Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠: nina cried power - hozier
✵────────[ ✵ ]────────✵
In the sumptuousness of the Shelby Charity Foundation Dinner, the air whined with the murmurs of the elite, their laughter mingling with the clink of crystal glasses and the soft strains of jazz drifting through the opulent hall. Hazel eyes, sharp as shards of emerald, swept across the room, taking in the spectacle before her with a dancer's grace.
Marianna James stood alone amidst the throng, a lone figure amidst the sea of elegantly clad guests. Her fingers traced the rim of her gin rickey, the cool glass a welcome respite from the stifling zeal of the evening. Vigilant, she surveyed the open space with a wary gaze, her instincts ever sharp, ever alert.
For Marianna, the allure of such gatherings was tinged with a hint of apprehension. Despite the veneer of sophistication, danger lurked in the shadows, a specter waiting to pounce upon the unwary. She had foregone her trusty revolver, lulled into a false sense of security by the assumption that a Peaky Blinders affair would remain uneventful, free from the chaos that often accompanied such gatherings.
Yet, the unexpected arrival of Duchess Tatiana Petrovna shattered her illusions, casting a pall of uncertainty over the evening's proceedings. With a newfound sense of urgency, Marianna scanned the room for signs of danger, her mind racing with strategies and contingencies. In a place where alliances were as fragile as glass and betrayal lurked behind every smile, she knew she could ill afford to be caught unprepared.
Until the threat had passed, Marianna would have to rely on her wits and resourcefulness, her mind a weapon more potent than any firearm.
She found herself momentarily lost in the rhythmic swirl of music and murmurs, her thoughts drifting like leaves on a gentle breeze. With a silent sigh, she adjusted the hem of her dress, the fabric catching briefly on her heels, a minor annoyance in the grand tapestry of the evening.
But then, as if summoned by fate's capricious hand, two pairs of leather-clad shoes appeared before her, disrupting her peace with their unexpected intrusion. Marianna's eyes widened in surprise as she looked up to find Arthur and John Shelby standing before her, their familiar faces a welcome sight amidst the sea of strangers.
The whispers of danger, once a haunting echo in the recesses of her mind, were forgotten in an instant as Marianna let out a spontaneous giggle at the sight of the Shelby brothers she had known since childhood.
