#bytheprickingofmythumbs

[kitap1sevda-blogkitap]

Pembe Evdeki Ölü - Agatha Christie (kitap yorumu) @agathachristieokurlari moderatörlüğünde, #beraberagathaokuyoruz etkinliğinde #pembeevdekiölü kitabını okudum🔍 Sonunda etkinlik kitabı okumak kısmet oldu 😁 Tommy ve Tuppence ikilisini çok seviyorum 😍 kronolojik olarak ikilinin dördüncü kitabı. Ama, rahatlıkla söyleyebilirim sıralama olmadan okunabilir. Ben ikilinin bulunduğu üçüncü kitapla okumaya başlamıştım😁 konusundan bahsetmem gerekirse, Tommy ve Tuppence orta yaşlara yaklaşmışlardır. Tommy 'nin Ada teyzesi bir huzurevinde yaşamaktadır. Karı koca yaşlı teyzelerini ziyaret etmeye gitmişlerdir. Tuppence' in huzurevinde karşılaştığı bir yaşlı kadının söylediği ilginç sözler aklına takılmıştır🤔 sonrasında olan bazı gelişmeler Tuppence için gizemli bir konu haline gelir. Merakına yenik düşer ve Araştırma yapmaya başlar🖼️ 🔍 Tommy kendi işlerine bakmaktadır. Tuppence'in yaptığı araştırmalar ve sonrası için kaos ötesi desem yeridir 😱 beklenmedik ve karmaşık gelişmeler okuyucuyu şaşırtacak türden 😱 sonuca ulaştığınızda bu kadarı da olamaz diyeceksiniz. Beklentimin üzerinde başarılı bir kitap 👍 bol detaylı ve entrikanın kol gezdiği bir polisiye🔍 detaylara bayılacaksınız 📖 Tommy ve Tuppence ikilisini seviyorsanız, etkinliğe (aralık ayında) katılmak isterseniz, polisiye okumayı seviyorsanız muhakkak tavsiye ediyorum 😎🖼️🌼🕡 #agathachristie #agathaokuyoruz #polisiyeokuyankadinlar #altınkitap #kitap1sevda #officialagathachristie #binyazarbinokur #readchristie2022 #edebiyakut #tommyandtuppence #tommyandtuppenceberesford #tommyvetuppence #londra #bytheprickingofmythumbs #ingilizklasikleri #polisiye #tablo #ev #huzurevi #gizem #arazi #köy #kilise #tren #araştırma https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl9s5V_N2Gj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#beraberagathaokuyoruz #pembeevdekiölü #agathachristie #agathaokuyoruz #polisiyeokuyankadinlar #altınkitap #kitap1sevda #officialagathachristie #binyazarbinokur #readchristie2022 #edebiyakut #tommyandtuppence #tommyandtuppenceberesford #tommyvetuppence #londra #bytheprickingofmythumbs #ingilizklasikleri #polisiye #tablo #ev #huzurevi #gizem #arazi #köy #kilise #tren #araştırma

[thilleshiem]

Repost from @outlanderobsessed • ✨BOOK EXCERPT✨Outlander Ch.24- The realization of Jamie‘s imminent departure was deeply depressing; I suddenly realized just how much I looked forward to seeing him at dinner after the days work, how my heart would leap when I saw him unexpectedly at odd moments during the day, and how much I depended on his company and his solid, reassuring presence amid the complexities of life in the castle. And, to be perfectly honest, how much I liked the smooth, warm strength of him in my bed each night, and waking to his tousled, smiling kisses in the mornings. The prospect of his absence was bleak. He held me closely, my head snuggled under his chin. “I’ll miss you Jamie,” I said softly. He hugged me tighter, and gave a rueful chuckle. “So will I Sassenach. I hadna expected it, to tell the truth – but it will hurt me to leave ye.” He stroked my back gently, fingers tracing the bumps of the vertebrae.💞 . . #ByThePrickingOfMyThumbs #outlanderepisode10 #outlanderseason1 #outlander #outlanderstarz #jamie #clairefraser #jamiefraser #jammf #bestactor #samheughan #bestactress #caitrionabalfe #✨bevoo💞 https://www.instagram.com/p/CDXHI1IBij4/?igshid=whrp43kv1imk

#bytheprickingofmythumbs #outlanderepisode10 #outlanderseason1 #outlander #outlanderstarz #jamie #clairefraser #jamiefraser #jammf #bestactor #samheughan #bestactress #caitrionabalfe #✨bevoo💞

