Cruel To Be Kind - Peaky Blinders Fanfiction

Part 38 - A Letter From Ireland

I trust everyone has been staying safe.

How has everyone been? I've started to learn how to play the violin - let's just say at the moment it sounds like cats being strangled and my dog doesn't like it much, he keeps jumping up trying to attack the violin. I am determined to master this skill - this is my new lockdown task - to practice the violin, if not I'll move onto the guitar.

I hope to lighten everyone's day by this little post. Sorry, it's not much, but there's a new twist coming to the story. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and once again, sorry for any mistakes.

Love you all, Comet96 xx

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"Am I disturbing you, Mrs Shelby?" I look up from the newspaper to see Violet hovering by the door with an unsure smile on her face.

"No, you can come in," I muttered putting down the newspaper, folding it so I didn't have to read about the riots in Ireland. Gunner's head moved on my foot and I glanced down at him, smiling softly at the wide-eyed look he was giving me. It was as if he was assuring me everything was going to be okay.

"Is something bothering you, Mrs Shelby?" she asked, chewing on her bottom lip as she settled into the chair opposite Tommy's desk.

"I seem to remember telling you to call me Elsie, yet here we are with Mrs Shelby," I said to her, leaning over and pouring her a cup of tea.

"Sorry." She took the cup with a shaking hand and waved me off as I went to open my mouth. "I'm fine, Mrs Shel- Elsie. I quit my job and had a row with Helen."

That explained it. Violet told me she was planning on quitting but I wasn't expecting her to do it today, on a Saturday.

"I take it, it didn't go too well?"

"Well, no, not really." She seemed to hesitate for a moment and I knew she wanted to say something but wasn't sure whether she should.

"Violet, you know you can tell me anything, right?" It was the truth, I hope she would come to me as a friend and not because I was her boss.

"She went to my aunt and I know that my uncle will have us kicked out by the night. We haven't got anywhere to go and I don't want to seem needy but I am in need of your help," she cried, pulling a handkerchief from her sleeve, wiping at her eyes.

"Violet," I sighed nudging Gunner lightly and moving from my chair and going to her side. I rested my hand on her shoulder and sunk to my knees, taking her hands in mine. "I am happy you came to me in your time of need. Please do not fret over this my friend, I have space for you and James to stay here until the house is ready. You should not feel as if we would have seen you on the street."

"I-I, it's ju-just happening so fa-fast. I'm sorry for all this, Elsie, I didn't mean to come in here and cry." Gunner appeared from under the desk and leaning into her, resting his head on his knee. She let her hand run through his fur, the shake in her fingers slowly leaving.

"Not to worry, it's better than reading the boring paper or listening to those men out there shouting and trying to sing," I assured her, nodding to the betting den where we could hear John trying to hold a tune. "I'll send a few of the boys with you to collect your things and they escort you back here where I'll have your rooms sorted."

"Only if you're sure, I don't want to be an inconvenience," she muttered, and I caught her eyes drift to Tommy through the window.

"Don't worry about him, he knows he has to keep me happy or he'll be the one suffering," I told her, smiling and she let out a small laugh. I rose, wanting to find Kyle so he could gather a few of the boys when the door opened and Kyle stood there looking sheepish.