As Temperance followed Nancy across the road to the Palais, she smiled in welcome at the two sisters waiting by the door. They seemed nice enough, almost alike. Both tall, with wide open faces, dark hair and high cheekbones. But the younger one, Temperance guessed, based purely on the way she kept looking at the other sister for reassurance, had large green eyes while the older one, she thought was Violet had oval blue eyes. They were beautiful though, that much was obvious. But in amongst the excitement of starting a new job they looked as if they had the worries of the world on their shoulders. Violet’s cheeks were pinched, and her jaw set, something she looked as if she were trying to throw off as she and Nancy approached them. Temperance remembered how daunting it was when she had started working at the Palais. It had been bad enough learning everyone’s names and doing her best to fit in, and she hadn’t even had a family row on the doorstep to contend with. As she reached out to shake the girls’ hands, she became aware of the younger one gasping in delight as Nancy introduced her.
‘Temperance, I’ve never heard that before,’ she exclaimed.
‘It’s for my gran,’ Temperance explained as Nancy pushed the front door open and welcomed them inside.
‘Oh, that’s like you, Vi,’ Maisie replied. ‘Violet was named after our nan on our mum’s side but she’s a right old battleaxe, ain’t she, Vi? We don’t see much of her because she lives over in Kilburn with all the other Irish. Dad says that with a bit of luck she won’t be long for this world! But then half the reason they don’t get on is because Nan can’t understand why Ma’s always giving him her hard-earned to go and spend down the tote while he sits on his arse. Oh, my days, look at this place, Vi, it’s beautiful. We came round the back last time we was here for our interview didn’t we, and have only ever seen this when it’s full of people. Oh Vi!’
Temperance felt as if she were in a whirlwind as she listened to Maisie’s chatter. For a moment she wondered if it would ever end but as the young girl’s eyes alighted on the foyer, Maisie finally paused for breath and allowed herself to take in the sights of the Palais. Temperance saw the entrance to the dance hall through the girls’ eyes. It certainly was magnificent. The red-carpeted foyer with gold columns and huge glass chandelier that hung from the ceiling offered a promise of all that was to come in the main dance hall. Just for a second Temperance became swept away in the younger girl’s excitement as Maisie oohed and ahhed over all the little details, while Nancy pointed out the elegantly panelled front desk and ticket booths as well as the café and restaurant further down the corridor just off of the main dance floor.
‘Like it?’ Nancy asked as the initial part of the tour came to an end.
Temperance watched Maisie nod enthusiastically, her dark hair swinging this way and that. She moved like a dancer, Temperance thought. Violet, meanwhile, had taken a notebook out of her leather bag and was feverishly taking notes, clearly not wanting to miss a thing. They might be sisters, Temperance thought, but that appeared to be where the similarities ended. Violet seemed quieter, more studious while Maisie appeared more excitable and wilful. She was what Winnie might call showy and the thought made Temperance flush with happiness.
‘I love it, Temperance,’ Maisie gushed, now turning to the girl who was standing behind them. ‘Ain’t this the most beautiful place in the world? We used to come here on Saturdays didn’t we, Vi? Sometimes our nan would bring us as well, when Ma weren’t about. That wasn’t often though,’ Maisie said now in a hushed tone. ‘Ma’s always loved a dance but these days she says the Palais is a place of sin. She’s been going on all week about the old adverts that described the Palais as the talk of London and she’s not stopped going on at us has she, Vi? About us not becoming the talk of the town.’
‘Maisie, shut your cakehole,’ Violet hissed. ‘I’m trying to listen to Miss Blum and you should n’all. Stop your rabbiting.’
‘No, enthusiasm, I like it,’ Nancy said with a grin, as she led the group out of the dance hall and along the dark corridor. ‘Let’s see if you still feel the same in a week. C’mon, Temp and I will introduce you to everyone and show you where to put your things. And by the way, Miss Blum makes me feel old – Nancy please.’
As Nancy continued her tour, introducing them to Fred the storesman, Eric the electrician and of course Sybil who barely gave the girls more than a nod, Temperance found herself lingering at the back, remembering how Nancy had done exactly the same for her. She had been mesmerised by the infamous dance hall and knew Nancy would want the girls to see it the way she did, as a bright, shiny, magical sanctuary.
‘So, are you both from round here?’ Temperance asked as Nancy paused in the corridor to allow them to take in all they had learned.
‘Just over Somerset Place, near the bridge,’ Violet said, turning back to smile at Temperance.
Temperance nodded. ‘I’m Little Wapping. I live with my gran and brother.’
‘We live with our parents and grandmother,’ Maisie explained, joining in the conversation. ‘It’s like Clapham Junction round our way though, innit, Vi? Never a minute’s peace and you can never get in the privy ’cos either Dad or Nan in there. Our ma’s always doing her pieces.’
At Maisie’s statement everyone giggled apart from Violet, Temperance noticed, who looked embarrassed by her sister’s outburst.
