Sadie catches my eyes, grins, and throws back her head in rapture. I guess it’s been a long time since she’s sparkled on the dance floor. I should have done this before. I feel really mean now. We’ll do Charleston dancing every night from now on, I resolve. We’ll do all her favorite twenties things.
The only trouble is, I’ve got a stitch. Panting, I head to the side of the dance floor. What I need to do is to get Ed to dance with Sadie. The two of them alone. Somehow. Then I really will have made her evening.
“OK?” Ed has followed me off.
“Yes. Fine.” I mop my brow with a napkin. “It’s hard work!”
“You’ve done very well!” Gaynor comes over to us and, in a sudden show of emotion, clasps our hands in turn. “You’re very promising, the pair of you! I think you could go far! Shall I see you again next week?”
“Er… maybe.” I don’t quite dare look at Ed. “I’ll call you, shall I?”
“I’ll leave the music on,” she says enthusiastically. “You can practice!”
As she goes, hurrying across the floor with her little dancer steps, I nudge Ed.
“Hey, I want to watch you. Go and dance on your own for a bit.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Go on! Please! You can do that one-two thing with your arms. I want to see how you do it. Please…”
Rolling his eyes good-humoredly, Ed heads out on the floor.
“Sadie!” I hiss, and gesture at Ed. “Quick! Your partner’s waiting!”
Her eyes widen as she realizes what I mean. In half a second she’s out there, facing him, her eyes lit up joyfully
“Yes, I’d love to dance,” I hear her saying. “Thank you so much!”
As Ed starts swinging his legs back and forth, she synchronizes with him perfectly. She looks so happy. She looks so right. Her hands are on his shoulders, her bracelets are glittering under the lights, her headdress is bobbing, the music is fizzing along, it’s like watching an old film-
“That’s enough,” says Ed suddenly with a laugh. “I need a partner.” And to my dismay, he barges right through Sadie, toward me.
I can see the shock on Sadie’s face. As she watches him leave the floor, she looks devastated. I wince, wishing so hard he could see her, that he knew…
“I’m sorry,” I mouth at Sadie as Ed drags me onto the floor. “I’m really sorry.”
We dance awhile longer, then head back to the table. I can’t help feeling exhilarated after all that effort, and Ed seems in pretty good spirits too.
“Ed, do you believe in guardian angels?” I say on impulse. “Or ghosts? Or spirits?”
“No. None of the above. Why?”
I lean forward confidentially. “What if I told you that there’s a guardian angel in this very room who fancies the pants off you?”
Ed gives me a long look. “Is ‘guardian angel’ a euphemism for ‘male prostitute’?”
“No!” I splutter with laughter. “Forget it.”
“I’ve had a good time.” He drains his glass and smiles at me. A full-on, proper smile. Crinkled eyes, uncreased brow, everything! I almost want to shout “Geronimo! We got there!”
“So have I.”
“I didn’t expect to end the evening like this.” He looks around the little club. “But it’s… great!”
“Different.” I nod.
He rips open a bag of peanuts and offers it to me, and I watch him as he crunches them hungrily. Even though he’s looking relaxed, the frown lines are still faintly etched on his brow.
Well, no wonder. He’s had a lot to frown about. I can’t help feeling a rush of pity for him as I think about it. Losing his fiancée. Coming to work in a strange city. Just getting through life, week after week, without enjoying it. It was probably really good for him to come dancing. It was probably the most fun he’s had in months.
“Ed,” I say on impulse. “Let me take you sightseeing. You should see London. It’s criminal that you haven’t. I’ll show you around. At the weekend sometime?”
“I’d like that.” He seems genuinely touched. “Thanks.”
“No problem! Let’s email.” We smile at each other, and I drain my sidecar with a slight shudder. (Sadie made me order it. Totally revolting.)
Ed glances at his watch. “So, are you ready to go?”
I glance over at the dance floor. Sadie’s still going strong, flinging her arms and legs around with no sign of flagging. No wonder all the girls in the twenties were so skinny.
“Let’s go.” I nod. Sadie can catch up with us when she’s ready.
We head out into the Mayfair night. The street lanterns are on, mist is rising from the pavements, and nobody’s about. We head to the corner and after a few minutes flag down a couple of cabs. I’m starting to shiver, in my skimpy dress and threadbare cloak. Ed ushers me into the first taxi, then pauses, holding the door open.
“Thanks, Lara,” he says in that formal preppy way he has. I’m actually starting to find it quite endearing. “I had a good time. It was… quite a night.”
“Wasn’t it!” I adjust my diamanté cap, which has fallen lopsided with all the dancing, and Ed’s mouth twitches with amusement.
“So, should I wear my spats for sightseeing?”
“Definitely.” I smile. “And a top hat.”
Ed laughs. I think it’s the first time I’ve ever heard him laugh. “Good night, twenties girl.”