𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋𝐒 ᶠⁱⁿⁿ ˢʰᵉˡᵇʸ

𝟎𝟏𝟔: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐬

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐬

Aurora walked through the Shelby offices and could hear Isiah's voice from down the hall. "Man it's on fire out there— women from the BSA offices, honest. They go out on their own without the men these days. In twos and threes." He said. "Mickey, they go out in twos and threes and buy their own drinks."

She smirked as she entered Micheal's office. Micheal glanced at her and smiled slightly whilst Isiah kept rambling.

"The Marquis— that's where the BSA secretaries go." He said. "Look, they won't serve a black man without a Shelby by his side." Micheal leaned back and sighed. "So you're using me?" Isiah chuckled at his accusation. "Yeah."

Aurora placed her elbows on Isiah's shoulders and hummed. "He isn't wrong, Micheal. They tried to turn me away once because i'm a bit too tanned for their liking." She recited. Isiah nodded. "Yeah." He agreed. Micheal looked between the two. "Come on." Isiah urged.

-

Aurora, who had forced Finn from the betting den to go out drinking with them, followed behind Micheal and Isiah as they got into the Marquis. Isiah was speaking to Micheal about the women that roamed past them without a man on their arm. "Lighten up, Finny." She said happily, her arm linked around his.

He chuckled and looked down at her. "You going to drink?" He asked as they got to the bar. She shook her head. "No."

"Four pints of dark mild, please." Micheal said. Isiah glanced at Rory, knowing she didn't drink that often anymore. "Fuck that, we're Peaky Boys, three whiskeys." He said. Aurora looked up at Finn and took his cap from his head. "Do they know?" She whispered. Finn glanced at the two lads and shook his head. "I haven't told anyone yet."

"Neither.." she spoke. "How about we keep it quiet for a while— see how long it takes until somebody asks questions." She had a playful grin on her lips.

Finn hummed. "My bet is on John being the first." He said, taking the whiskey from the counter and sipping it. "Tommy won't be impressed if he finds out you're drinking whiskey," she teased. Finn raised his eyebrows and shrugged.

"I don't drink with blacks." A man spoke after whistling. They all turned. "Here we fucking go." Isiah hissed. The barman watched carefully. "Paddy, they're okay." He said.

The ginger across from them shook his head. "Not with me they're not. I don't drink in pubs with blacks." He stared at Aurora and she let out a pathetic, breathy laugh. It was happening again. "So leave." Micheal said.

"Look, my dad is the preacher round here. He has connections. Ask anybody." Isiah inched closer to Paddy. "I couldn't give a fuck who he is." He fired back.

"I'm telling you to leave it, Paddy." The barman spoke again.

"And i'm telling these two darkies to get out of here." He looked at Aurora and Isiah. Isiah's blood boiled. "You know something?" He turned, "fuck off."

Finn felt uneasy at the man's words and didn't like the way he had spoke about Aurora.

"It's alright, Isiah. Come on, leave it. We will go to my cousin's pub." Micheal offered. "I like it here." Isiah hissed. Rory departed from Finn's side and stepped beside Isiah. "Im white." She said. Paddy hummed. "I don't drink in pubs with little girls either."