Born to Dance

by June Tate

  ‘Pay for what?’ Foxy couldn’t hide his grin, which only infuriated the villain more.

  Wally turned and stormed out of the building.

  Shortly after, Jackie was reunited with his brother. Mickey had put a note through the door of Jackie’s house telling him where Barry was, and finding it later, he had driven over to the gym immediately.

  No one could doubt the love the two had for each other when Jackie was taken upstairs to see Barry. The young lad threw himself into his brother’s arms. ‘Where have you been?’ he demanded. Then, without waiting for an answer, told Jackie how he’d spent a night with Miss Bonny and then driven with Mickey to the gym.

  ‘I’ve had lots to eat!’ he proclaimed, ‘and I’ve had sweets and comics.’ He looked accusingly at his brother. ‘You didn’t come back!’

  Jackie tried to explain. ‘I wanted to but I had to try and find something for Mr Cole first. Unfortunately I didn’t, and then I heard you’d run away. I didn’t know where you were or I’d have come to see you.’

  Barry looked at him with a sulky expression. ‘I didn’t like it there with that man. You should have come and taken me away!’

  Mickey intervened. ‘He couldn’t help it, Barry. He had to do as he was told, just like you had to when you came here. Anyway, your brother’s here now and you’ll be able to go home.’

  The lad looked around. ‘I like it here. I think I’ll stay!’

  Laughing, Mickey said, ‘Sorry, son, you have to go. We are now very busy and there would be no one to buy you comics or sweets any more.’

  The boy’s face fell. ‘Oh, in that case I’ll go with Jackie. He’ll buy me some, won’t you?’ he asked, turning to his brother.

  ‘Only if you behave. Now, thank Mr Gordon for having you, and then we’ll be off.’

  It was the night of Mickey O’Halleran’s defence of his title and the excitement in the arena was palpable. Would the champ beat his opponent, Jake Forbes? Forbes was no pushover and Mickey knew he would have to box to the best of his ability to outpoint him.

  As the fight was taking place late on a Saturday night, Bonny was unable to be present until after the show was over and hoped she would be there in time to see Mickey box. There were minor bouts taking place earlier in the evening, building up to the grand climax.

  Giles Gilmore had laid on a car to take him and Bonny to the arena immediately the final curtain fell, knowing that Bonny wouldn’t rest until she was seated at the ringside, and he wanted to ensure that his star was happy. He had been making overtures to those who mattered on Broadway about taking the production to New York. So far, the interest had been favourable and he was excited by the prospect.

  At last the performance came to its conclusion and Bonny hastily removed her stage make-up, swiftly changed, climbed into the car with Giles and headed for the arena, her heart pounding. She felt more nervous for Mickey and the outcome of his bout than when she was waiting to go on stage and she would be glad when the whole thing was over.

  Settling into their seats, Giles turned to Bonny and, seeing the tension in her eyes, patted her hand. ‘Relax, Mickey will be fine.’

  ‘I can’t help worrying that he will be hurt. Boxing is a brutal sport, but it’s Mickey’s life.’

  The trumpeters suddenly began a fanfare and a buzz went round the crowd as first Jake Forbes made his way to the ring, shadow-boxing as he went. The announcer, resplendent in evening dress, heralded Forbes’s arrival over the microphone from the ring and the crowd cheered. Then, after another fanfare, Mickey was announced and the crowd got to their feet and cheered wildly.

  Mickey walked sedately to the ring, waving to his fans as he did so, but once he was in the ring he shadow-boxed to loosen himself up, ready for the fight. He walked to his corner and looked down at Bonny. He winked and blew her a kiss. The flash of the many newsmen’s cameras caught the gesture, which would make front-page news the next day.

  The champion glanced around the ringside seats and saw Foxy sitting fidgeting in his seat, busily talking to the man beside him, and a couple of rows back sat Wally Cole. Mickey felt his hackles rise, thinking how the villain encouraged young Charlie Black to gamble. Mickey was convinced Cole was behind the young boxer’s death, although a verdict of suicide had been brought in by the coroner. Wally Cole returned Mickey’s gaze, his expression cold and calculating.

  The two boxers were called to the centre of the ring where the referee spoke to them. ‘I want a clean fight, no low punches, and when I say break I mean it!’

  The men walked back to their corners and the seconds left the ring. The bell rang for the first round … and Bonny held her breath.

  It was a fight that would go down in the record books as memorable. Forbes was a canny boxer with a powerful left hook, which he used as often as possible But O’Halleran was quicker on his feet. The men were fairly equal in the opening rounds until Mickey pulled slightly ahead in the markings.

