Criminal Royalty

New Shelby's

With both parties agreed, it was time for the wedding to commence. This time, John led the pack of Blinders through the campsite. As they approached the heart of the Lee camp, Thomas felt his heart pounding in his chest. The weight of responsibility bore down on him, and he couldn't shake the anxiety gnawing at his mind. This plan had to work.

The matriarch of the Lee family stood tall and formidable, her eyes sharp like a hawk's as she observed the approaching Shelby men. Thomas swallowed hard, knowing he had to perform his duty as the head of the family. He stepped forward, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves. Heaven forbid anyone perceives a flicker of weakness in him.

"Grandmother," Thomas spoke, his voice betraying a hint of uncertainty. "I hope our John is to your satisfaction."

The matriarch regarded him with a stoic expression, "Thomas Shelby, the deal was made with you, and only you. Your brother's presence changes nothing."

For once, his mind went blank. They had struck a deal! A pact to bring their families together in matrimony and finally put an end to their long-standing feud. John was meant to marry the Lee girl and find a loving mother for his children—a perfect solution, killing two birds with one stone.

Thomas tried to find a way out, to negotiate or argue, but the matriarch's words were firm and unyielding. It seemed there was no escape from the responsibility he had inadvertently bound himself to. Panic gripped him, and he turned to his brothers, feeling the weight of his failure bearing down on him. How could the plan have gone so terribly wrong?

John surprised him with his response. Stepping up beside Thomas, he placed a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulder. "Thomas is my brother, and we stand together as a family. If this is the path we must walk, then I'll walk it with him."

Thomas was taken aback by John's steadfast determination and loyalty. It was true; they were Shelby brothers, and they had always faced the world together. Despite his initial reluctance, John's words resonated with him. He knew that their family was at a turning point, and this marriage could mean the end of the feud that had caused so much pain and suffering.

But when John turned to address the matriarch directly, her expression remained stern, and she shook her head in disapproval. "No, this is not how it was agreed upon. The arrangement was with Thomas, and only Thomas."

Thomas felt his heart sink as he looked at the matriarch, realising that she wasn't going to accept John's proposal. He knew better than to argue. The same could not be said for his younger brother.

"I know you didn't agree to this arrangement with me in mind," John said, his voice filled with determination, "but I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to protect my wife and make her happy. Our families have shed enough blood; it's time to put an end to it. This marriage is the path to peace."

The matriarch's expression softened slightly, but she remained firm in her decision. "I understand your intentions, John, but the agreement was made with Thomas. It is he who must fulfill it."

Thomas felt conflicted. On one hand, the bones of the plan hadn't changed, and he knew it was a good plan; it had, of course, been his own. Yet, the prospect of being the groom himself had never occurred to him. He wasn't the marrying type. Unlike his brother John, he couldn't promise to make his bride happy nor keep her safe. He was a dangerous man, and the thought of putting someone else's happiness before his own unsettled him. Yet, he always put his family first.

As the weight of responsibility pressed down on him, Thomas took a deep breath, trying to quell the rising doubts. "Alright," he said, his voice steady, "Let's get on with it then."

Despite the internal conflict, he knew he couldn't back down now. This decision was bigger than his personal reservations; it was about the future of his family and the hope for a lasting alliance. He would honour the commitment he had unknowingly made and do everything in his power to make it work. Thomas was nothing if not a man of his word.

With determination in his eyes and a sense of duty in his heart, Thomas prepared himself to embrace a path he had never envisioned.

...

As they stood at the altar, Thomas tried to prepare himself for the unknown future. Little did he know that the surprise waiting for him at the other end would be the beginning of a new chapter—one that held the promise of love, peace, and a future he had never imagined.

He was there for what felt like an age and merely a moment at the same time. A million thoughts raced through his mind. Thomas was about to become a married man, a statement he had not thought would be true for a long time.

Then, the moment came, and Thomas turned to see Rose walking towards them, looking stunning in her wedding attire. Surprise and awe mingled in his expression, and he couldn't help but be captivated by her beauty. Her presence, so unexpected and yet so deeply connected to their family's destiny, left him feeling both anxious and strangely hopeful.

There was no denying he was drawn to her, perhaps even more than he cared to admit. Thomas had always found Rose captivating, her presence exuding a certain charm that had captured his attention long before this arrangement. She had a way with his brother's children, and even Polly had playfully suggested that she would make a good wife for one of the Shelby men. Little did they know that fate would twist their jest into a reality.

Rose seemed to embody everything Thomas found intriguing—her spirit, her wit, and her resilience—but at the same time, he couldn't shake the lingering suspicion he felt about her. He knew he was a dangerous man, entangled in a world of shadows and secrets, and he wondered if someone like her deserved better than the life he could offer.

Yet, here he stood, about to exchange vows with the woman who had stirred emotions and desires within him that he had long tried to suppress. As he looked at Rose, the conflicting emotions within him battled fiercely. Part of him wanted to believe that this union was a chance for happiness and peace, as John had suggested, but another part feared that it might be built on illusions and hidden agendas.

Thomas knew he had to push aside his doubts and give this a chance. The commitment he had made was for the greater good of their families, and he wouldn't let his own insecurities stand in the way of that. With a resolute determination, he vowed to protect Rose and make her happy, even if he felt unworthy of such a task.

Rose took her place at the altar, her eyes meeting Thomas's for the first time. There was a hint of vulnerability in her gaze, and Thomas felt a surge of empathy. They were both entering this arrangement with uncertainty, but they would face it together.

As they stood together at the altar, ready to embark on this unforeseen journey, Thomas couldn't help but wonder what the future held for them—a future that blended attraction, suspicion, and hope into a complex tapestry of emotions. Only time would reveal whether this union would be a fleeting entanglement or the foundation of a love story they never saw coming.

...

Even on such short notice, both families knew how to celebrate, and soon the fire was lit, and people were dancing and reveling with joy. Any thought of conflict was long forgotten amidst the merriment. 

It was an overwhelming sense of family that had Thomas Shelby turn to his Aunt and say, "You're right, Pol. Freddie should be here."

Polly Shelby raised an eyebrow, her eyes keenly observing her nephew. "Is that a heartbeat I hear inside that chest?"

Perhaps it was the sentiment that weddings brought out, or maybe it was seeing his pregnant sister dancing with his new wife. It could have even been an underlying desire to gain the approval of the newest Mrs. Shelby. Who knew? Emotions intertwined, and Thomas found himself caught in the warmth of the moment, where love and unity seemed to dissolve any lingering resentment.

As the night wore on, the festivities continued, and Thomas couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. He was surrounded by his family, old and new, bound together by this unexpected union. It was a moment of bliss, where the weight of responsibilities and suspicions faded, leaving only the celebration and the hope of a brighter future. And as he saw the smiles on his loved ones' faces, he couldn't help but believe that, in this moment, everything was as it should be.