No Time To Die- ARTHURMORGAN x O/C

part 19- Distractions

Arthur trails behind Trelawny as they enter the coach that is going to take them to the docks after leaving the barbers. "George, to the Grand Korrigan please" Josiah Trelawny announces settling into the seat next to Arthur. Arthur huffs feeling awkward in a full tuxedo with his hair having a fresh trim and pomaded.
"Gran Korrigan, Sir" George says hitting the horses with the reins into a trot.
"Well look at you. From toad.... to prince" Josiah exclaims smiling at Arthur, as he never seen him dressed up before.
"This is a bit much, ain't it? The coach?" Arthur whines as they both travel in the coach towards the docks.
"We can't whinny up there on horses like a bunch of countrified yokels" Trelawny snaps back, "you're a brash oil man with money to burn! Which reminds me... no shuffling and mumbling. Puff your chest out. Get outside yourself."
"Yeah, alright, alright. This ain't Hamlet. So, who's the mark" Arthur asks flattening his suit down, "is he alright, by the way, the driver?"
Josiah laughing at Arthur being cautious about what he is talking about, "Oh yes, don't worry, George and I go way back. It's a man called Desmond Blythe. Made his fortune in hosiery of all things. Likes to play fast and always keeps extra collateral in the safe, upstairs."
"So... if Strauss is sitting behind him, how does he know what cards I got? Arthur queries about Herr Strauss, wondering if the plan will actually work.
"He won't. But the dealer has recently become a very good friend of mine" Josiah explains with a mischievous grin on his face.
"Another one" Arthur mutters.
"Oh and Miss Jenkins is meeting us by the docks with Javier, Strauss and a young man named Jesse Cooper who invited us. His father is high and mighty in this city, he owns a manufacturing business of making tobacco, very rich" Josiah gives Arthur the information, including the details. Arthur heart sinks as he hears that name again.
"What is she doing in this robbery?" Arthur questions as there was nothing else to do in this.
Trelawny stutters thinking of an answer, "I actually don't know, but I know that she was the one who got the invite for us to this event, so I guess that's the reason."
As they arrive near the ferry, Trelawny tells Arthur to leave his weapons there on the coach, rambling on giving advice to him. But Arthur wasn't listening his gaze staring at the women leaning against crates talking to Javier. He notices she is wearing a different dress from before, a deep red and black one. Her hait let down this time as it moves in the breeze. She waves at Arthur breaking his day dreaming, she smiles at him. Him and Josiah walk up to them as Jesse Cooper arrives, her smiles drifting to someone else.
"Gentleman, Miss Jenkins.." Josiah announces loud enough to all to hear, he bows tipping the top of his hat to her, "how wonderful to see you."
Arthur yet again doesn't listen but gets distracted by faint whispering across from him. He looks up in that direction seeing Claudia giggling with Jesse, him whispering something funny into her ear making her laugh. Arthur pushes the thought to the back of his head, thinking about what they could be saying.
"Gentleman, we better get on. I think it's about to start" Jesse pipes up, getting everyone's attention. Arthur rolls his eyes leading to Claudia giving him a stern look, one that says don't start anything.
They all enter the ferry boat after being checked by the guards. Claudia interlinks her arm with Jesse as they walk down the corridor, Arthur and Trelawny behind them after Javier leaves to find guard to knock out for its uniform.
"You seem unsure" Trelawny says noticing Arthur being quiet.
Arthur sighs, "Robbing a heavily armed river boat without a gun tends to bring out the self-doubt in me."
"These people are virtually idiots. This is simple stuff." Trelawny reassured him as they both open the double door. Music erupts as they do and the sound of laughter and talking. "Now have a good time, but don't spend too much money or your wife is going to kill me."
"Whatever you say" Arthur huffs as he looks around, he sees Strauss sitting behind a man who must be Mr. Blythe. Chandeliers sparkle above casting a warm golden glow over the room.In the corner of his eye, he sees Claudia making her way to the bar as Jesse arm lingers behind her in a protective way.

