Sorry, I made you love me
a Thomas Shelby x reader series
Previous - Part 13 (you are here!) - next
Tags: arranged marriage, contract marriage, slow burn (like really), fluff, reader gets headaches from cigarette and cigar smoke, disliking Grace, reader is in her early 20s, language, around season 2 (sorta I'm mingling the timelines a lil)
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It was morning when Polly went into the kitchen to steep some tea. Taking a teacup and placing it on the counter she suddenly heard... something like... grunting? From behind the door in the office?
No, no one should be there yet, she's the one supposed to open shop today.
She became quiet before she grabbed a teaspoon, thinking she must be hearing things.
Oh hell no they don’t—Polly dropped her spoon, turned around and angrily walked towards the door and walked into the office.
"What in God’s name— Oh—" she looked at you both with raised eyebrows, "What are you two doing?"
Both of you looked at her with innocent eyes as you faced her. You crouching on the floor with your hand underneath a big wooden cabinet, while Tommy was lifting said cabinet.
"Oh, well, my bracelet came undone and fell underneath the cabinet, Tommy was helping me get it," you told Polly, reaching for the bracelet.
"Yeah Pol, what were you thinking?" he set the cabinet down after you retrieved it.
"Nevermind," Polly sighed, "one of you want some tea?" she asked as you clasped your bracelet back on.
"I'll help you make it!" You happily exclaimed and sprang up.
As she turned back to the kitchen feeling frustrated with you both, Tommy stopped you. You looked up at him, "Yes?"
You grinned, "I'm under your employment, Mr. Shelby. If you need me to free my time, you just have to say so."
His lip twitched, "Good girl."
You whole face flushed, "Thomas Shelby!" you whispered loudly.
He smiled, pleased with himself. Oh, he knows exactly what he’s doing.
Meanwhile Polly could hear everything and she rubbed her temples thinking how she can't wait for you two to finally get married, confess your feelings and get a room.
Thomas took you to a horse auction, together with Charlie, Arthur, John and Curly. You looked mesmerized at the gorgeous creatures. You all went up the steps and stepped onto something that was like a balcony. Looking down, you saw the horses being led, one at a time, through the paddock while an auctioneer managed the bidding on the horses.
As you watched on in anticipation, you let your eyes fall on some of the other buyers. There were none you recognized, but your gaze halted at a beautiful brunette, dressed very expensively watching the horses with a man next to her.
You suddenly heard Charlie whisper to Tommy, "That's her."
Your eyes set on the beautiful gray mare, prancing around while she was being led around the paddock. Tommy bid on her and you suddenly noticed the brunette woman on the balcony across from you, watching Thomas. You glanced at him briefly before setting your eyes on the gray mare again.
I guess a lot of women find him handsome, you thought.
And just then, the man next to the brunette bid for the mare as well after she whispered something to him.
"Tom, stop, you don't have it in your belt." Charlie warned.
You looked between them. By now you knew, Thomas didn’t want to lose once he sets his eyes on something.
“I’m having the horse,” he stated. Curly was worrying as well, saying he was feeling something bad.
Once the auctioneer hit the number two thousand and fifty, the man next to the woman backed off, making Thomas the winner of the bid. You sighed, thinking if this was really necessary. And the way the brunette was staring at him, something about it ticked you off.
“Sold to Mister...?” the auctioneer called.
“Thomas Shelby.” He stated, putting his hands in his pockets. He shared one last look with the woman across him and turned around and left for his horse. She was looking after him, her eyes not leaving him the whole time.
“(Y/N) come on!” John called after you and you followed, locking eyes with the brunette once before you looked away.
When Thomas was finishing up the paperwork, you were with Charlie and Curly with your new horse down in the stables.
“Hi gorgeous,” you smiled while gently patting her neck, “Mr. Shelby spent a fortune on you,” you mumbled.
“Tell me about it,” Charlie mumbled after he secured the halter, “All right (Y/N), we’re gonna take ‘er for transport, go find Tom and his brothers.”
You nodded and with haste walked back up the stairs, heading to the auctioneer’s office. You saw Arthur and John standing in a doorway, “What is it? I’m starving, when’re we leaving?” you asked as you walked up to them.
When John and Arthur saw you, they quickly turned back towards where Tommy stood, “Tommy! Come on, hurry up! We got to go!” They tried grabbing his attention, which they did and then they pointed awkwardly at you with their heads.
He glanced at you before he looked back at the brunette, “I’m planning to race her.”
“Do you have a trainer?” you heard her ask, you could hear them now since you shushed both brothers.
“I know people,” he answered her.
“Tommy!” John now called him, “We’ve got to get your girl back home, she’s hungry!” And you shot him a glare in response.
Thomas raised his eyebrows at you, as if wanting to say, “Really?”
You smiled nervously at him, and he gave you the faintest of smiles. Which was enough to make your heart skip a beat.
The brunette got his attention again, by handing him her card, “We know different people I would guess.” He told her, while putting her card in his inner pocket.
“My father knows Mick Hancock,” she let him know, “He trained three Ascot winners.”
“That was your father?” he referred to the man who had been standing next to her at the auction.
“Yes. We’re joint owners of the stud. He took the majority share when my husband was killed. Ypres.”
You walked up to them, slipping your hand around his arm, “Tommy, we have to get back, they’re getting restless.”
“You mean your stomach?” he smirked down at you and you pouted in response, “I’m sorry, this is my fiancée, (Y/N) (L/N). (Y/N) this is May Carlton, who knows, maybe she’ll be training our filly.”
As you both gave each other a handshake, you asked, “Oh you’re a trainer?” she gave you a nod in response, “Oh my, that’s splendid, we’ll definitely consider you,” you smiled genuinely at her. You felt reassured when Tommy introduced you to her as his fiancée.
She smiled at you both before turning to Tommy, “You still didn’t tell me what you do.”
“Import and export, ma’am.”
As you both walked away, you mumbled, “She was gorgeous.” As you wanted to slid your arm off of him, because you were out sight to others except the brothers but they weren’t paying attention; Thomas stopped you with his hand, placing your hand back on his bent elbow. You looked up at him in surprise but he was looking in front of him.
“Darling, she does not compare to you, no one does.”
As a blush crept upon your cheeks, you squeezed his arm, realizing he called you darling for the first time where no one was around to hear.
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