As promised, now for the best part of my 4k celebration, which are my recommendations for all of you to read! As I mentioned, I’ve only included the fics I’ve read in the last couple of weeks as I was planning this celebration. And I’ve had the pleasure of reading so much amazing work. I tried to narrow this down to 10 fics, but didn’t succeed lol. Please know, that if you’re not mentioned here but I have let you know I loved your work, it’s not because it wasn’t ‘good enough’, everything I’ve commented on I loved, but these really stood out to me. 👏👏👏
The dress she never got to wear (Shelby sis) - @julyzaa: This one utterly shattered my heart, there was so much angst and it actually made me cry. So, yeah, I’d totally recommend 😂
Funeral (shelby sis) - @zablife: I loved this one because of the beautiful writing about the war, what it did to Tommy, but also his sister. It was so deep and soft and the sign of a truly talented writer. I’ve read so much of your work this week, Lee, and I was in awe. Almost impossible to pick just one…
Are you a man or monster? (Arthur Shelby) - @the-makingsofgreatness: True art and written like poetry. These lines were all haunting and such an interesting cross-over, one that works so well. Also, 100 points for that gorgeous moodboard 😍
Lost and found (Tommy shelby x reader) - @pherelesytsia: the idea of Tommy as a single father attracted me to this story and it’s such an original take, written in a way that made me want to read on and on. The story was very cute and the ending made me feel all warm inside 😊
War Paint (Tommy x reader) - @runnning-outof-time: ah, K, I could list all of your stories on here, you’re such a brilliant writer. But I chose this one because I enjoyed every single second of it and I do enjoy a cheater getting punished…
Wishes in the tea leaves (Polly x Clara (OC Shelby sis) - @hb-writes: It’s no secret you’re one of my favourite writers on here and I adore Clara with all my heart, but the last few weeks I got to re-reading them again and found a few new ones! I loved this little tale with Polly and Clara, absolutely brilliant in every way, especially since I still miss Polly 😢
Greedy Bastard (Tommy x reader) - @celticmelody: This one made it on here, not just because of the excellent smut (can’t believe this was your first time writing it babes…), but also because of the story. It had me hooked from beginning to end and everything was perfect!
In another world (Grace and Ruby Shelby) - @retromafia: not the most likely one to choose maybe, but it made me bawl, so it deserves a special spot XD This was fantastically written as always, but check out all of her work, because Lily truly is a talent, as well as a doll ❤️
Love will keep you up all night (Tommy Shelby x reader) - @look-at-the-soul: pure, domestic, teeth-rotting fluff, and I needed it so much on a hard day, so I love you for writing this one!
Wherefore art thou (Isiah x Shelby sis) - @existenceisfunny: I needed way more Isiah in my life and then you showed up with these amazing fics! This one was probably my favourite; i loved the interactions, the whole idea of the story and all of the fluff a woman needs!!
Immoral (Ada Shelby x reader) - @bonniesgoldengirl: First off, you know I love you and everything you do and write. Ada’s always been my forever crush and this, THIS, was amazing. I’ve read the other one, with a bit more smut in it, about a hundred times, but this one was sweet and everything I could ever want (which is Ada)!
What a young girl should not know (OC shelby sis) - @lovelyalways: I love Nelly Shelby’s character so much, she’s so smart, and she fits into the family so well! It’s like she’s always been there. I’ve read all of them, but this one’s good as an introduction 😊
Little love (John Shelby x reader) - @disasterofastory: I will forever have a soft spot for John, and this one was so hilarious. John is written perfectly, especially when drunk, but this entire story is just so soft!
That was it sweet people, the end of my 4k celebration. I wanted to end with the fic rec list, because I realise full well that none of this would’ve happened without everyone’s support, those mentioned on here and all those others as well: Couldn’t have done this without you. Know that I appreciate and love you all!
Much love, Thura 😘
Nelly sees her father again for the first time in 10 years.
Masterlist
England, 1919
If Nelly had known what would come once she walked through that door, she wouldn't have walked in with Thomas.
Despite not having heard his voice for 10 years, she could recognize it anywhere.
“Aye, well, speak of the devil.” He exclaimed while standing up.
Nelly was walking in front of Thomas, but upon hearing and seeing their father, Thomas stopped her and made sure she was standing behind him. Nelly grabbed his coat in her hands, wanting to stay close to her older brother.
Their father caught a glimpse of his youngest daughter. “My beautiful, beautiful Eleanore. How are you, my dear?” He said, wanting to get closer to her, but Thomas's voice stopped him.
“Get out”
“Come on, son. I'm a changed man.” Their father said. Nelly rolled her eyes at that, how could someone as bad as him change?
Thomas shook his head. “This family needed you 10 years ago and you walked out on us. Not now, get out of this house.”
“Tommy, he's different-” Arthur started, but got interrupted by Thomas. “Shut up.” Arthur immediately fell quiet.
Their father looked at the eldest Shelby sibling. “It's alright, son. Arthur Shelby never stays where he's not welcome.”
He stopped in front of Thomas and Nelly, while making his way to the front door. “Quite something, you've become,” he addressed Thomas. “Goodbye, Eleanore.” He briefly looked at her, before exiting their home.
Nelly didn't waste a second and stormed up to her room, she wanted to be alone. She wanted to be in the comfort of her room. Thomas tried stopping her, but Polly told him to leave her.
Eleanore Shelby was only 4 years-old, when her father left their home. She doesn't know a life with him. She only knows one, with her brothers, sister and Aunt Polly.
She only has one memory of him, and for years she has wished she didn't have any of him.
It was a couple of days after Finn was born. It was night and he wouldn't stop crying. Their mother and Ada had tried everything to calm him down, but it seemed like nothing worked. Then Arthur Senior came home and hell broke loose. He started yelling at everything and everyone, it stayed like that for a while, like the usual.
Nelly was normally sleeping by this hour, but because of the cries from Finn and the commotion her father was making in the living room, she had woken up.
Perhaps what happened next was an unfortunate accident, but most of the Shelby family hadn't forgiven their father for this, and they never would.
No one had noticed Nelly walk in. Ada had given Finn back to their mother and had joined all of her other brothers trying to calm their father down.
Their father had started throwing things, anything he could find would fly across the room. He had grabbed one of his empty bottles and threw it without looking where it was headed.
The four eldest Shelby siblings turned their heads towards a sudden cry. They were met with a sight that broke their hearts. The bottle had collided on the ground in front of Nelly and the little girl had pieces of glass all over her body.
All of the siblings immediately ran to her and tried to calm her down. Nelly was in a lot of pain and couldn't help but cry.
“Oh, another bloody crybaby!” Their father yelled.
Fortunately for everyone, he walked out of the door. leaving the injured girl and her siblings alone.
Nelly was lifted up by Arthur and had a blanket wrapped around her.
Thomas explained what they were doing. “It's alright, Nell. We're going to Aunt Polly alright?”
“Ada and John, you stay here with mum and Finn, in case he comes back.” Arthur instructed them.
The pair nodded and made their way towards their mother's room, while Thomas and Arthur, who's carrying Nelly in his arms, walked as quick as they could to Polly's house. Throughout the whole situation, Nelly was crying her eyes out, not only from the pain, but she was also feeling overwhelmed. Although her brothers were trying to calm her down, their panicked reactions weren't helping.