[davidgarciasilvermoondesign]

#bytheprickingofmythumbs #somethingwickedthiswaycomes . Got some new #fabric! Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee! . #staytuned #maleficent #mistressofevil #disneyvillainesses https://www.instagram.com/p/CBrRlbnjMUo/?igshid=ntmd3i1qzws6

#bytheprickingofmythumbs #somethingwickedthiswaycomes #fabric #staytuned #maleficent #mistressofevil #disneyvillainesses

[roseunspindle]

Current teading pile. 📖📖📖 #agathachristie #bytheprickingofmythumbs #thecall #welcometonightvale #bloodheir #ameliewenzhao #scavengethestars #kierstenwhite #theguineveredeception #thecuckooscalling #robertgalbraith #terrygoodkind #wizardsfirstrule https://www.instagram.com/p/B7mIPDVAiZQ/?igshid=h6wmjugx187s

#agathachristie #bytheprickingofmythumbs #thecall #welcometonightvale #bloodheir #ameliewenzhao #scavengethestars #kierstenwhite #theguineveredeception #thecuckooscalling #robertgalbraith #terrygoodkind #wizardsfirstrule

[maladroit13]

If i wanted to do my homework on the porch, i guess i shouldn't have matked out the bones of an altar to Odin yesterday. #itsgonnabeaboomer #comeonthunder #bytheprickingofmythumbs #freshman https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx75lp5lfPb/?igshid=8j9udq8vhs7n

#itsgonnabeaboomer #comeonthunder #bytheprickingofmythumbs #freshman

[beesonestopcurioshop]

By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes.

Chapter 5: Clean Slate

Photo/Gif Credit: @murphyaddiction

Warnings: Still quiet in this area. Unless you count anxiety.

Beta: @ugly-crying-over-bucky-barnes

Note: Hey everyone! Here’s a little something for this story. It’s a little shorter than usual, but I wanted to get something up. I really enjoyed it because we get to learn a little bit more about Ellie girl. I hope you enjoy as well. As always, I hope you’re all safe and healthy!

••

Ellie began to fidget at the thought of being alone with the obvious matriarch of the family. She didn’t have anything to be nervous about, but there was particular scrutiny coming from her that had her on pins and needles.

“Come. Sit. I’ll whip something up quick for that cheek and eye.” Polly turned to her herbs and began blending a mixture.

“Thank you. You’ve been very generous. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you. Or Mr. Shelby for that matter.”

Polly was mixing a salve paste to place on her cheek. She was sure it would bring out the pain along with the swelling. She shot a look in Eleanor’s direction and watched as the girl gnawed on her lip and looked at the table. There was a storm in her head. Hearing the men talking in the other room she decided to distract the girl.

“So, you have had quite the eventful day, haven’t you?”

“You would be very correct. I can’t wait to go home and sleep.” She laughed gently.

She turned around and brought the salve over to the seat next to Eleanor. “Alright, my dear. This won’t fix it, but it will help with the tenderness along the way.” She dipped her thin fingers into the paste and brought it up to the angry-looking cheek.

Ellie winced at the contact. She was lucky enough that nothing was broken. She was not looking forward to dealing with it every day. The mixture, however, smelled lovely. Some clove for the angry nerves, lavender to soothe her, and a touch of something she couldn't quite make out.

She took to analyzing Eleanor. The young woman’s chestnut waves had a few ringlet curls thrown into the mix. Both eyes were a hickory brown, and when one of them wasn’t swollen and angry, they appeared to be wide and inquisitive. She seemed positively charming, in the most innocent of ways. Polly almost dared to use the word magical.

There was a feeling that sat low in her gut when she looked at her. It wasn’t a feeling that made her nauseous, but it intrigued her. She glanced toward the ceiling sending a message to the universe that it had her attention. ‘This poor girl is wound tighter than a spring.’ The older woman wanted to alleviate some of the pressure building beneath the surface.

“So how long have you known our Johnny?”

She grinned looking up at Polly. “Oh, dat heathen? Probably since I was about fourteen?” Her eyes widened at the fact that she’d known Johnny for ten years now.

