Page 7

I’m awoken by another early morning bout of cheerfulness from the tannoy. Whatever kind of holiday they want you to have here, it doesn’t involve lie-ins.

“Max has invited me to play golf this morning,” my father announces over breakfast.

“Great, I can spend some time with Lisa and Baby.” Mum smiles at us both across the table. I try not to groan, but I don’t want to be roped into human chess or whatever it was I heard them announce as this morning’s activities.

Unfortunately, I was too slow in finding an excuse when Mum volunteered me to become a pawn in the game on the east lawn, so while she settles into a deckchair to read a magazine, I line up in front of an eccentric-looking lady playing the queen.

It could be worse, I suppose. Lisa’s at a table to my left trying on wigs.

I get distracted when I see it’s being run by Penny, and my thoughts turn to last night, to my glimpse of the staff behind the scenes.

They seemed so carefree, and I can’t imagine what it must be like to have that much freedom.

I miss my cue when I see Johnny approach Penny, and I’m shoved forward by the queen.

I stand on my square but keep my eyes on them as they talk.

I’m trying not to think too much about dancing with him last night.

I have no idea why he did it, and I know it’s not likely to ever happen again.

I’ll never be invited to the staff quarters for a start; Johnny made it perfectly clear what he thought about that.

It seems I’m an expendable pawn, and in the next move I’m out, so I wander over to the table and stand behind Lisa who’s wearing a blonde wig.

“That suits you,” I say. “Very Barbara Windsor.”

“It’s Marilyn Monroe,” she shrieks at me. I know that, but her reaction was worth it. Out of the corner of my eye I see Johnny give Penny a hug and a grim smile before leaving. I walk over to Penny.

“I envy you all, the dance staff. It must be great to have that much freedom to do what you want.” I know I’m gushing but I can’t help it. Her face draws into a frown and clouds over.

“You have no idea what life’s like in the real world, do you?” It was clearly a rhetorical question, as she storms off and I’m left feeling like I’ve said something wrong.

I get shuffled from one activity to another for the rest of the day, and then reluctantly dragged to dinner when I’d rather stay in the cabin in peace and quiet.

My plan to creep back there straight after dinner is quickly squashed when Nicola appears at our table as soon as we’ve finished dessert—it feels like she might have been hovering in wait.

She certainly has a vulture-like quality to her.

“Baby, I need your help,” she announces without even asking.

I see the look on my family’s face and know I’m not going to get any support.

I rise and catch the look on my mum’s face.

It’s full of indulgence, as if we’re the cutest couple she’s ever seen.

I’m not sure how I’m going to get through the next two-and-a-half weeks of this.

The “help” she wants turns out to be moving some of the scene sets and furniture behind the stage in the ballroom.

I’m pretty sure she could’ve got the staff to do it for her, but her comments about how strong I am—which I’m not—and how close she keeps standing to me give me the impression she has another motive. One I’m not happy about.

“Thanks, Baby. Shall we dance now?” she asks once I’ve moved everything to her satisfaction.

This seems like my best chance to get away.

“Actually, I need some air.” Which is the truth, as lugging furniture about is hot work.

“Alright, let’s walk down to the boating lake instead.”

I stifle yet another groan but can’t see a way out of it.

“Robbie, no! I said I wanted to look at the stars.” My sister’s voice reaches me a second before I see her storming along an adjacent path heading back towards our cabin.

“I should go after her,” I say, but Nicola links her arm tightly through mine.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

I can’t get away unless I physically push her away, and I can’t imagine that would go down well. I don’t want to ruin my dad’s friendship with Max.

We walk as far as the wooden decking where the boats are moored, and I sincerely hope she doesn’t suggest a moonlight boat ride.

I doubt I could row one in daylight, never mind the dark.

I sit on a bench looking out over the water and she settles next to me.

I try boring Nicola with facts, some of the subjects I’ll be studying at uni next month.

“I don’t have to worry about all that.” She smiles in what I assume is supposed to be a charming way but comes across as extremely condescending instead. “I have three holiday resorts and there are more planned.”

I look away, not sure how I’m supposed to respond to that statement.

“Are you hungry?” she asks out of the blue.

“Sure.” I shrug. I’m not really, but anything’s better than sitting here longer. We walk slowly back towards the dining halls while Nicola tells me more of her—or rather, her grandfather’s—plans for the resorts, which I only half listen to.

She opens a back door and ushers me in, as if it’s some sort of privilege, and we walk through the large kitchen.

I hear a noise and wonder if there’s a possibility of rats.

I keep my eyes on the floor, wondering if Nicola’s one of those people who are likely to run a mile if they see a rodent.

I doubt it. She’d probably square up to it and tell it that it didn’t fit in with her plans.

I catch a glimpse of brightly coloured material and lean down to peer between the preparation tables.

I see Penny curled up and sobbing quietly.

I have no idea what the matter is, but I can’t let Nicola see her.

She doesn’t strike me as the empathic type .

“I really think I should go check on Lisa,” I say loudly, hoping it masks the sound of Penny. I steer Nicola through the kitchen and back out the door.

I start walking determinedly towards my cabin, but as soon as I’m out of sight of Nicola I double back.

I need to find Johnny as soon as possible.

I enter the ballroom, and it’s busy, with couples dancing and hundreds of guests sitting at the tables and standing around watching.

I weave my way through the throng, trying to see if I can spot him.

If I can’t find him here, I’ll have to brave the staff quarters.

Eventually I catch sight of him on the dance floor, dancing with the smart-looking older lady I’d seen him dance with on the first day.

She’s clinging on to him tightly and looking like she’s enjoying every moment.

I hover at the edge of the dance floor, not sure about cutting in and disturbing him.

Then I see Billy off to one side watching, and I go to explain to him instead.

He has no concerns going up to Johnny, and within seconds he’s striding off the dance floor.

As they pass, Billy beckons me to follow him.

“What’s he doing here?” Johnny says sharply as we cross the distance between the ballroom and the dining hall.

“He can keep a lookout in case Max’s granddaughter comes sniffing around.”

Johnny doesn’t stop, so I assume he doesn’t disapprove, but he looks far from happy. When we reach the door, he enters, and Billy stops me.

“The problem is, Penny found out she’s pregnant.”