HIS DUCHESS • TOMMY SHELBY

07. forgetfulness

[07]
"it is hard to murder a memory."

A SERVANT HAD already loaded their things into a car. The Petrova girls were set for London. Perhaps now she could forget everything, put this all behind her for good. Her heart had always been with Victor, across the icy contents and meadows of the globe, their souls still connected. The feeling with Tommy was different. For whenever she thought of her encounters with him, like last night specifically, a surge of emotions would make her heart race—

Guilt. Lust. Admiration. Hate.

Even at the table this very morning, as she ate breakfast with her older sister, she couldn't concentrate. Her body was there but her consciousness elsewhere. Tatiana's words had drowned out into white noise and all she could think about was him.

Alena had never known a feeling like this. She had never set eyes on someone and the world would fall away at her feet. Yet, it wasn't right— it wasn't right that after every moment spent with Tommy Shelby, she hated and wanted him more.

"Alena, we have to go now. I'll be in the car." Tatiana informs, heading downstairs.

The duchess was taking one final stroll around Arrow House.

She was not hoping to bump into Tommy, well at least that's what she convinced herself. Surprisingly, she had not seen the gangster yet. He had been gone all morning.

Was he avoiding her?

"Ah, you must be the duchess. Good morning." A voice greets.

Immediately, Alena turns around.

She was a very polished woman. Red bold lipstick and brown wavy pinned down hair. Her fashion seemed to be the epitome of British affluence, she wore a rare fur jacket with a cigarette in one hand.

"Good morning." Alena shakes her hand politely, a little confused. "What is your name?"

"I'm Ada Thorne— or Shelby. I'm Tommy's sister. I've come for a family meeting and as always, I'm the first one here."

"Oh." Alena seemed pleasantly surprised. "I am only familiar with Mr Shelby's brothers, I didn't expect him to have a sister."

"Hm, well expect the unexpected in this family." She sighs.

"Where is Mr Shelby, if I may ask? I haven't seen him yet this morning." Alena was hoping she was not overstepping her boundaries by asking, or causing suspicion.

"That's because early in the mornings he takes his horse out into the fields and disappears." Ada lights her cigarette. "It's becoming a fucking ritual these days."

"Why's that?"

"Okay, you see, ever since his wife— well, soon to be wife, left him unexpectedly and ran away with another man, his spirit has been crushed and my brother has grown strange and cold." She blows smoke into the atmosphere. "So, the only way he can deal with it is by disappearing into the wilderness every fucking morning, practically mourning a woman that's alive."

The young duchess seemed stunned, confused and every emotion in between at once. "I heard you British people do something called sarcasm a lot, I am wondering if you're demonstrating that now?"