They just walked into Polly's house, not bothering to knock and wait.
“Polly! Polly! Help!” Both of the brothers yelled, their voices booming through the house.
Their aunt came storming down the stairs. “Arthur and Thomas Shelby, if both of you don-” Her yelling stopped once she got sight of the crying girl in Arthur's arms.
“Oh, my Nelly” Polly immediately took the girl from Arthur's arms and layed her down on her couch.
She gave instructions to the boys. “Arthur, get a tweezer and bandages from the bathroom. Thomas, grab a couple of cloths and wet them.”
While the boys were doing what Polly told them to, she was calming Nelly down.
“My sweet Nelly girl, your brothers are freaking you out, eh? You're gonna be okay. You're a strong girl. You're a Shelby girl, Nelly. There's no one stronger on earth,” Polly was stroking Nelly's hair.
“You're gonna do great things, Nell. You're gonna be the smartest woman of England.” Nelly had stopped crying, focusing on her aunt's words.
The boys had arrived with the supplies, slightly out of breath from the running. They both calmed down, noticing that Nelly had stopped crying.
Arthur crouched down next to her. “Look at you, such a big girl.”
As Polly pulled the pieces of glass from Nelly's body, Arthur held her hand and Thomas stroked her hair. They explained to Polly what happened, she wasn't too surprised by his outburst, but the fact that the little girl got hurt, gave her just another reason to despise that man.
Nelly stayed with Polly that night, her aunt wanted to make sure Nelly was completely fine after what happened.
A few months later her mother died and shortly after that her father abandoned them.
Her time with her father was short, but the damages he caused were permanent. Nelly still had scars from that night, something she would have to live woth for the rest of her life.
She didn't consider him as her father. Arthur and Thomas, maybe even Uncle Charlie, were the men she considered father figures.
As Nell relived her only memory of her father, Polly had came into her room. She joined her on her bed. Nelly burst into tears and Polly held her in her arms and comforted her. Like she did 10 years ago.
They stayed like that for a while, both of them enjoying the comfort they were giving each other.
Polly hadn't been enjoying the changes the Shelby family had been going through, but she knew she could always count on Nelly.
Nelly is bothered by a man in the Garrison and her brothers fix the problem.
Masterlist
England, 1924
It was payday in Small Heath and the place-to-be tonight, was the Garrison.
Nell made a late arrival to the bar, as she had been in London the entire day, spending some time with her friends over there.
Originally she wasn’t planning on going to the Garrison, but John had insisted she would go and she had agreed.
She smiled upon seeing Arthur and John by the bar counter. She walked towards them.
“Hey, boys.” She put her arms around their shoulders, while greeting them.
They both slightly flinch, but smile immediately when they see it’s their little sister.
“You bloody made it.” John said.
Nell smirked at her brother, before grabbing a cigarette from her clutch, but she couldn’t fin her lighter.
Arthur noticed. “Here, Nell.” He lightened her cigarette for her.
She winked at him, as a way to say “thank you”.
Arthur got up from the stool and fixed his jacket. “I’ll see you lot later, I’ve to check up on Linda.” He said.
She nodded at him. Meanwhile, John couldn’t help teasing his older brother. “Yeah, checking up.” He said, raising his eyebrows.
“Fuck off, John.” Arthur laughed, and he disappeared in the crowd.
There were a lot of people present in the Garrison, more than Nell anticipated.
“What ‘re you drinking, Nell?” John asked her.
She thought for a moment. “I’ll just have a gin.” She answered, taking another puff.
“Oi! Get the lady a fuckin’ gin!” John yelled.
While the two Shelby sibling started laughing with each other and catching up, they didn’t notice the man next to them, taking Arthur’s previous seat.
John was caught off guard for a moment when an acquaintance greeted him. Nell didn’t know him, so she took a sip from her gin.
She suddenly felt a hand cupping her ass. She took a step back, and scoffed. She saw John’s acquaintance just leaving and took his place next to John.
“John, that cunt just touched my ass.” She told him, folding her arms.
His head immediately turned. “What?”
“That guy, next to you, just grabbed my ass.” She confirmed.
John got up from his seat, taking a few step and stopping next to the man in question.
“Did you just fuckin’ touch my sister?” He asked, angrily.
The guy looked scared. “Your sister? No.” He denied, while directly looking at Nell.
She rolled her eyes at that.
“Are you saying she’s bloody lying?” With each second that passed, John was getting more pissed off. You don’t touch his baby sister, without her permission.
“Mate, I didn’t touch her.” He denied, again. The guy had gotten up from his seat.
John had enough and punched the guy in the face. Straight away, he fell to the ground.
Nell just took a step back, slightly enjoying the show. That guy really had the audacity to touch her and then lie about it.
While John continued to beat the guy. Thomas and Arthur had approached Nell, asking her what was going on.
“The guy he’s beating up, grabbed my fucking ass and then told John I was fucking lying about it.” She explained, nonchalantly.
Automatically, Arthur moved to help John, to beat the fucker up, but Thomas stopped him.
He whispered something in Arthur’s ear and Arthur nodded at him.
They both grabbed John off the guy, and he loudly protested.
“Tommy, he touched Nell!” He yelled.
Like with Arthur, Thomas whispered something in John’s ear.
She saw John smirk and nod at his older brother.
Arthur and John grabbed the guy, who looked unrecognisable with all the blood in his face.
“Enjoy your gin, Nell,” Thomas told her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “Guys, come on.” He instructed Michael, Isiah and some other Peaky Blinders.
Nell watched as her older brothers, followed by some Peaky Blinders, dragged the man out of the Garrison.
She honestly didn’t care what would happen to him, she didn’t appreciate being called a liar.
About ten minutes later, the men walked back into the Garrison, like nothing had happened.
The three Shelby brother walking over to their little sister.
“He isn’t dead, right?” She asked them.
They just laughed. “No, Flower, but he won’t fuckin’ touch you again.” Arthur told her.
She nodded, with a slight smirk.
Even though Nell was old and capable enough to handle those kind of men on her own, sometimes she likes the help of her older brothers. According to them, the message would be clearer then.
When Inspector Campbell threatens Thomas, he mentions what could potentially happen to Nelly.
Masterlist
England, 1919
“Now before I give the address. I want your word, that you will let Freddie Thorne and my sister leave the city.” Thomas held the paper with the address of communist Stanley Chapman up, in front of Inspector Campbell.
Polly had given him the address, wanting to make sure Ada was safe.
The inspector nodded. “Very well. You have my word.”
Thomas handed him the paper.
He felt like he had the control now, but Campbell still wanted those stolen guns and the Peaky Blinders had them.
Campbell sat himself down on a chair, in front of Thomas and started talking about what could happen if he didn’t get those guns.
“I will be replaced. It would be the finish for me, that’s for sure.” The Inspector rambles.
“When my business with Kimber is done, the guns will be returned. That was the deal.” Thomas promises him.
The mood shifted. Campbell realised everything is in Thomas’s hands now and he doesn’t like that.
“I say this for your sake. Because, if I were to be fired and it were your fault. I would do things that would shame the devil.” He laughed.
