Cost of The Chase | T. Shelby ✓

05 | Steal his Wallet

"My goodness, aren't you the prettiest little princess?!" Sylvia exclaimed upon seeing Fawnie Shelby in her best dress. Winifred sat on the bed, reading the collected works of Edgar Allan Poe while Sylvia played dress-up with Fawn. "Give us a twirl," The woman helped the eleven-year-old spin despite Fawn tripping over her own feet.

Winnie shook her head, "I've seen more elegant pigs," Fawn gasped and stuck her tongue out at her older sister.

"And I've seen more elegant arseholes!" Fawnie spat out at her sister angrily. 

"Fawn!" Sylvia scolded and the girl's cheeks burned red, dipping her head while Winnie laughed under her breath, "You too, Winifred. Both of you mind your tongues, I don't want Polly thinkin' I'm a bad influence." 

The new voice brought Sylvia's attention away from the cursing little girls and to the man standing in the doorway, "I'm pretty sure she already knows you're a bad influence, her witchcraft intuition, and all that shite."

Sylvia gave him a dirty look, "I just scolded them for cursing, you can't come in here and curse right after like a godda– like a sailor." She bit her lip when she nearly cursed at Tom for cursing and he shook his head at her.

"Tommy, why're you lookin' at her like that?" Winnie asked with her nose wrinkled.

"Yea, Tommy!" Fawn exclaimed with her hands on her hips. Sylvia shook her head and ruffled Fawn's brown locks. "Heyyy!" She groaned, pushing Sylvia's hands away.

Their brother sighed, "Can I talk to you, Syl?" He pushed off the wall as she stood up to her full height, nodding. "I'll bring her back in one piece, don't worry little ladies." As Sylvia followed Tom out of the small bedroom, sounds of protests at being called 'little ladies' could be heard all the way down the stairs.

When the pair reached the kitchen, Tom finally stopped walking, pulling a chair out for both himself and Sylvia. She sat down and raised an eyebrow at him, her typical silent question gesture. "What do you think about horses, Sylvia?" Tom asked and it confused her.

"They're good animals, pretty, strong, but what's that matter?"

He shrugged, "Wanted to know if you would go to the races with myself and the barmaid from the Garrison," Tom flicked the ashes of his cigarette in the ashtray as Sylvia thought it over.

"Where?" She didn't like the thought of spending more time with Grace, the vibes that the barmaid exuded weren't the best. And Sylvia often feels exhausted after being around Grace for more than ten minutes.

"Cheltenham, I've got a plan to get us a legal license. It'll be the first time the Shelby name has the word legal beside it and I want– no, I need your help." 

Sylvia reached for his cigarette case so he handed her one, "What do you want me to do?" Tom smiled at Sylvia, she too was surprised she was willing to help without any information.

He leaned back in his seat after lighting her cigarette, "There's a man named Billy Kimber–"

The name sounded familiar to Sylvia, so she cut Tom off midsentence, "That bloke you pissed off? He shot the ceiling in the Garrison?"

Thomas agreed with a short nod, "I plan on getting him to hire the Peaky Blinders as protection, the Lee family keeps stealing from his bookies and if I return the cash... then Kimber will likely hire us. I just need you as a distraction. While I'm getting the money from Arthur, you're going to do whatever it takes to get his eyes off of myself. I'll be visible no matter what, so get creative with it."

"Is he an arsehole?" Thomas nodded once more, "Good, I'm going to steal his wallet."

He laughed, "I bet you ten quid you can't– wait, you haven't even got ten quid, do you?" Sylvia slapped his arm denying his accusation.

"I'll have you know I've got plenty of money from my previous home. Do you even know how much an authentic ruby goes for? And a trust fund that's been put in my name since the war?" His eyes widened upon hearing that and Sylvia smiled widely solemnly, nodding as she took a puff from the cigarette, "It's a fucking lot, I'll say that. How else do you think I got that flat down the street?"

Tom shrugged, "Thought you might have kicked someone out and have been squatting there ever since. All because little Finn saw your bare arse." 

"Hey! Don't remind me... that little fuck won't stop blushing whenever I'm around... I feel bad for him if I'm honest, my arse isn't something godly."

"I'll bet it's as pale as the fuckin' moon. Oi!" Tom exclaimed as Sylvia began slapping his arm.

Fawnie squealed as Finn chased her up the stairs with mud on his hands, "Oi! You better not get fuckin' mud on my walls, boy!" Polly shouted from the kitchen were she and Sylvia stood side-by-side, cutting up potatoes for dinner. Polly sighed, mumbling incoherent words under her breath. 

Sylvia laughed to herself, "That little boy is going to give his sister a heart attack,"

"I'll say, I'm just glad she doesn't retaliate with mud... usually it's pushing him in puddles or convincing him to do absolutely bonkers shit. That little girl is a master manipulator."

"You mean that she's too much like Tom?" Polly snorted but nodded, taking a handful of potatoes and dropping them into the pot. "Where is he anyway?" The older woman shrugged as Sylvia finished up chopping the vegetables. 

Making stew with Polly was soothing, the smell of sage burned in the air and calmed Sylvia further. "That boy doesn't tell me shit unless he's in some shit." She scratched her chin, "Have you seen Winifred? It's been three hours, she said she'd be back by noon," Polly looks over Sylvia's shoulder toward the front door. 

Sylvette shook her head, "I could go ask around for her, I'm sure she's with that boy..." She hissed through her teeth when she let it slip that Winnie found a crush, Sylvia turned around so Pol couldn't see the cringe on her pale skin.

Polly's eyebrows creased, she grabbed Sylvia's arm, turning her back around, "Boy? What boy?"

"Just some... some neighborhood kid she's been running about with. I met him, he seems nice enough." Polly cursed under her breath, "I really think everyone's too hard on her– and Ada for that matter. Winnie is nearly an adult, it's normal for her to be going out and meeting boys."

Aunt Pol wiped her hands on the towel, "I know, it's just that if any Peaky Blinders see her with a boy... they'll tell her brothers and they'll blind him," Sylvia cringed again, gritting her teeth at the thought. "But, please, go find her and make sure she's alright. I can finish up in here."