‘Sounds like my mother,’ Nancy added. ‘She let us know when she was upset. Given there were eight kids you can imagine she was onto us all day long.’
Maisie laughed, a genuine laugh that showed all her teeth and lit up her olive skin. ‘Eight! That must have been a squeeze.’
‘We’re Jewish,’ Nancy replied as if that explained everything. ‘Not orthodox but we don’t eat pork and always go to synagogue on Yom Kippur.’
‘So you’re not from America then?’ Maisie asked.
‘Honey, nobody is from America, we’re a nation of immigrants. My mom and pop are originally from Munich but emigrated to America at the end of the last century,’ Nancy explained. ‘My pop’s brother stayed and I’m not sure what’s happened to him and his family. Some of ’em managed to get out before Hitler invaded and last I knew they were in Austria.’
‘You must be worried, Miss Blum,’ Temperance said, noticing the slightly pinched look in her cheeks. She turned back to Temperance and gave her a grateful smile.
‘I am. The last I heard from my cousin Rosa was that she and her husband Ben had been forced to give up their business by the Nazis. I wrote her back, encouraged her to take the kids and get out, but she never replied. I’m afraid to look in the papers or turn on the radio, it’s too brutal to think about.’
There was a silence then as each of the girls took in Nancy’s plight. Temperance wished she could find the right words to offer comfort but could think of none.
‘So how come you ended up in England?’ Maisie asked, causing Temperance to raise an eyebrow at the girl’s bluntness.
‘My sister Esther came across first,’ Nancy said. ‘She met an English guy who got a job at that department store, Liberty’s. You heard of it? When the relationship ended she asked me to come over. I used to run a music hall in Brooklyn, so I joined her and got a job here.’
Violet and Maisie fervently nodded their heads at the thought of the legendary London store that was so exclusive Temperance had only ever dared peer through the windows when it was dark, never mind go inside.
‘That where you live now then, Miss Blum?’ Maisie asked. ‘With your sister up west?’
Nancy laughed. ‘Nowhere so glamorous. I’m married to the general manager Alex Goldstein and we live in the flat above the Palais. I say we, of course Alex joined up back in October so it’s just me.’
‘What about your sister? Is she still in London?’ Violet asked politely.
Nancy shook her head and continued walking briskly along the corridor. ‘She moved back to the States. Got herself a fourth-floor walk-up in Williamsburg and a husband and kid to boot.’
‘You must miss her,’ Temperance said quietly. She was aware Nancy didn’t often talk about her family, preferring to focus on the family she had found in England.
‘Not really, my sister was a pain in the ass,’ Nancy said bluntly.
As the girls laughed, the sound of their heels echoed along the corridor. Temperance turned around and smiled when she saw Renee approach. She loved Renee. Where Temperance was quiet, Renee was loud but there was something about the older woman’s presence that made Temperance feel safe though it hadn’t started that way. When Temperance had first met Renee, the dancer had grinned in delight and asked if she could touch her. Temperance had reluctantly agreed, knowing many white people thought she was a lucky omen because of her skin colour. It was something she hated, although she knew there had been no malice in Renee’s request, instead it had been born out of curiosity, a complete contrast to Bill Cain’s spiteful peaks of laughter when they had first met and he had looked Temperance up and down.
‘If we rub our palms against you, will you bless us all with your luck?’ he had leered.
Temperance had felt sick. Bill Cain’s appraisal of her had felt cheap, dirty somehow.
Watching the dancer approach them now, dressed in a pea-green satin dress and bright red heels Renee looked like a force to be reckoned with, but Temperance hoped the sisters would see beyond that and come to love Renee as much as she did.
‘All right, girls,’ Renee said. ‘Thought I’d come and find you and introduce myself again.’
‘You remember our chief dancer Renee Hammond, right?’ Nancy added.
Violet and Maisie nodded.
‘Nice to see you again,’ Violet said.
‘Your dress is beautiful. Is that specially for the Palais or do you go about like that? Have you always been a dancer?’ Maisie gushed.
Renee laughed, revealing a neat row of perfect white teeth. ‘You ask a lot of questions. I bet you’d make a friend in an empty house.’
At the statement, Temperance and Violet giggled while Maisie looked blank. Taking pity on the younger girl, Renee patted her shoulder. ‘I’ve been dancing all me life, love.’
‘All your life?’ Violet asked in a surprised tone.
‘Well, most of it,’ Renee said with a shrug. ‘Me mam had me on stage when I was four and I’ve been going ever since. Now, here I am – the Palais, the most exciting adventure of all.’
Nancy laughed and nudged the Liverpudlian in the ribs. The action made Temperance smile, she knew how fond Nancy was of all the girls that worked for her.
‘Take no notice of Renee,’ she said now, sticking a pen behind her ear. ‘She’s not just our chief dancer she’s also the Palais’s resident clown.’
‘Always happy to oblige,’ Renee replied making a little curtsey.
