Brum way" as they called it. She realized what they were doing, trying to push her away from the so-called traditional values she had known growing up. But this was not about different values or cultures.
"I simply have better taste." she had told them with a small smirk, making Ada role her eyes.
No comment left Polly's lips, but she did eye Tatiana up and down in a rather threatening manner. The former duchess did not bat an eye. She was not afraid. And Polly knew perfectly well the type of life Tatiana had been accustomed to. The Shelbys would never reach that level of class, regardless what they did.
In any case, they have made it clear that if she planned to stay in Birmingham, she had to start acting less like a royal duchess and more like an ordinary Brum girl. And this family party should be a good start for her, according to Polly.
Tatiana tasted one of the cookies and frowned, nearly spitting it out. These people were hopeless. Clearly, she was going to have to do more than chip in. And they would accept her help, whether they liked it or not.
Turning around at the footsteps she heard approaching the kitchen, Tatiana saw Marie Kimber entering the kitchen, holding a glass of whisky in her hand, looking like she truly needed it.
"That woman upstairs has grown a rather nasty temper, mind you. I was only trying to offer her some comfort. Dear God, she nearly spat in my face." Marie said, staring at her glass and then emptying it in one gulp.
This act was pissing Tatiana off, since she hadn't tasted a single drop of alcohol since she got pregnant. Even when she was determined to get rid of the baby, there had been something stopping her from causing the fetus any harm through her actions. Now she was starting to doubt if she was ever actually planning to abort the baby. Damn sentiments.
"I would not bother with the Changretta woman. She is lucky she is still alive." Tatiana responded and threw away the rest of the bland cookie she hadn't bothered eating.
Marie looked towards her and offered a small smile, "How are you doing?"
"I am impressed that the Shelby family is throwing a party in the middle of a war." Tatiana stated, earning a chuckle from Marie.
"I was thinking the same thing. But I suppose that with other people outside the family attending, Tommy wants to ensure that his alliances are intact before those damn Italians return."
"Then why is May Carleton invited? As far as I know, she is not an ally." Tatiana asked, since she couldn't help herself.
She saw the list of people invited on Polly's desk, and she wasn't too happy to see that one name written down. What business did that woman have with the family?
Marie furrowed her eyebrows. "Is she? Well, that is quite interesting. I'm guessing we will find out then."
"Yes, we will." Tatiana nodded in agreement and took a seat at the kitchen table. The desire to have a drink just to take the edge off was surrounding her once more, but she ignored it just as any good mother would.
Marie took a seat as well and noticed the way Tatiana's gaze wandered over to the bottles of whisky and gin spread across the kitchen table.
Leaning forward, Marie covered her hand with hers and said, "Not to worry. It won't be long before you have that little bundle of joy and you will be able to continue enjoying the simple pleasures of life."
"You think drinking is a pleasure?" Tatiana asked with a smirk. She had been thinking of a whole lot of other things she could once again enjoy without the discomfort of having a full-blown belly.
"But of course." Marie responded quite seriously. "I used to do a lot of this when I was married to Billy. Drink, get my mind focused on business so that I could ignore his beatings and cheatings."
"My father used to introduce me and my sister to strange men all the time. He was using us for his own benefit. It was customary in our country for fathers to do this with their daughters." Tatiana explained with a touch of sadness when thinking about her younger sister, Alyona. She would have enjoyed England, had she still been alive.
It was well known in their family that Alyona liked simplicity, while Tatiana would settle for nothing less than grandeur. If her father would have survived the revolution, she knew that she would have killed him eventually. To show them off like cattle to men the same age as him, just so he could profit, was something unforgivable.
Marie rubbed her forehead, revealing, "It is not only in your country, you know, but here too. I was practically sold as a wife to Billy Kimber by my own parents when I was only eighteen. You should count yourself lucky that you are this age and you haven't been sold to a man."
"I would have been if the revolution hadn't happened." Tatiana replied, almost in sorrow.
"Well, it looks like there is good and bad in everything that happens to us. At least you are able to have children." Marie replied with a gentleness Tatiana recognized. She was trying to get to be her friend. The former duchess normally didn't do friends unless it benefited her.
In this case, Marie seemed genuinely nice, and Tatiana wanted to hear more.
