It was no secret that you had an admirer.

John Shelby was likely the most awkward of the three big bad Shelby brothers. You had Tommy, the brain. Arthur, the brawn. And... John. Don't get him wrong, he was entirely brilliant at what he does—it's just that you weren't entirely sure what it was he did do.

Whatever it was, that path had led him to hire a Nanny after the unfortunate passing of his wife. You'd taken the role, unaware of what exactly it was you were getting yourself into; he ensured you weren't in any danger, though, doing a damn good job of keeping them all away from you. In fact, you were certain you were safer now than you had been your entire life beforehand. Throughout your time working for him, John had started warming up to you. He spoke to you properly, now, rather than forcing his sister or aunt to speak for him. You'd have proper conversations before you left each night, now—and you were quite certain that he was working up the courage to offer you a room in his home, to save you the walk back each night.

If it hadn't been John's change in attitude that tipped you off on his feelings for you, it was the way his family acted when they saw you with him. Muttering. Smirking. Nudging one another. It was like the school's playgrounds all over again. For John's sake, you pretended not to notice.

He'd half expected you not to turn up today. It was Valentine's, after all, and surely you had some sort of plans—but no, as usual, he heard the door go at promptly 2.15pm, and your voice as you called out your greeting. You yourself were surprised when the kids didn't come charging for you, as usual. Instead, you were greeted by John, his hands stuffed in his pockets and a toothpick between his lips. He nods awkwardly, speaking before you could.

"Kids are at Polly's. 'M out at the races soon." He states. "Tommy's taking Grace. Linda's tagging along with Arthur." You give him some soft murmur in return, mostly out of politeness, but then he spoke again. "There's a dress in the other room."