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floral dress billowing out, bracelets jingling. Lily and Sybil danced more sedately until Lily was surprised by a tap on her shoulder and turned to accept an invitation from Harry to dance to a new waltz tune called ‘Goodnight, Sweetheart’ while Sybil said yes to a man she didn’t recognize – older than your normal Assembly Rooms partner, of medium build and dressed in a dark blue suit. He had a streak of grey at his temples, strong features and a confident air.
    â€˜Who’s that?’ Lily asked Harry, who, while he didn’t exactly have two left feet, was the type of partner who had to repeat the one-two-three rhythm under his breath in order to keep time.
    â€˜No idea. I’ve only seen him in this neck of the woods once or twice and I’ve never bothered to ask his name,’ he told Lily. ‘He looks like a commercial traveller to me.’ The answer put him off his stride.
    â€˜One-two-three, one-two-three.’ Lily counted Harry back in and they were off again, Harry with a gentlemanly hand placed squarely in the small of Lily’s back, Lily having to tilt her head to meet his gaze.
    â€˜The last time I saw you, you and Arthur were off to your granddad’s,’ he reminded her when they were firmly settled in.
    â€˜I know but there was a last-minute change of plan. Margie offered to do it for me instead.’
    â€˜Blow me down – she didn’t, did she?’ His eyebrows shot up in comic disbelief as he took charge and steered Lily across the floor, his hand firm against her lower back.
    â€˜Honestly, she did.’ To her surprise, Lily had to struggle to keep her voice calm. Why had her heartbeat suddenly quickened? she wondered.
    â€˜Well, it worked out nicely for you, at any rate. It means you could come out and celebrate with your pals.’
    Lily was pleased that he’d remembered her good news. She noticed for the second time that evening that Harry, who had dressed up smartly in blazer and grey flannel trousers, was chattier and more attentive than usual, and she felt disappointed when the waltz finished and a new tune began, causing quite a few couples to leave the dance floor.
    â€˜What’s this music they’re playing?’ he asked, looking around dubiously at the empty spaces and tugging awkwardly at the knot of the pale blue silk tie he’d chosen especially to impress the girls. He’d seen a picture-house poster of Clark Gable wearing one just like it so judged himself to be at the height of fashion.
    Lily held on to him and listened hard. ‘Foxtrot, I think. Yes, this is a foxtrot. I could teach you if you like.’
    â€˜I think I’ve reached the limits of my dancing prowess!’ Harry laughed, shaking his head as he led her to the side of the room. They were soon joined by Sybil, whose slick commercial traveller had moved on to a new partner, and by Ernie and Hilda, the latter complaining loudly of bruised toes.
    â€˜I swear, Ernie, that’s the last dance I have with you,’ Hilda moaned.
    â€˜Never mind – plenty more fish in the sea,’ he retorted. And he was off again, trawling down the side of the room, picking a mousy-haired girl in a pale yellow dress who caught his eye.
    Still groaning, Hilda kicked off one of her shoes and wriggled her toes. ‘Where’s your Margie got to?’ she asked Lily in passing. ‘I’m surprised I haven’t seen her tonight. She never turned up outside the market to meet us like she said.’
    â€˜Are you sure?’
    â€˜Sure I’m sure. We waited for her then Dorothy turned up and said Margie had decided against coming after all. She’s not poorly, is she?’
    â€˜No.’ Lily stayed tight-lipped about the argument between Dorothy and her sister, reckoning that it was up to Margie to mention the topic at a later date if she felt like it.
    â€˜It’s not like Margie.’ Hilda winced as she slid her