𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃
chapter 65

Florence sat patiently, looking as Oswald walked into the room.

"The butler says our American friend is parking the car," he spoke. "He also says, in answer to your inquiry, Diana, that the coat our exotic friend is wearing is made by Chanel" he placed a hand on the chair, kissing Diana's cheek. "That's a very expensive label" he continued.

"Yes it is" Diana agreed. "But the perfume i can smell on you is very cheap."

He cleared his throat. "I'm deeply, deeply annoyed that Thomas isn't here." Mosley said, sitting down. "It is a family emergency apparently," Diana looked at him. "We only have Florence, the cousin."

"Well, would the cousin like some more champagne?"

"Oh..the cousins is allowed to speak?" Florence hummed, clasping her hands together.

"She thinks this lunch is purely social" Diana laughed.

Florence raised her eyebrows. "The cousin is here because there's sickness in the family. Thomas wanted someone from the Shelby organisation to introduce Mr Nelson to you, and to offer all three of you an invitation."

Oswald made some sort of excited sound.

"I thought you were Tommy's hitman, not..apart of the organisation?" Diana tormented, taking a drag from her cigarette.

Florence ignored her.

"What invitation?" He asked. "The invitation can wait. And please remember that in this moment, in this room, it is the Shelby family that holds the power because we have the information and the incentives that will make Mr Nelson do what you require him to do. So when i speak please keep your fucking mouths closed. Because although i'm reluctant, i'm actually quite good at this. And yes, i will have champagne"

Oswald raised an eyebrow.

The doors opened and Gina walked in, laughing, holding Mr Nelson's arm. Florence scoffed, folding her arms.

Jack handed the butler his coat. "Okay so before these full introductions begin,  I just have to tell you something that my niece, Gina, just told me."

"No Jack-"

"She said the Shelby family are all witches and sorcerers who speak freely with the dead. So..who here is a Shelby?" he looked down at Florence.

She sighed, standing.

"Is it true?" he asked. Florence looked over to Gina. "Gina" she said, pursing her lips into a line.

"Hello Florence" she smiled smugly. "Micheal sends his regards,"

Jack nodded, looking her up and down. "You're the cousin?" he asked. "Yes, it seems I am, indeed, the cousin. Michael's sister"

"I did some research, you were once a crazy girl, but diamonds and lipstick now?" Jack asked. "Actually, i was always sane i just tend to kill the people i don't like." Florence half lied, speaking in a sarcastic tone and scowling at him.

"She's Mr Shelby's 'most trusted' partner." Mosley said.

Jack turned to him. "And you, you're the future prime minister of Great Britain and its dominions."

"Indeed i am"

"And you, Lady Diana Mitford. Talk of London, with her amphetamines and emeralds" he looked back to Florence as laughs left Gina's mouth. "It's her sharp mind that i'm in love with" Oswald told him.

"Men bore me" Jack scoffed. "Florence, do you have a man, a family?" he asked. "I'm married and my mother, Polly, died but of course, we speak often" She mocked, referring back to his mention of witches.

A smirk appeared on his face

"Between this sparkling conversation, could i get a drink of some kind?" Gina suggested.

"So this little kid, Gina, she runs out, marries a gangster and now here we all are" her uncle sighed, sitting beside her. "Oh, Jack, please. You're so blunt"

"Yes, it's wonderful. A man who is not careful with his words" Diana smiled.

"I'm not careful. Just say it first then clear up the broken glass with my bare hands" Mosley handed Gina a glass. "Here you are"

"I don't seem to have a drink either" Jack observed. "Well, i have Scotch or Irish,"

"Tommy drinks Irish" Florence spoke up. "Where the hell is he?" Jack asked.

"Irish" Gina whispered to Mosley.

"He's been unavoidably detained." Florence said, looking at her hands. "Nothing is unavoidable," Jack scoffed. "His daughter is unwell" Oswald said.

"He doesn't have a wife?"

Florence tilted her head back slightly. "You know i did some research on you too, Mr Nelson."

"Florence here is the smart one of the family" Gina looked at him. Florence squinted, not enjoying the company of the girl.

"I learnt that when you were young, you lost a brother and a sister to consumption" Gina sat straight and Jack stared at Florence blankly before grabbing the glass of whiskey he'd just been given. "No ice?" he asked.

"Well that same awful illness has entered our family. And you see Thomas has very little faith in current medical practices regarding tuberculosis. He's gone off in search of alternative approaches to cure the disease. Experimental work that he hopes will save the life of his daughter,"

"In his shoes i would do the same thing. Your cousin intrigues me,"

"Yes, he often has that effect on people." Florence looked over to Diana.

"Yes and tommy future husband has that effect on 20 million people in this country, who attend his rallies and listen to his broadcasts." Diana bragged.

"It's amazing..what English upper-class women can do with just skin, bone and arrogance."

"Tommy sends his apologies for not being here, and would like to invite all of you to his home for a meeting" Florence told them, standing and handing them all an invitation. "A meeting where the real business will be done. And where you can meet like minds from Ireland. Who'd also like to discuss the future of Europe. But as you say, this lunch is purely social. And looking at my glass, i see i still don't have champagne."

"Micheal told me his sister had gone straight?"

"Yes, but, Tommy is the sun, the rest just orbit around him." Gina said.

"Gina tells me lots of things but i want to hear it from you, Florence. What exactly does the Shelby Company Limited do?"

-

Tommy sat in his car, swearing as he failed to start it up. He looked at Esme who tapped on the window with the missing piece of the car. She climbed in beside him.

"You used to have eyes in the back of your head. How can you change so much but not change at all?"

"I have other lines of inquiry. Give me the spark plug. Give me the..." she pushed her hand back. "Give me the fucking spark plug."

"Give you the spark plug, give you hope, is that what you want?"

She scoffed. "I do know things about this matter," Esme spoke in Romani. "There's something you should see. Someone dead. Someone grieving. A lot of hate against you"

Esme placed the spark plug in his hand. "You were wise to come to me, Thomas"