‘And she does,’ Temperance added. ‘If there’s anything you want to know then see Renee. She taught me everything.’
A look of mock horror passed across Nancy’s face. ‘You know what, I don’t want to know.’
Renee patted Nancy’s hand. ‘And you’re best off not asking. Let’s just say I like to give the girls an education.’
‘Which is exactly what I’m afraid of,’ Nancy said with perfect comic timing.
‘So what about you two? What’s brought you here?’ Renee asked, turning to the sisters. She leaned against the wall and fished inside the pocket of her dress for a cigarette.
‘We’ve always loved the Palais, haven’t we, Maisie?’ Violet said loyally.
Renee let out a sharp burst of laughter. ‘Oh, I forgot. First day and you’ve got to say whatever you think management wants to hear. Well don’t worry about that, our Nancy might be the boss but she’s heard it all haven’t you, love?’
‘If I haven’t then no doubt you’d tell me,’ Nancy replied sagely.
‘Well, I’d better get back.’ Renee smiled. ‘Things to do and all that. Nice to see you again, girls, and if you want anything just ask.’ As Renee carried on walking back down the corridor Temperance watched her, wishing she could be as confident as the resident chief dancer.
Coming to, she realised the girls had walked a little way ahead and as she turned around to catch them up, she collided straight into someone emerging from the toilets.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she blurted.
‘How many times have I told you? Stay outta my way,’ a thick cockney accent growled.
‘Sorry, Mr Cain, sir,’ Temperance said, her heart sinking as she realised the man she had bumped into was the resident MC.
Bill lowered his face and pressed his mouth almost to her ear. He was so close she could feel the warmth of his cheek and smell last night’s whisky on his breath. ‘You wanna take more care or I’ll see management sends you packing back to wherever it is you came from.’
A wave of nausea rose up from deep inside her belly as Temperance struggled to find the words to reply. Fortunately she was saved the trouble by Nancy who appeared at Temperance’s side.
‘Hey there, Bill,’ the front desk manager said now in what Temperance knew to be a falsely cheerful tone. ‘Let me introduce you to Violet and Maisie Millington. They started work here today. Girls, this is Bill Cain, our Master of Ceremonies.’
Bill plastered on a smile and greeted the new starters. As he smoothed his grey hair down with his left hand, he offered them his right hand to shake.
‘How charming to meet you,’ he said in an upper-crust accent that Temperance knew to be his posh voice and made her cringe inside.
‘A pleasure, sir,’ Violet said smoothly, taking his hand.
‘I can’t believe it’s really you,’ Maisie squawked. ‘Look, Vi, the real Bill Cain. We loved watching you when we used to come up here with Roy on a Saturday night. Oh sir, I’m so excited.’
Temperance’s embarrassment had now turned to amusement as she watched Maisie ignore the MC’s hand and instead curtsey low to the ground.
‘It’s my utter pleasure, my dear. Anything for my adoring admirers,’ Bill said puffing himself up at Maisie’s subservience.
At the performance Temperance caught Violet’s eye and noticed the older of the sisters was now rolling her eyes. She smiled and when Violet smiled back she felt a connection blossom between them.
‘Well, anyways, better finish the tour,’ Nancy said when Maisie was upright.
‘I’ll make sure to look out for you,’ Bill replied, adjusting his already straight tie. ‘And if you’re good girls, I might even call a dance for you.’
At the announcement, Maisie gave a breathy laugh. ‘Really, sir? That’d be wonderful.’
Temperance caught Violet’s eye again and couldn’t miss the look of disgust that passed across her features. She gave her new friend a brief nod to show she was right. Bill Cain was a nasty piece of work. Temperance knew Nancy had tried to talk to Alex about the older man’s behaviour in the past but, whilst he was sympathetic, he knew how popular Bill was with the dancers, the customers and of course his mother.
As Nancy began to lead the party back down the corridor, Temperance started to follow behind, only for Bill to lay a hand on her arm.
‘I’m watching you. Your luck’ll run out soon, it always does for your kind,’ he said gruffly. ‘Remember that.’
With that Bill released his grip and let her go. As Nancy showed the girls into her office, she waited outside for Temperance to catch up.
‘Are you okay?’
‘Fine, Miss Blum,’ Temperance said with a careful nod.
Nancy smiled at her, her green eyes full of warmth. ‘How many times, honey? I’m Nancy.’
‘That’s not what Mr Cain says,’ Temperance replied, gazing down at the parquet floor. ‘He says I’m to call everyone Mr or Mrs, first names aren’t for the likes of me.’
‘Rubbish,’ Nancy snapped. ‘You leave Mr Cain to me.’
Temperance fiddled with the sleeve of her jacket. ‘Thank you,’ she said meekly. As Nancy slipped her a kind smile and then walked into her office and shut the door Temperance knew she never would. No matter how much she tried to find acceptance she knew that one day she would have to find the courage to stand up for herself and fight her own battles.