One Rainy Day (42 page)

‘No, David doesn’t have a partner waiting, and I’m sure he would very much like to dance with you, Charlotte. We have two friends in the hall, so I think we’ll join them. Will you come in and meet them, Andrew?’

‘No, I won’t intrude,’ Andrew said. ‘I really don’t mind waiting for Charlotte. I can always go for a walk to pass the time.’

This wasn’t in his sister’s plan. ‘Oh, I couldn’t enjoy dancing if I knew you were walking up and down.’ Her hands went behind her back and she crossed her fingers. ‘I’ll come home with you, Andrew, if you don’t feel like dancing.’

‘A charmer, and now a blackmailer,’ Poppy said with a chuckle. ‘You are a girl of many talents, Charlotte. I think I could learn a lot from you, but not tonight. I came here because I love dancing, and I intend to do just that. So come in, Andrew, and join our friends. You’ll see plenty of pretty girls you can ask up.’ She jerked her head. ‘David, Charlotte, come on. The band is beginning to warm up.’

There was just enough time for introductions before the band struck up with a slow foxtrot, and Peter reached for Poppy’s hand. ‘Come on, babe.’ He was leading her on to the dance floor when she turned her head and called, ‘Pair off, David.’

‘Let’s do as we’re told,’ David said. ‘Poppy will have my life if I’m still standing here next time she dances by. I’ll take Charlotte, Andrew, and you take Kate. And after the dance is over, we’ll compare notes on who won.’

Kate was shy when Andrew asked her to dance, but she soon loosened up when they got on the floor. She was the more experienced dancer and found herself leading, rather than being led. But it wouldn’t have been noticed by other dancers, only by Andrew. ‘I’m sorry. I’m afraid I don’t dance often, and I’m quite stiff. We’ll leave the floor if you wish?’

Kate thought what a nice polite man he was, and very attractive. ‘We will not leave the floor! Think what it would do to my reputation. You are a little stiff, Andrew, that’s all. Let yourself go and loosen up. It’s only a dance; they can’t put you in prison if you miss a step.’

‘I used to dance a lot when I went to university, but I haven’t done an awful lot since, just the odd one now and again. I’ll have to get out and about more.’ Andrew found Kate quite easy to talk to. ‘Is Peter your boyfriend, or am I being nosy? I don’t mean to be.’

‘He was my boyfriend for two years, but we split up a year ago. It was my fault. I did something I really should have known at the time was wrong.’

This wasn’t what Andrew wanted to hear. ‘So is Poppy going out with him now?’

‘They’ve only known each other a few months, and Poppy tells me she has no intention of courting anyone yet. She’s nice, is Poppy, and she’s helping me win Peter back.’

‘Yes, she strikes me as being a really nice, fun-loving person. I don’t know her very well, though,’ Andrew admitted. ‘She is more a friend of my sister.’

At that moment his sister was having the time of her life with David. Looking up into his eyes, she said, ‘We dance well together. Quite professional, don’t you think? I hope they play a tango. That is one dance I can’t master, so you can teach me.’

David tried to look stern. ‘If you would stop making me laugh, then we might look more professional. Look, you’re pulling a funny face again. Will you stop it!’ But David was enjoying himself. Charlotte was a real charmer. Childish and funny one minute, the next showing she was able to hold her own with any dancer on the floor. And she could be serious when the mood suited her. Tonight, however, she was out to enjoy herself on the dance floor, while remembering her reason for being there.

The music came to an end, and David acted the gentleman and escorted Charlotte to where the other two couples were standing. Poppy was doing the most talking, with Kate helping out to cover the silence of the two men. Peter was eyeing Andrew up, wondering who he was and why he was there. But when David and Charlotte joined the group, the atmosphere changed completely. ‘Your brother said I dance
very well, Poppy,’ Charlotte said, her eyes sparkling. ‘Actually, although I have no wish to embarrass him, he said he couldn’t remember ever having a better partner.’

With all eyes on him, David chuckled. ‘You little fibber! I never said any such thing! How could I, when you were pulling such funny faces I couldn’t dance for laughing.’

‘I was pulling faces because you were tickling me.’ Charlotte was enjoying a freedom she’d never known before, and was making the most of it. ‘I hope you don’t tickle me when we’re doing the tango, for the steps are very intricate and I could lose my balance. It would be very unladylike if I were to fall flat on my face.’

This brought laughter from the group, and broke the ice. ‘I hope you are not leading my brother astray,’ Poppy said. ‘He’s never been accused of tickling a dancing partner in the middle of a tango before.’

