She could hear the music, feel it pulsating in her chest, long before she reached the entertainment lounge. Outside, there were numerous couples grappling in ungainly embraces, whatever inhibitions they may have started the evening with now utterly absolved by alcohol. Imelda pushed through the doors into a maelstrom of flashing lights and deafening music. The disco floor was jammed with gyrating bodies; each one indistinguishable from another, merely a component part of a seemingly single writhing entity. As the music segued into Barry White’s slow and sultry rendition of ‘I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More’, the crowd reorganised into couples and the DJ declared this to be the last dance. Imelda felt someone tap on her shoulder. She turned to find Sara-Jade in a sequinned mini-dress, clinging tightly to Titus Marlow’s arm. Sara-Jade leaned closer, a tad tipsily, in order to make herself heard.

‘It looks like you missed your chance there,’ she said, nodding towards the dance floor. Imelda shrugged, not understanding. Sara-Jade pointed, and as Imelda stared at the dancers one pair became painfully apparent. There, in the centre of the floor beneath the glitter ball, Vivienne was pressed closely against Cillian, her arms around his neck and her head resting on his shoulder. Imelda turned away and went home.

Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Now

‘Shuffle step, shuffle step, shuffle step, shuffle ball change.’ The tap dance teacher called out the choreography as she prowled the floor, checking her pupils’ footwork. She was a striking woman in her mid-fifties called Gloria, with impressive curves and a swishy blonde ponytail, and her convivial enthusiasm was underpinned by a resolute professionalism. Her dancers might be ‘mature’ beginners, but she would make damn sure that they were the best ‘mature’ beginners in Brighton. She had already informed them that they would be expected to perform in an end-of-term show at a surprise venue. Henry was having a splendid time at the piano, reprising much of his St Pancras repertoire with Mabel sitting at his feet. Imelda and Esther were exhausted.

Gloria clapped her hands to signal the end of the class.

‘Well done, ladies. And David. Same time next week please and practise every day in the meantime. Now, let’s show our appreciation for Henry, our music man.’

Some of the ladies were clearly very appreciative and there was an enthusiastic round of applause before the class broke ranks and clattered off to change their shoes. Imelda and Esther emerged into the silvery winter sunshine with flushed cheeks and aching legs to find Henry and Mabel waiting for them.

‘I wondered if you ladies might care to join me for some restorative refreshments at The Tea Leaf after all your efforts?’

‘Sounds like just the job.’ Esther took his arm and he offered the other to Imelda.

Revived by several cups of tea and slices of banana and walnut cake (‘for energy’, Amber had advised), Imelda and Henry began reminiscing about their time at Larkins.