𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃
chapter 18

Polly took a drag of her cigarette and walked away from the Russian man she had been conversing with and walked to her daughter.

"Hello, love." she whispered, touching the girls back. "Where the bloody hell are the boys and Isiah?" she asked, stressed. "Not sure, love." Polly lied. Florence let out a light groan and departed from the woman to go searching. It was the sound of shouting and laughing outside that caught her attention

"Tommy said no racing, no gambling." Curly said to John. "Yeah well he's changed his mind." he grabbed his youngest brother by the shoulders in a reassuring manner.
"Right. Don't worry Finn, okay?" he said. "Right." the boy laughed nervously. "Cavalry boys ride like a sack of stones, all right." he said, pulling his brother down and rubbing his head in a teasing way.

Florence stood at the door to try figure out what was going on.

"John. John, there's an awful lot of Kings shillings around here today." Johnny interrupted. "Now, out of loyalty to the regiment, they'll all be putting their money on this bad boy." he pointed to the stallion. "That i filled up with morphine and water:" They both laughed and continued walking. "Here. Tommys all right if i, uh, do the book is he?"

"He said bettings okay but all proceeds go to the Shelby Foundation Charity." John turned the corner. "Oh, is this charity for real, then?" Charlie asked. "He says he wants to be seen giving back to the poor of Birmingham." John sighed in a mocking way.

"So that'll be me, John." Johnny joked. "Myself, if i can't earn a shilling here tonight."

"They'll make him the fucking Lord Mayor next." Charlie scoffed with a shake of his head. "That's the idea Charlie Boy." John hummed, lighting a cigarette.

"Right, all you lot make as much noise and fuss as you can." he instructed to the other peaky boys. Johnny helped Finn up on to the horse as John walked away, shouting at the Cavalry men to place their bets.

"What the bloody hell is this?" Florence finally made herself known.

"Oh, just business." John winked at her.

She shook her head and turned to go back inside where she saw Polly stood with Grace.

"Evening," Polly sighed, pouring herself a drink. "You enjoying yourself Grace?" Florence asked, her hands on her hips. Grace smiled slightly, looking between the two. "You look absolutely beautiful." Polly complimented. "Welcome to the family."

"Oh, I see. Tommys orders." Grace nodded. "No upsets tonight."

"Your hair, everything, beautiful." Polly continued. Florence squinted at the interaction. "Do you know where he is?" she asked.

"Yes. Yes i do." Polly nodded. They both looked at the older woman. "You know, Tommy really wants to keep certain things from me. It's very hard when you're man and wife. We were late coming down because we were having sex."

"Don't think we needed to know that Grace." Florence winced.

"So afterwards, he told me everything." Polly tilted her head. "Royalist Russians buying weapons to fight the Bolsheviks in Georgia. A lost cause, Tommy says. And Churchill, that he's the go between. But it's against the government policy so everything must be kept a secret."

"You know it's begun," Polly told her, "they started the business tonight?" she continued.

"No." Grace sighed. "I didn't. But you just told me. So thank you. Let's not forget i used to do this for a living."

"None of us forgot Grace, you betrayed my fucking cousin. How could we forget?" she chuckled, filling up a glass. "It's only Thomas that's forgotten what you are." Polly said.

A man stepped up to the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, the bride and the groom will now dance alone."

The younger girl stood tall, looking for Isiah over the crowd whilst Tommy and Grace began dancing. "Isiah" she whisper-shouted, grabbing the young boys shoulder. He turned to her.

"Where the fuck have you been?" she scolded. "Where's Micheal?"

"I'm sorry, i was with Tom" he excused. "Doing what?" Florence asked, staring him in the eye. He licked his lips, thinking. She lifting his chin up, staring at his eyes. "Have you been doing snow?"

He nodded slowly. "Fucks sake:" she whispered.

Before he could say anything, the man spoke again. "Ladies and Gentlemen, you now join:"

Isiah then grabbed her, pulling her to the floor. "What are you doing?" she hissed. "Micheal will go mad if he sees this!"

"Good thing Michaels with a girl then."

She frowned, shaking her head. Over the two years, Isiah and Florence had grown significantly closer, best friends if you'd like. Nothing had happened between them despite the tension that always lingered.

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A/N
if i accidentally write the name Lottie or Delilah in any of the chapters it's a mistake and it's supposed to say Florence. Lottie and Delilah are a character from another book i'm writing