For the first time in weeks, Peter was roaring with laughter, and Poppy and Kate raised their brows and hopes. ‘David,’ Peter said. ‘Are you not going to defend your reputation? You don’t want to be known as the tango tickler, do you?’

‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Poppy said. ‘I think the tango tickler has a certain ring to it. If word got around, David would be much sought after, and have his own fan club.’

David wagged a stiffened finger at Charlotte. ‘See what you’ve done now, you little mischief-maker? I’ll be the talk of the town.’

Although Charlotte was laughing and playing the fool with David, she was keeping an eye on her brother. Andrew appeared to be relaxed and enjoying the banter, but if he didn’t push himself forward, and make the most of the opportunity of being in Poppy’s company, then the evening
would be wasted and her hopes and plans in tatters. She started meeting his eyes, sending a message. But she had little hope of his responding, unless she did something to push him. She was in despair, until the band struck up with the strains of a foxtrot, and she moved nearer to Andrew, gave him a dig, and said, ‘If you don’t ask Poppy for this dance, I’ll never speak to you again.’

Andrew’s eyes shot open wide. ‘Charlotte, keep your voice down and don’t make a show of me.’

‘If you don’t make use of your chance, Andrew, I will make a show of you by falling flat on my face,’ Charlotte hissed. ‘And I’ll pull David down with me.’

‘Is this a conspiracy, or can anyone join in?’ Neither brother nor sister had noticed Poppy behind them, and they were startled. Charlotte was the first to recover her wits. ‘Andrew was just saying he would like to ask you to dance, Poppy, but he’s afraid you would refuse because he can’t dance to your standard. I told him not to be so silly, that you weren’t the type to turn him down. But he doesn’t know you as well as I do, so he doesn’t know how kind you are.’

‘I’m sure Andrew is quite capable of choosing his own partners, Charlotte,’ Poppy said. ‘And seeing that Peter and Kate are already on the dance floor, and David is waiting for you to fandango with him, Andrew will have to be a gentleman and ask me for this dance. Otherwise I’ll be left alone, like a wallflower.’

Andrew thought his ship had come in. ‘It will be my pleasure, Poppy, but I doubt if it will be yours. I’m not exactly the best dancer in the world.’

Charlotte, hands on hips, tutted. ‘Really, Andrew, you’re getting better than me at telling fibs. You and I often have a dance at home, and we do very well. And anyway, Poppy is
my friend, and I’m sure she won’t complain if you get a few steps wrong.’

David tapped her on the shoulder. ‘Are you coming to dance, or not? Honestly, you aren’t the size of six pennyworth of copper, but you can’t half talk. Now come on, or I’ll look for the next-best-looking girl in the room.’

When his sister had walked off with David, Andrew raised his brows at Poppy. ‘Are you willing to take a chance? I’ll quite understand if you want to sit this one out.’

‘I’m not only willing, I’m determined,’ Poppy said. ‘If you can’t tell your left foot from your right, at the end of this dance, then I’ll take up ballet dancing.’ She took his hand to lead him through the people standing at the edge of the dance floor, but quickly dropped it because it didn’t feel quite right. And when he took her in his arms as they stepped on to the floor, she felt most uncomfortable. It was queer, she told herself, that each time he’d touched her she’d felt the same. She could even remember the first time it happened, on the day he’d knocked her over, when he’d given her his hand to help her to her feet.

They covered the floor without a word being spoken. Andrew thought he was walking on air, and told himself only heaven could be a better place to be, while Poppy kept her eyes glued to his shoulder. ‘You are a good dancer, Poppy.’ Andrew was afraid his lack of conversation would have her thinking him a very dull person. ‘How well do you think I’m doing, or should I take up another hobby, like skydiving?’

Poppy chuckled. ‘I don’t think you’re doing badly at all.’ She raised her head to find herself staring into the deepest brown eyes she’d ever seen. She lowered her gaze quickly, as that feeling of discomfort returned. She was annoyed with herself, but couldn’t understand why. He was a nice-looking
man, but so were hundreds of other men. He came from a rich family, there was no doubt about that, but money wasn’t everything. The one thing Andrew did have in his favour was a loveable sister whom Poppy had grown fond of. And for Charlotte’s sake she would not be rude to him. ‘If you came a couple more times, you would soon be as good a dancer as anyone here.’

‘Do you come often, Poppy?’

‘I haven’t been coming as often as I used to, because of night school two nights a week, and doing homework a few nights.’

