Read Black August for Free Online Page B

shrugged her rather plump little shoulders under the flimsy frock, and smiled. ‘Shall we give politics a miss this evening—just pretend we’re living in normal times—I wish you would?’
    â€˜Why rather—I’d love to. What about another cocktail?’
    â€˜Yes, er—that is …’ She hesitated a second, used as she was to practising consideration for young men’s pockets. ‘Don’t think me rude—but can you really afford this sort of thing?’
    â€˜You funny thing, of course I can,’ he laughed, ‘still—it’s sweet of you to think of it. Waiter—two more
Forlorn Hopes
.’
    Ten minutes later as he followed her down the broad, shallow stairs towards the restaurant, his thoughts were chaotic. ‘What a skin she’s got—and those little dark curls on the nape of her neck … I’d love to kiss them…. By jove I will, too. There’s not a girl to touch her in this place … I’m thundering glad I wrote to her after all … but that was a little odd, thinking I might not have the price of a second cocktail. Damned decent though … and
how
refreshing!’
    â€˜How goes the job?’ Ann inquired, after he had ordered what she considered to be an almost criminally expensive meal.
    â€˜I think it will be all right, but I shan’t know for about a fortnight.’
    â€˜I do hope you get it; would they give you a decent screw to start with?’
    â€˜Oh, not too bad, about eight quid a week. Here’s to it!’ he added, lifting his glass; ‘and long life and happiness to Mistress Ann Croome.’
    â€˜Thank you,’ she smiled quickly as the bubbles of the champagne tickled her tongue. ‘Well, eight pounds a week is nice, but not a fortune,’ she was thinking, and if they were going to be friends she meant to teach him to be economical. It was terribly nice of him to give her such a marvellous evening, and perhaps it was excusable just this first time, but there must be no more dinners at places like the Savoy.
    â€˜Of course I get an allowance from my father,’ he cut in, almost as if he had read her thoughts.
    â€˜I see,’ she coloured slightly, ‘and is he a civil servant too?’
    â€˜Well, hardly,’ Kenyon’s blue eyes shone with sudden humour, ‘he’s a farmer really—although fortunately he has a few investments as well.’
    â€˜Investments are so uncertain these days, aren’t they?’
    â€˜They are, indeed—did you hear that Vibro-Magnetic crashed this afternoon?’
    â€˜No! That means another slump in the city, I suppose?’
    He nodded. ‘Bound to, they’re such a tremendous concern, and they’ll bring down dozens of smaller people with them, so goodness knows how many more poor devils will be hammered on the Stock Exchange next settling day.’
    â€˜If things go on like this there won’t be any Stock Exchange left.’
    â€˜Not unless the Government decide on a moratorium, they’ve been talking about it for the last week.’
    â€˜What effect will it have if they do?’
    â€˜No one will have to pay anyone else except for a new transaction.’
    â€˜I hope they do then—it would give all the firms that are in difficulties a chance to carry on.’
    â€˜Perhaps—but it almost means an end of credit. People wouldn’t be able to get any more goods unless they were in a position to pay for them.’
    â€˜Well, it would keep my firm from going under—I’m terrifiedevery day that they’ll close down and that I shall lose my job.’
    â€˜Ann,’ he said gravely; ‘why did you come back to London?—delighted as I am to see you, I did write and warn you not to. There’s going to be real trouble here very soon.’
    â€˜I thought it terribly sweet of you to write as we’d only met just that once—would you