Campbell continues. “On my last day in power for example, I would see to it that you and your scum brother have your heads stoves in with mallets and spades. And your sister too. The baby inside her would be of no consequence to me,” He threatened Thomas.
Thomas watches in disgust as Campbell listed what could happen to his siblings, not making a sound at all.
“The only ones to be spared would be your youngest ones, Finn and Eleanore,” he goes on, without interruption from Thomas.
“Finn would however be lifted as a juvenile, and dumped into that part of the adult prison, where men have the most appetite for boys like him,”
Campbell moved on to Nelly next. “And Eleanore, poor girl. She’ll be moved to a place where adult men can have their way with her. She’ll end up pregnant and will be outcasted, along with her bastard child,”
“That would be a dark day indeed, Mr. Shelby.” Campbell finally finished
As the inspector walked away, his back turned, Thomas pulled out his gun and pointed it at Campbell. But he didn’t pull the trigger.
The thought of Finn and Nelly being left alone like that, and being abused, infuriated him. The way Campbell also said it casually, intimidated him. Something that doesn’t happen a lot.
His threat definitely made Thomas rethink about a lot of things. Including the involvement of his youngest sibling in the business.
Nelly meets Billy Kimber and attends John’s wedding.
Masterlist
England, 1919
“It’s a good day.”
Nelly’s sitting in the betting shop, checking the money and books of the day. The day’s over and almost everyone’s going home.
Polly had made her way to Nelly’s desk, to inform the young girl about the family meeting that’s been called.
Thomas had also arrived at Nelly’s desk, asking where John is. Normally John stays with Scudboat to guard the betting shop, but he wasn’t there.
“John is in the Garrison. He says he wants a meeting about a family matter,” Polly tells Thomas. “After he’s said his piece he’ll come back and take his place with Scudboat.” She reassured him. Thomas doesn’t look sure though.
“Scudboat? John will be here in ten minutes.” Polly explains to him.
Scudboat nods. “All right.”
“Five minutes. Come on, Nell.” Thomas said, changing the time for when John will be back.
The three Shelby’s make their way to the Garrison, not noticing the horse car behind them, stopping in front of their home.
They walk into the side room and are met with John and Arthur already waiting for them. Nell goes to sit next to Arthur, who smiles at her and puts his arm around her shoulder.
Thomas starts. “John, there’s only one man guarding the house. What’s troubling you?”
John starts explaining that it’s been very hard for him since Martha died and that it’s been difficult dealing with the kids.
“Now what’s your point?” Polly asks him.
John looks down, not looking at anyone. “What the kids need is a mother. So that’s why I’m getting married.” He tells everyone.
Nelly looks from John to Arthur, seeing he’s surprised as well, she gathered John really hadn’t told anyone about it. She’s surprised, she didn’t know John was seeing someone.
“Does this poor girl know you’re going to marry her, or are you going to spring it on her all of a sudden?” Polly asks him.
He looks up at Polly. “I already proposed and she said yes.”
“John, who are you marrying?” Nelly asks her older brother, still confused.
Thomas speaks before John can. “I think there’s a shell about to land and go bang.”
Everyone looks up confused at Thomas, wondering what he means. Nelly looks back at John anticipating his answer.
“It’s, er... It’s Lizzie Stark.” John admits, looking at everything except his family members.
Polly, Arthur and Thomas can’t hold their laughter, meanwhile Nelly is able to hold hers in.
She doesn’t have anything against Lizzie Stark, it’s just that she well aware of who the woman is, or better to say, what the woman does.
Polly is the first one to say something. “John, Lizzie Stark is a strong woman, and I’m sure she provides a fine service for her customers.”
“I won’t hear the word! Understand? Do not use that word!” John interrupts her.
“What word is that John?” Thomas asks him.
John is still refusing to look at his older brother behind him. “You know what that word is.”
“Everybody bloody knows.” Arthur speaks up.
“Everybody can go to hell.” John counters.
Thomas decides to say the word. “Whore? That word? Or prostitute? How about that one?”
“Right. I want it known. If anyone calls her a whore again, I will push the barrel of my revolver down their throats, and blow the word back down into their hearts.” John warns everyone.
Nelly scoffs at John’s warning. Everyone turns their head towards the youngest one in the room. “Men can only think with their cocks, eh?” She says, to no one specific.
Polly agrees with her niece. “Right. John, Lizzie Stark never did a day’s work vertical...”
John interrupts her again. “She’s changed! All right. People change, like with religion.” He tries to convince everyone.
“Lizzie Stark has got religion, eh?” Thomas interrupts John, this time.
“No! No, she doesn’t have religion. But,” he stutters. “But she loves me.”
“Now listen, Tommy. I won’t do it without your blessing. But of all the people in the world, I want you to see it... as brave.” John finishes, standing up and finally looking at Thomas.
Arthur mocks his brother a bit. “Oh, it’s brave alright.” He smiles at Polly.
Polly follows the oldest Shelby sibling. “Brave is going where no man has gone before. And with Lizzie Stark, John that’s not what you’ll be doing.” She laughs.
“Listen, Tommy. Welcome her to the family,” John ignores the teasing and focuses himself on Thomas. “As someone’s who’s had a hard life. All right? Because I need someone. The kids need someone.” He finishes.
The door suddenly opens and Finn appears.
“Tommy! We’ve been done over.” Finn tells everyone, completely out of breath from running.
Everyone immediately gets up. Polly grabs Nelly’s hand, wanting her close to her.
They make it to the betting shop and check all the damages that have been done.
“What the bloody hell happened here?” Arthur yells through the room.
Scudboat answers him. “The Lee’s. All of them. Cousins, nephews, even their bastards...”
“They’ve taken anything they can lay their hands on.” Polly says.
“Four cash boxes.” Nelly says, checking how much money they took.
Thomas walks up to everyone. “They left these.” In his hands, wire cutters.
“Nobody move.” Arthur orders.
“I think our friends are playing the game.” Thomas says, looking around the room.
Polly takes the cash boxes out of Nelly’s hands and wants to put them back. “What game?”
“Aunt Pol, don’t touch anything!” John stops her.
Thomas explains to everyone that Erasmus Lee was in France and that whenever they gave up grounds to the Germans, they used to leave booby traps behind that were set up with wires. They would leave wire cutters as part of the joke.
“Somewhere in here, there’s a hand grenade.” John says.
“Attached to a wire.” Arthur finishes for him.
John notices Nelly’ scared look and quickly puts his arms around her. “It’s alright, Nell. We’re here.”
Thomas shakes his head. “It’s not in here. If it was in here, it would have blown up by now. It was my name on that bullet Erasmus sent. He’s set up a trap all right. But he’s set it up just for me.”
It’s like Thomas realised where the hand grenade is and moves out the door, not letting anyone follow him.
-----
It had been a couple of days since the trap from the Lee’s and Nelly was working again in the shop.
Mr. Kimber and his accountant, Mr. Roberts, would be visiting the betting shop today. That’s what Thomas had told them.
The two of them looked around, observing the business as they made their way to Thomas’s office.
She watched as John, Lovelock and Scudboat were called in by Thomas.
She wasn’t really scared of Billy Kimber, but she knew he had a lot of power, but she also knew that the Peaky Blinders had power, not as big as Kimber’s but still. She wasn’t too worried about his presence in the shop.
Suddenly, Thomas called her into his office.
