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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

We were doing fine when Moss and I arrived. The words drift through her head even as she feels herself spinning. He was late to the fight. He had been somewhere else first.

She wants to ask him about it, but he’s already unbuttoned her blouse. He yanks the chemise up from her skirt’s waistband and begins to run his bloodied hands over her stomach and breasts, thumbing her nipples and making her gasp, and the thought vanishes in her violent surge of arousal.

‘I don’t want to sleep, Ruby.’ He leans in and kisses the skin of her belly, the kisses not soft, but rough, urgent. ‘Why d’you think I’m here?’

She can feel the energy humming through his body. She wants more of it. Wants him.

She tugs him up from the stool and towards her room.

14

14

Friday morning

‘Has he gone?’ Solly is frying eggs when Ruby staggers into the kitchen the next morning. The sky is dank and grey, and the back of the flat is still dark, but the little clock over the fireplace tells her it is half past eight.

‘Got any bacon, Solly?’ She touches the teapot with the back of her hand to see if it’s still warm and then pours herself a cup.

He clicks his tongue. ‘You can go elsewhere if you want bacon, Magpie. Is Billy still here?’

‘No. He left early. Said he was going over the river. I’ve got a message for Clara.’

Billy doesn’t want his sister to worry. She won’t fuss, but if there’s been a fight – and arrests – she’ll be glad to know he’s safe. He still won’t say where he’s going or what he’s up to with Freddy Moss. He wasn’t at Frank Parsons’ place in time for the match. He didn’t even know who had won when she asked, he just made some vague comment and changed the subject.

‘Hmm.’ Solly stares at the egg as it starts to splutter. He shakes the pan before sliding the egg onto a plate and then presses a slice of bread into the dripping so that it hisses. ‘You want this?’ he gestures to the egg.

Ruby beams at him and sits on the stool. ‘I’d love it. I’m starving.’

‘I’m not surprised.’ Solly flips the bread and continues to cook. Ruby’s stomach aches at the smell. He cuts the piece in half and piles the two crisp golden slices on the plate next to the egg.

‘Is he going to marry you, Ruby, or is he just screwing you until the next girl comes along?’ He places the plate on the table in front of her along with a knife and fork and watches her attack it.