𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎

Madeline held Katie in her arms with a smile as Polly entered the den, looking around with confusion whilst everyone clapped for her. "What's the bloody hell is going on?" She muttered. Tommy walked forward and she placed her bag down. "When did you get back?"

"Didn't want to miss your birthday, Pol." Tommy placed a hand on her back.

Everybody got back to work after Arthur's instructing and Tommy walked Polly through the house. John sat back in his chair beside where Madeline was stood and placed his hand on her waist, pulling her slightly closer.

"Right go on, Katie. Go with Isiah and he will help you with your homework." Madeline nodded toward the boy.

Isiah pushed himself off the wall and dropped his cigarette into an ashtray before offering his hand to Katie and walking her into the living room.

"John, Finn— bring the car around." Tommy called out. Madeline looked at John and he sighed, kissing her forehead and quickly going outside. After a few seconds, Finn returned with an angry look on his face.

Maddie watched his storm through the house and raised an eyebrow. Getting up, she followed after him and closed the doors behind her. "What's up, Finn?" She asked with concern. He forcefully pulled chair from the table and sat down.

"Tom told me to stay." He huffed, taking out a cigarette and lighting it. "I don't get it," he said with a frown. "They don't let me do anything."

Madeline wondered whether it was right for her to speak on the matter.

"You're still young, Finn. That could be why they keep you away from the business." She offered him an excuse. He scoffed and looked away whilst shaking his head. "They're taking Polly to a bloody house— there's not much that can happen!" Finn snapped.

Madeline put her pencil down and raised her eyebrows at the boys tone. "Don't go getting in a nark with me about it," She said. "I'm the one who is stuck here day in day out writing down bloody numbers!"

Finn pursed his lips together and smiled slightly. "D'ya think they'll ever get round to me? It's like they forget I exist."

"I believe that if the gods decide this life is not for you, your brothers will never involve you. But for now, i'd suggest enjoying the freedom you have whilst you can. You can go out drinking and smoking with Isiah when you please. If one day Thomas finally decides to include you, that freedom may not be offered to you."

Finn listened to her carefully. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Be around somebody who's whole personality is the fact they can say by order of the peaky blinders. If I were to say that— they'd laugh in my fucking face."

Madeline placed her hands over his and let out a breath. "You'll find that John is different. He likes the power, not what he can do with it. I think your brother prefers being able to protect his family rather than hurting people." Maddie said.

-

"Hello, love." John said quickly, placing a kiss on Maddie's face before going to hang up his coat. She watched as Tommy stormed through the busy den and made his way to his office, slamming the door behind him.

She turned in her seat and frowned. "What's happened?" Maddie asked John.

John let out a breath and shook his head. "Arthur's only gone and killed one of the lads in a gym. Finn says he's going mad." John said quietly, pouring himself a glass of whiskey.

Maddie winced at the story and chewed on her bottom lip slightly. "Well is Arthur okay?"

John shrugged. "He's Arthur. Can never really tell with him." He said.

Madeline began thinking deeply about Arthur and his issues. He needed help. Real help. Not just medication that made him move slowly and remove practically any thought from his head.

She started thinking about those last few weeks her mother had been alive and how she was acting strangely. She would lay in bed all day and never speak to the girl. Madeline would try to talk to her but either he screamed at or ignored. She knew that the death of her father had a toll on her mother — it had a toll on Maddie too.

Maddie more than anyone. She was a daddy's girl. And she had to watch her father's life get ripped away from him so cruelly. It was a sight she would never forget.

Having her parents die changed something within her. Deep inside of her, something clicked — something that her and Arthur shared.

A certain anger. An anger that she was yet to have since being married to John. But she could feel it — a strange feeling swirled around in her stomach. It was her gypsy blood that made her feel uneasy before unwanted situations. No matter how serious or not— she would feel uneasy before it happened.

She held an anger that would make the light in her eyes change. Her eyes would shift. Esme had once witnessed this first hand when Madeline and Theodore had one of their bad arguments. It was frightening to see. The siblings were like perfect replicas of each other when growing angry.

It was like Madeline's mind would go blank, making her lose all control of what she did. Was she scared of herself? No. Was she scared of what she was capable of? Partially.

-

Polly entered John's home where Madeline sat with Katie, braiding her hair. Madeline didn't look up at the woman— she was already aware of her presence. "John told me you'd be here." Polly spoke.

Maddie placed a gentle hand on the young girls back and dismissed her to bed. "Is there something I can help you with?" She asked.

Polly took a seat at the table. "I'm making tea— would you like some?" Madeline added. Polly shook her head no. "I've came to thank you." Polly admitted.

She looked at the woman with confusion on her face. "You didn't take notice to my threat..and to that I admit I hold respect for you. You took it upon yourself to speak to Thomas." Polly played with the rings on her fingers.

Maddie listened intently and poured herself a glass of tea before sitting opposite Polly.

"Like I said..no threat can stop me from telling secrets given in confidence." She muttered, looking down at the cup. Polly hummed. "And thanks to your lack of fear..Thomas has been able to find my son." Polly spoke as if she was still trying to figure out what she wanted to say.

Madeline looked up. "That's amazing, Polly. I'm sure you're over the moon." She said, genuine happiness in her voice.

Polly nodded slightly. "But we discovered that my daughter— the one i went to speak about..she died." Polly paused, her voice shaky. After taking a deep breath she continued. "In Australia. She tried to come to me but they stopped her."

She placed a reassuring hand over Polly's. "I'm so terribly sorry, Polly. Does it put your mind at ease knowing what happened to your children?"

"It does indeed put me at peace knowing my little Anna is no longer suffering." She nodded.

A silence fell over them until Madeline had stood to go be beside the window, tea in hand. Polly looked over to her and her face fell. Her eyes searched the young girls body for a few moments before she spoke up.

"Does John know?" Polly asked plainly. Madeline hummed, "does he know what?" She asked, finally looking at the older woman.

"That you're to have a child."

Madeline's face relaxed, falling into confusion. She shakily put her cup down and shook her head at Polly. "What are you talking about?" She asked. Polly looked at her again. "You're pregnant." She said simply, tilting her head down.

"You didn't know— did you?" Polly said to her. Madeline was quick to shake her head.

Polly slowly approached her and hovered her hand at Madeline's stomach. "May I?" Polly asked. She nodded slowly and Polly gently pressed Madeline's belly and then felt her breast causing her to take a step backward, gasping. "Polly!"

"It's a boy."

"A boy?"

"You're going to have a son." Polly repeated. Madeline covered her mouth. She was in shock but definitely happy. She was scared too. "Don't rush into telling him— you'll know when. Tell him when the time feels right." Polly assured her.

Maddie's breaths were quick and she shook her head once more— not being able to believe it.

"Don't stress. The Garrison reopening is tonight— come and enjoy yourself. Tell John when you're ready." Polly said, trying to be nice to her.

She nodded quickly and Polly saw herself out of the house, leaving her with her thoughts.

She was going to be a mother. To John Shelby's child. His son. Madeline was unsure how to feel. It was only the week previous John and spoke about wanting a kid— specifically a little boy. So surely he'd be overjoyed? The thought of what Madeline's mother went through during child birth came back to her and a panic arose inside her.

If only Madeline knew. Sometimes the truth wasn't as it seemed. And sometimes one would only realise that when something else happened to spark a detail in a memory you weren't aware you had.

And Madeline — oh how she'd experience this. A lot sooner than she would expect. She would come to learn that the so called truth she had held on to for years was not the truth at all. Not even close.

༻♡༺

purposely made this chapter shorter than usual.