"What do you mean?"
"Although my marriage with Billy was sour, that doesn't mean that he hadn't tried to get me with child. Many times. No luck. It is highly probable that I am unable to carry children. I was always too afraid to go to the doctor for this."
"Why?"
"Because I was always afraid of a confirmation." Marie admitted.
While Tatiana felt bad for the woman, the conversation was turning too mushy for her tastes. Clearing her throat, she decided to move on to a subject which interested her a whole lot more.
"So, you know the woman…May Carleton. Who is she?"
"Yes. We did some business a while back. Her husband died in the war, and she has been quite lonesome since then. She is rich, a successful racehorse trainer and she has influence in high places." Marie explained, and noticed the way Tatiana's eye twitched at the information.
"I don't think you need to worry. He doesn't seem interested in her."
Tatiana looked into her eyes and shook her head, a somewhat small grin on her face. There it was again. Sentiment. Women always believed that this was what it would always come down to.
That didn't mean that she didn't feel any sort of irritation when it came to this May woman forcing herself into Tommy's life whenever it suited her. She understood the type. Wealthy but bored. And if she had influence, she could try to buy Tommy's affections. She could very well try.
Tatiana did have a possessive streak, and she had experience handling women who wanted to take something of hers. She and Tommy may not be together but she was in his life for now. What the future held for them, she had no idea. But this May woman would not be a part of it.
Shaking her head, she looked Marie straight in the eye and whispered, "I am not worried."
At that moment, Polly poked her head inside the kitchen and scoffed, "What are you two sitting and babbling away for, when you should be helping with the decorations?"
She immediately gave Tatiana a stern look, as if daring her to say anything about them. The former duchess said nothing, out loud at least. The smirk on her face said more than enough. The decorations were still sub-par compared to what she was used to as a member of the Russian nobility.
Marie, the ever peaceful one, and realizing that she really needed to pitch in since she had more than overstayed her welcome, responded, "I am sorry. We will be there soon."
…
The private Shelby New Year's party was of course a rather solemn occasion, compared to other years. No one present was truly in the mood to join the festivities. The Lees hadn't been at all happy to hear of the party taking place only a few days after Esme's death. They refused to attend, which convinced Tommy that he could not count on their support. John was sulking in the corner, drinking and refusing to talk to anyone. Tommy was tired to see him in this mood.
Outside the family, the people who had arrived for the occasion were Alfie, of course, Aberama Gold and his son, the Brum Boys, as well as May Carleton. There was of course one person in the house who had not joined this little gathering.
"I would have preferred you let me parade her around like a prize." Polly said, while Ada handed her a drink.
"Despite our reputation, we are not barbarians. Let her drown in her sadness upstairs. She is a prisoner, and treated as such until we get Finn back." The Shelby sister responded wisely.
Tatiana made her way over to them and Ada greeted her with a pleasant smile. "And how are you doing? Fitting in nicely?"
"Not really. Everyone here is drinking except for me."
"Oh, cheer up! It can't be all bad. I know these are not really your kind of people but you could do worse." Ada replied, pointing over to the Brum Boys who were laughing and drowning themselves in alcohol.
Marie wasn't all that happy about the behavior of her recruits either, but her leadership skills have been put into question, and she had no desire to start a mutiny. Not now. Not when she was depending on the protection of the Peaky Blinders.
Joining the little lady group was Arthur who said, "The Lee boys ain't showing up."
"Because of Esme." Ada replied, saddened.
"Well, that was expected. The bad news is that we can't count on them when the time is right. We have to put our faith in Aberama and the Brum Boys." Polly told them, taking a puff of her cigarette.
"What about Alfie Solomons? He's here." Ada countered.
Looking her over, Polly gathered her sense of reason and "Tommy has something going on with him. Refuses to tell me what, for the moment. I really hate it when he is keeping secrets."
"He mentioned somethin' about Al Capone, when we went to see him." Arthur told his aunt, suspiciously.
"I know about that. But I can't see how any dealings with that guy is going to keep us from being killed."
"Tommy knows what he's doing." Michael insisted, making both Arthur and John roll their eyes. Always the faithful puppy. Michael was grateful to Tommy for bringing him into the fold, and that hadn't changed even when he faced the gallows.
