‘What’s going on?’ a voice called from the wings.
‘Mr Goldman.’ George ran across to Anton Goldman and said they were trying out an understudy. ‘What with bombs going off everywhere, it would be a safety net in case anyone was delayed getting here.’
Anton Goldman agreed and joked, ‘As long as it’s in your own time.’
‘It is,’ George assured him.
‘I’ll leave you to it then.’
Ten minutes later Natalie Goldman arrived. George took her aside and told her what they were really doing. Natalie was amazed that Margot was capable of taking over Goldie’s roles. ‘Is there anything I can do?’
‘Yes,’ Nancy said. ‘Would you play the piano while we rehearse Margot in?’
After a quick run-through of the numbers where they were all on stage, they concentrated on the numbers that Goldie featured in. When they had done as much rehearsing as time allowed, Nancy and George thanked Natalie for her help. ‘If there’s anything else I can do, you’ll let me know, won’t you?’ Natalie said to George.
‘There is!’ George put her hand on Natalie’s arm. ‘Can you get Goldie out of London? Or at least to somewhere safe, away from that fascist B, before he kills her.’
Natalie nodded. ‘Leave it with me. I’ve already spoken to her. Bert told me Margot had brought her in. He stayed with her in dressing room eight while I came down. They’ll be here in a minute.’
‘Margot?’ Hobbling across the stage, Goldie lifted her arms and hugged her friend. ‘Nancy, George-- Ah! Sorry,’ she said, distressed and breathing heavily. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said again, and burst into tears.
‘Goldie, you must not cry.’ Natalie spoke kindly, but firmly. ‘Soon you will walk out of the theatre looking happy, not sad. Margot is going to be you tonight and you are going to be me.’
‘Let me help you,’ Margot said, holding the collar on Goldie’s jacket, pulling it gently until Goldie’s arms were free, before helping her into Natalie’s outdoor coat. ‘Now your shoes,’ she said, passing Goldie’s jacket to George. Sitting Goldie on the piano stool, Margot took off her shoes and helped her to put on Natalie's. Goldie closed her eyes. She looked exhausted. ‘You’re doing really well,’ Margot said, encouragingly. ‘I just need to get rid of your curls.’ Margot brushed Goldie’s honey blonde hair from her face. ‘Kirby grips, anyone?’ Betsy took several from her own hair and Margot pinned Goldie’s curls into a bun in the nape of her neck. ‘Good. With the collar up your hair won’t be seen. Let me know when you’re ready to stand up.’ Goldie nodded and with George’s help, Margot pulled her to her feet.
‘Now my trilby,’ Natalie said. She placed her hat on Goldie’s head, tucking her blonde fringe under it. Taking a step backwards, Natalie nodded. ‘Will she do, ladies?’
‘She will soon,’ George said, pulling on the felt hat until it tipped fashionably over one eye. ‘That’s better,’ she said, turning the collar up on her coat, before handing her Natalie’s handbag.
Although Natalie Goldman was taller than Goldie, everyone agreed that from a distance no one would know the woman going home with Anton Goldman wasn’t his wife.
Backstage, with tears in her eyes, Goldie said, ‘You’re the best-- I’ll miss you all.’
Margot kissed her goodbye, followed by each of her friends. ‘You mustn’t cry, sweetheart,’ Nancy said, wiping the tears from Goldie’s cheeks. Everyone except Margot and Nancy returned to their dressing rooms after saying goodbye. More for Goldie’s sake than their own, Margot thought. They knew that if they stayed, there was a chance Goldie would break down, lose her nerve. ‘We’ll all miss you too, but you must pull yourself together. Stop crying,’ Nancy said. ‘Come on, it’s time to go.’
Goldie nodded and let Nancy lead her to the stage door.
‘Good luck tonight, Margot, and thank you,’ Goldie said before leaving.
Nodding, unable to speak, Margot blew a kiss and forced herself to smile.
‘Look after yourself, and let us know where you are once you’re settled,’ Bert said, putting out the light before opening the stage door. Margot and Nancy watched from the small window at the side of the door as Anton and Goldie followed Bert across Maiden Lane to the Goldmans’ car. Anton unlocked the passenger door and Bert held it open for Goldie, as he always did for Natalie. Margot held her breath, praying Goldie wouldn’t look back. She didn’t. She sat down sideways on the passenger seat and lifted her feet into the car, as Natalie did. Then she smiled up at Bert and he closed the door. Nancy put her arm round Margot’s shoulders and exhaled with relief. Once she was safely in the car, Anton went round to the driver’s door, unlocked it and slipped in behind the steering wheel.
After two sharp raps on the car’s roof, Margot heard Bert shout, ‘Goodnight, Mrs Goldman – Mr Goldman.’ And as the stage doorman walked back to the theatre, Anton Goldman drove down Maiden Lane.
The mood in the dressing rooms was subdued. ‘I’ve taken Mrs Horton into our confidence,’ Nancy told the girls. ‘She’d have known something was up as soon as she saw Margot in Goldie’s first costume, but I’ve asked her not to tell the dressers. I told her to tell them that George was so late for rehearsal that,’ Nancy shook her head, pretending to be exasperated, ‘by the time we’d finished it wasn’t worth getting changed, so we’ve stayed in our opening costumes.’
‘What about my costume changes?’ Margot asked.
‘Mrs Horton will look after you this week, instead of me. She’ll be with you every time you come off stage and make sure you go on stage on cue. It’s important that she helps you until you’re used to your costume changes and your entrances and exits. We might have to
