Quickly she walked the length of Maiden Lane, turned into Southampton Street and zigzagged through the narrow streets of Covent Garden to Long Acre and the Prince Albert Club. She looked at her wristwatch. It had taken exactly ten minutes. After giving her coat to the cloakroom girl Margot popped into the ladies’ toilet, took off her skirt, blouse, and shoes, and put on a black velvet evening gown that Goldie had worn in one of last season’s shows and a pair of black patent leather court shoes. The dress fitted as if it had been made for her – the shoes too. Checking her hair in the mirror, she was pleased to see it looked the same as it had before she left the theatre. The setting lotion she’d used to secure the finger waves was so strong there wasn’t a hair out of place. She wasn’t able to put a comb through it and decided to use less next time. After putting on lipstick, Margot smoothed the skirt of the gown over her hips and left the ladies’ for the club.
‘It’s lovely to see you, Margot,’ Salvatore said. ‘Are you ready to sing for us?’
‘Oh yes,’ Margot said. ‘I can’t wait.’
Salvatore took her by the hand and led her though the tables in the crowded restaurant to the stage.
The bandleader put out his hand to help Margot onto the stage and whispered, ‘Did you learn the songs?’
‘Of course!’
He gave her hand an encouraging squeeze. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Miss Margot Dudley.’ When the audience had finished clapping he continued, ‘She is going to sing “Cheek To Cheek” from the film Top Hat, followed by “I'll See You Again” from the musical Bitter Sweet.’ The bandleader bowed to Margot and she moved to the microphone. It was bigger than she remembered and when she stood behind it, it covered her face. She moved to the left, and then the right. That was it. Comfortable with her position she looked over her shoulder at the bandleader. He gave her an encouraging wink before nodding to the band.
Margot’s stomach was churning. She thought she was going to be sick. Her throat felt dry, but there was nothing she could do about it. She looked into the audience and imagined it was Nancy, George and Betsy clapping – and she smiled. As the band struck the first chords of “Cheek To Cheek” Margot planted her feet firmly six inches apart in an attempt to stop her legs from shaking. It worked. She smiled again, leant into the microphone and on cue began to sing…
At the end of the song the audience applauded long and loud. Margot thought her heart would explode in her chest, she was so happy. She mouthed ‘Thank you!’ so many times her jaw ached. She daren’t look at her wristwatch but she knew if they didn’t stop clapping soon she would be late getting back to the theatre. She turned to the bandleader and nodded that she was ready to sing the second number. Again she looked into the audience. This time she wasn’t nervous. This time her smile was open and bright, and her eyes were alight with excitement. As the band began to play, Margot reached out to the audience with every fibre of her being as she sang Noel Coward’s “I'll See You Again”. As she finished singing Salvatore appeared out of the darkness. She turned and bowed to the bandleader, and then to the band, before allowing Salvatore to help her from the stage.
‘Thank you. I’m a bit worried about the time,’ she whispered. Salvatore smiled as he guided her through the tables. After thanking people for their kind words and assuring them she would be back next week, Margot said goodbye to Salvatore, thanked the cloakroom girl – who was standing at the door holding the bag containing Margot’s own clothes – and left.
On the way back to the theatre, Margot relived every second of her performance at the club. She hummed the songs, stopping once and twirling in front of a shop window. She couldn’t see her reflection because there wasn’t a moon, but she didn’t care. Giving the sandbags outside the church a wide berth, she danced along Maiden Lane until she arrived at the stage door. Then, after inhaling and exhaling deeply to calm herself, she slowly turned the doorknob. Once inside she stood behind the blackout curtain and quietly closed the door.
Carefully she pushed the curtain to the side. Bert wasn’t in his office. She crossed quickly and quietly to the passage behind the stage. The orchestra was playing the lead-in to the finale. Margot sighed with relief. Everyone was on stage. She ran along the passage and was through the door leading to front of house in seconds. In the staff room she took off her coat and dress. After hanging up the coat she folded the dress, put it in her bag with her shoes and pushed it under the chair. She then put on her skirt, blouse, and tabard. Glancing in the mirror she saw that her hair hadn’t moved. Definitely less wave lotion next time, she thought, and she giggled. And there was going to be a next time. “See you at the same time next week?” Salvatore had said when she left.
Seconds later Margot was in the auditorium and, noticed by only one old lady as she wiped off her lipstick, she slipped into her usherette’s seat.
She
