‘Hang coats in size order and make sure you give everyone a ticket. Take down their name, address and always connect a face to a name,’ Nancy explained, doing her best to remain patient. ‘Customers like the personal touch.’
It was just a few minutes before three and the Palais’s afternoon tea dance was about to begin. To say Nancy felt frazzled was an understatement. So far she’d dealt with Maisie’s constant questions, Violet’s steely determination to jot down everything she said and then there was Bill Cain to think about. She hated the way he picked on the juniors, always singling one out, but he’d never taken to Temperance and it didn’t take a genius to work out why. Then there was Renee. She had spent her lunch break listening to Renee moan about Bill Cain’s nephew becoming her new dance partner but she was as upset as Renee at the decision to take him on, particularly as she felt as though she’d had no choice.
Nancy’s biggest worry, however, was her family. Every day the papers were full of reports of the abuse of Jews at the hands of the Nazis, shops and businesses being taken away, and some being rounded up like cattle and shot dead in a Polish forest. She remembered only too well reading with horror about Kristallnacht, the night Nazis had stormed through the streets months earlier, smashing Jewish-owned stores, synagogues and homes. All because a Polish-Jewish kid had killed a German diplomat. It had made for terrifying reading and the letters that flowed between Nancy and her mother during that terrible time had kept the Royal Mail busy for weeks. Try as she might Nancy couldn’t help worrying about what would happen if Hitler successfully made it to Britain. Would she and other Jews like her be rounded up and moved on or worse? Nancy didn’t scare easily but Hitler kept her up at night as she fretted over the future as well as her family. Where the hell was Rosa? They had always been close. To not hear from her in months was unprecedented.
She suddenly became aware of a man calling, ‘one, two, three,’ and then the sound of the band striking up a gentle waltz echoed through the cabin.
‘The dance has started,’ Violet whispered.
As Nancy looked at Violet, she saw the excitement across her face and remembered how she had felt the first time she had seen the dancers take to the floor of the Palais. Here in this dance hall, anything seemed possible. The dancers were so glamorous and well put-together in their pristine make-up, high-heeled shoes and perfectly fitted dresses, regardless of the fact Nancy knew so many of them were making do with what they had. Nancy watched Violet look at Renee as she and a customer glided across the floor in a perfect foxtrot, in a perfect slow, slow, quick, quick tempo. Nancy couldn’t tear her eyes away. The chief dancer was hypnotic and Nancy could tell Violet thought so too.
‘You wait until you work an evening dance,’ Nancy whispered. ‘The big bands, the gowns the dancers wear are incredible.’
‘I can’t wait.’
‘And you shouldn’t,’ Nancy declared. ‘You’ve done well today, I’ll put you in for Friday night’s dance. Be warned though, Fridays are a tough crowd.’
‘I’d like that,’ Violet said earnestly. ‘I won’t let you down.’
‘I know you won’t,’ she said, before her eyes fell on Violet’s notebook. ‘Honey, I admire the work ethic, really I do, but a lot of what goes on in the Palais is up here,’ she said now, tapping the side of her head. ‘Notes won’t fix it. The Palais is an emotional place, it hits you in the heart, it’s instinct.’
Violet paused for a moment and Nancy detected a certain amount of hesitation. She was about to say as much when Violet snapped the book shut. As she did so Nancy smiled and was about to congratulate her when she heard the sound of footsteps coming towards the cabin.
‘Your first customer,’ Nancy said encouragingly. ‘You remember what I told you?’
Violet nodded. But as she turned around she felt a burst of disappointment on Violet’s behalf. It wasn’t a customer at all but Bill Cain and his nephew Larry.
‘Mr Cain sir,’ Violet said, a hint of anxiety in her voice.
‘I’m just showing my nephew Larry around. He’s our new lead dancer.’
With that Bill beckoned over a short, slightly stocky man with floppy blond hair and glasses. As he walked towards the cabin Nancy tried to smile in welcome but found her mouth wouldn’t do what her brain instructed.
‘Hello again,’ she said stiffly, extending a hand for Larry to shake.
His grip was surprisingly strong and as she met his gaze Nancy was surprised to find his smile reached his eyes. Perhaps he was less like Bill than she and Renee hoped.
‘I’m so excited to be here,’ Larry exclaimed.
