Thorns And Roses

Chapter Twenty Four

Eleanore watched with bated breath as Sweeney conversed with the Sykes family at last. For a man who barely spoke a word after returning home from Australia, she was stunned by how naturally conversation seemed to flow from him the longer the night went on. Of course, it helped that he was talking to Arthur and Maud the most, they were very easy to talk to and lively people so she wasn't completely surprised. What did surprise her, was how much he genuinely seemed to be enjoying himself.

Something she remembered back when Sweeney was Benjamin Barker, was a time when the inexperienced barber enjoyed politics. This, of course, meant that he and Arthur had plenty to talk about and judging by the enthusiasm and nodding from the older man, they agreed on virtually everything.

When it was obvious she had nothing to worry about, she decided to relax and focus her attention on speaking to Edith and Amelia. Every so often she threw glances and smiles in Sweeney's direction, her happiness growing as the night went on and his hearty talk with the older couple continued.

She hoped that the rest of the family liked him too, for whatever reason. It was like she was introducing a new boyfriend to her parents and siblings, a mental comparison that almost made her crack up. Arthur did indeed remind her of her father but he and his family were now considered her close friends, something she was proud to say aloud to Edith and a now drunken Amelia when they started having an emotion-filled, good old fashioned lady talk.

Edith seemed to have been observing Sweeney the whole night and eventually went right ahead in asking if they were a couple despite knowing Eleanore's feelings for the man already just by the way she gazed at him. The baker attempted to play dumb and shrugged her shoulders a little, not entirely answering the question.

Intending to embarrass her, Edith brought the attention to the bruise on her neck but was horrified when Eleanore came clean and explained that Turpin had gotten ahold of her while she was alone in her shop.

Amelia had been too drunk to truly comprehend the seriousness of the situation but was nonetheless supportive and shocked. Edith sadly was not. Merely fuming with anger.

Later in the conversation, Amelia had put her head on her hand and shut her eyes for a little bit, allowing the two women to have a chance to talk between themselves.

"I'll kill him one day Eleanore. I swear one day I'll put a bullet in him and not feel a thing." She told her, her face constricting in pain as she wiped at her eye and kept her voice down so her family couldn't hear. "For you, I, and all the other women whose lives he's destroyed."

"I know ya would Edith. I know many people would join ya - believe me." She placed a hand on her shoulder, unable to help herself from looking at Sweeney as he droned out of whatever Richard was saying to him.

Well, it seemed his opinion on the family's son had certainly not changed.

When the night grew later and the more tired everybody got, Maud and Arthur were the first to get in their carriage and say goodbye to everyone. This prompted Richard and Eleanore to remember that they both had children to tend to and so they decided to call it a night.

Walking back into the parlour, she and Richard observed the sight in front of them with a smile.

Toby and Beth were still in front of the fire, dry and warm - yet both fast asleep on each other's shoulder. Richard and Eleanore gave each other a look, then both bent to gently wake the other and pick them up.

The baker lay Toby down on the couch and covered him with a blanket while Richard simply held a still sleeping Beth in his arms and draped her coat over her back.

The two made their way back into the outside area of the shop where Sweeney was briefly talking to Edith and trying to help Amelia stand. Richard rolled his eyes but laughed at the state of his sister and quietly thanked Eleanore before climbing into the carriage and laying Beth down on one of the seats. Then he helped Amelia inside and snapped at her when she announced her goodbye to Eleanore and Sweeney far too loudly. Somehow, Beth remained asleep.