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“Are you sure you feel up to this?” I ask Penny as we wait in the wings of the stage in the ballroom.

“I’m fine, Johnny. I just let it get to me yesterday.”

I’m relieved she’s feeling better, but we still don’t have a solution despite my promises last night, and it’s a worry that’s starting to get to me.

I try to put it out of my mind for the next few minutes as Penny and I do our show.

It goes well, and we spend the next hour teaching some of the guests how to dance.

“I could do with some more dance lessons,” a rich voice utters into my ear, and I turn to see its owner giving me a sultry smile.

“Hello, Mrs Pressman.”

She steps into my space to claim the dance with me .

“How many times have I told you it’s Vivianne?” She gives a little pout as we step round the dance floor.

Every season for as long as I’ve been working here, but I’ve never allowed myself to call her something so familiar.

“So, about those dance lessons,” she asks coquettishly. She’s already had three blocks of lessons this summer.

“You’re already a very proficient dancer, Mrs Pressman.”

“I know.” She smiles again and leans in close. “But practice makes perfect, wouldn’t you say?”

I spin her away from me and back again.

“You know I’ll make it worth your while.” She places a hand on my chest and looks up at me. “For private lessons.”

I know exactly what she means and I’ve given in before, in previous seasons.

I know I’m not the only one who’s a favourite of hers either.

Sometimes a little favour or a little extra cash can help when times are hard.

We don’t get much basic pay, so if we earn some on top it’s a bonus.

But I’m not in the mood for her advances right now.

“You can sign up for any of the dance classes,” I say, and her expression freezes.

She’s not used to being refused. The dance ends and I bow politely, and leave her on the dance floor.

I seek out Penny and a few of the other staff and we leave.

We head back to our own staff room where we’re free to dance and express ourselves properly.

As I twirl Penny round I see the kid standing by the door. Can’t he understand what staff and private mean? And the more he comes here, the more likely he is to be followed by that odious granddaughter of Max’s.

He’s looking round, a little nervously, chewing on his bottom lip again, which is sort of cute.

The low light in the staff room creates shadows which accentuate his pretty cheekbones.

Along with his soft brown hair and kind eyes all wrapped up in a preppy short-sleeved shirt, it makes him stand out from the rest of us.

He should go back to the rest of the guests, those who can afford to pay to be here, not having to work like the rest of us.

I whirl Penny away. If we ignore him, maybe he’ll go away.

It doesn’t work, and less than a minute later I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn to face him, giving him my best glare.

He’s holding out an envelope to us.

“Here you go, here’s the money.”

I still have hold of Penny and I feel her stiffen in my arms.

“Robbie?”

The kid gives a wry smile. “No, he was exactly as you said he would be.”

“Then where from?” Penny asks.

The kid waves the envelope. “Does it matter?” And in his eyes I see it all, the safety net of the affluent.

“If only we all had a daddy we could ask?” It comes out bitterly and it’s meant to. Penny’s face closes down.

“Sorry, Baby, I can’t accept it.”

Penny draws me away, turning back to the dance floor.

“Why not?” I ask her. “You should accept the money, just take it.” I might not like handouts but I’m not above taking them if they’re needed.

“What are you doing here?” It’s Billy’s voice. I look back and he’s talking to the kid .

“I brought the money,” he explains, and Penny and I stop to watch them. Billy looks between us and then back to the kid.

“The problem is, I can only get an appointment for a week on Thursday. That’s the day Johnny and Penny do their show at the Festival Pavilion in Skegness. If they don’t show then they lose the booking for the season, and it’s good money.”

The kid turns to us. “Can someone else do it?”

“No, Mr fix-it,” I grind out. “No one else can do it. It’s Sheila’s day off, Dana and Laney are working, and even then they wouldn’t have time to learn the routine. There is no one else. Some of us have to work around here. It can’t be done. End of.”

“What about him?” Billy suggests, tilting his head towards the kid.

“I can’t, I’m a bloke,” he protests.

“That’s a bad idea, Billy,” I add, and it is. What is he thinking?

“And I can’t even dance,” the kid continues, his eyes flashing nervously between us.

“See. Told you.” I shrug and turn to walk away. I’m done with this ridiculous conversation. Penny catches my arm and I look at her.

“Hold on,” she whispers.

“Look, hear me out,” Billy says and I wait, still glaring at him because I don’t like where this is going. “He’s petite, he could pass as a girl. Put him in a dress and one of Penny’s wigs and he’d pass alright. You’d fool them down at the pavilion.”

I watch as the kid’s eyebrows shoot up somewhere near his hairline .

“You can teach him, Johnny,” Penny adds. “You’re a strong enough dancer. You can lead anyone.”

I look at her, seeing the fear and uncertainty in her eyes. This is her one chance to get her life back on track. I still think it’s a terrible idea, but I’ll do it for her.

“Alright, I’ll do it.” I hold my hands up in supplication, and Penny grins and hugs me. I look over at the kid.

“Um, okay,” he says, frowning like he doesn’t know what he’s agreed to. I try not to gain some perverse satisfaction at the opportunity to see just what lengths little Mr Fix-It will go to just to be helpful. I fail.