BooksBarbecue
Back The Dazzle of the Light Save as PDF
Chapters (55)
  1. Praise for Georgina Clarke
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. 31
  33. 32
  34. 33
  35. 34
  36. 35
  37. 36
  38. 37
  39. 38
  40. 39
  41. 40
  42. 41
  43. 42
  44. 43
  45. 44
  46. 45
  47. 46
  48. 47
  49. 48
  50. 49
  51. Historical Note
  52. Acknowledgements
  53. Also by Georgina Clarke
  54. About the Author
  55. Copyright

‘No. Fuck off. You’ve had what you wanted. How did he know about the watch?’ She buttons up the neck of her dress, hating him, hating everything about him and everything she’s done with him. ‘Oh… No… I know what you did, you slimy old bastard. You told him about it, didn’t you? You went to him.’

He laughs. ‘He’s a collector. A toff. He’s loaded with money. I know him. I recognised his initials on the watch as soon as I saw them and sent a message to him. He’s had it for days.’

‘So, you sold him his own watch?’ She tugs on her stockings as fast as she can without snagging them, spittle flying out of her mouth. ‘Where’s my cut, then?’

‘You don’t get a cut, little Ruby. It wasn’t a sale. I told you, this is a top-class, top-quality establishment – not like Solly’s backstreet hovel. I told him that it had come into my possession and that I was returning it. He gave me a very healthy reward for its safe recovery, no questions asked, and I maintain my reputation as an honest man of business.’

‘Honest man of business? You? You’re just an old fence in a cheap suit, Ray.’

‘And what are you, do you think, eh?’ He cackles at her. ‘A film star, picking out your diamonds? Or a grubby little tart from the Borough who had my cock in her mouth half an hour ago? You’re just the girl you always were, and there’s no amount of diamonds or fancy clothes that can hide that.’

‘Fuck you, Ray.’

‘Well, you just did, didn’t you, sweetheart?’

She picks up an ashtray from the windowsill and hurls it at him with a howl, scattering its stinking contents all over the pillows. He continues to laugh.

She cannot bear to be in the room any longer. She grabs her coat, hat and bag and rushes out, forcing a heel into a shoe as she goes, knowing, at least, that he won’t be following her when he’s undressed.

Out on the street, she shakes as she puts on her coat and presses her hat to her head.

She is going to be sick.

‘Are you alright, miss?’ A young man, a soldier, still in uniform, stops, a worried expression on his brow.

‘Thank you. I’m well,’ she answers in a clipped, controlled voice. ‘Just feeling a little dizzy. I’ll be fine in a moment.’

‘If you’re sure…’ He touches his hat and walks away. She blinks back her rage as she watches him striding down the pavement like he’s on parade.

22

22

Friday evening