Thinking back to simpler days brought a soft smile to her lips. Her eyes drifted off to a faraway girl that hadn’t been around in some time. She was a wild girl back then. There was a lot more she could get away with because she “didn’t know any better”. Running around with boys twice her age seemed to be one of the biggest. Her mother had a heart attack nearly every time she noticed her prancing around with them.

“I think I met Johnny on the edge of a clearing to a field of wildflowers,” she chuckled and continued, “very cliché, right?”

Rambunctious and loud, Ellie had run out through the trees not looking where she was blasting off to. She had toppled into a much younger Johnny. With her velocity, they both plummeted to the ground.

“By Jesus, lass! What on Mother Earth are ya runnin’ from?”

Ellie sprung up. She scrambled to gain her footing like a foal. The raw umber colored orbs darted around looking for the opponent in the obvious game she was playing. She didn’t seem distressed in any sense except that she might lose the game she was in. Something screamed out from her soul that it was gentle, caring. She was worried about losing her intense game, but she was more worried about the man she overturned. “I’m sorry, mister! Are you okay?” Her small palm reached out to him with a kind dimpled smile to greet him. Grasping her hand, he allowed her to help him up.

“I’m okay...?” He let the unspoken question linger on the air.

The loose medium brown curls shook as the girl brought herself back to the current situation. “Oh! Eleanor, sir.”

“Well, Eleanor girl. What brings you out to this side of the field?”

The soft smile that lingered on her face as she came out of her reverie pulled a small grin to Polly’s lips.

Eleanor’s parents weren’t Romany, but they floated around often. They had stayed in Small Heath until 1911 when she was sixteen. She didn’t want to leave. There was something that was hiding just out of sight in the shadows that was drawing her in. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was. Small Heath, for being very industrial, had a magical air that surrounded it. The city had a way of pulling even the most strong-willed people in. She wasn’t quite sure how she had managed to win her argument of staying. She was shocked that her parents hadn’t fought harder to force her into coming with them.

There had been a lot of shouted words and hurt feelings. She wished they hadn’t left it stubborn and proud. She hadn’t heard from them since the war began. It wasn’t for her lack of trying. She searched high and low for them. The environment, political and public, was rushing downhill quickly and for a split second, she was ten again. She wanted the protection and safety of standing behind her dad’s legs or her mother’s skirt. She quickly realized that she wouldn’t find that again anytime soon.

During the few years before the war, she had run into Johnny again. She had just turned eighteen. She was struggling to make ends meet. The world was dipping further into the madness of war. He took her under his wing. He had kept her safe. He had given her a place to rest her head. Raised her like a sister. She always said she would forever be in his debt. Yet he never stopped looking out for her. Even now at twenty-four years old with her own home and lead on life.

“Well, it sounds like Johnny has treated you well. Kept you safe. Have you been in Small Heath since you were fourteen?” Polly worked on smoothing out the amount of salve on her cheek.

Ellie chewed on her bottom lip. “My parents and I were here from about thirteen until I was sixteen. They wanted to leave. I didn’t. I somehow won that argument. About a year later I realized the error of me ways, and I tried to find them.”

Polly nodded solemnly, slowing her hand motion, “I’m guessing you couldn’t?”

“Yeah. Hell, Johnny even tried to help once I ran into him again. His connections came up wit nothin ‘.”

They both became quiet. Stuck in their thoughts. Polly finished her cheek. She closed up the little tin that she put the salve in and slid it across the table to Ellie.

The scuffling sound of chairs on the hardwood floor brought the women back to the present. The men would be coming out soon.

“I want you to put that on your cheek and eye for about a week. If it’s not better, come back and we’ll see what I can cook up.”

Ellie nodded, taking the tin and placing it in the small pocket in her skirt. The door opened and Thomas spread his arms wide, keeping them from coming in contact with the wall. Oceans crashed into the earth as they made eye contact. She could have sworn the ground beneath her trembled. Her rosy lips parted slightly from the weight of his gaze.

Thomas stepped out followed by Johnny. “So did you ladies find something to talk about?”

“We did, Tommy.” Polly nodded with a smile that seemed like she was implying more than just a simple conversation. Eleanor shuffled her feet. The sooner she was home and in bed, the better.

“So Mr. Shelby,”

“Thomas, love.”

Her words faltered, “Uh, Thomas,” she said it as if she was gauging the word on her tongue.

“Do I have a clean slate or am I needed for more questions?” Her fingers began to fidget with the end of her sleeves. Catching the action, Thomas paused. She looked at him with hopeful doe eyes. He let a fraction of a smile crack through.