Polly tried to stop her from going in, not wanting Nelly subjected to that side of the business, but Thomas insisted. “It’s okay, Pol. Just want to introduce her.”
Nelly stepped into his office, kind of unsure of what to do. Thomas reached out and put his arm around her shoulder. John, Lovelock and Scudboat, who were still standing in the office, moved closer to the girl, in case Kimber or Roberts decided to try anything.
“This is our Chief Accountant and my little sister, Eleanore Shelby.” Thomas said, he almost sounded proud saying that.
“Nelly, this is Mr. Kimber,” he said, while pointing at Kimber. “And this is his accountant, Mr. Roberts.”
Roberts reached his hand out for Nelly to shake, but John quickly moved in front of her.
“Easy, John Boy, he’s just being polite.” Thomas calms him down.
John moves aside and Nelly shakes the accountant’s hand, with a polite smile on her face.
Kimber does the same as his accountant and reaches out his hand, Nelly repeats her action, shaking his hand with a polite smile.
“How old are you, young lady?” Kimber asks her, with a creepy smirk on his face. Something none of the Peaky Blinders nor Nelly appreciated.
Nelly’s polite smile faded and was replaced for a disgusted look. “I’m fourteen, you pervert.” She quickly said, pulling her hand back.
Before Kimber could say anything back, Thomas slightly pushed her behind John, in between Lovelock and Scudboat.
“That’s enough, my apologies Mr. Kimber.” Thomas said.
Kimber just rolled his eyes and left the office, not wanting to stay for a second longer.
First, Mr. Roberts slightly smiled while giving Thomas a paper, before following Kimber and leaving the betting shop.
Thomas made his way to the front of the shop, to announce something.
“Gentlemen,” Polly and Nelly loudly clear their throats as Thomas begins. “And ladies,”
“I have in my hand a legal betting license. Issued by the board of control,” Thomas slightly starts smiling. “The Shelby Family, has its first legal racetrack pitch.”
The entire room starts cheering as Thomas finished his announcement. Nelly is the first one to make it to Thomas and hugs him. Polly joins them as well, being full of joy. As more people come to congratulate the siblings, Thomas doesn’t let go of his little sister, slightly lifting her off the ground.
He still had Kimber’s look on his mind. Nelly has had her fair share of adult men hitting on her. Normally, she would either kick them in the groin or let her brothers handle it, but with Kimber nothing could be done. It infuriated Thomas, the thought that he couldn’t protect his little sister from everything killed him.
-----
The only thing Thomas had told her about the occasion was that John was getting married and he needed a flower girl. So here she was, in a pretty dress, with a flower crown on her head and a basket full of flower petals.
The women of the Lee Family had made the flower crown for her. During that short time when they got her ready, she had met John’s ‘future’ wife, Esme. She was very sweet with Nelly, giving her many compliments.
Nelly really liked Esme and told her that John was going to like her as well. Esme asked her a few things about John and Nelly happily answered, kind of relieved Esme was likeable and beautiful.
When Thomas told her he had found a new wife for John, she was a little scared that maybe she wouldn’t be likeable and maybe even mean, but those worried flew out to window as she talked to Esme.
“Come on, ladies, he’s been approved. The ceremony will start!” Johnny Dogs told them.
He held out his hand for Nelly. “Come here, Nell. You’ll stand next to me,” he explains to her.
While they’re walking to where the ceremony will take place, he instructs her on what to do.
“When I officially pronounce them as man and wife, you can throw the flowers over their heads, alright?” Nelly nods at him, understanding what she needs to do.
He pads her head. “Good girl.”
Johnny lets go of her hand when they arrive at the front.
When Nelly sees her brothers arrive she waves at them. The brothers laugh, but they wave back, finding the excitement of their youngest sister adorable.
As John sets his knees down on the stool, she gives him a big smile. He smiles back her, but with big nerves.
During the ceremony, she can’t help but focus on Ada and Thomas. She hadn’t seen her sister in awhile. They didn’t let Nelly see her, because it might put her in danger.
Johnny Dogs’s words pulled her attention back to the ceremony. “I now pronounce you man and wife!”
She got the queue and grabbed as much petals as she could and threw them over their heads.
As John and Esme shared their first kiss, she continued to throw the petals, finding the scene romantic.
Once there were no more petals, Johnny Dogs told her to go to Thomas.
She nodded at him, put the basket down and ran towards her brother.
He opened his arms for her and gave her a big hug, which had her feet off the ground.
“Did you see me?” She asked him.
He put her back on the ground. “Yes, I did, Nell, you look beautiful.” He answered.
She focused her attention on her big sister.
“Ada, did you see me as well?” She gave her sister a hug.
Ada smiled at her sister’s enthusiasm. “Yeah, now you have a flower crown like me.”
Nelly nodded at that, remembering the flower crown she had made with her sister for her wedding.
“How are you doing? How’s the baby doing?” Nelly asked Ada.
Ada looked down at her belly, even bigger than the last time she saw Nelly.
“We’re doing good, Nell, I’m just happy to be with all of you again.” Ada assured her.
Arthur interrupted the moment between the two Shelby sisters. “Oi! Where’s my hug?”
Nelly turned around and walked into Arthur’s open arms. He lifted her up, like he just to do when she was a toddler, but he could still do it, apparently.
“Look at our Shelby Flower, you did great, Nelly!” Arthur complimented his baby sister.
“Let’s go dance now, eh?” He said loudly, making the Peaky Blinders around him cheer loudly.
The party was booming. It had been a long time since Nelly had this much of a great time. She had watched the fireworks and she had danced with so many people. With Arthur, Ada, Aunt Polly, John and Esme, Johnny Dogs and also some kids from the Lee Family.
She was dancing with Esme and John, when Ada started yelling.
“Ada, calm down.” Polly said to her.
Ada started loudly panting and suddenly her water broke.
She grabbed Ada’s hand and guided her back to one of the cars, as Thomas put his jacket around Ada’s shoulder.
-----
Ada was lying against Nelly’s chest as Polly told her to keep pushing. Esme was helping them, as she had helped at a few deliveries herself.
“Come on. Not long to go now, darling.” Polly told Ada. Who was screaming at the top of her lungs.
Ada leaned forward to be able to push better, and her screams got even louder.
Nelly gasped. “I can see the head, Aunt Pol.” She announces.
“Nelly, try to hold the baby, as it comes out. Ada, darling, you’re almost there, just give one big push.” Polly instructed.
Ada gave one last big push and the baby was out. Nelly grabbed the baby and saw it was a boy.
“It’s a boy.” She smiled.
She quickly gave the boy to Ada, who was still panting, but once she saw her son, was smiling from ear to ear, with tears in her eyes.
Esme had grabbed a blanket for the little boy, so he wouldn’t be cold.
After some time, Ada had settled herself, with her son in her arms, in the kitchen, while Nelly was seated beside her.
Suddenly, Freddie appeared. Nelly got up from her chair, so he could sit next to Ada and his son.
Nelly watched with tears as she saw the family reunited with each other.
The moment was destroyed as the police had arrived, banging on the door and eventually just coming in, kicking down the door. Esme and Nelly tried to stop them, but it didn’t work.
“You’re taking me away from my baby!” Freddie yelled, as the coppers took him away.
