‘No.’ I was firmer this time.
‘I promised Billy I’d look after you,’ he said. ‘And I didn’t and now I need to put things right.’ He gave me that wolfish smile again. ‘And now I know what you like.’
He put his hand on my leg, just where my skirt ended. And then gradually he moved it upwards to the top of my stocking. His rough hands grazed my bare skin and I tasted bile in my mouth.
‘Elsie,’ Jackson said, his voice gruff. I tried to turn my headaway, but he pushed his lips against mine. His hand was getting higher up my leg and I felt my whole body trembling.
‘No,’ I moaned. ‘No.’
‘Don’t worry, Elsie. We’re getting married. It’s fine.’ Roughly now he shoved his hand in between my legs. ‘You’re mine now.’
I felt his fingers pushing into me, poking and hurting me. ‘Stop it,’ I whimpered. ‘Please, stop.’
But he didn’t. He leaned against me, and I felt his groin grinding hard into my thigh as he let out a little moan of pleasure. I turned my head slightly and realised his eyes were closed and I saw my chance. I put my hands against his chest and shoved him hard. He stumbled backwards and I darted past him.
Somewhere up above us, I heard the air raid siren begin to wail. I reached for the book and gasped as Jackson grabbed me round the waist before I could get it.
‘Don’t,’ he warned.
‘There’s a raid.’
‘We’re safe down here, silly.’ He pressed his lips against mine again and I struggled to get away. He held me tighter as I wriggled.
‘Jackson, please,’ I begged. ‘Don’t hurt me. I’m having a baby.’
Suddenly he let go. ‘You’re having a baby?’
‘Yes.’
I pulled myself back away from him, keeping my eyes fixed on me. ‘Billy’s nephew or niece,’ I said carefully. ‘He’d want you to look after them, wouldn’t he?’
For a brief, giddy second I thought it was all going to be all right. But then he hit me, smack across the face. Before I’d properly realised what had happened, I found myself sprawled on the floor of the boiler room, my head spinning and my face burning. I reached up and felt my nose bleeding.
In shock and disbelief, I looked up at Jackson who was towering over me. ‘Look what you made me do,’ he said.
A huge thud made us both jump. Dust fell from the ceiling, making my eyes sting. ‘There’s a raid,’ I said again. ‘We need to go.’
‘We’re going nowhere.’ He began to unbuckle his belt. ‘You’re my girl, and you’ve betrayed me.’
‘I’m not your girl,’ I said frantically. ‘I’m not and I never will be.’
‘Then I’ll tell everyone what you did. You’ll go to prison.’ His eyes widened. ‘You’ll hang for what you did to Nelly.’
‘No one will believe you.’
Jackson picked up the book from the table and held it over his head in triumph. ‘I’ve got the evidence,’ he said. ‘I’ll show the police this book and they’ll know I’m telling the truth. You’re a slut and a murderer and you’ll do whatever I tell you to do.’
I knew then that there was no way out for me. That I would be forced to do what he wanted or lose my job and my freedom and maybe even my life. I tried not to show my fear, but I couldn’t keep back my sobs.
Jackson gave me a look of utter disdain. ‘You brought this on yourself, Elsie,’ he said. He tucked the book under his arm and turned his attention back to his belt. ‘You’re lucky to have me. Other men wouldn’t be so understanding.’
I whimpered, as he began unbuttoning his trousers, sliding myself backwards towards the wall in a futile attempt to escape from him.
And then there was an enormous deafening roar, and the room began to shake. I let out a shriek of fright.
‘It’s the raid, Jackson. We’ve been hit.’ In panic, I began crawling across the floor to shelter beneath the table in the corner and watched as Jackson looked up to the ceiling in surprise. Then he was gone, vanished into a cloud of dust that fell from above. There was another roar and the clatter of falling masonry, the thump of more bombs falling and somewhere I heard the whoosh of flames igniting. Beneath the table, I curled up into a tight ball, trying to protect my abdomen though I knew it was in vain, and I waited to die.
Chapter 38