“You’re okay. Johnny says you’re trustworthy, so I’ll believe him. I am gonna walk you home though.”

She nodded. The unspoken ‘for now’ hung in the air. There was still some proving left to do. She said her goodbyes to the other two. Thomas went and stood by the door as she made her way to get her coat from in front of the fire. She was just happy she would be mostly warm for the walk home. He grabbed her coat from her and made a motion for her to hold out and arm.

“Let’s get on, eh?”

••

Thank you for reading!

Taglist: @hazelnmae @boogiewrites @reyloshipper-starwars @deanscroissant @ugly-crying-over-bucky-barnes @justanothershelby @parochialism @smallheathgangsters @cilliansky

Anyone who wants to be added, just let me know!

#bytheprickingofmythumb #Tommy Shelby #tommy shelby x oc #Peaky Blinders #peaky blinder fanfic #peaky blinders writing #thomas shelby #thomas shelby fanfiction #thomas shelby fanfic #thomas shelby x oc

[outlanderpod]

Who's joining us tonight for #Outlander episode 110? #ByThePrickingOfMyThumbs?

#outlander #bytheprickingofmythumbs

[weweremeanttobesl]

Agatha Christie es una de las autoras que más aprecio. Sin dudas, este es el libro que más amé de ella. Lo tenía en español (se llama El cuadro en nuestro idioma) pero lo preste a alguien que también le gustaba la autora y que me presto Telón. ¿Adivinaron? Si, yo devolví el libro y a mi no me lo devolvieron. Lo pedí varias veces de vuelta... nunca hubo suerte. Lo busque en negocios de segunda mano, en colecciones de la autora... sin suerte tampoco. Hasta que lo vi en @kelediciones en inglés y supe que tenía que ser mío. Remarco que esta portada es hermosa, como todos los de esta colección de Agatha. En cuanto al libro, es de el arco del matrimonio de sabuesos. Adoro a Tommy y Tupence Beresford, siendo de mis personajes preferidos de los creados por la autora. Es uno de sus últimos casos, y si les gustan las historias de espionaje y misterio, disfrutarán mucho con el matrimonio. #agathachristie #bytheprickingofmythumbs #elcuadro #chess #ajedrez #book #books #bookish #booknerd #bookworm #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booklover #bookblogger #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookporn

#agathachristie #bookish #bookblogger #bookaholic #bookporn #ajedrez #book #booklover #bytheprickingofmythumbs #booksofinstagram #bookworm #chess #bookaddict #booknerd #books #elcuadro #bookstagram

[frasersridgebrasil]

Outlander S01E10 #BythePrickingofMyThumbs

[nuriacarreras]

Mi pequeña selección para #septiembreconagathachristie.... Ufff como cuesta elegir! 🙄🙄🙄 Miss Marple en "Muerte en la vicaría" y "Némesis" , Hercule Poirot en "La muerte de Lord Edgware" y "El asesinato de Roger Ackroyd", Tommy y Tuppence en "El cuadro" y "La puerta del destino" #herculepoirot #agathachristie #queenofcrime #readcrimefiction #goldenageofcrimefiction #missmarple #tommyandtuppenceberesford #murderatthevicarage #themurderofrogeracroyd #posternoffate #bytheprickingofmythumbs #lordedgwaredies (en Catalonia, Spain) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnWWCm3HC_J/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ehlx63h28q8m

#septiembreconagathachristie #herculepoirot #agathachristie #queenofcrime #readcrimefiction #goldenageofcrimefiction #missmarple #tommyandtuppenceberesford #murderatthevicarage #themurderofrogeracroyd #posternoffate #bytheprickingofmythumbs #lordedgwaredies

[oh-englandmylionheart]

waiting to go out ... using the time to start this month's @maidensofmurder books ... #maidensofmurder #agathachristie #agatha #norm #bytheprickingofmythumbs #somethingwickedthiswaycomes #crimefiction #crime #tommyandtuppence #book #books #bibliophile #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #nowreading #reading #read #readingchallenge #goodreads #bookclub #ilovereading #ilovebooks #bookworm #booknerd #christie #igreads @igreads #fiction #booklover #bookofthemonth #summer