Nelly quickly joined Polly in comforting Ada, who was yelling for Freddie.
“Eleanore, you take care of your sister, I’ll be right back!” Polly instructed her.
Nelly nodded and Polly ran out the door, presumably the Garrison, where her brothers were.
As Ada cried, Nelly cried with her.
A good ending for the couple, was nowhere near in sight.
Nelly tries to help Ada and Freddie, but that seems harder than she thought.
Masterlist
England, 1919
“What do you think, Ada?”
Ada was seated in front of Nelly’s vanity. She had asked her little sister to do her makeup for her secret wedding. Nelly had sneaked Ada into the house, so no one would see her.
“I love it.” She replied, while looking at herself in the mirror.
Ada looked at her sister through the mirror, she gave her a smile. “Thank you for doing this, Nell. I wouldn’t have been able to do this on my own.”
“You don’t have to thank me. What else are sisters for?” Nelly smiled back at her.
Nelly suddenly remembered something. “Oh. I have a surprise for you.”
Ada turned around, with a curious look on her face. “What surprise?”
Nelly opened her closet and took out a veil.
She had stayed up all night to hand make a veil for her older sister. She had cut a piece of fabric from her curtain and sewed it until it somehow became the form of a veil.
Ada opened her mouth in surprise. “Nelly, oh my god.”
“What’s a bride without her veil, right?” She smiled at Ada.
“But let’s do your hair first, and then I’ll put on the veil.” She told her sister.
Ada nodded at her and she grabbed the flower crown they had made for this special occasion.
Nelly carefully put the flower crown on Ada’s head and twisted her sister’s hair a little bit.
“You look beautiful, Ada.” Nelly told her sister. She had put slight curls into Ada’s hair and the flower crown added some beautiful detail to her hair.
Nelly grabbed the veil. “And now the veil.” She secured it on Ada’s head with some clips, so it wouldn’t fall off.
After checking everything and retouching the makeup a bit, Ada was ready to get married.
“Look at you. All ready.” Nelly said, excitedly.
Ada smiled a bit nervous. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
“It’s going to be okay, Ada. This is your big day, it’s not very common like this, but still.” Nelly comforted her sister.
Ada nodded and walked towards the door, she turned around, to look at her little sister.
“Thanks Nell. Really, thank you so much.” Nelly saw the appreciation in Ada’s eyes as she thanked her.
Nelly smiled. “Come on, go on. Tell me everything about it afterwards.”
“I will. Goodbye, Nell.” Ada waved quickly and then she disappeared into the city.
Nelly watched her sister leave, in her wedding gown, hoping that whatever would happen, Ada would be okay.
-----
Polly and Nelly sat in silence in the kitchen, as they heard Thomas enter their home. Worry written all over her Aunt’s face.
About an hour after Ada left, Polly came home. Nelly had been sitting in the kitchen already, when her Aunt came in. Polly could see her youngest niece, had something on her mind. Nelly was smart, but she was not subtle.
Polly grabbed a chair and sat next to her niece. One concerned look from Polly and Nelly told her everything. Ada and Freddie hadn’t left and Ada was now a married woman.
“How do you know that, darling?” Polly grabbed Nelly’s hand, as she asked her. She was angry on the inside, but didn’t want to take it out on Nelly, knowing she doesn’t have any bad intentions.
Nelly looked down. “Because I helped Ada get ready for her wedding.” She admitted.
Polly had just nodded at her and got up from her chair. She poured herself a glass of wine and grabbed a cigarette, probably to calm herself down.
Thomas entered the kitchen and had saw Nelly first.
“You alright?” He asked her, but she didn’t answer, just looking at Polly.
Polly spoke up instead. “Are you armed?” She asked him.
“No”
“Then I’ll tell you,” she looked at Thomas before speaking again. “Ada and Freddie Thorne were married today. They defied your orders, they haven’t left the city.”
Thomas pulled his cigarette from his mouth and looked around in frustration.
He made his way around the table and stopped behind Nelly’s chair. He put one of his hands on the chair and looked at her.
“And you knew this?” He asked her, looking deep into her eyes.
Again, she didn’t say anything, she simply nodded at him.
He sighed. “All right, another sister who doesn’t tell me anything.”
Polly intervened. “Thomas, I’ll deal with it.”
Thomas sighed again and asked where Ada and Freddie were currently.
“Freddie’s comrades have safe houses. Why do you want to know?” Polly asked him in confusion.
“I want to send them flowers. Why do you think?” He replied sarcastically.
Nelly had the urge to roll her eyes at her older brother, but given the situation she was in now, it was better to not do that.
“Would it be so bad if they stayed?” Polly asked him.
Thomas fixed his posture before answering his Aunt. “I promised I’d run Freddie out of town.”
For the first time since he entered, Nelly looked at her brother, same for Polly.
“Who did you promise?” Nelly asked Thomas.
He briefly looked at her, before looking into the betting shop, where one of the other accountants was seated.
Polly got his message and closed the doors, for more privacy.
Once the doors were closed, Thomas spoke up. “I told the coppers Freddie wouldn’t come back. It was part of the deal.” He told them.
“What bloody deal?” Polly asked him.
“What happened to family votes? What happened to meetings?” Her face nothing but seriousness.
“If you let me deal with Ada and Freddie, it’ll end in peace. Christ knows you have had your fill of war.” She told him.
Thomas was quiet for a moment and got closer to Polly’s face. “You get Freddie out of town, Pol. Or else I’ll deal with him myself.” He said to her.
He opened the doors of the betting shop again and left the two women in the kitchen, without a goodbye.
-----
“What the bloody hell are they doing here?”
Polly and Nelly had waited for Ada and Freddie, in their current safe house.
“Two hundred pounds, Freddie.” Polly said, while holding up the pack of money.
“For what?” Freddie scoffed.
“For us,” Ada replied. “For a honeymoon that goes on forever.”
The three women watched Freddie sit down on his bed, as he sighed.
He asked where the money came from, looking at Nelly.
“It’s from the family fund.” She replied to him.
He nodded at her. “Pockets of widows and desperate men.” He taunted her almost.
Ada sighed at him. “See sense, Freddie.”
“Tommy is not going to let this rest. Times like these, a communist in the family is bad for business. You have to leave the city.” Polly told him.
Freddie grabbed his cigarette out of his mouth. “You think I can’t handle Tommy Shelby?”
Nelly answered him. “You can’t.”
“I am having trouble these days and I’m twice the man you are.” Polly interrupted her.
Freddie just scoffed and lit up another cigarette.
“I went into town. The Cunard office. I booked you both tickets for the next boat, from Liverpool to New York.” Their Aunt explained to him.
“America, Freddie. They’ve already had their evolution, you won’t have to bother.” Ada added.
He stayed silent for a bit, before speaking up again. “Would you ladies at least let a man sleep on it?” He asked them.
Polly grabbed her and Nelly’s coat and walked out the door. Nelly quickly gave Ada a kiss on the cheek, before following her Aunt.
Nelly wished Freddie had just accepted the money and the tickets. Her Aunt Polly had gone through great trouble to plan everything for the young couple and he always still acting stubborn.
As her and Polly were walking back to Watery Lane, her Aunt grabbed her hand.
