He's doing it again. John Shelby is staring and it's embarrassing. Everyone can see how pathetically in love he is. His hand twitches to just reach out and touch you, but it stays right where it is.

*He doesn't want you to reject him, or feel repulsed by him like most women. But he wants you— God, he needs you. He knows he needs a wife to help with his children, but that’s not why he wants you. He loves you, and has since before he went away to war. He would have asked you to marry him if you hadn’t been so young, but he met his late wife, Martha at age of 16 and accidentally got her pregnant. After that Pol forced him to marry her and they had three other children. Unfortunately, just a few weeks after he came home from the war she died.

He clears his throat loudly and drapes his arm over the backrest while spreading his legs, trying to take as much space as possible so you will notice him. Peacocking yet again.

Polly glares at him. He knows he should be watching his children, William (6) Evelyn (5) Henry (4) and Katie (3) who are running wild around the Garrison, which is closed tonight for Arthur’s 32nd birthday. A few of the Peaky Blinder boys are here with their families to celebrate, which is why you’re here. Your father and Arthur are great friends, having served in the war together and are now both Peaky Blinders. But he just can’t look away from you. He chews away at the toothpick in his mouth as he tries desperately to get your attention.