Read Jack Lark: Rogue for Free Online

me. You are charging me more and I’ll bet you’ll just pocket the difference.’
    Jack had to give the toff credit. He had more sense than he had supposed. But that did not mean he would let him win. ‘You have to pay for it now it’s poured.’ His voice was neutral, his face making it clear he cared nothing for the young gentleman’s protest.
    ‘I shall pay you sixpence. That’s a fair price.’
    ‘Price is a shilling, chum.’ Jack leant forward. ‘Who you looking for?’ He delivered the line in a hoarse whisper.
    The toff blinked hard. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’
    Jack pulled back. ‘Shilling for the drink and I’ll tell you where they are.’
    The toff scowled, a flush of colour rising up his neck to stain his cheeks. ‘I was looking for a young girl I saw in here last time.’
    ‘A girl, is it?’ Jack scanned the bar. There was only one customer waiting, and that was old Bill, who would stand there happily no matter how long it took. ‘What she look like, this girl of yours?’
    The young toff hesitated.
    Jack smiled. He recognised the desire. ‘Let me guess. Red skirt. Pretty, too. Showed you an ankle.’
    The blush flashed crimson. ‘That’s her. That’s the lady.’
    ‘A lady, is it! Fuck me, really?’ Jack laughed at the expression on the toff’s face. It looked like he was holding back a huge turd. ‘That’s Mary, that is. She won’t be in for a bit, but if you take a seat, I’ll send her your way when she comes in.’
    ‘How long will that be?’
    Jack saw the flash of fear on the toff’s face. He was no fool and clearly knew the risk of staying too long in Whitechapel. He was rising in Jack’s estimation.
    ‘Not long.’ Jack considered the face that looked up at him with lust written into every pore. He knew what it was to fancy Mary. He sighed. He would never have the chance to do what this young posh boy would likely get the opportunity to do this very day. The notion stung. But he knew Mary would not thank him for letting such a wealthy customer slip away. And he had promised to look out for her. ‘Look, chum, take a seat. I’ll see you right.’
    ‘You will?’
    ‘Sure as eggs is eggs I will. What’s your name?’
    ‘Edmund.’
    ‘Well then, young Ed. Take a pew.’ Jack saw the look of suspicion on the anxious face in front of him. ‘Look, chum, I ain’t going to hook you. Take your drink, have a seat and see what happens. What’ve you got to lose?’
    ‘Very well.’ The toff made up his mind. He picked up his drink and turned towards the saloon bar.
    ‘Oi!’ Jack called him back.
    ‘I say, what now?’ The well-fed face was petulant.
    ‘Shilling. For the drink.’ Jack offered a rare smile. He was still smiling as he took the coin from Edmund’s hand and slipped it into his pocket.
    Jack watched the young toff as he emerged from the back room. His face was flushed, a sheen of perspiration dotted across his brow.
    It was hard not to be jealous. Jack felt it burning deep in his gut, as though the devil was sitting inside him stoking some dreadful fire. He tore his eyes from the toff’s face and kept stacking the glasses that he took from the crate on the floor by his feet. The evening rush was not far off, and his ma would tan his hide if the bar were not stocked and ready.
    ‘Thank you.’
    Jack could not bring himself to look up. ‘No problem, chum.’ He kept himself busy. The urge to slap his fist into the toff’s glowing face was becoming hard to resist.
    Edmund stood in front of the bar, his pot hat held in front of his groin. He looked at Jack with a quizzical expression.
    ‘What now?’ Jack growled the question. He wanted the toff on his way.
    ‘I wonder if I could procure your services?’
    ‘Do what?’ Jack’s jealousy was making him belligerent.
    ‘It’s getting dark. I would like you to escort me to Bishopsgate. I can get a hackney carriage from there.’ The toff looked anxious.
    Jack felt the urge to refuse the lad. It would