#readingchallenge #christie #ilovebooks #booklover #crime #booknerd #bookstagram #somethingwickedthiswaycomes #fiction #ilovereading #booksofinstagram #agathachristie #book #agatha #igreads #read #summer #crimefiction #bytheprickingofmythumbs #norm #bookworm #bookclub #nowreading #goodreads #tommyandtuppence #maidensofmurder #bookofthemonth #bibliophile #books #reading

[ayabruce1998-blog]

#agathachristie #books #bytheprickingofmythumb

[ecoamerica]

Watch the 2024 American Climate Leadership Awards for High School Students now: https://youtu.be/5C-bb9PoRLc

The recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by student climate leaders! Join Aishah-Nyeta Brown & Jerome Foster II and be inspired by student climate leaders as we recognize the High School Student finalists. Watch now to find out which student received the $25,000 grand prize and top recognition!

#ACLA24 #ACLA24HighSchoolStudents #youtube #youtube video #climate leaders #climate solutions #climate action #climate and environment #climate #climate change #climate and health #climate blog #climate justice #climate news #weather and climate #environmental news #environment #environmental awareness #environment and health #environmental #environmental issues #environmental education #environmental justice #environmental protection #environmental health #high school students #high school #youth #youth of america #school

[thilleshiem]

It’s #ThrowbackThursday 😊#outlander 👉📕 #bytheprickingofmythumbs ❤️ Credit to @GalkeSabine #JamieandClaire #LoveForCaitandSam #SamHeughan #CaitrionaBalfe #duncanlacroix #murtaghfraser (at Richland Center, Wisconsin) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwGp_L2B0qs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1kaf5eg3pwpwz

#throwbackthursday #outlander #bytheprickingofmythumbs #jamieandclaire #loveforcaitandsam #samheughan #caitrionabalfe #duncanlacroix #murtaghfraser

[davidgarciasilvermoondesign]

#bytheprickingofmythumbs #somethingwickedthiswaycomes . Got some new #fabric! Squeeeeeeeeeeeeee! . #staytuned #maleficent #mistressofevil #disneyvillainesses https://www.instagram.com/p/CBrRjfDj_Sc/?igshid=ljazjtnmeg62

#bytheprickingofmythumbs #somethingwickedthiswaycomes #fabric #staytuned #maleficent #mistressofevil #disneyvillainesses

[beesonestopcurioshop]

By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes.

Chapter 4: Can’t Look Away

Photo/Gif Credit: @murphyaddiction

Warnings: I’m pretty sure this chapter is quiet in this area.

Note: Hi y’all! I hope you’re safe and healthy. I’ve been able to get some writing done recently. I hope you enjoy it! I’m excited to hear what you think! Especially now that I have @ugly-crying-over-bucky-barnes beta reading it for me! She’s been a tremendous help so far.

••

Thomas had chosen a slow pace to walk from one end of town to the other. Ellie wouldn’t have minded but it was freezing after that rain. She had already been out in it long enough with the Lee boys. She rubbed her hands together when she noticed her fingertips starting to turn a light shade of blue.

When he felt the movement of her hands, she felt his hand drop away. She hoped he knew she wasn’t going to run. She wasn’t in the wrong. She had nothing to run for.

Ellie gave him a side glance. His energy seemed different. It wasn’t the usual “own the room with silent dominance” bravado he carried. It was quiet. Small almost. Something she never thought she would describe anything of Thomas Shelby as.

His eyes were far off as they strode to the other end of town to find Johnny. Thomas seemed to have thoughts cycling through his head in an awful loop that he was trying to forget. Ellie thought about it for a moment and then it hit her.

The horse. The gunshot. It had to have been that. The sound of the gunshot that saved her life, had ended another. How she had seen Thomas with the horse before, Ellie realized, she had seen a softer side of him. Horses had a special place in his seemingly chained up heart. Now she understood that what she was seeing was Thomas Shelby, distraught.

“Do you have something to say, Miss Byrne?” His smoke-laden voice disturbed the silence and a small gasp escaped her lips.

Ellie contemplated in silence for a moment. She had been walking on eggshells from the moment she realized she was in Zilpha’s presence. She was tired and frustrated over the events of the night and into early this morning. Her head and face hurt. She didn’t want to be careful anymore.

“No, Mr. Shelby. I was goin’ ta ask ya if you were okay, but then I realized what had happened.”

Those ice-blue eyes moved over to her, almost looking accusatory but somehow still impassive. “He looked at me wrong. No one looks at Thomas Shelby wrong and gets away with it.”