Tatiana looked around the room, trying to locate the man in question, and sure enough, he was right there, in discussion with none other than the Lady Carleton herself. Their conversation seemed to be pretty intense and Tatiana was more than interested to find out what they were discussing.
Excusing herself from the group, Tatiana made her way over to the refreshments, taking a seductive bite of one of those disgusting cookies, just when she realized that one of the Brum boys was watching her.
With her eyes on the Brummie, her ears were one hundred percent focused on what was being said close to her.
"I am very sorry that you can't seem to enjoy the holidays properly." May was saying, a sad smile on her face.
Tommy shrugged and responded softly, "I do what I can."
"Even at the Christmas party in Norfolk, you seemed…distant. Alfie didn't want to tell me much about what you're planning. Would you like to share your plans with me now?"
"What is your relation to Alfie?" Tommy asked her, ignoring her own question.
"We were just thinking of doing some business together. We happen to get along nicely. Why do you ask?"
"It is my job to know everything that happens in this city."
"Because it is yours?"
"What?" Tommy asked in confusion, apparently thinking that she was referring to something else entirely.
"The city. It's yours?" May clarified.
"Yes, it's mine. You know that."
"And, is that ever going to change?"
"What are you asking me, May?" Tommy downed the rest of his drink and stared deeply into her eyes. He knew this game. They played it before.
"Will this ever be different?"
It was as if she was asking with a sense of longing. She wanted him back, that's why she came to Birmingham. The great capital of London no longer seemed to interest her when she found out that Thomas Shelby was back on the market.
Tommy chose not to respond, but the answer was in his eyes. The thrill of the underworld was always pulling him back in no matter how many times he tried to reach the surface. He promised his family, and then his wife that his business would be one hundred percent legitimate one day. But that day never came. And it was as if Tommy knew at that moment that it never would.
Sighing, May put down her drink and leaned closer to him, whispering, "You…have lost your wife, and now you and your family are in great danger. I thought it would make you different, but it doesn't seem to change you. Nothing seems to change you."
"Then why are you here?"
"The truth? You're unlike any man I've ever met. And I want you despite everything."
Tatiana let out a chuckle and shook her head. She hadn't turned around to watch the scene unfold. She had only listened quietly. The way she had been throwing herself at him was pathetic. After not hearing any response from Tommy's lips, Tatiana turned around.
Sure enough, May was left standing there, her lips pursed and she looked like she was deep in thought. Tatiana couldn't help the smirk that graced her lips, as she munched on another one of those cookies with deep satisfaction this time. The taste didn't even bother her. She was just happy to see that Tommy was not fazed by this woman.
Turning her head to her side, May noticed Tatiana for the first time. With a small smile, May decided to come over and greet her.
"Duchess Tatiana."
"Hello. You are the horse trainer, no? Sorry, I think I forgot your name." Tatiana explained with a fake smile, as she took another cookie.
"May Carleton."
"Ah, yes. So, are you enjoying the party?" Tatiana asked, acting as the hostess, even though she obviously wasn't.
"I have found something that interests me, yes." May responded, the same type of smile on her face.
"Oh. But, he left, didn't he?" Tatiana cut right to the point, and May looked almost surprised at her forwardness. Tommy was the only one who had gotten used to Tatiana's way of not beating around the bush and saying things as they are.
"To talk business, yes. Unfortunately, I didn't come here to talk business."
"No. You came here to buy something. But you see, even I know that there are some things that can't be bought."
"Such as…?"
"Love."
Tatiana didn't believe that she was saying this. She knew that it was something her sister, Alyona, was always used to saying. But not her. For her, everything in life had been a transaction. Maybe that is because she had been used by her father and by her uncle in business deals far too many times.
"I remember having this kind of conversation with someone else before. But the one I was speaking to was someone who had a far greater chance to win."
May continued speaking even though she noticed Tatiana eying her darkly.
"I find that there are some men who are far more attracted to women of power. Women who have something to offer them. Despite his choice in the past, I am still convinced that Tommy Shelby belongs in this category. While there was a good amount of competition in the past, I am very confident that I can have him now."
"I think that people like Tommy need something more than influence."
"And you know what he needs, duchess?"
