Artist: Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope (British, 1857-1940)
Date: 1912
Medium: Oil on canvas
Collection: Royal Collection Trust, London, United Kingdom
King George V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
George was born during the reign of his paternal grandmother, Queen Victoria, as the second son of the Prince and Princess of Wales (later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra). He was third in the line of succession to the British throne behind his father, and his elder brother, Prince Albert Victor. From 1877 to 1892, George served in the Royal Navy, until his elder brother's unexpected death in January 1892 put him directly in line for the throne. The next year George married his brother's former fiancée, Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, and they had six children. When Queen Victoria died in 1901, George's father ascended the throne as Edward VII, and George was created Prince of Wales. He became king-emperor on his father's death in 1910.
"You're not thinking straight, Y/n," Arthur told you as you sat with him and Linda in their kitchen telling them about the Tommy issue "He's just fucked this bird to make her trust him not because he wants too."
"Even though they are vulgar terms, I agree with Arthur. Thomas will always be a mystery to me but I would never doubt that Tommy loves you more than he could want another woman." Linda smiled encouragingly and you squeezed her hand.
Everyone in the Shelby family told you it would be fine and that they were nothing more than business partners. That they were working together and that was the extent of the relationship rather than fucking for affection because as John put it "he's probably just wanting to fuck, there won't be any tenderness you know. Like you do with your wife, Tom has needs like any man which means he'd fuck anything if prompted. Not because he loves them."
But you knew all the shit you'd heard around the house that the servants talked about. The whispers of how they felt sorry for you and began to disrespect Me Shelby which you quickly squashed because you didn't want any rumours to arise. No one needed to know of your failing marriage other than your family and workers and you intended to keep it that way.
For Tommy, waking up with you across from him in the bed only made him feel regret because he knew what he’d done and how he selfishly keeps you to himself. Tommy knows he can’t do without you because it just won’t work without you, not the business and not him. Even though he knows he treats you awfully he also knows that you’ve become a constant that he needs with no exceptions. The fact that you’ve been with him from the beginning means that he doesn’t know how to do business without knowing you’ll be there when he comes home, Tommy’s known you since the age of ten and you’ve been together since about nineteen. The business developed with your input and your support so Tommy still wasn’t sure whether, to be honest with you.
But Tommy was also a fucking idiot that didn't understand true repercussions of his actions especially as the focus was on the business. He could only focus on the impact he could have on the business and sleeping with the Princess was beneficial for him, she's occasionally gift him precious gems that were worth nothing compared to their full safe of precious materials but he valued the money. But in doing that Tatiana had grown more attached than she usually did and it wasn't good for her either because she knew it wasn't reciprocated by Tommy. This love triangle was messing up everyone's life but Tom was in too deep.
"Do you think I'm a bad man?" Tommy asked Tatiana as she lay on his chest. She sniggered and he frowned
"I've met plenty worse. But yes, Tommy Shelby I think you're a very bad man," She walked her fingers up his chest before pushing herself up to be eye to eye with him "Do you think I'm a bad woman?"
"I'm pretty sure you're one of the wickedest women I've ever met but that doesn't make you bad," he paused and blew out some smoke "You've got to head off now. I'm assuming your car is still there?"
Tommy quickly got up and pulled on some trousers as Tatiana begrudgingly picked up her clothes. She was angry she couldn't toy with him more. Or perhaps she could…
"I don't suppose your wife would be interested in joining us. Or maybe she would ask me if I'm interested in joining you? I know you would be interesting to see with two women. So much to choose from but still not enough." She smirked standing naked in front of him, Tom felt his dick twitch in his pants.
"Do not bring her into this or I swear-"
"What? I have nothing to lose. You fuck me for diamonds and yet your wife is still seen as more important even though you can't be honest with her? It's an interesting one you see because there are many many relationships like this back home where the man just doesn't know what he wants! Too much choice sends a man into despair," she ran past Tommy out of the door and he grabbed a dressing gown before running after her.
"Tatiana! Please fucking calm down." It was evening and the moonlight looked so fucking good on her, Tommy thought. She was distracting to say the least.
"Oh so know you use my name? Not just some business venture am I now!" She yelled and Tommy knew you could be back soon.
"Fuck… put this on!" He held out the dressing gown and she narrowed her eyes.
"Are you embarrassed by my nakedness? I did not see this distaste a few minutes ago, as I vividly remember you had a great time watching me take it all off!" She kept walked away from him and laughing.
"Stop being fucking mental. This is bullshit. Put this on and get out!" He yelled, following her at a fast pace.
