𝑳𝑨 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑼𝑺𝑬

𝑻𝑹𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬

♱♱

𝟑𝒓𝒅 𝑷𝑶𝑽

Tommy jotted down in countless papers sprawled around his desk, his mind being more at ease as the betting den was quiet. It was hours before lunch so any men that would usually be placing bets were still working in the factories, it was the slow hours.

During this time Tommy intended on catching up on any business he had missed or needed to be finish but a voice stopped him from doing exactly that.
Polly entered his office, with that same serious look on her face anytime she had to speak to Tommy about ain't.
"Tommy come speak to me in the kitchen, important." Polly didn't ask but more so was telling him to do so and Tommy knew it was important to do what she said.

"A lady came up to me today after mass saying her husband had seen Thomas Shelby draggin' a young black girl out of Bandits Roost Theater." Polly says turning to look at Tommy.
Tommy acknowledged that his Aunt Polly was in her usual spot, by the stove as she was fixing tea for the both of them. That meant this was going be a long serious conversation.

"Didn't take you as the type to gossip Pol." Tommy nonchalantly says taking a cigarette out as he sat down at the table, making Polly scoff at him. "So what did ya say to this woman once you learned that?" Polly poured the both of them tea before she took her seat across from Tommy at the table, arms crossed and a serious look on her face.
"Told the woman to mind her bloody business and worry 'bout her drunk of a husband who spends his wages at peep shows." Tommy chuckled knowing his aunt would say something like that.
"Why were ya dragging Salomé out of that place?" Polly wasn't dumb, she knew something was up between the two.
"She was supposed to be singing at the Garrison, only doing my job."
"Don't fucking lie to me Tommy." Tommy knew it was no use in lying to his aunt but it was worth the try.
So he took a sip of the tea and a puff of his cigarette before he told his aunt the whole truth.
"I didn't want her in scum like that."

"What are you two Tommy? Are you courting her or what?"
"Something like that." Tommy nods lighting his cigarette earning a laugh from Polly.
"Thomas fucking Shelby is courting the church girl." Miss Polly laughed saying those words as it was unbelievable for her nephew to be courting any woman.
"Yes I am, does it matter?" Tommy sat back in the chair with waiting for Polly's answer.
"Who knows this 'bout you two?"
"From what I assume, only the cousin Clara." Tommy didn't need Salomé to tell him that Clara knew their secret, it was obvious with the way Clara acted when Tommy took Salomé out of the burlesque. "If yer wondering, the other cousins and family does not know." Polly scoffed as she sipped her tea.
"If they knew already then Salomé wouldn't be in contact with you." Polly knew Salomé's father wouldn't allow his daughter to be with Tommy, no father would let their daughter be with a gangster.
"That is why Alphosine mustn't know." Tommy was clearly telling Polly that she couldn't tell her close friend Beatrice about Salomé and Tommy's relationship.
"Don't worry not my business to tell." Polly shrugged. "Keep it in the shadows for too long and Alphosine will find out, then it won't be so pretty Tommy." Polly would've scolded Tommy for getting involved with a girl like Salomé, but she knew it was inevitable. No matter how many times she told her nephew to leave the innocent church girl alone, Tommy was going to keep going back to Salomé. He was attracted to the girl for some reason, Polly had a hunch why he wanted Salomé so much but she kept it to herself, for now at least.
"Invite her to supper this evening." Polly said standing up from her seat in front of the fireplace. "I want to see what you see, and it will be best we were in on this secret we don't need Arthur or John saying anything in front of her cousins." Polly believed that if the whole Shelby family knew about Tommy being with Salomé then they wouldn't have to raise suspicions and not risk her family finding out.