“It’s going to be alright, Nell. He’s going to listen eventually and they both will be safe.” She reassured Nelly, or maybe the woman was trying to convince herself, that it would be alright.
Hey this is a side blog so I can’t reply to your sweet comments but just know that I see them and I appreciate you! I also can’t follow anyone back with this account but I love all of you ♡ ｡ﾟ(*´□`)ﾟ｡
Nelly joins a business deal with the Lee Family and tries to help Ada in her situation with Freddie Thorne.
Masterlist
England, 1919
“I thought you said we were going to the fair.”
Thomas had asked Nelly the day before if she wanted to join all of her brothers to the fair the next day. She had excitedly accepted, not having been to the fair in a long time. She also accepted because it had been awhile since she had spent some quality time with her brothers.
She was as equally confused as Arthur when Thomas didn't stop the car at the fair, but at a camp.
“We have business first, come on.” Thomas explained.
Nelly stayed seated, deciding to stay with Finn who was sitting next to her in the car. She recognized Johnny Dogs, she had met him a handful of times before. She trusted him, he was very friendly with Thomas, despite working for another family.
While she observed the two of them talking, Thomas called her over.
“Nell, get over here!” he yelled.
She got out of the car, but turned around so she was eye-to-eye with Finn.
“You stay in the car, alright?” She ordered Finn. He gave her a smile and a nod.
Once she made it to her second oldest brother, he pointed at the white horse next to him. “What do you think?” He asked her.
Nelly has had a fascination for horses since she was a baby. Her uncle Charlie had taught her how to ride them, when her brothers were in the war. She always thought of them as her spirit animal. To her they symbolised freedom, endurance, beauty and also majesty. She has a deep connection with horses, that's why she loves and appreciates Curly so much, he has taught her a lot about horses and he also feels that connection.
She caresses the horse. “She's beautiful, Tommy,” she looks back at him with a smile. “Did you buy her?” She asks him, with a slightly confused face.
“No, I didn't buy her, Nell.” He tells her, with a smirk on his face.
Nelly looked over at Johnny Dogs who was looking inside their car, he was observing it.
Arthur started to speak, understanding the situation. “Hang on a minute, you're not swapping the family car for a bloody horse.”
“Of course we are not swapping it. That would be mad.” Johnny tells him.
“We're gonna play two-up.” Thomas intervenes.
Nelly just looks on from the side when the two men grab a coin and flip it into the air. The two coins landed on the ground, the rest of the people anticipating who had won the car and horse.
From the first glance it looked like Johnny Dogs had won the two-up.
Arthur spoke up in frustration.“I knew it. Tommy, you bloody idiot.”
Thomas explains to him that he actually won, but that he had promised Johnny a spin in the car in case he lost.
The three Lee family members who were watching the interaction of the two Shelby brothers started laughing at Arthur's misunderstanding. Something Thomas didn't appreciate.
He approached them. “Are you Lee boys laughing at my brother?” The Lee boys in question stopped their laughter and walked up to Thomas.
Nelly stopped caressing the horse and paid attention to the scene that was unfolding in front of her. Johnny Dogs also came back from the car, wanting to diffuse the situation.
“Tommy! Come on, it's just a crack,” he got in between Thomas and the Lee boys. “Get your family out of here and go and enjoy yourselves at the fair before they start a war, eh?” He told Thomas. Johnny turned around and started talking to the Lee family in Romani. The only thing she understood was that their grandfather was a King.
Nelly and her brothers had started walking back to the car when one of the Lee boys spoke up.
“Yeah, but the girl over there looks like a fucking whore.” He said with no hesitation, referring to Nelly.
She turned around upon hearing that, just in time to see her brothers take off their caps and attack the Lee boys.
She watched in shock until Johnny Dogs came up to her and instructed Nelly to get in the car. She did as he told her and sat in the back with Finn, shielding his eyes from what was happening.
Eventually, their three older brothers were done torturing the Lee boys and joined them in the car. John sat on the other side of her, while Arthur and Thomas sat in the front.
Nelly was the first one to speak up. “What about the horse?” She asked, looking at Thomas in the driver's seat.
“We just defended your honour and you ask about that fucking horse, fuckin' hell Nell.” John exclaimed, while smoking another cigarette.
Nelly looked up at him, quite offended. “Well it's a nice fucking horse, John.” She countered him.
“Oi! Stop it you two,” Thomas interrupted. “We're gonna wait until Uncle Charlie and Curly pick up the horse here.” He explains to Nelly.
“After that we'll go to the fair, eh?” Thomas asked, looking at the younger ones in the back.
Nelly scoffed. “I don't want to anymore. That gave me a fucking headache.” She said that while staring at the Lee boys outside, who still laid unconscious in the grass.
John just scoffed at her and Arthur gave her a pity look. “What about you Finn?” Thomas said to the youngest Shelby.
“I feel the same, Tommy.” He told him, not making eye-contact with him.
At the same time Uncle Charlie and Curly arrived with a truck for the horse.
Thomas opened the car door. “Then home we'll go.” He got out and walked to the two men.
-----
The lot arrived back to Small Heath. Confusion washed over them as they saw people scattered around the streets.
The family made it back to their home on Watery Lane. The moment the family stepped through the door, Aunt Polly instructed Nelly and Finn to go to their room.
“Aunt Pol, what happened?” Nelly asked her, while she made her way to her room.
Her Aunt gave her a comforting smile. “Don't worry about it, Nell. The family is fine, that's the most important thing.”
Nelly nodded at her and got up to her room, wondering if it had something to do with the new Inspector in Birmingham.
Once she made it in her room, she decided a bath would do her some good. She was a bit shaken up after the incident with the Lee Family and she wanted to relax. She grabbed her essentials and walked towards the bathroom.
A small voice interrupted her. “Nelly?” She turned around and saw Finn standing in the hallway.
“Yeah?” Finn walked over to her.
He hesitated, something that surprised her. Normally, Finn wasn't afraid to talk to his sister, always telling her his secrets.
“Hey Finn, you can tell me.” She got down on her knees, wanting to be on the same eye level as him.
To Nelly's surprise, the young boy hugged her, something that didn't happen a lot.
“I actually still wanted to go to the fair, but I said I didn't because you looked very upset.” He whispered in her ear.
Her heart just melted. She loves all of her family members the same, but she had a soft spot for her little brother.
She hugged him a bit tighter at his words. “Oh, Finnie. You're too sweet. I appreciate it. Next time, we'll go to the fair together, alright?” She held up her pinky and the two youngest made a pinky promise.
They both got up and she ruffled his hair, before opening the bathroom door.
-----
Nelly and her friend, Dorothy, were walking towards the fire that had been formed in the middle of the street.
“Nell, your brothers are fuckin' crazy.” Dorothy laughed.
Nelly just smirked at her friend.
The only thing her family had told her about the situation was that the new Inspector had fucked with the Peaky Blinders and that they were going to make a statement.
The girls made it to the fire. Dorothy was holding a portrait of the King in her hands, which once belonged in her family's living room.
“Come on, Dora, throw it in there!” John, who was standing next to them, told her.
Nelly nudged her and her friend threw it in the fire. Both of them screaming from excitement, along with the rest of the people who had gathered around the fire.
