Disclaimer: Please note, all characters/scenes directly relating to the Peaky Blinders series are the property of Steven Knight. Original characters are the property of the author. No financial gain is made from this story.

Chapter 1

She stood against the cool metal railings, the wind blew through her hair as she sighed into the icy breeze, her moans getting lost out over the water which lay in front of her.

She pulled the fur coat tightly around her, desperately trying to keep warm. Difficult in the hostile Atlantic Ocean she accepted but yet she continued to strive for some form of heat.

Squinting her eyes, she could just make out land far out in front of her. Ireland. she reasoned. Their next stop. They had been sailing for five days and were drifting ever closer to her husband's homeland. Tears fell gently from her cheek as she thought back to all she had left behind. Everything she had ever known, she had lost. She had allowed herself to be dragged half way across the world and for what? for a man. She shook her head gently, irritated by her decision. She was a smart woman. She was educated. And for a woman in 1922, this was no easy feat. And yet, she had abandoned the chance of a promising career all to follow her husband back to London. For his career. She felt something brewing up inside her. Resentment. Why did he get to follow his dreams? He was a surgeon. A very experienced and respected surgeon, that she couldn't deny, but surely he could have been a surgeon in New York? Why did he have to move her, all their belongings to a strange city?

"You'll grow to love it darling, just as I do." He had promised her. "They have introduced some wonderful stores. I have heard Selfridges is just marvellous."

Shaking her head again, she wiped another tear with her gloved hand. Just what I'm looking for. Shopping. Three years at University to spend my days getting lost in yet another department store.

Ever since she had married James Lockwood, she had seen her life already mapped out. He found the idea of her working incredulous. Given the twenty-year age difference between them, she had tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, reasoning that he was stuck in his ways. He was just like her Uncle Henry, who was responsible for their introduction. A firm believer in the notion that women belonged in the kitchen, good for child bearing and not much more. Henry had almost had a coronary when her father had confirmed he had paid her tuition to go to the University of the City of New York to study law, a profession very much set aside for men and men only. She had been one of only two women in her classes but she had loved every second of it. Despite the initial hostility she had faced from her male counterparts, she had proven them wrong with her intellect and judgement and they had come to accept her as a key contender. And now what was she doing? Staying at home, shopping, cotillions, parties. A lady of leisure would no doubt be in their element having a man take care of them the way James took care of her but yet she felt as though something was missing in her life. Something exciting, something interesting.

"Sara?"

A voice came from behind her, snapping her out of dream state. She briefly turned her head towards the direction the voice came from.

"Hello James." She replied sullenly.

"What are you doing out here? You'll catch your death. It is only April after all." James appeared beside her and wrapped his left arm gently around her waist, barely getting close to her through her thick fur coat. She fleetingly glanced up at him, taking in his features. He stood tall, just over six foot but towered over her 5-foot 3 inches figure. His hair was greying, his face thin and his eyes a dull brown. He was a good man but nothing about him excited her. She craved excitement, danger and desire.

"I'm just thinking. I'm not cold" She lied, hastily pulling her coat further to her small body.

James gently tugged her away from the bow of the grand ship they were sailing on. She had been apprehensive about travelling from New York on water given the Titanic disaster occurring only ten years prior. It was still fresh in peoples minds and the worry on passengers faces was clear to see particularly during the first two days of their voyage when they passed through the icy waters of the North Atlantic. She allowed him to guide her back towards the boat deck door, taking them back into the warmth. She gasped slightly as the hot air stung her cheeks. They had no doubt turned an unflattering rosiness from the frosty breeze which she had been standing in for the last thirty minutes. James led her back to their cabin, opening it slowly and allowing her to walk ahead of him. She entered the room, not thankingg him and wandered straight through to their spacious bedroom. Sara glanced at the décor. For most of their stature, it was incredibly luscious. Red and gold adorned the walls and floors and the grand four poster bed screamed wealth.

Too bad that's all that's screaming. Sara thought to herself. They had slept in that bed together for the last four nights but honestly, they would have been as well sleeping at opposite ends of the ship given how far apart they lay at night. She sat down at the mahogany dresser which sat against the far wall of the room and stared at her reflection for a few seconds before finally pulling her coat, gloves and hat off. Not taking her eyes from the mirror, she examined the person looking back at her. Half of her blonde hair was loosely curled around her neck with the other half pinned tightly below her crown. She slowly pulled the pins from her head, letting the top half fall down around her face. Trying to run her fingers through, she grumbled as they caught on the tugs caused by the back comb that morning. Peeking back up to the mirror, Sara caught sight of her green doe eyes. They never seemed to glisten as much as they used to. She sighed as she placed her chin down into the palms of her hands, trying to remember how she used to feel. Two years ago, she was happy. She was only twenty four years old when she met James and yet she felt as though she had aged significantly in those two years. They had courted for around eight months before he had proposed. Both families, clearly satisfied with the upcoming nuptials, had ploughed on with organising the ceremony and they had been married within the month. A lifetime ago. Why did she feel so sad? So trapped and unfulfilled? James gave her everything she could ever want or need, yet he wasn't enough. Not enough by far. And now she was literally being shipped across the globe, to a land she had never seen, never experienced and the thought of that terrified her. The threat of the unknown loomed above her like a dark cloud and she could see no sunlight breaking through. She felt grateful that despite James' advancing age, he hadn't pressured her into a family. She couldn't bear the thought of it. Not that James didn't deserve a family. She just felt as though she wasn't the one to give him it. Lifting herself from the plush padded chair, Sara wandered over to the bed and lay down, not bothering to remove her outdoor dress. She wanted to sleep the rest of her life away or at least only wake up if there was something worth waking up for.

"Darling?" James' voice echoed through the quiet room. "Are you alright?"

Sara nodded to herself, not bothering to answer him. She lay facing away from him, closing her eyes when she felt him take a seat on the side of the bed. His hand slowly rubbed her bare arm, gently skimming against the beads dangling from the cap sleeves of her dress.

"Sara." It was a statement rather than a question. He was growing impatient with her, that much she could understand. She didn't like treating him like this, he deserved better. She rubbed her hands together, pulling gently on her fingers. Her eyes fluttered open as they caught sight of the large diamond which adorned her left hand. The ring had been expected. Flashy, large. Everything a well to do family would expect to see. She finally sat up and smiled at him. "Honestly I'm fine James. I'm just tired. I just want off this ship."

He smiled, seemingly accepting her excuse. "I promise things will work out for us here Sara. I know you weren't keen on the idea but please at least give it a chance. I have an appointment at St Thomas' Hospital on Friday which will likely confirm my position. Once we are settled, things will start to fall into place." He lifted her hand and kissed it gently. It was the most affection he had given her since they had boarded and it caused her to smile, appreciating the gesture.

"You know why i'm sad James. But i've agreed to come here with you but you know, I won't sit at home all day. I have to work James." She squeezed his hand. "I can't do nothing all day and you know that."

He nodded. "I know. That's why I have made a call ahead. I know its not what you're qualified for but you're good with numbers. My solicitor knows of someone who is looking for an accountant to run their books. I told him you would be ideal for the job. We go and see him next week."

Sara couldn't keep the grin from her face. "Really?"

James nodded. Inside, it was killing him putting his wife in this position. His solicitor had told him about the gentleman they were scheduled to go and see and James was wary about it. He had heard of the name in passing and was fully aware of the activities involved in the business but Sara had insisted she worked in London. She refused point blank to stay at home and James couldn't deal with her moodiness much longer.

"Who will I be working for?" Sara questioned, raising one eyebrow.

"Alfie Solomons." He answered quietly.