"Since the moment I met him. He needs understanding. Someone to accept the good and the bad. He doesn't need changing. He doesn't need to choose a woman who will get him allies. He can get that on his own. His wife didn't benefit him, and yet I saw how much he loved her. If he wanted you, he would have taken you by now. But he doesn't."
"Well, we'll see."
"Yes, we will."
They could have left the conversation at that. Tatiana had more than kept herself under control up until the point when May decided to go further.
"Do forgive me for how this sounds, Duchess Tatiana, but for a woman of your standing, I would have thought you would have a bit more…"
"A bit more what?" Tatiana dared.
"Class."
Cocking her head to her side, Tatiana let out a laugh. The outburst surprised May, so much so, that she looked around, curious to know if anyone else noticed it.
Crossing her hands over her chest, Tatiana's face was graced with a pleasant smile but what she was about to say wasn't so pleasant. And with each word, she was taking steps closer to the horse trainer.
"It is funny. There was a woman who a long time ago, back in my country, told me the same thing. At the time, my father was content to sell me off to whichever man he wanted to do business with. The same happened to my sister. The man my father introduced me to was older than him. When he tried to touch me at a party, I slapped him. It was, of course, embarrassing for him because it was public. And then, his sister came to me, and had the nerve to tell me the same thing you did. You want to know what happened?"
Tatiana was now standing face to face with May, not quite the same level since the duchess was taller. Something like this shouldn't have intimidated May, but it did.
"What happened?" May asked quietly.
"I got a knife and cut off her ear."
…
Emilia hadn't wanted to show up at the house uninvited. After the incident at the Christmas party, although John wouldn't relent, she was sure that the Shelbys resented her more than ever. For a while, she was also afraid that they would get her fired from her job. If that happened, she wouldn't be able to fulfill her duty. But Jeremiah convinced them to give her another chance.
Her mother was now safe, no longer threatened by Luca. But she was with Al Capone's men. She had to do what they said and provide information. It was the only way to keep John alive.
Luca's return would mean the end of the period she had to figure out how to get out of this shit. Emilia was not an idiot. She knew what Luca was capable of. She knew that her peaceful time in Birmingham was ending. But at least she managed to get herself the protection she needed from the beginning, for herself and her mother too.
Emilia should have realized from the start that the Peaky Blinders would never protect a Changretta, no matter what she meant to John. And John…she knew of his hatred for Italians. When he found out, God only knew what would happen.
She would survive now, and so would her mother. Of that she was sure. Al Capone was a big fish in the States. Even Luca avoided him. But what was her future? Would it be forever tied to the Chicago Outfit? What about John?
The party was modest and unlike the Christmas party, there were only people of the so-called underground. Jeremiah and his son Isaiah told her she had nothing to be afraid of. That part hadn't been very comforting.
As soon as she arrived, she locked eyes with John, who was looking more miserable as each day followed. His sudden outbursts made it almost impossible to talk to him. If only she could tell him everything…Maybe she should just get it all out in the open. At least the weight on her shoulders would be lifted.
At that moment, one of the Brum boys put a hand on her ass, something which caught John's eye immediately. Emilia didn't have time to say anything before he was on the guy, beating the living daylights out of him.
"John, stop!" Tommy ordered, and Arthur managed to pry him off the Brummie.
They were allies, after all. Important allies.
While John was being calmed, Emilia noticed the elder woman of the family approaching her. Aunt Polly Shelby herself.
"Hello, dear. I don't believe we've had the proper introductions."
Before Emilia could respond, Polly shook her head and cut her off. "Everywhere there's trouble, there you are. Whatever is going on between you and John…he doesn't need this right now."
"I never meant to cause any harm." Emilia insisted.
"I believe you. But you have. John is distracted. He has been from the start. And now there is trouble coming for us all. You need to leave."
The woman was right, of course. Maybe she needed to keep away from him until this whole thing blew over. But would he just stand aside and let her? He knew where she lived.
"You're right." Emilia nodded, surprising Polly.
But the conversation had no time to continue, as Charlie Strong and Curly were in the room in seconds, disrupting the party. Charlie was holding a paper with something scribbled on it.
"Tommy! There's news. Changretta is only a few hours away from Birmingham. He's coming for his mother."