-----
The next day, Nelly was enjoying a cup of tea with Polly in the kitchen when Ada joined them. Her older sister had been absent throughout the day, neither Polly or Nelly had seen her.
“Good of you to join us.” Polly said sarcastically, not taking her eyes of the paper she was reading.
Nelly looked amusingly at her sister. “Where have you been, Ada?” She asked her.
“In bed. Couldn't sleep. Then I couldn't wake up,” Ada explained, as she was cutting a loaf of bread. “Then I was cold and then I had to go for a wee. Then I was with this bear on a boat, but that was just a dream,” Her sister sat down with them at the table, with her loaf of bread and jam. “Then I was hungry.”
While Polly and Ada were discussing Polly's sudden use of the newspaper, both Polly and Nelly were observing the oldest Shelby girl eating. They shared a look that confused Ada.
“Stand up.” Polly orders Ada. Her Aunt observed her body and it was clear to Polly and Nelly that Ada's period was late.
“How late are you?” Polly asks her.
Ada looks around, not making eye-contact with both of them. “One week.” Nelly gives a look at her sister's answer.
Ada sighs. “Five weeks. Seven if you count weekends. I think it's just a lack of iron.” Her older sister admits.
“Have you used those tablets, the ones I recommended?” Nelly asks her.
“Yes” Ada says.
“But they didn't work.” Polly finishes for her.
Ada sets herself back down on the table and nods.
“We'll go to the doctor, immediately. Get ready, Ada.” Polly said, helping Ada get off her chair.
Nelly wanted to stand up as well, but her Aunt stopped her. “Nell, you stay here, someone has to look after Finn.” She sat back on her chair.
“Don't worry, Nelly, I'll come find you later.” Ada reassured her.
She gave her older sister a smile and took another sip from her tea.
-----
Nelly was up in her room, finishing some of her homework, when she heard a couple of knocks on her door.
“Yes?” She turned away from her desk to the door and saw Ada entering her room.
Nelly immediately got up and sat on her bed, padding the space next to her for Ada to sit.
She waited for Ada to start talking.
Ada took a big breath before speaking. “I am pregnant.”
Nelly couldn't hide her excitement and hugged her sister. Ada was going to be a mother and she was going to be an aunt again.
“Ada, congratulations! You're going to be a mum, and Freddie is going to be a dad!” Nelly exclaimed, still hugging her sister.
The mention of Freddie usually made Ada smile, but this time it almost saddened her.
“Freddie hasn't come back.” Ada wept.
Nelly quickly comforted her sister, rubbing her back, while Ada cried into her shoulder.
She didn't doubt Freddie would come back, but Nelly knew what happened to women who fell pregnant without having a husband. Her Aunt and especially Thomas and Arthur had given her a full speech about women with 'bastard' children.
About a year ago, an older girl she went to school with fell pregnant and the father of the baby didn't want to marry her or have anything to do with the baby. At first Nelly didn't see her at school anymore, but would see her around town, but that also stopped after a couple of weeks. She had never seen the girl since, probably fled to avoid judgement from the critical eyes of Small Heath.
“He'll come back, Ada. He'll come back.” She comforted her sister.
-----
The following day Polly, Ada and Nelly were on their way to the train station. Ada had a conversation with Aunt Polly and had decided to abort the child. Nelly was sad, but respected Ada's decision.
When the three Shelby women turned to go on the platform, Freddie was standing there.
“Freddie” Nelly and Polly said at the same time.
Ada let go of Nelly's arm and approached Freddie. “You came back?”
Freddie explains that Thomas sent him a message to get out of town and that he had to take Ada with him.
Suddenly, Freddie got down on one knee and pulled out a ring. Nelly gasped and put her hand before her open mouth.
“Ada Shelby, will you marry me?” He asked her with a big smile on his face.
“Yes!” He puts the ring on her finger and they share a kiss.
Ada turns her face to look at Polly and Nelly and the three of them hug each other, full of excitement.
Nelly is able to look at Freddie and gives him a wink. He smiles at the youngest Shelby girl.
They pull away from one another and Polly instructs them to get on the train, but Freddie stays still.
“We're not going anywhere, Ada,” he walks over to her and grabs her hand. “We are going to stay here, we are going to marry here.”
He looks at Polly. “I'm not afraid of Tommy Shelby.” He finishes.
He takes Ada's hand again and leads her out of the train platform, leaving Nelly and Polly behind. They watch the couple leave, as they make their way back to Small Heath.
She had hope seeing Freddie at the station, but all that hope was gone now. Freddie is wanted by the coppers, something that could potentially get Ada in danger and Thomas Shelby will do everything in his power to keep his family out of danger. She was worried for Freddie, but also for Ada and for the baby.
As Ada and Freddie leave, all of Nelly's hope for a good ending, leaves as well.
An introduction to the life of Nelly Shelby and her chaotic family.
a/n: This is the first chapter i’ve written for Nell, I hope you enjoy reading :)
Masterlist
England, 1919
“How are the numbers Nell?”
It had been a busy day in the shop. Another race was coming up and everyone seemed to be excited for it. Thomas had a new horse, Monaghan Boy, and people seemed to have a lot of faith in him.
Nelly didn’t really care about the race or the betting, she cared about the numbers and not making any mistakes.
“Great, a lot of people are coming in.” She smiled up at Thomas, who had his hand on her shoulder. He ruffled her hair at her answer. “Good girl, keep working.” He told her and made his way to Arthur’s office.
As she got her focus back on the books and numbers, she didn’t notice Finn coming in the shop and sneaking around. Her younger brother wasn’t really allowed to just run around in the shop. He always complained saying it wasn’t fair that he was not allowed, but his sister was, despite her only being three years older than him.
After working for a little longer, the 13 year-old needed a break from all the numbers. She stood up and smoothed down her dress, before making her way to the kitchen, joining Polly who was enjoying a cup of tea.
Her aunt was surprised to see her. “Already done?” Nelly got a cup from the cupboard and grabbed the kettle to pour herself some tea. She shook her head. “No, I just wanted a break, too many men in there.”
Polly smirked at the girl’s answer. Polly wasn’t too fond of the fact that her youngest niece was surrounded by strange adult men. However, knowing her three older brothers and some other Peaky Blinders were there gave her some comfort. She knew Nelly was academically gifted, especially in mathematics, and she knew Thomas trusted her the most with anything that involved their finances.
Nelly was enjoying her time with Polly until she heard a gunshot, followed up by Ada screaming. Aunt Polly immediately ran and made her way outside, with Nelly following close behind her.
What the pair found was Finn holding a gun and a dumbfounded Ada.
“What the fuck do you think you are doing, Finn Shelby?” Polly’s voice boomed through the streets. She walked over to Finn and took the gun from him, straight away taking the bullets out of it. Nelly recognised the gun as John’s.
She held up the gun. “Where did you get John’s gun?” Poor Finn was still in shock. He didn’t know the gun was loaded when he took it from the betting shop.
“I-I-I didn’t mean it Aunt Pol, I didn’t know it was loaded. It was on the sideboard of the betting shop and I thought it was empty and wanted to play with it. I’m so sorry, really!”
While Finn was explaining himself to his aunt, Nelly made her way to a shaking Ada. “Are you okay, Ada?” Her older sister simply scoffed and rolled her eyes. “He nearly blew my fucking tits off, Nell!” She hugged her sister, trying to stop her from shaking so bad.