“I’m sure they don’t, Mr. Shelby. I’m sorry about the ’orse. I would have told you but, well, we know where I was.” Ellie’s face scrunched up from the pain in her cheek and she looked downward. She used her cold hand to gently lay it on her cheek. She hoped it would help calm the pain and heat.

Eleanor hadn’t noticed Thomas stopped until she felt his hand gently grasped her arm. His grip caused her to gently change direction and she walked back toward him. Ellie squinted at him in confusion while lowering her hand.

Thomas brought his hand up to assess her cheek but she flinched. “Let me look.” Ellie looked at him carefully but leaned back.

His hands were soft and surprisingly gentle as he tilted and turned her face. It startled her how gentle he was. She knew it wasn’t right to judge someone by their surface, but with a man like Thomas Shelby? She couldn’t help it.

She watched his eyes inspect her face. He was focused. Hyper focused almost. Trying to distract himself from outside variables. He had control over examining her cheek. The cold water blue of his eyes bounced around and looked for any sign of weakness in the structure of her face. Her distraction was welcomed greatly and silently. If she wasn’t up close and personal she would have thought he was frustrated.

“Does any of that hurt?”

Ellie shook her head, “I can feel the pressure though.”

Thomas poked and prodded at a few spots around the bottom of her cheekbone. It was when he got to the top, close to the outer corner of her eye that she hissed and drew backward quickly.

“Found it. We’ll get it taken care of when we get to Johnny.” Ellie placed her hand over her cheek protectively but nodded. She was so curious as to what exactly was going through his head because this is not the kind of treatment she had expected. She hadn't expected to be slapped around or anything but she didn’t expect the gentleness of it all.

“Mr. Shelby, listen. If you’re taking me somewhere to have me “taken care of,” could we just pause for a minute?”

“Do I have a reason to have you taken care of?” There was a concealed smirk gracing those dangerous lips of his.

“To the best of my knowledge, no. Ever since the fair and being seen within five feet of you, it seems like giving me a hard time, or potentially killing me has been on people’s list.”

“We’re just going to talk to Johnny. Nothing more, nothing less.” Thomas tossed his head in the direction of the flat they were heading for. The small motion of the man’s head made her stop and look.

The noise around Eleanor dulled as 6 Watery Lane came into view. There was a haze of fog not only out on the street but in her mind as well. She had seen this flat before in a dream. She was almost certain. It hadn’t been her eyes that experienced it though. She recalled being a bird. It wasn’t a habit of hers to be on this end of the city so that must have been why she remembered the place down to the kind of trim along the bottom of the window. Thomas tugged her along and the movement shook Ellie from her trance-like state.

They both noticed the only other moving being out on the street just happened to be the man in question himself. Johnny was making his way hurriedly to the abode.

Johnny went to knock but they were close enough that he heard their footsteps. He spun around on his heels when he saw the pair making their way to him.

“Eleanor stars above! I thought somethin’ had happened to ya!” Johnny rushed over in a flurry of motion and grabbed Ellie by the upper arms. “You’re freezin’!” He took off his jacket to sling across her shoulders.

Ellie chuckled gently at his flurry, “ I’m fine, Johnny. Really. Mr. Shelby and I were just lookin’ for ya.”

“Let’s go to your van, Johnny,” Thomas suggested with a swing of his large hand. Johnny was looking between the two of them, and even in the dark, Eleanor could tell he was confused. She couldn’t blame him. If he had been missing and all of a sudden turned up out of the blue with a friend of hers in the middle of the wee morning hours, she would be confused too.

She wasn’t sure how long she was knocked out for, but she had been gone for most of the day considering it felt like early morning. Johnny had probably tried to check up on her, he did every so often since her parents were so far away. It was nice to know that someone was looking out for you on the other end.

Ellie looked to the right and saw that his van was in fact, not far away. ‘At least it’ll be warm in there.’ She glanced between Thomas and Johnny and since they weren’t moving, she started to leg it over to the carriage.

“Well c’mon, gentlemen. The van isn’t gonna float over to us.” Ellie just wanted to get this show on the road so she could go home and sleep for two days.

Her steps faltered when a commotion of noise happened behind the door to 6 Watery Lane. It ended with a loud bang that caused her to jump. She assumed the person behind the door had overestimated the distance in haste and hit the door against the wall. All three of them turned to face the door as they were greeted with a woman who exuded authority. Ellie gave Thomas a passing look and clearly, he knew the mysterious woman. She sought Johnny out, and he knew her as well from the looks of things. It seemed that she was the odd man out.