Larry seemed almost childlike, yet he was easily older than Renee and had to be at least thirty-three.
‘Why haven’t you been called up?’ she blurted, thinking immediately of Alex.
At the question, Larry looked embarrassed and gestured to his feet and glasses. ‘Medical grounds. I’ve got bad eyesight and flat feet.’
‘And so the war effort’s loss is very much our gain,’ Bill said, clapping Larry on the back. ‘He will be doing his bit here at the Palais instead, lifting up the spirits of the people.’
Nancy said nothing, she still wasn’t sure. This had all happened so fast and Renee should have been consulted. She turned her gaze towards the dance floor and saw her friend’s red mane as she nodded and smiled in thanks at her customer. Renee was always popular, and it wasn’t just because she was beautiful, it was because she knew what she was doing. Something she hoped Larry would appreciate.
As Renee turned around, Bill waved and beckoned her over.
‘You’re Renee Hammond,’ Larry gushed with that same level of earnestness. ‘I can’t wait to dance with you, you’ve won Blackpool three times.’
‘And the Star Championships twice,’ Renee put in. ‘The same year you came last.’
At this last remark she gave Bill a pointed look and he narrowed his eyes as Larry looked embarrassed.
‘Er yes, I wasn’t feeling well that day.’
‘I don’t expect your partner was feeling that good either after you knocked seven bells out of her shins.’
‘Renee,’ Bill hissed warningly. ‘I’ve told you.’
Ignoring Bill’s rebuke Renee kept her gaze fixed on Larry. ‘We’ve got a lot of work to do so how are you fixed for some practice time tomorrow?’
Larry shook his head. ‘Isn’t that when you’re looking at all the other dancers? Bill told me you’ve taken on a few part-time lads. He suggested I oversee them, then you and I can practise properly together.’
Renee grimaced at the suggestion, and Nancy looked at the stocky man with suspicion. He had seemed so nice on the face of it. Was he more like Bill than she had first thought?
‘Oh, he did, did he?’ Renee blurted angrily. ‘Why don’t you tell your Uncle Bill to f—’
‘Finalise the plans tomorrow,’ Nancy interrupted, shooting Renee a warning glance.
‘Yes, all right,’ Larry said, clearly nonplussed by Renee’s near outburst.
‘Wonderful,’ Bill said smoothly, his face now puce with anger from the effort, Nancy was sure, of not tearing shreds off Renee in public. ‘I’m sure the two of you will be a match made in heaven. Do you think you could come up with a demonstration dance for Saturday? We can show off our new pairing.’
‘I’ve actually got something I’ve been choreographing. Renee, I’d be happy to take you through it after I’ve looked at the male dancers tomorrow,’ Larry offered.
Holding her breath, Nancy waited for the next outburst but to her surprise none came as Renee smiled and nodded. ‘I’ll look forward to it.’
‘Excellent.’ Bill nodded again. ‘You know Edna’s agreed to pop in tomorrow as well.’
At the announcement, Larry clapped his hands together. ‘The great Mrs Goldstein will be here! I remember you introducing me to her when I was little, Uncle Bill. She’s such an inspiration she’d make anyone around her want to be a star.’
Renee raised an eyebrow and Nancy heard her mutter under her breath, ‘More like she’d make a glass eye cry.’
Unable to help herself Nancy broke into a fit of giggles, then composed herself by saying, ‘Well that all sounds like a fine idea. So nice to see you again, Larry.’
With that the general manager led the new dancer away and Nancy let out the breath she hadn’t realised she had been holding.
‘He seems nice,’ Nancy said eventually.
Renee grimaced. ‘I’m getting old not daft. You know as well as I do he’s got two left feet and all of a sudden the great Bill Cain has got him choreographing dances and overseeing the lads, or what’s left of ’em now Chamberlain’s got his paws on ’em.’
‘I don’t think it’s that bad. It’s just a case of crossed wires,’ Nancy said, shooting a look at Violet. It was the girl’s first day, she didn’t want her put off by Palais gossip.
‘Oh yeah, and I’m the Queen of Sheba.’ Renee shook her head, ignoring Nancy’s urges to play nice. ‘I’m not having it, Nancy. I want it sorted or I’m off and good luck finding another dancer as good as me at short notice.’
With that Renee stalked off and as Nancy watched her go she felt a fresh wave of despair. Could things get any worse?