‘My sister tells me you are now qualified to look for work as a secretary. She wasn’t talking about you behind your back, I hasten to say; it’s just that she seems very fond of you and likes to praise you. So, with night school finished, you’ll probably be coming here more often?’

‘I doubt it. I’ll have to watch my pennies after next week, for I gave my notice in at work today. I haven’t told the family yet, so please don’t mention it to anyone.’

‘That was rather impetuous, wasn’t it?’ Andrew regretted the words as soon as they left his lips. ‘I’m sorry, that was out of order. I have no right to criticize what you do. You must have had a good reason.’

The music came to an end and the dancers were leaving the floor when Poppy said, ‘Ask me up for the next dance and I can explain. I don’t want you thinking I packed my job in on a whim, without good reason.’

Charlotte was delighted to see Poppy and Andrew talking, and was giving herself a mental pat on the back. David was curious, but not to the point where it interfered with the fun he was having with Charlotte. Kate wasn’t concerned about how and why Andrew was there; she was just happy he was.
And Peter was trying to figure out who the bloke was, and where he fitted into Poppy’s life.

And then someone else came on the scene, who didn’t confuse Peter because he knew him, but caused David to look at him with curiosity, and Andrew with jealousy.

‘How about the next dance, Poppy?’ Jim sounded bright and cheerful. ‘You told me I could ask, so here I am.’

‘Oh, hello, Jim,’ Poppy said. ‘I’m sorry, but I’ve promised the next dance to someone. However, there’s a nice young lady here who may fancy a change of partner. Charlotte, this is Jim, a good friend of mine and a smashing dancer.’

‘But what about David, Poppy? He’d be left on his own.’

‘The next dance is a “excuse me” quickstep, so we can excuse anyone we like.’ This was Poppy’s bright idea. ‘Which means we all get a chance to dance with each other.’

‘Oh, goody!’ Charlotte was thrilled. ‘I’ve never played that before, Poppy. How does it work?’

It was Jim who answered. ‘If yer see someone you would like to dance with, then you just walk up to their partner, tap him on the arm, and he has to pass the girl over. And yer can keep on doing it until yer get fed up, or the girl’s partner punches you and breaks yer nose.’

A strangled noise came from Charlotte, and all heads turned to see her eyes wide and a hand covering her mouth. ‘What’s wrong, sweetheart?’ Poppy asked. ‘You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.’

The girl was shaking her head. ‘I don’t want to dance in the “excuse me”, Poppy, My father would be really angry if Andrew or I went home with a broken nose.’ When the laughter came, Charlotte looked surprised. ‘He would, Poppy, and Mother would be inconsolable. She would need the smelling salts to stop her from fainting.’

Andrew crossed over to his sister and put a protective arm across her shoulder. ‘Look around at the men, my darling sister, and you will see there is not one with a broken nose.’

Jim was flabbergasted that his innocent joke had caused any trouble. I mean, he thought, how could anyone believe noses got broken because of a dance. ‘I was only kidding, girl. It doesn’t happen for real. I’m always excusing someone, and I’ve never had me nose broken, not once.’

Charlotte thought her acting deserved an award. Oh, she had such a lot to tell Papa. He would be really amused, and proud of her, of course. ‘All right, Jim, I’ll dance with you, and Poppy can dance with Andrew, while Peter dances with Kate.’

‘Pardon me,’ David said, looking down in the mouth. ‘You promised this dance to me.’

Charlotte tossed her curls as she linked her arm in Jim’s. ‘Well, it is an “excuse me” dance, David. Just tap my partner on the arm, and then duck.’

When Poppy was led on to the floor by Andrew, she said, ‘Your sister never ceases to amaze me. She acts like a child, but she has her head screwed on the right way. She’s a really good actress when she puts her mind to it, and with such innocence you can’t help falling for her charms.’

‘Charlotte really is a little love, and the kindest person I know.’ Andrew was back in heaven with Poppy so close in his arms. ‘She is not as childish as she makes out, and has an intelligence that often surprises me.’ He held her away and asked, ‘Now, are you going to tell me why you gave your notice in? I really am interested.’

Poppy found she was at ease with him when she wasn’t looking into his face, so her tale was told as she was looking somewhere between his chest and his shoulder. ‘The man is a brute. I couldn’t allow him to speak to anyone the way he
spoke to Jean. So I gave my notice in when Jean did. And now you have the whole sorry tale. I don’t regret it, and would do it again if such a situation arose.’