Living With Mr Shelby

Chapter three

Curly had warned me that I wouldn't get any sleep seeing as my room was a few doors down from the Garrison so I was sat in the dim candle light of my room reading a book.

I glanced out of my window as a group of young boys started stumbling about in the street and I caught sight of Polly and Curly chatting outside the pub.

I was still dressed so I decided I would go and investigate the pub. I quickly slipped on my shoes and a black shawl before tiptoeing down the stairs making sure I didn't wake the landlord and their family up. Curly saw me as I was walking up and waved, making Polly turn around and look at me with shock, clearly she didn't think I would have known Curly.

"How do you two know each other?" Polly asked, giving me a dark look that made me unexplainably nervous.

"I helped her off the train and then I saw her watching the ducks by the docks... she's the girl I told you about." Curly explained and Polly's hard look instantly softened.

"Well then Lola come on in and 'ave a drink." She smiled and took my arm leading me inside where Arthur and two other men wearing the exact same outfit were ordering drinks.

"Polly, Curly and ... well I dunno you but ello." Arthur greeted us and I could smell the stench of whisky rolling off him.

"What's she havin Poll?" The man in the middle asked. He looked me up and down before looking back at Polly who was looking at me expectantly.

"Just water please." I said instantly regretting my lack of experience when it came to alcohol because the three men burst out laughing. Poll gave the boys a look and I was soon presented a glass of water. I thanked the young man whom Polly informed me was named John and I was soon left alone at the bar watching the drunken patrons of the Garrison make fools of themselves.

"So you're friends with our Curly." I looked up at the man standing next to me. He was leaning against the bar and his presence seemed to cause people to give him a wide berth. Even the men who were too drunk to stand seemed to be avoiding him, leaving a circle of space around the both of you. His high cheekbones and swimmingly light blue eyes made it hard not to stare at him. I wasn't sure how I had managed to completely forget he was there, something he seemed to notice and a flicker of irritation crossed his face so quickly, I wasn't sure If I had seen it or not.

"Yes, he's nice." I said quietly, setting my now empty water glass on the bar. I went to get down from my bar stool but the young boy from the stables jogged over to me and fixed me with a hard stare.

"What are you wantin from our Curly, he aint got no money." The boy narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.

"Why would I want Curly's money? I'm perfectly capable of earning my own." I snapped at the boy making the blue eyed man next to me chuckle as he lit another cigarette. The boy however didn't move and shifted his cap so he could look at me better. He gave me a suspicious glare and I was struck with the hard feeling that somebody had sent him to ask questions.

"You a Gypsy girl or something? Cause ain't no fancy lady's like you that don't want a man for money." I frowned for a minute. He had a point most girls wanted to find a man to do as they say and provide a home for them but I didn't. My Grandmother had seen to it that I was visited by my mother's family regularly so that I was taught proper Gypsy custom so I guess the boy was right when he asked if I was a Gypsy or not. Although only your much older uncle referred to himself as such.

"My Mother was." I said simply, the man next to me shifted and snapped his cigarette tin shut before sliding it into his pocket looking at me with a new found fascination.

"What do you mean was, she is or she's not." He said the cigarette was now hanging from his lips as he motioned for another drink to be set on the bar beside him.

"She is but she passed away when I was born." I said swallowing the bitter sadness of never knowing my mother always left on my throat.

"Well that would mean you ain't one cause you were raised by people who aren't Gypsys' by the looks of you." He said as he flicked ash from the end of his cigarette onto the flood. He smiled when he saw the face you'd fixed him with. I was scowling at the blue eyed man who was looking at me as if he were waiting for a response.

"Tell Polly and Curly that I hope they enjoy their evening." I hopped down off the bar stool. Pushing past the young boy, who still hadn't moved from his aggressive stance with his arms crossed and a hard stare on his face, and twisted my way through the pub and out into the open road outside.

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"Well, you find anything out?" Polly asked Thomas who stood with his eyes fixed on the door Curly's friend had vanished through.

"Just that we're going to have to cause her a bit of trouble that's all." He agreed with Polly she had an air about her as if she weren't really who she pretended to be and it intrigued him. After a while the man shook his head clear of any curiosities and carried on enjoying the party.