Her voice rang loud and clear with a low smoky undertone, “Well, bring the poor girl inside!” Her tone left nothing to be argued about.

Eleanor inspected Thomas and watched as the muscles in his sharp jaw twitched. She felt his large warm hand come to hover over the small of her back and to direct her into the house. The heat from his hand gave her a shiver up her spine causing her back to arch away slightly. Not because she didn’t want it there, it was the fact that she didn’t mind that bothered her.

A sigh of comfort left her rosy lips as she finally made way into the sitting area. It was warm and she was very grateful for it. She had been damp and cold for long enough. “Thank you, I was beginnin’ to lose feelin’.” She let out a breathy laugh that seemed to twinkle in everyone’s ears.

“I’m Polly, and who might you be?” The lady waved her over to the fireplace that was still in view. Eleanor was confused at the hospitality of it all, but she wouldn’t be disrespectful in the woman’s house. From the looks on Thomas and Johnny’s faces, they weren’t expecting it either. Ellie came to stand right up against the hearth. She put her hands out to start pulling in warmth from the small fire.

“Eleanor, ma’am. A pleasure to meet you. I’m sorry for the late hour.” Ellie reached out for the extended hand.

Polly scoffed and waved her hand dismissively, “These boys have no concept of a late hour.”

Thomas watched the interaction with analytical inquisitiveness. He wanted to understand just what his Aunt was trying to figure out about their unexpected guest. Glancing over at Johnny made him feel even more suspicious because Johnny had a small smirk on his face while the women talked quietly. He pressed his lips together and felt his jaw tense.

Thomas cleared his throat lightly to catch Polly’s attention. He wanted to move this along. She flashed her eyes in his direction and nodded. He held out his hand pointing to the spot in the back of the kitchen where the meeting room was.

She fixed her gaze on Eleanor before nodding to the doors behind her. “Head through those double doors behind you there.”

Ellie turned on her heel following Polly’s nod. She could see the room Thomas was pointing at. She fell into apprehensive steps behind Johnny. He had lazily started making his way into the meeting room. The dread of how this conversation could go was slowly sinking into the pit of Eleanor’s stomach. The footfalls of the Shelby’s behind her sounded like judge and jury. The room had a large table and some chairs that could almost act as an informal court.

She realized that she was being dramatic. Thomas was just validating information for himself, as well as the safety and livelihood of his family. If she had truly been a thorn in his side, he would have already taken care of the issue. He wouldn’t have brought her to his place of residence for a chat if he thought anything severe was going on. Especially since he didn’t know her aside from the last few days.

Breathing a deep huff while motioning to a chair, she asked, “May I?”

She didn’t have much of a choice as Johnny grabbed her arm and the chair, plopping her down causing a small ‘oof’ to escape her rosy lips. “Easy on, Johnny. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

“You’ve had enough adventure to last a while. ‘Bout gave me an attack when I started havin’ trouble findin’ ya, Ellie girl. Where’ve you been?” Johnny placed his palms on his knees and locked his elbows.

Ellie chewed on her lower lip for a fraction of a second and sighed. “Zilpha had me.”

Her eyes moved back and forth between Johnny and Thomas. Johnny wore a look of shock. Eleanor wasn’t involved with the Lees. He couldn’t understand what the Queen would want with Ellie. Thomas has his left eyebrow raised just slightly. His reaction was more curiosity than shock. Ellie had a feeling that it took more than the events of the last 24 hours to drop Thomas’s jaw.

“I had noticed them messin’ with Mr. Shelby’s ‘orse. I wanted to leave and not be noticed. I didn’t want to be involved,” Ellie’s shoulders dropped a fraction. Between her head and face pounding and still being awake in the wee hours of the morning, she was tired.

Her eyes panned around the room at her audience, “I didn’t wanna be involved because to each his own, but I did want to tell someone. The poor horse didn’t deserve to get caught in the middle.” Ellie’s earthy-toned orbs landed on Johnny, but she didn’t get the chance to finish. Polly spoke up from the opposite side of Thomas.

“She was on her way to find you, Thomas.”

