As Nancy pushed past Edna and stalked towards the ladies’, doing her best to keep her chin held high, Renee felt a stab of fury. She turned to Edna and shook her head, red hair tumbling down her back. Now was not the time for niceties.
‘You’re a proper old cow, anyone ever tell you that?’
Edna licked her lips, pulling the collar of her bouclé Chanel jacket closer to her neck. ‘Now, now, Renee, there’s no need for that. I was simply honest with the rabbi.’
‘Honest my foot,’ Renee snapped. ‘You’re a troublemaker. Always have been, always will be. I’d heard all about you before I got here, lady, and it was nothing to do with your dancing skills.’
‘Now look here.’ Edna dropped the polite home counties tones and looked up at Renee, green eyes flashing. ‘I’ve seen your sort before, thinking you’re something special. Well, I’m here to tell you that you ain’t. You and Nancy, you’re all fur coat and no knickers.’
As Edna’s speech came to a screeching and abrupt halt Renee licked her lips and cocked her head to one side as she regarded the dance hall matriarch. ‘You’ve made yourself perfectly clear to all and sundry I should think, love,’ Renee said jerking her head towards the crowd of guests that had now fallen silent. ‘And I should think when your Alex gets wind of how you’ve upset his wife with your bitterness he’ll have a thing or two to say because believe me when I say this, if Nancy doesn’t tell him what a spiteful old cow you are, I will.’
With that Renee walked back across the floor, leaving Edna open-mouthed in shock, and found herself in the bar. After ordering a port and lemon, she sat down for a moment and felt her heart race. It felt good to think about someone else’s problems for a change. That morning she and Lizzie had rowed to such an extent that the neighbours had asked them to keep it down. Just remembering the exchange made her feel hopeless. When would her sister learn? It had all begun because Lizzie had told her she’d been down the blasted market again. Renee had told her before to be careful. To wait a while, in case she was recognised. And then the row had begun.
‘It’s better if I’m recognised,’ Lizzie snapped. ‘Means repeat customers.’
‘You’ve not got a licence for a stall,’ Renee said wearily. ‘That alone will attract the bizzies if nothing else will.’
Lizzie’s eyes flashed with anger. ‘I know what I’m doing. And you should be grateful at all I’m doing. I’m doing this for us.’
As Lizzie paused to take a sip of her tea Renee’s mind started to race. ‘What do you mean all?’
And then another Great War had broken out in the heart of Silvertown, Renee thought as she remembered how the exchange had gone one step further, with the sisters screaming blue murder at each other.
Renee shook her head. She wanted a night off from her problems for a change. She turned her attention back to here and now and, spotting an older woman she didn’t recognise chatting to Temperance, Violet and Eamon at the piano, she made a beeline for the group.
Renee regarded the older woman with interest. Dressed in a smart but well-worn navy tea dress and clutching an almost empty glass of stout, Renee realised it must be Violet’s grandmother and she looked as if she was having the time of her life.
‘Renee Hammond,’ she said offering her free hand. ‘Don’t think we’ve had the pleasure.’
‘Queenie Millington.’ She grinned.
As she returned the older woman’s smile, Renee felt a surge of affection. She had only just met the woman but already liked her enormously.
‘Nan just popped in. Wanted to see where we worked,’ Violet said nervously.
‘No.’ Queenie looked at her granddaughter clearly nonplussed. ‘I said Winnie’s granddaughter could get us a discount as you didn’t seem interested so I thought I’d treat myself to a night out.’
‘I didn’t think you were serious about that!’ Violet exclaimed as Eamon looked on amused.
Renee laughed, briefly tipping her chin back towards the ceiling, revealing the alabaster skin of her neck. ‘Well it’s a pleasure to meet you, love. Shall I get that filled up?’ she asked gesturing towards Queenie’s glass.
Queenie patted the back of her hair, ensuring it was all in place and smiled up at Renee.
‘I think I’m going to like you.’ Queenie pushed her glass across the top of the piano towards Renee who somehow managed to magically make a barman appear with a full glass of stout.
As Queenie took a large gulp Renee fixed her attentions on Temperance. The American band had got her creative juices flowing. She wanted more time to experiment with the new breed of dances coming over from Cuba not to mention the dances like the Cuban bolero that were creating such a stir in the American dance halls. It was vital the Palais stayed up to date and on top of the trends if they were going to give the customers a good time and continue to be the most legendary dance hall in Europe. She needed help and had a feeling Temperance was the perfect person to give her the assistance she needed.
‘Listen, Temp, I was hoping you might help me out teaching dance lessons,’ Renee offered.
Temperance looked astonished. ‘Me?’
‘Yes you,’ Renee said encouragingly. ‘I know how good a dancer you are, Temp. I’ve seen you on occasion on the dance floor when you think nobody’s watching. And I saw you helping Maisie and Archie the other day. You’re a natural teacher, love.’
Temperance looked wrong-footed and Renee hoped she hadn’t come on too strong The truth was there were very few people she could rely on to help her. Half of the girls in the pen were juggling family duties alongside their dancing and Temperance, Renee knew, had her own private battle, a war with grief over her father that Renee knew she was doing her best to keep to herself. Renee had seen the younger girl sobbing as she tidied up at the end of the day when she thought she was alone. If there was one thing Renee understood it was wanting to keep pain private, but Temperance was such a warrior, such a warm-hearted girl, Renee thought she needed support and if her untapped dance talent could help her find a new path in life without her father then Renee wanted to give her that opportunity.
‘So what d’you say?’ Renee asked.
‘You really think I can do it?’ Temperance said, her eyes alive with excitement at having been asked.
‘Wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t,’ Renee said firmly. ‘We’ll start next week.’
As she watched Temperance start to come alive Renee felt a sudden burst of pleasure she had managed to do something so very good when she knew she herself could be so very bad.