Claudia sees Arthur sit down at one of the poker tables in the middle of the room, she hopes that he won't mess up by getting angry or doing something stupid. Jesse places his hand to her cheek moving her face in his gaze. "What are you starin' at?" He asks as they both sit down on the stools by the bar.
"Nothing, nothing" She quickly answer turning her head, she looks down to see a glass of liquor on the bar table.
"I hope you like whiskey, I just assumed" Jesse smiles as his cheeks turn pink. Claudia picks up the glass and takes a sip, the burnt liquid hitting her off guard, "anyway, tell me about your family. Are they from around here?"
"Well, at the moment we are travelling but I'm originally from New Orleans" She lies hiding her identity. If she wanted to she would tell him everything, every single information about her but she has only met him this week. If Claudia 6 years ago saw her now, then she would be in shock. Falling for someone. That is new. When she was a kid of course she wanted to be in a white dress, marry someone that meant special to her and to look after a family, but after the Julian incident, she never believed in love until that night when she met Jesse Cooper. The awkward tall guy who just asked her to dance. She will always remember his blonde curls bouncing up and down as they danced that night.
"You don't have the accent to be from New Orleans?" He queries laughing, Jesse looks at her. Her dark black hair with curls in the end, her bright blue eyes, her freckles across her nose. When Jesse first saw Claudia, he took his chance and went to her because the following night, him and his father got into an argument. You could say it was aggressive, his father was annoyed that he wasn't married yet or at least got a partner who he loves. After his last relationship, he never wanted to love anyone else. The girl he loved died of pneumonia when they were finally settling down together, ready to start a family. He never wanted to love agin after her but once he saw Claudia he couldn't resist.
"Like I said I travel a lot, so my accent changes from time to time" Claudia plays it off as sees Trelawny sitting down behind Jesse by the bar. She just hopes to god he doesn't start talking to them.
Claudia's eyes flicker back to the poker table, where Arthur is sitting, his brows furrow in concentration. She notices the way his fingers move, too confident, too fluid, and a nagging feeling of unease ignites within her. A smirk creeping onto Arthur's face as he plays dirty.
"Claudia?" Jesse's voice breaks through her thoughts, "you seem distracted."
Claudia turns her head back to Jesse, her mouth hanging open not knowing what to say. "I..I just hope my friends don't get too carried away."
"Ah.. I see, would you like another drink?" Jesse asks her keeping his arm around her waist.
"That would be wonderful" Claudia smiles, a drink could really calm her nerves right now. As Jesse passes the glass to her, she sees Arthur walking away with Javier leading the way. They must be going up to the save upstairs to collect what Arthur has won and anything else.
"Miss Jenkins, are you playing today?" Josiah Trelawny asks turning his head towards the pair. Jesse turns around seeing the man with his high top hat.
A grin appears on Claudia's face as Josiah starts a conversation with them, "No Mr Trelawny, but I do enjoy watching. Oh Jesse, this is Josiah Trelawny, he is a dearest friend of my Father."
"Sir, pleasure to meet you. I saw you by the docks earlier, didn't have the chance to introduce myself" Jesse says reaching his hand out to Josiah. He accepts it and passionately shakes Jesse's hand.
"Pleasure to meet you, son" Josiah responds taking his hand away from shaking. Suddenly, Josiah spins around after a aggressive arm pulls him around.
"You, you and your friend cheated" Mr. Blythe yells in his face, spit splashing onto Josiah's face.
"No sir, my friend is not a 'no good cheat' and I beg you to take back the insinuation" Josiah yells back, lying of course.
"There he is" Mr. Blythe points as Arthur takes the stool next to Claudia, she rolls her eyes knowing a fight is going to break out.
"Now, don't be a sore loser friend" Arthur replies, pulling the stool out to take a seat.
"There's something I don't like about the pair of you" Mr. Blythe snarls pointing his finger at the both of them.
"There's plenty I don't like about you, but I have the good manners to keep my mouth shut" before Trelawny could finish a man in his undergarments yells pointing at Javier. Javier fires the gun in his hand at the nearest guard and passes the gun to Arthur. Claudia drags Jesse around behind the bar as Arthur follows them.
Jesse stares at Claudia in utter shock not knowing what to do as he wraps his arms around her in a protective way. As the shooting goes on, Arthur keeps an eye on Claudia hoping that she will not get hurt.
"Come on let's get the hell off this boat" Arthur yells, Javier, Trelawny and Strauss run in front of Arthur. He looks at Claudia one more time knowing that she wouldn't run with them so she could stay with her prince in shining armour.

Claudia looks up the Jesse his face in shock not knowing what to say about the fact that the woman she loved knew a bunch of outlaws.
"Okay, maybe I have some secrets."