The Return [T. Shelby || Peaky Blinders || Shelby's Girl Book 2]

- 11 -

Esme was alone in the betting shop getting ready for a day's work when there was a knock at the door, "We're not only for winnings yet!" Esme called out.

"I'm here to see Thomas and Astella Shelby!" May called out from the other side of the door causing Esme to look over at the door and walked over, she unlocked and opened the door then May walked over to the door, "I have an appointment," May said.

Esme stepped aside and nodded into the shop, "Come in," Esme said as she let her inside, and closed the door behind them, May walked further into the shop and looked around while Esme walked around her and stood in front of her with her arms folded.

May looked at her before offering Esme her hand, "May Carleton," May introduced herself.

"Mr and Mrs Shelby have their proper meetings in their other offices... Usually Mr Shelby's," Esme said.

"Well, this was the address that Astella gave me," May said.

"She gave you this address?" Esme asked.

"She said it was a gambling den and the place she grew up... We went to school together," May said.

"You know Astella?" Esme asked.

"Oh, yes... I told her that I'd always wanted to see a gambling den since I'm always reading about them in the papers. Quite the big scandal in the Telegraph lately and see the place where she grew up considering what she's like... Protective of Natasha enough to use her body in different ways and still be... Remarkable," May looked around and sighed, "Anyway, she said I could come and have a look," Esme looked her up and down causing May to feel awkward, "And now I feel a bit of an idiot because I'm early and they're late and I have no idea how to behave," May said.

"In a gambling den?" Esme questioned.

"I'll wait in the car," May said as she turned to leave.

"If I open the door again, they'll all want to come in. Like flies..." May looked at her, "Look, Astella and Thomas are late because they found out their son is alive," Esme said as she walked over to the table.

"I'm sorry?" May asked.

"Astella will probably tell you," Esme looked at her, "So what are you?" Esme asked as she continued to get the den ready for the day's work.

"Wh...What am I?" May stammered.

"To Astella and Thomas?" Esme asked.

"I'm Astella's school friend and I'm going to train Mr Shelby's racehorse," Esme looked at her, "For Epsom," May said.

"You know horses?" Esme asked.

May looked at her, "Yes... You?" May said.

"Born riding," May nodded as she continued to look around, "I slept in a manger when I was a baby," Esme said.

"I was born riding too," May said.

"Is that how you met Astella?" Esme asked.

"In a way... She was crying in the girl's lavatory at Oxford, she gained quite the reputation for herself," Esme looked at her, "Whenever I saw her, I saw a strong girl who wasn't afraid of the consequences of what she was doing. But that day... Gosh... She looked so fragile... She told me hated who she was, and I helped her change how she was known then we connected over horses. I invited her and Natasha over to my childhood home and the three of us spent the weekend with the horses and I got to know them both... Not the girls who slept with everyone to keep a roof over their family or to protect the other... But the girls who they truly were," May said.

The door to the betting shop opened and John walked in, "There's a fucking great Riley parked out there and nobody's watching it," John said as he walked further into the shop and noticed May.