𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑

Madeline lay in her bed, staring up at the dark ceiling. It was early morning and she could tell because the sun hadn't rose yet.

She didn't want to move, the warmth of her bed consuming her.

"Come on, up," Esmeralda appeared out of nowhere, waking both Esme and Madeline up. Esme groaned loudly, covering her eyes. "Madeline, up now."

"Esmerelda!" Madeline groaned, pulling the sheets up to her face "Madeline I won't ask you again. You've got stuff to do, let's go."

"What stuff? I cleaned the horses yesterday." She whispered. She kept her eyes closed and Esmerelda huffed. "Not the bloody horses— for crying out loud! Ya getting married. Now come on or i'll send Johnny in." She threatened.

Madeline shot up, her lips
parted.

"Ya fucking what!"

"Yes. You're getting married, it was agreed late last night. You'll be doing us all a favour," the dark haired woman leaned against the side of the wagon. Madeline looked at Esme. "Why can't she do it? She's older!"

"Because you're younger," Esmerelda said, grabbing her arm and gently pulling her to her feet.

"What? How does that-"

Esme frowned, still confused as to what was going on. Madeline was younger, which meant it would give her more time to enjoy the married life. Although Madeline thought it was absolutely absurd that it was her being married off instead of Esme.

Esmerelda forced Madeline into a chair, roughly running a brush through the younger girls hair. She threw her head back dramatically and earned a smack on the back of the head with the wooden brush.

"Sit still will ya?"

Madeline rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "You've woken me up at seven in the morning and now ya ragging me about."

"Don't be dramatic."

"Why do I have to get married. An who the fuck am I marrying?" Maddie sighed. "Because you're young and pretty," Esmerelda replied.

"So is Esme!" She argued.

"Well, you're younger. And for your information, it's supposed to be one of them peaky blinder devils,"

"Are you takin the piss?" Maddie turned around in her seat, staring Esmerelda dead in the eye. "You know i've never wanted to get married. And now you're marrying me off to one of them diddicoy bastards?"

"Do you want a war?"

"No! Of course I don't want a war-"

"Then you'll marry the boy." Esmerelda spoke plainly, forcing Maddie's head back around and beginning to braid it loosely.

Hundreds of thoughts passed through Madeline's head as Esmerelda got her ready for the 'wedding.' She didn't want to get married, especially not to a Peaky Blinder. And especially not against her own fucking will. She sat with an awful expression on her face as Esmeralda pinned a white veil into her hair.

"I look ridiculous."

"You look beautiful," Esme stood at the door, watching in awe. "You look really beautiful,"

"Thank you Esme but I look like someone has put lipstick on a pig," She sighed, touching the dress that sat on her body. Esme scoffed, "don't say such a thing."

Madeline looked at her through the mirror and before she could say anything, Esme grabbed her arm. "Let's go, ya husband awaits you." she chuckled, pulling her out of the wagon.

John Shelby walked with his brothers up the small slope.

"Ready boys? John, ready?" Tommy questions. "Yeah, fine." John nodded, his dark green peaky cap tilted to the left ever so slightly.

"Av a drink," Arthur shoved the flask into his hands. The other peaky men stared at him. "What? What you all staring at me for? What?" He grew angry.

"Let's go," Tommy interrupted, leading them all back up toward the camp. "What?" John hissed at one of the Peaky boys who remained looking at him.

"Tommy, what you playing at? We're in shot gun range," John whispered. They all came to a halt once more. "John, before you go into battle, there's something you're gonna need."

Each of them pulled out a small white flower and Tommy placed it into Johns front pocket.

"What you bloody doing, Tommy?"

Tommy grabbed his face. "Smile, John, it's a wedding." John frowned, "who's bloody wedding?" He asked.

"Now if I'd told you, you wouldn't of come. There's a girl in the Lee family who's gone a bit wild, she needs marrying-"

John scoffed, aggressively pushing Tommy away. Arthur grabbed him. "Fuck off," he fought against his brothers. "John!" Tommy shouted. "Listen to me, a girl who needs a husband, a man who needs a wife."

"Tommy, i'm not bloody marrying some fucking mushroom picker," John said, his voice shaking. Tommy hushed him. "Listen, i've already betrothed ya, so if you back out now, there's gonna be one fucking mighty war breaking out that'll make the Somme look like a fucking tea party. But if you marry her, our family and the Lee family will be united forever."

John breathed heavily.

"And this war will be over. Now it's up to you, John. War or peace?"

John ripped his arm away from Arthur and walked off toward the camp. Arthur chuckled lightly and took Johns hat off his head.

They walked together and John threw the toothpick from his mouth, onto the floor.

They approached the wagon that Johnny stood outside of, a dark haired woman beside him.

"Right, you should see the size of her dowry," Arthur held his shoulder. "Her what?" John frowned.

"Her uncle is giving you a car," Tommy informed him. John grinned and they stopped in front of Esmerelda and Johnny. Tommy cleared his throat. "Will he do?"