“Well, it was him since it is his ’orse, or Johnny because I knew it would get passed along.” Ellie found that Polly’s fixed stare had her rooted to her seat. It wasn’t a challenge, but she was sizing her up. The small smile that graced Polly’s nude-colored lips, made Ellie squirm a bit until she finally forced her eyes to look toward Thomas. Which the weight nearly leveled her making her just about regret it.

“That’s how I ended up gettin’ a good crack in the face. Like I said, I normally stay to myself and don’t run with anyone.”

Thomas interrupted her, “Then why did you involve yourself this time?”

“Out of respect for the loyalty you and Johnny have for each other. We see where that got me, though. A black eye and suspicion.” Her eyebrows rose a little bit at her audacity. The pain was starting to get to her.

“Eh?! Suspicion? Tom, is that why we’re here? Ellie bird only helps me out sometimes. She has nothin’ to do with the Lees. Nothin’ to do with that horse.”

Tom acknowledged the statement but pressed on. “What did you and Zilpha talk about?”

Ellie looked between the three sets of eyes all examining her in different ways, “She questioned my intentions. Which I don’t appreciate, Queen matriarch or not. I may have lied in self-preservation, telling her I wanted to leave Mister Charlie’s yard out the back because I was still upset from being let go from the Guns, and I was. Not as much as I let on though. The pub is under your protection,” her distant gaze landed on Thomas, “and the only reason Richard kept me around was because I wasn’t involved with any of ya’s. That meant he didn’t have to worry about trouble from me.”

“I have half a mind to go give Richard a piece. He didn’t tell me none of that.” Johnny was flustered and started to rise out of his chair.

Eleanor smiled in his direction and reached out a hand to stop him, “Johnny that’s very kind, but no. I can find another job just as easy.”

Ellie continued her explanation, “Zilpha then asked me about why my name has come up in conversation every time yours is mentioned recently. To which I have no idea. All I know is that someone at the fair saw me sayin’ goodnight and goodbye to Johnny that day when he was with ya’s then told Zilpha and my boss that I was all of a sudden conspirin’ with those Peaky Blinders and the devil Thomas Shelby himself.” Ellie rolled her eyes. Yes, he wasn’t the most innocent in the bunch, but he wasn’t awful. Someone that became that distraught from having to put a horse down had some humanizing qualities left.

Thomas paused for a moment. His breath caught in his throat. He realized that was the first time she had ever spoken his name aloud. He enjoyed the way it sounded as it softly left her lips. There was an intense locking of blue eyes that looked like they could be made from oceans and brown eyes that were as grounded in the earth like roots from a tree.

Polly leaned her elbow on the table placing her hand on her hand and her face fully engrossed in the silent collision happening in front of her. There was more to this girl than met the eye. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was an engaging air to her. On the surface, she appeared angelic, pure almost, but scratch just a little bit below and you could see she was familiar with certain devils. What devils were they, Polly couldn’t be certain. What she could ascertain, however, was that this small bird of a girl wasn’t frightened by them.

Johnny asked, “How did Tommy find ya?”

In the blink of an eye, the eye contact was broken and the spell was over. “The Lee boys Zilpha had with her, she eventually got tired of me not having the answers she was lookin’ for. They took me out near Mister Charlie’s yard. It was just ta scare me, but one of ‘em got bad-tempered and almost took me out.”

Looking through her lashes at Thomas, another spell was cast, “your gunshot, along with me actin’ mad, scared them off. So I have you to thank that I’m not in more trouble than I could have been. Divine timin’ an’ all. So thank you, Thomas.”

There it was again. His name floating in the air in a dulcet tone that made him want to sigh and believe for a moment that everything would be alright. There was an almost imperceptible nod from Thomas, but Ellie picked up on it right away.

“Is Stevie okay?” Ellie asked.

Thomas said, “yes, and you still have a place to keep him.”

Ellie scrunched her eyebrows. He had taken the question right out of her mouth. Thomas held her gaze, and she could have sworn he looked amused. It was a flicker in passing, but she had seen it in those mirrors that were as calm before a storm at sea but just as wild as one.

Polly cleared her throat, “Thomas if you've gotten enough from the poor girl, let me fix up her eye.”

Polly stood and walked behind Ellie’s chair, gently tapping her shoulders, convincing her the meeting was adjourned and she could follow along. Polly didn’t need permission from Thomas.

Ellie stood quietly and let herself be ushered along by Polly. The doors clicked shut behind them and the women made their way into the kitchen outside of the doors.

••

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