  Bonny was exhausted watching. Her stomach was in knots as she watched Mickey duck and dive and prance around the ring. But she jumped to her feet with a cry of surprise, as did hundreds of others, as Forbes caught Mickey a sharp blow to the chin and the Irishman was knocked to the ground!

  ‘One, two, three, four,’ counted the referee.

  Bonny thought she was going to be sick.

  ‘Five, six …’

  Mickey got to his feet to cheers that rang round the venue, echoing in every corner. Bonny sank back in her seat, barely able to breathe. Her relief as the bell rang for the end of the round was her saving grace.

  ‘Are you all right?’ Giles asked anxiously, seeing how pale she looked.

  ‘No, I’m a nervous wreck! I thought Mickey had had his chips then, he took so long to get up.’

  ‘He was waiting to get his breath back, that’s why he stayed down.’

  ‘Really? I thought he was in trouble.’

  ‘He just caught a lucky blow; he’ll be fine, just you wait and see.’

  ‘I’m not sure I’ll live long enough!’

  It was round eight and Forbes was tiring. O’Halleran certainly looked the fitter of the two, despite being dropped to the canvas earlier. The champ was now scoring more points and suddenly his fist shot out and caught Forbes on the point of the chin. The boxer sank to his knees and the referee sent Mickey to a neutral corner.

  Bonny covered her mouth with her hand and quietly kept count with the referee. ‘Seven, eight, nine … ten!’ She jumped to her feet, yelling at the top of her voice, which was drowned by the cheers of the other spectators.

  The referee caught hold of Mickey O’Halleran’s arm and held it aloft. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, the winner – and still middleweight champion … Mickey O’Halleran.’

  Bonny threw her arms around Giles and hugged him.

  People of note, and other champion boxers, climbed into the ring to congratulate the winner. A microphone was put in front of Mickey and he was asked how he felt about the fight. ‘Jake Forbes was a great opponent and I had to be on top of my game to beat him.’ The two men shook hands. ‘But I would like to dedicate this fight to my beautiful fiancée, Miss Bonny Burton!’ He smiled down at her and threw her a kiss.

  The crowd went wild! The press gathered round and cameras flashed, taking pictures of both Mickey and of Bonny, who was smiling happily, now she’d got over the surprise of the announcement.

  The only person not pleased by the news was Giles Gilmore.

  Twenty-Five

  Giles Gilmore, standing beside Bonny after Mickey’s surprise announcement of their engagement, smiled as the cameras flashed, but inside he was fuming. Bonny Burton was his star! The biggest attraction on the West End stage. Now a major player in the musical theatrical world … His means of cracking Broadway itself! She didn’t have time for romance! But with so many of the press around, he had to be careful what he said.

  ‘Are you pleased for Miss Burton?’ asked a reporter.

  Giles smiled benevolently. ‘I must
confess, I am surprised, but of course I’m delighted for them both.’

  Another man pushed forward. ‘What about when they get married, won’t that affect the show? Will you lose your star?’

  ‘Oh, come along,’ said Giles through gritted teeth, ‘many stars of the theatre are married, why should it make a difference? Now if you’ll excuse me …’ He left the ringside and followed Bonny to Mickey’s dressing room.

  Mickey was sitting on a massage table having his boxing gloves removed. Bonny ran to him and, throwing her arms around his neck, kissed him. ‘So now we are official!’ she said, smiling.

  ‘I thought it was about time, princess. After all, it will keep all those men away who lust after you.’

  ‘Oh, lust? I like the sound of that.’

  ‘Listen, darlin’, I’m the only man to get near you, you remember that!’

  ‘Why would I want any other?’ She stroked his bruised face. ‘You scared me to death out there when you went down on the canvas.’

  ‘He caught me a lucky blow, that’s all. The man was no pushover, but I’m still the champion, that’s what matters.’

  Giles spoke up. ‘Congratulations on maintaining your title, Mickey, and on your engagement. May I ask if you are thinking of getting married soon? After all, Bonny is my star and I have a lot of money invested in her and her future.’

  Mickey’s eyes narrowed. ‘Don’t talk about her as if she’s a commodity! She’s flesh and blood, a human being, and her future is my concern also.’

  ‘Now, you two!’ Bonny intervened. ‘This has been a big night for Mickey and me and we will have lots to talk about. For goodness’ sake, Giles, we’ve only just got engaged – to the public’s knowledge anyway. Mickey has just been through a tough evening and all we want to do is celebrate. The future will have to wait.’

  But Giles was concerned. He had to make Mickey O’Halleran understand the seriousness of the situation. ‘Well, I hope soon to have another reason to celebrate. I am making plans to take the production to New York after the run ends here. How do you feel about appearing on Broadway, Bonny?’

