STORM 🚬 PEAKY BLINDERS [on hold]

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ANGEL

A Shelby family wedding was always a... colourful affair. But a wedding between a gypsy and the niece of a Kings Royal Calvary solder was not a typical one in the Shelby name. For one, it was in a church, something Grace's family had insisted on when she announced that she and Thomas were to be wed. Something most believed should've happened before the birth of their son, Charles.

And so, while one side was filled with prim and proper Calvary boys and their dutiful housewives, the Shelby side was all Peaky Blinder. Like night and day, opposite in almost every way, each side judged the other. Grace's side watched in despair as Polly smoked, a smirk on her red painted lips as Arthur's Christian wife, Linda shared a smile with her husband, while John tried to soothe his crying newborn, another one added to his and Esme's already impressive brood who were waiting eagerly for any sign of their aunt. Finn messed around with Isiah and the Cook twins, earning a scold from Ada who compared them to Karl (who was much better behaved) while Michael talked quietly with Jack, a slight smile on his stoic face. They were all despicable in their eyes, dirty gypsies the lot of them. Not to mention their black priest.

As her uncle steered their horse drawn carriage to a stop outside the church, Grace turned to her maid of honour with a shaky sigh "I can do this, right? Become a Shelby once and for all."

Clara gave the blonde a stern look as she grabbed her hand in hers "You can do this because you're already a Shelby."

Grace smiled, giving a determined nod before she took her bouquet from the girl and allowed her uncle to help them both out. Making their way into the foyer, Clara fixed Grace's violet, lace veil in place, the same colour and material as her own bridesmaid dress and a perfect contrast to the lilac satin the bride wore, before taking her place outside the double doors just as the choir boys began their rendition of In The Bleak Midwinter.

"In the bleak mid-winter, frosty wind made moan, earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone. Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak mid-winter, long ago."

As the door's opened, Clara made her way down the aisle, flowers in hand towards Thomas who's lips twitched up softly at the sight of her. Holding back a sigh, Clara gave him a single nod before taking her place to the left of the altar where Arthur met her gaze from behind Thomas and gave her a wink "Bloody beautiful, Princess."

Clara's lips twitched up in the same manner Thomas' had before the traditional wedding march began and her attention was drawn back to the doors just as Grace appeared, her arm slipped through her Uncles.

"Here comes the fucking cavalry," John muttered around a toothpick "late as usual."

As she was reluctantly let go, Grace moved to stand before Thomas who smiled as he lifted her veil just as Jeremiah began "Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today to join together in holy matrimony Thomas Michael Shelby and Grace Helen Burgess. Do you, Thomas Michael Shelby, take Grace Helen Burgess to be your lawful wedded wife?"