Esmerelda looked him up and down before a light smile appeared on her mouth, "he'll do," she smiled.

They all clapped and walked off toward where the wedding would be held.

Madeline fought with Esme who was trying to force her down toward where everyone had gathered.

"I don't..want to!" She huffed, holding Esme's wrists. "Maddie, come on. Johnny said it's peace or war, let there be peace for once." Esme convinced her. "You never know, he might be nice."

Madeline's chest heaved up and down and she gave in, allowing Esme to hold her arm and walk her round the corner.

"Here she is," Tommy nodded behind John. "She better be under fifty." John whispered. Tommy patted his brothers shoulder as he walked to the make-shift alter.

He kneeled beside Madeline, his heart beating quickly as he kept his eyes glued to the floor, his fingers intertwining constantly.

"We're here today to join in matrimony, this man and this woman" Johnny Doggs spoke "..in harmony and togetherness. Which is sanctioned and honoured by the presence and power of these two families around us."

Madeline nervously lifted the veil from her face and John looked at her, his eyes darting across her face.

John smiled slightly, calming when he'd realised how pretty she was. She had light freckles dotted across her face, her lips a light red colour.

"Do you, John Micheal Shelby, take
Madeline Eleanore Lee to be your beautiful wife?" Johnny asked. "To have and to hold through sickness and till death."

John nodded in agreement and Madeline looked down at the floor.

She'd finally realised where she had seen him before. All those years ago when her and Esme were watching Johnny speak to a group of men. He was one of them. The one who caught her eye.

"There remains one more part of the ceremony, that's the mingling of the two bloods:" he nodded. It was almost as if John could sense the fear coming from Madeline as Johnny withdrew a knife. She took a deep breath whilst Johnny sliced both John and Maddie's hand. They both held their hands together.

John was unable to remove his hand straight away, his eyes lingering on her for a lot longer than he would've liked to admit.

"I now pronounce you man and wife."

Everyone cheered. "Come on John, kiss the bride will ya!" Johnny shouted.

John and Maddie hesitated slightly before leaning in to kiss each other. He was gentle as he kissed her and Madeline had to admit, he was the more attractive brother.

She also liked that there was no awkward feeling between the two, none at all. She knew that would make things a hell of a lot easier for both of them.

-

Madeline and John sat beside each other happily, Johns hand on the side of her legs, her legs over his, practically sat on his lap.

She leaned into him slightly, smiling widely as everyone danced around.

"Mad way of dancing that," He laughed, his arm around her shoulders. She hummed in agreement. "It's tradition," She hummed, looking at him. "Yeah and it's a fucking funny looking tradition," he nodded.

"Come on John boy!" Arthur urged and John lifted his arm, waving his arm around to say no. "Come on!" Arthur repeated and John sighed, standing and lifting Madeline down to the floor.

Esme watched from a distance, smiling brightly at the sight of the two as they danced around with each other like they'd known one another for years.

"You not going to congratulate your sister?" Esme asked Theo who stood close by. He shook his head and sipped from his drink. "Why should i? It won't last long— he'll realise how much of a bitch she is and he'll send her back."

"Don't be so mean, Theo. And he can't send her back, this whole marriage arrangement is to keep peace between the two families. You should thank her really." Esme shook her head at him.

Theo shrugged. "Don't care."

John spun Maddie around, keeping a tight hold on her hands. Her laughs echoed in the air and Polly clapped along to the music.

Fireworks went off and both Tommy and Polly watched Ada as she danced around like a mad woman.

"Tell Ada to slow down." Polly said to tommy. "Like she'll listen to me," he scoffed. "I tried to stop her but she's been drinking." she told him.

"Ada come on have a rest sit down." Tommy approached. "Come and look Madeline!" Ada shouted, "Look at the family you've joined. Come look at the man who runs it. He chooses his brothers wives!"

John and Maddie stopped dancing and John placed his arm loosely
around her waist as they watched the scene unfold.

"He hunts his own sister down like a rat and tries to kill his own brother in law!" she shouted. "Ada." Polly said.

"Ada that's enough." Arthur warned.  "Now he won't even let me have a fucking dance! Not even at a fucking wedding."

"What's she doing?" Maddie whispered to John. He fumed, trying not to say anything that'd make the matters worse. He kept a hold of Madeline's hand although he'd stepped in front of her.

"Sit her down." Polly said.

Ada stopped, panting heavily and grabbing onto Polly's arms. "Holy shit, water, right." Polly said. "Bloody hell Ada you do pick your times!" Arthur shook his head.

Madeline was unsure of what to do and John grabbed her hand again, leading her to his new car and opening the door for her.

"Of course she had to choose my fucking wedding day to av her baby," he grunted to Arthur who'd sat in the back seats.

"Welcome to the family," Arthur said loudly as they began driving. "Thank you," Maddie nodded.

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