Peaky Blinders. One shot and imagines

Never the twain - Part 2 - Tommy x Reader

(Y/n) sighed for what felt like the hundredth time since she had arrived at the racecourse. Her eyes rolling as she did her best to ignore Charles, as he blathered on about whatever it was talking about, by her side. When her mother and father had informed her that she would be spending the day at the races, she had been quite happy about the idea, believing that the outing would be spent with them; but as she made her way down the long staircase, she had stopped, her heart sinking as she saw a grinning Charles. Her mother smiling at her as she had finally continued her decent. Informing her that the tall, mustachioed man would be the one to escort her. (Y/n) then aware of what her parents had been up to. Also knowing that she no longer had a choice but to go along with it. It far too late to pretend that she was unwell. Charles offering her his arm and escorting her out to his car.

During the drive she had spoken very little. Her eyes set on the rolling countryside beyond the window, as Charles did what he usually did, and spoke about himself. He had always been like this, her father and his father had been friends all their lives, and whenever they would come to their home, Charles had been forced on her. (Y/n) doing her best to read in the library as the young man had rambled on and on about something and nothing. Doing her best to do anything other than have to spend time with him. But her best efforts always seemed to be thwarted by her mother and father.

She had always known what her parent's intent was, what the two families wanted, and that was a marriage. But no matter what they had planned, (Y/n) had no intentions of marrying Charles, no matter what happened.

It was true that others saw them as a perfect match. She was the only child of an Earl, and Charles was the oldest son of a Viscount. He was quite handsome in his own way, and she had been informed that she was considered a beauty, and a pairing between the two would ensure the smooth passage of her father's titles. But try as she may, and she had tried, she just couldn't bring herself to have feelings for the tall, slender man. He was a bore, a tedious bore that thought the whole world revolved around him. But it wasn't just that, many woman had to live with a bore. No, it was that he could be violent. He was capable of awful things, (Y/n) once catching him beating one of the stable hands with a riding crop. But it was when she had walked in on him pushing himself up against some poor, horrified chambermaid, as she had made up his room, that had been the last straw. A new determination growing inside (Y/n), as she had done her best to comfort the sobbing girl, to not have anything to do with Charles. But today, today she had been trapped; and all she could do was hope that she could at least enjoy a little of the races.

"(Y/n)................?" A voice came, shaking the thoughts from her mind.

"(Y/n), my dear............?"

"Oh..........er, yes, sorry, what was that.............?"

"I asked if you would excuse me for a moment. I have just seen someone I know from my days in the cavalry............"

"Yes, yes, please, take all the time you need, Charles. I might go down to the mounting yards. Father's horses will be running soon........I would very much like to see them." (Y/n) replied, quickly excusing herself. Not hearing what her escort had called out, as she made her way out into the soft sunlight. A heavy sigh of relief leaving her lips, as she made her way to the mounting yards.

>>--------------------------------<<

Tommy pulled out another cigarette from his case, as he moved back in his chair. It was nice to be home, to forget about the last few weeks, the last few months. And even though Finn was already enjoying himself a little too much, Tommy was, despite not showing it, having a good time with his brothers. With family. Though that said, John had already seemed to have disappeared, after his eyes had fallen on a rather ample young woman that had looked his way.

With a heavy sigh, he let out a plume of smoke before taking another drink. No matter what he had done, he still couldn't get the lady from earlier, out of his mind, and he couldn't work out why. It was true that she was a beauty. That her eyes had sparkled and her smile had made him want to return the gesture. But it wasn't just that. He had seen many a pretty face, many a sparkling pair of eyes. No this, this was something different. It was the fact that that sparkle, that that smile had left her as soon as her escort had spoken. Her shoulders dropping as soon as he had taken her arm. Tommy, even though he knew that it was none of his business, that he didn't even know her, had this strange need to make sure that she was alright. To, dare he say.............rescue her.

"Tommy..............?" A voice came. Tommy throwing his now extinguished cigarette to the floor before turning to his older brother.

"What................?"

"You alright..............?"

"Yeah..............." Came the usual simple reply. Tommy rolling his eyes as Finn nearly fell over his own feet. The youngest Shelby brother starting to get a little too loud. Tommy sitting forward, as his youngest sibling started to yell out about being Peaky fuckin Blinders. It obvious now that when he and Isaiah had disappeared a little while earlier, it hadn't been just to get another drink.

"I'll take care of him............" Arthur assured, as he got to his feet. Tommy slowly joining his brother.

"I'm going ta tha mountin yard." Tommy said, Arthur nodding before he went off to deal with Finn, and Tommy slowly made his way through the crowd.