Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
*/ Chapter Two - Smoke and Mirrors
The next few weeks that followed Evelyn's arrival in Birmingham became a blur, knotting into each other like tendrils of something untouchable. Time moved on, and so did everyone else. Charles Marsh was buried six feet deep in moist soil, rotting away alongside his wife. Evelyn Kelly had settled into her title of seamstress well, taking to the previous job vacancy like a moth to a flame.
Sutton had much to say about Evelyn continuing to stay in the sordid little city, but Evelyn reassured her that it was only until she had her father's things in order and until she was confident that business could get up and running like it was before. She told Sutton how uncomfortable she was knowing that Birmingham's Kelly & Kin outlet could potentially face bankruptcy.
For the first few days, it was quiet as a mouse. Tommy had shown no signs of relenting on his preference of Brooks despite the fact that Evelyn had returned, therefore, neither one of his boys had either. But one Thursday morning, Evelyn was pinning together a lavender-covered fabric to create a mock-up of a skirt when the door finally dinged with a customer stepping foot into her establishment.
To her surprise, it was John Shelby. The third-youngest of the bunch greeted her with that insufferable smirk of his, toothpick coyly tongued between his lips. Benji had nearly fallen over himself in his haste to cater to John's twitch of a finger, but his eyes were set on Evelyn in the corner. He brushed Benji aside, taking a few steps further into the shop. His leather shoes, pristinely shined, creaked over the floorboards as he settled in front of her.
"Evelyn Kelly. I'm in need of a new pair of trousers," John's hands tucked themselves into his pockets as he regarded her. "I've been told by my brother that a new seamstress has taken over this shithole. I've been told to put her to the test."
Evelyn rose from her crouching position, a clothing pin stuck between her lips. She stuck it into the mannequin, brushing her palms against her skirt as she regarded John with suspicion in her gaze. "Why the sudden change of heart?"
"I was told that you made clothes for the Prince. Wanted to see what all of that was about." John shrugged. Evelyn realised that Tommy had been running his mouth, but hopefully, this would drive a little more business in her direction.