“Nelly, please take your brother and sister back to the house, while I deal with John.” She gave Polly a nod and stuck out her hand for Finn to grab. Ada linked arms with her sister and put her head on Nelly’s shoulder. Nelly was quite tall for her age and was about the same height as Ada, who’s eight years older than Nelly.
When they finally reached the number six on Watery Lane, Nelly instructed Finn up to his room until Polly came back.
She joined Ada on the couch. “How’s everything going with Freddie?” She whispered to Ada, wanting to distract her from what just happened.
Her older sister gave her a smile at the mention of her secret boyfriend. “Good, good. I’m seeing him again tonight.” Nelly loved seeing Ada this happy. Freddie had known the youngest Shelby girl since she was a newborn, being the former best friend of Thomas. Nelly really liked Freddie, he always looked out for her and made her laugh.
“That’s really nice, Ada. I really like you two together.” She told her sister. Ada smiled and grabbed her sister’s hand upon hearing her support.
Nelly was the only person who knew about the couple. Some weeks before the young Shelby had noticed a shift in the behaviour of her older sister and had asked her about it. Ada was hesitant at first, not wanting anyone to know about the relationship, but she felt a need to talk to someone about Freddie and the relationship. The best person for that was her little sister, the most trustworthy person she knows.
“Thanks, Nelly. I’m just so sick of the sneaking around, I want to tell everyone, but he doesn’t want that.” Nelly understood the impatience of Ada, but she also understood why Freddie wanted to wait. Him and Thomas weren’t on good terms, and Freddie was kind of scared of the Shelby brothers and what they could do once they knew of the relationship.
She nodded at her sister’s words. “I understand, maybe you should talk about it with him? That can help.” Nelly loved being able to help people or give them advice, she didn’t care Ada was older than her.
“I appreciate it, Nell, but I’m your older sister, I should be giving you advice about boys, not the other way around.” Ada tells her.
Nelly chuckles. “That doesn’t matter, Ada. Aunt Polly has said many times that us sisters should stick together, especially when it comes to our brothers.”
“You’re too good for this family, Nell. You’re gonna do well in life.” Nelly just smiled at her, not entirely agreeing with her, but Ada didn’t need to know that. Those sentences had been said to her many times, by different family members. She didn’t like how degrading it sounded to the things her family had accomplished.
“I have to get back to the shop, otherwise Tommy will get upset.” She said while giving Ada a kiss on the cheek.
-----
Nelly said in silence during the family meeting. She didn’t really know why she had to attend them, she just did the finances for the company, nothing else.
“I reckon it’s communists he’s after.” Thomas said, in regards to the Chief Inspector coming to Birmingham. She gave a quick glance to Ada, who did the same.
Nelly rolled her eyes when Thomas said nothing had to be added to the meeting that was women’s business. At times her older brother forgets the women of the family ran this entire business by themselves. It was difficult, but they managed to do it.
By the way Thomas was talking Nelly got the feeling he was keeping certain information to himself. She wasn’t going to ask him about it , though. He would’t tell her anyway. He trusted her, probably more than most of the family, but he preferred to keep certain things about the business to himself or the older ones in the family. Those certain things mostly being illegal and dangerous.
-----
The next day was the same as always. Sitting in the shop and making sure the right amount of money went in and out.
She hadn’t seen much of Arthur today, she actually hadn’t seen him at all. She wasn’t alarmed by it, but it didn’t happen often that she didn’t see him for almost an entire morning. She felt a bit unsettled by it.
Her slight suspicions were correct as a bloody and bruised Arthur walked through the front door. Polly immediately called Nelly to clean Arthur up.
“Nell, wipe the blood out of his eye.” Ada ordered her. She grabbed a cloth and dipped it in water, before tending to her eldest brother.
“Since when did you give orders?” John amusingly asked his sister.
Ada rolled her eyes at him. “I’m a trained nurse.”
Nelly laughed at her sister, as did the others. She remembers Ada coming back from the church hall class, fuming because she got kicked out for giggling too much, it had amused the entire family.
“Be careful, Arthur. It’s gonna sting.” She warned him, before gently cleaning his bloody face.
Arthur hissed loudly when she put the wet cloth on his face, experiencing too much pain.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
He gave her a stiff smile. “It’s alright, Flower, just keep going.” The nickname, Flower, came from the fact that Nelly was born on the first day of Spring. Arthur was the one who uses the name the most. She found the nickname quite endearing in situations like these, but in other situations she found it dreadful.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Thomas came barging in and took the cloth from her.
“Hey! Thomas!” She protested.
“Give me that, you’re too gentle with him, Nell.” He told his youngest sister, not hesitating to put the wet cloth on Arthur’s face.
Arthur started informing Thomas on what Inspector Campbell had told him, during his investigation or better to say, his torture. While he was doing that, Nell just sat back and quietly listened.
Thomas didn’t seem surprised about what Arthur was telling him. She noticed his eyes widened a bit when the eldest mentioned a robbery.
The conversation started to die down and Nelly looked up, seeing Thomas give her a look that said “Please, leave.” She got his memo and went back to the shop, to finish her work for the day.
Thomas shared a look with Polly and they both seemed to be thinking the same thing. Arthur looked confused at them, before Thomas sighed loudly.
“You shouldn’t talk about those things when she’s present, Arthur.” Thomas told his older brother, while taking a drink.
“Why not, Tommy? Our Nelly is smart enough to know what kind of business we run in here.” He answered him grumpily, still in pain.
Now it was Polly’s turn to sigh. “Arthur, I won’t have any of you involving her in any of that copper business. She’s the best of us and you bloody know it.”
Arthur looked down at his Aunt’s words, knowing they were true. Eleanore Marie Shelby was a rare case for the Shelby’s. She followed the rules, listened to her family members and always the top of her class. Polly always said that the only bad thing about Nelly was her last name and the family she was born into. She could have a great career, be succesful and have an amazing life, if it wasn’t for the family she had.
The three of them fell in a silence, pondering about the future of the young Shelby girl.
Nelly Shelby is the youngest daughter of Arthur Shelby Sr. and Ms. Shelby.
Masterlist
BASIC INFORMATION
full name: Eleanore Marie Shelby
birth date: March 21, 1905
origin: Small Heath, Birmingham, England
also known as: Nelly, Nell, Ms. Shelby
SOME FACTS
-> Since a young age Nelly showed a talent for mathematics. When she was nine years-old, she became the Chief Accountant for Shelby Company Limited, while her older brothers were away for the war and for awhile after the war.
-> Nelly has a great resemblance to her late mother. The people around her love reminding her of that, saying she’s blessed to have her mother’s looks.
-> She’s always been pushed to do very well in school, because of her family’s history with their underperforming grades.
-> Her intelligence and capabilities are often overshadowed by her beauty. She's aware of this fact and is not shy to use her good looks to her advantage or to her family's advantage. This results in being referred to as a 'femme fatale' once she became of age.
-> Nelly is taller than the average woman her age. She had a major growth spurt when she was 12 years-old, resulting in being the same height as her older sister and even her Aunt Polly. Her tall length often makes her look older than she actually is. As she got older, she matched the heights of her older brothers, something that they weren’t too fond of.
