The bodies had been dumped in the canal the moment they had all reached Charlie's yard, yet Milly remained on the horse, at least whilst the men talked about— whatever men talked about.

Bonnie had tried to stay with her for as long as possible, but Aberama and Thomas began to walk and Bonnie had to go. Milly knew that it pained him to leave, he had always hated leaving her in places that no one knew. It was as if he knew something was going to happen- but nothing ever did. Paranoia, Esmeralda pinned it to, but Milly was just grateful for his kind nature.

It made up for everyone else in that Godforsaken family.

"C'mon Mills, down from the horse. They want to put it in a stable." Nicolette called out, but Milly had already dismounted.

For a girl who noticed everything, she was slacking. There was something on her mind, in fact- there was something on everyone's mind.

Why was a family of Shelbys involved with the Lees?

They all knew of their gypsy background, but the Lee's were roamers, true travellers, never staying in the same location for more than they needed to. And the Shelbys? They were home dwellers, sat in their comfortable and warm brick buildings, with no worries other than who left the windows open.

"Oh— you're already off the horse—" She added on after a few moments of an awkward silence.

Nicolette would be the one to bring a lemon to a knife fight. The poor girl reeked of an awkward stench, as well as lilies and amber.

Esmeralda had once again, vanished into thin air, but Milly had an inkling of an idea as to where she had gone. Throughout their awkward walk over to the shipyard, Milly noticed the glances between one of the Peaky Blinders and her eldest sister. Something had happened prior to that moment and Milly knew that she just didn't want to know. The details, which would be rather gross to hear, would be spared from her delicate ears. The other two Gold Girls, well- they wouldn't be too lucky.

"You've done it again, Mills. Gained attention of everyone and you haven't even noticed." Josette broke the, this time comfortable, silence.

Yet again, Finn, who's name she had just learnt, seemed to have his eyes on her. She didn't mind, though. For a split second, she imagined running her fingers through his hair- but that just wouldn't be feasible. Aberama and Thomas just wouldn't allow it.

"Do you think they've got any food going?" Milly asked, changing the subject completely.

As if on cue, three sets of stomachs created a rumble of noise, and the smell of cooking goose hit their senses. It had been quite some time since Milly had eaten goose, and now it was all she could think of.

Like sniffer dogs on the hunt for the shot down deer, Milly followed her nose until it lead her to a long table that took centre stage of a dirty pitch, though the patriarch of the Golds stood with Bonnie to his left side, in front of what seemed to be a standoff between both sides. Her father held a coin in his hand, it looked as if he was about to flip it, but something stopped him.

What? She wasn't sure, and she knew Bonnie would keep it tight lipped.

"Tommy Shelby OBE," Aberama paused, lifting the coin into everyone's line of sight, "no wager today but with this penny I will buy a flower to put on your grave," yet another pause, though this time Aberama slid the penny into his breast pocket, "when the time comes."

Bonnie was the only one to move, turning slightly to the side, clocking Milly stood idly by, watching as things progress. For a moment, he wondered how much she had heard, but she didn't make a scene. She must've just arrived, he had hoped, anyway.

The two frontiers of their respected associations continued speaking, Tommy raising a flask to the sky, but Milly couldn't help but wonder why. Why had Tommy sent them an invitation to a funeral if he already knew what was going to happen. It just seemed like a waste, of time and money, a colossal waste but what that rich man did with his money was of no business to her.

"C'mon, Mil. I need—" This time it wasn't a sister to cut Bonnie off, it was Aberama.

"Make your presence known, Dorothea! I did not raise you to be an earwig."

Meanwhile, Tommy was making note of how the two male Golds interacted with the girl. He wasn't sure if she was blood, she didn't look it. Bonnie seemed protective of her- but Aberama never mentioned a wife for him.

Tommy took a few steps forward, placing a hand on Aberama's shoulder.

"Now, who might this be?" His voice cut through the glares he received from Bonnie and Milly, his blue eyes glancing between the two for a moment before settling on her.

A snowflake in a desert.

"This is my daughter." Aberama said curtly, no name, no room for questions.

Thomas already knew what he needed to know, and after adding Esmeralda into the almost wager, Aberama thought it was best if he knew little about this one. Secretly, Milly was the one he was most afraid of losing. Though, of course he'd never tell another living soul about that.

"Another daughter? I heard you only had three. Esmeralda, Josette and Nicolette." Tommy rhymed off, a sly smile spreading across Millys face.

She had always loved that about people. They overlooked her as Bonnies wife, or his best friend. It gave her that distance she needed from her family, even if it meant the speculation of being married to an oaf.

Thomas Shelby was supposed to be all knowing, the man with the knowledge to tear down a country, and yet- a simple Romani Gypsy family had stumped him. It was rather comical, but Milly knew to remain stoic. Upsetting the man they had just stumped could be risky business, especially when Aberama hadn't yet specified payment for their participation in the protection ring.

"Well, does she have a name?"

No time was spared, Aberama's face turned an angry shade of pink and Bonnie- well, he tried his best to stifle a laugh.

"It's Milly." The woman behind the name replied, extending a hand towards the man.

Tommy was taken aback by the action. He wasn't expecting the reigns to be so loose over this daughter, but he could see in her eyes that she was no ordinary girl to overlook. Though, he didn't leave the girls hand in limbo for long. His hand was calloused and rough, which was to be expected of a tunneller, but his handshake was gentle. It was as if he was afraid of breaking her hand, or arm- a gentleman one could say.

"I have a proposition for you, Mister Shelby, can we talk for a moment? I promise it would take long." Milly added before sliding her hand from his grip.

Again, Tommy hadn't expected her to be so upfront, so blunt- but it was refreshing. She wasn't afraid of him or what he could do. He'd humour himself and listen to what she had to say, and if it was good enough- he'd accept, if not, then they'd both forget it ever happened.

A glare from Milly sent Aberama and Bonnie towards the table of men they'd soon be working with, and began to take a few steps towards relative silence. Tommy followed closely behind, but making sure to take a few steps to the side so her father and brother could see the whole thing unfold. Especially after he had almost wagered having Dec with his eldest daughter.

"If its marriage that you're after, I will have to take longer to consider all potential outcomes." Thomas spoke before Milly had a moment to think through her strategy.

Marriage was the last thing on her mind! A scoff from her made his face contort, clearly he had gotten her completely wrong.

"I'm after a job. A good and honest job, and I've experience in bookkeeping— and letter writing, I'm quite good at writing letters... but my people skills lack."

And talking skills, Thomas thought to himself. Before he had thought it through, or mentioned it to the rest of the Shelby Company Limited, he slowly nodded his head. Agreeing to her  terms and conditions simply because he knew- based off of her face, how much that girl needed normalcy.

"I'll stick you with our Finn for a few weeks, then after your trial is done, we'll reconvene." Tommy finalised, before quickly turning on his feet, heading back to the table that was now almost full of peaked caps and the five other Golds.

A genuine smile became almost permanently glued onto Millys face for the rest of that day. Not a smile full of malicious intent, no- they would be saved for the times that needed it. This one was real, genuine- a smile like her mother's as Aberama would say.

Finally.

It was almost her time to shine.