The Sharpest Jewel | Alfie Solomons |

~Chapter 33~

London, 1924.

A full year had passed, and Florence had settled comfortably into life in London. Working alongside Ada at the library had given her a sense of routine and a modest purpose, something steady that she could rely on. She found solace among the bookshelves, in the quiet company of patrons who passed through each day with little more than a nod or a soft thank-you.

Living with Ada was good for her, too. They had formed a kind of sisterhood in their shared space, with Karl's cheerful presence brightening their lives. Florence had even begun to let herself enjoy life in new ways—she'd allowed herself a few flings with London men she met through friends of Ada's, a way of reclaiming her independence and finding some lightness after everything she'd left behind. But that lightness dimmed a little one afternoon when she checked the post and found a thick envelope bearing the Shelby name. Opening it, her heart skipped at the formal script.

Miss Florence Warden

Mr. Thomas Shelby and Miss Grace Burgess invite you to their wedding.

Florence felt a strange cocktail of emotions swirl—surprise, curiosity, and a touch of unease. She hadn't expected to hear from Tommy, let alone an invitation to his wedding, especially after a year of silence from the Shelbys. It seemed Ada had received one as well; she looked up from the envelope and saw Ada holding an identical invitation, her expression unreadable.

"Well," Ada said, raising her eyebrows as she tossed the invitation on the table. "Didn't see that coming, did you?" Florence shook her head, biting her lip. "I thought I was finished with all of it. With them." She hesitated. "And Grace...of all people." Ada gave a sympathetic look. "They say he's really in love with her. Madly. Maybe...he's changing." Florence nodded slowly, her mind drifting back to Birmingham, to all the danger and drama she had left behind. Still, part of her felt curious. She couldn't deny there was a piece of her that wanted to go, to face the past and see if she really had moved on.

"Are you going to go?" she asked, watching Ada closely. Ada shrugged, looking conflicted. "I'm not sure. Tommy's...he's complicated. I do want to support him, but I don't like being pulled back there either. Still, it's family."Florence let out a breath, studying the invite in her hands. The very thought of returning to Birmingham felt strange. But maybe, just maybe, this was her chance to put it all behind her for good. After a long pause, she met Ada's eyes. "If you go, I'll go. But I think... I'd only be there for you." She managed a faint smile. "And maybe for Karl to see his family." Ada grinned. "Agreed. We'll be each other's buffer." They shared a small laugh, but the unspoken weight between them lingered.

The days leading up to Thomas and Grace's wedding seemed to pass both too slowly and too quickly. Florence found herself caught in a strange mix of anticipation and reluctance, wondering if this was truly the right choice. Packing felt oddly ceremonial—she carefully folded her best dress and tried to steel herself for what might come.

As the train rumbled toward Birmingham, she and Ada shared quiet conversation, keeping the atmosphere light. They laughed over Karl's newest antics, chatted about patrons at the library, and kept the focus on anything but the Shelbys. But as they approached the city, both women fell into a pensive silence, each retreating into her own thoughts.

It wasn't till they showed to the wedding venue there they saw familiar faces were waiting. Arthur was there with a welcoming grin, looking more than a little proud to see Ada, Karl, and Florence. John was also present, offering Florence a hearty hug that caught her by surprise. "Good to see you, Florence," John said, genuine warmth in his voice. "You look...different. London must suit you." Florence managed a small smile, though her mind was still elsewhere. "Good to see you too, John you already drinking ?." Florence questioned the man who just laughed. "Had to it my brother wedding." He shrugged. "How's Esme ?" She kindly asked genuinely wanting to know of the woman. "She's good just over there with the burns." John pointed to the woman who held a baby and two little kids. "She always been a sight for sore eyes." Florence smiled to John "yeah a fucking pain in my arse sometimes." John muttered and Florence he never say that in-front of his wife of course. "John." Florence gave him a light smack making him laugh.