Choking On Sapphires

Choking On Sapphires Pt. 1: Thieves & Kings

Song to accompany the chapter is Thieves & Kings by The Peach Kings

Preface

You knew Tommy Shelby through his wife Grace. You had gone to the same girl's school together growing up. Your noble British father knew hers and thus you remained friends after school. You'd both grown up using your sweet exteriors to conceal your inner devious selves who were superb at playing young and dumb to get out of trouble.

Only as companions during school, your summers were spent with your mothers family in France. This was where you grew up amongst the outskirts of the Milieau and the consequences of their crimes. You were still raised and groomed to be a hopefully rich and powerful man's wife, with your etiquette dinners and polite conversation skills. But you preferred to spend your free time in the stables, or fencing with your brothers. Late at night when you preferred to sneak around your families estate, you would find yourself in the kitchen with your cousins and the rest of the workers in your home. They were far more interesting and alive than any other group of people you'd ever met, and they had the best, although most times, inappropriate stories.

After Grace's sudden death, at the party you were all attending, you stayed to help with arrangements and however you could. You had stayed in the house for a short time after, until others received word of her death. You spent time with the Shelby ladies who always felt distant but were kind to you, nonetheless. The brother's somber mood made for poor conversation between them and everyone who spoke to them so you didn't take it personally.

It wasn't until you were woken up by an intruder one night that you earned the Shelby's trust. You hear breaking glass, voices, thuds. You grab a gun you kept in your mattress and sneak out of your room. You'd done plenty of small crimes over the years, you loved the thrill. But you'd never had to kill someone before. You run to Charlie's room as you've been looking after him and have grown so fond of the child. You knew Thomas wouldn't survive it if he lost him too. You knew losing Grace, Tommy and Charlie would break you.

You're found by an askew crib, your hands a bloody mess, leaning against the wall by the window breathing heavily. One body shot in the head on the floor, the other, head wedged between the bloody, partially open window frame.
You remember coming to, out of your blackout and seeing John and Arthur, guns up, stalking into the room, eyes wide, hair a mess from sleep. They slowly run their eyes over the scene, Arthur reaching out to shush the crying baby. You rest your hands on the crib, nodding down to Charlie. John leans in towards you slowly.

"They were after Charlie." you huff out. Your let out a ragged breath, you groan and pick up your gun. You noisily gulp and clear your throat, standing up straight, composing yourself. You weren't going to let this beat you. You couldn't because then they won, and that wasn't an option you were interested in exploring. They took Grace, tried to take her child and tried to kill you. You'd moved onto a new stage of grief, vengeance. You straighten your robe, it's already splattered with blood anyway. Your breathing slows and you say quietly, "Fucking. Italians." you spit out. John nods, grabbing you by the shoulder, giving it a small shake to make sure you're not hurt.

"Fucking Italians." Arthur murmurs, handing the baby to a maid.

"Draw me a very, very hot bath please, would you Mary?" you give her a small nod and sad smile. John let's out a small amused noise at your casual response.
Arthur is pacing, fuming, his hands in his hair. John diverts his attention to him, you lean on the rail of the crib with most of your weight, now exhausted. They talk but you don't listen, your ears are ringing a bit now. You feel an arm around your shoulders.

"You did good, sweetheart." Arthur says gruffly, not sure how to comfort you. You nod and thank him, patting his hand with yours. He puts a man outside your door every night until you leave. You feel much more accepted by the Shelby's by the morning you leave. Even earning a private thank you from Tommy personally.