"She can't have you, Thomas! You know you're mine. If this was only business we'd have stopped a long time ago but you keep wanting me back." She stopped and slowly stepped towards Tommy.
"It's not that simple."
"It is. We fucked and we've carried on fucking past the point of business." Placing her hands on either side of his face she softly kissed him and Tommy willingly leant into the kiss even though he knew he shouldn't, "Come back to me," Tatiana whispered near his ear, slowly pulling his hand.
You sat in Polly's front room and chewed your nail anxiously because you knew Tommy was alone in the house. You didn't know what he was doing but you feared the worst and it made you want to run back and check on him like a naughty child but, you knew that if you kept checking on him and annoying him it'd all crack because he already knew how you didn't really trust him.
"I should be alright with this, shouldn't I?" You asked Pol.
"Maybe if you have to ask you already know the answer but, insecurity can make fools of us all because I know Tom loves you but he's also very stupid in his physical wants. He's the type of man to love one woman and sleep with her but also just want to fuck one girl because he can. Power is Tommy's need even though it's not that black and white. Him fucking another woman in his head isn't showing a lack of love." Polly nursed her whisky close to her chest as it made her speak more than she needed too.
"Perhaps Pol,"
"You're thinking too much into it! It won't mean anything to him you know, Tommy isn't that type of man. He won't fuck her anymore because the business with the Russians is slowing." Polly blinked slowly and smiled before dropping the glass and sitting heavily back in her chair.
"Shall we get to bed, eh Pol?" Slowly leading her upstairs she leant on you as she slurred her protests about how she felt fine.
Lying in bed alone made you think more and more about the lack of Tommy and his unmistakable presence in a room and especially your bed. At the start he only wanted to be close to you to have your bodies touching with his face pressed into your neck or your head on his chest. You wanted to stay close to him but gradually, Tommy wasn't at the house anymore or when he did get to bed you were asleep or he didn't want attention. It became unbearable and it started the excessive distrust you felt towards him that upset you because you didn't want Tommy to want anyone but you although, under the circumstances of his absence it wasn't unfair to think he might be being disloyal.
Tommy was also in bed, with Tatiana across from him naked and asleep. He thought of you and his feelings towards you because to Tommy they still hadn't changed but he didn't need to see you as much. Tommy didn't miss you and he knew that was a problem he didn't want to address when he saw you it was beautiful but it still wasn't the feeling he got when he used to see you and get that feeling in his chest (like when you walked down the aisle). The pain that hit him right in the middle of his chest and made him almost tear up because you were so perfect. He didn't have that for anyone anymore. Not you, not Tatiana not anyone.
The next morning Tommy woke to voices downstairs and he didn't get startled until he noticed Tatiana snuggled up beside him. He knew that the person downstairs could easily be you and he quickly stood up and pushed Tatiana off him.
"Ugh, you wake with a start my love. Why must you go!" She yelled with a giggle that was followed by a yawn.
"Get out," he said calmly but she didn't move and Tommy tried to pull her but she picked up his gun from the side table.
"Oh look! Tommy Shelby is afraid!" She laughed loudly and Tommy looked to the door and back.
"Tatiana please. Please put it down." He rubbed his head and grinded his teeth in thought, "What do you want?"
"You," was all she said.
"Well that's not going to fucking work-" She suddenly grabbed his dick and started giving him a handjob with a gun still pointed at him and Tommy didn't know what to do.
"Stop it." Tommy sounded like he was begging.
"You have to fuck me. Then I'll put it down." She told him and he nodded slowly knowing he needed to play the game to get rid of the gun.
She let go of him and put out her hand to give the gun when the handle started turning on the door. Quick as anything Tatiana shot the door with a hilarious laugh that could've made Tommy laugh but in the situation he just grabbed the gun from her hand and held it far from Tatiana. Tommy pulled on a robe as you walked through the door and stood with a scared look on your face.
"What the fuck… Tommy?" You looked from Tommy to the gun in his hand to a laughing Tatiana.
"Business." Was all he said in his most monotone voice so you couldn't detect his panic. You slowly closed the door and exhaled to make sure you didn't cry, getting back into the car outside you went back to Polly and cried in her arms.
Tommy got rid of Tatiana after about two hours after promising they could fuck next week because he had to reassure you everything was fine. Sitting on his bed he bit his lip anxiously because he was more certain than ever that you would leave him. Tommy didn't know what he was doing with you, with Tatiana because it had all been a big clusterfuck for the last few months as the Shelby's entered into bad business with higher powers.