  She was astonished. ‘Oh my God! Are you serious?’

  ‘Very. It’s my life’s ambition to have a show in New York and this is the one which will take us all there.’ He turned to Mickey. ‘Do you understand what a big step this is for Bonny?’

  ‘And for you, Giles.’ Mickey understood immediately how Giles needed his fiancée to fulfil his ambition. ‘You need Bonny to star in it, or it won’t be viable. I’m right, aren’t I?’

  There was no point in denying it. ‘Absolutely! Everyone is talking about her talent. She’s the biggest thing in the musical theatre at this moment and she could take New York by storm. How do you feel about that, Bonny?’

  She looked somewhat dazed by the idea. ‘I really don’t know what to say, Giles. My head’s in a whirl. What a night! Mickey won his fight, announced our engagement and now this! How on earth can I think straight?’

  Mickey got off the table. ‘Of course you can’t. I’ll have a shower and then we’ll go to the Savoy for dinner. There, we’ll talk about everything.’ He looked pointedly at Gilmore. ‘Thanks for looking in; I’ll no doubt see you when I collect Bonny after her next performance on Monday. Have a good weekend.’

  Giles felt his hackles rise at such a pointed dismissal. He also realized that the boxer was someone he would have to deal with when it came to Bonny and any new contract. She was legally his until the end of the West End run; after that he had no legal hold on her at all. Surely she wouldn’t turn down such a great opportunity – would she?

  Foxy Gordon had been listening to the conversations taking place with great interest. After all, he owned forty per cent of the production and Giles Gilmore would have to negotiate with him before he could take the show anywhere. That gave him a great feeling of power and satisfaction.

  When Giles returned home, he called a reporter he knew and gave him an exclusive about his plans to go to America. The next morning, in the gossip column of the theatrical section, these facts were printed in black and white.

  Wally Cole read the announcement and was furious. That little bastard Gordon would cash in again! Well he would certainly have to do something about that. Gordon couldn’t scupper his plans and get away with it. Oh no! That wouldn’t do at all. Anyone who crossed Wally Cole would have to pay in the end.

  Mickey stood in his bath robe and read the column. Now their engagement was common knowledge, after last night’s dinner he had booked Bonny and him into their favourite hotel, where they had had their own private celebration. Now he was waiting for their breakfast to be delivered and had started reading the Sunday papers.

  ‘Bloody Giles Gilmore!’ he muttered angrily. As he sat down to read the article, he realized that Giles had stolen a march on him and Bonny. By publicizing the fact, the papers would be all over her, asking her about the move to the States, and what could she say, other than she was happy about it? Therefore committing herself to the move before there had been any negotiation.

  The waiter knocked on the door and wheeled in a breakfast trolley, which he stood before the window. Mickey tipped the man and, pouring a cup of coffee, woke Bonny. ‘Here you are, sleepyhead.’

  She stretched languidly and smiled. ‘Well, Mr O’Halleran, you certainly gave a championship performance in bed last night!’

  He chuckled. ‘And you were a star too, darlin’. We are going to have such a good life together.’ He showed her the article in the paper.

  Bonny frowned. ‘That’s a bit premature isn’t it? After all, there are no definite plans as yet.’

  ‘He’s just being clever. How do you feel about it, princess?’

  Her eyes shone. ‘Just imagine, Mickey. New York, Broadway! It’s far more than I ever could have hoped for. Of course I want to do it. In any case, it would be for a limited time only.’

  ‘Not if it’s as successful as it’s been here in London. You could be in the States for a considerable time.’

  She frowned. ‘I wouldn’t want to be parted from you for too long. Could you come out there too?’

  Shrugging, he said, ‘That would all depend on my commitments here.’ Seeing her look of disappointment he added, ‘But I would spend as much time as I could with you, you know that. We could get married before you go, if you liked.’

  ‘That would be lovely! I’d like a quiet wedding, Mickey darling, if that were possible. With just family and friends. I’m so sick of cameras being shoved in my direction whenever I walk outside. And a wedding is a private affair after all. Do you think that’s possible?’

  ‘It would be difficult with both of us being in the limelight; we would have to keep it secret, apart from those invited. We could try.’

  ‘Well, we’ll have plenty of time to think about it as the show seems destined to run and run.’

  He smiled. ‘Let’s not worry too much today. Have your breakfast and then we’ll go out for a walk. Put a headscarf on and I’ll wear a hat, and with a bit of luck, we won’t be recognized.’

  They were fortunate. They spent the morning strolling through the parks, hand in hand, enjoying their privacy, and at lunchtime Mickey took them to a small restaurant in Knightsbridge. As soon as they sat down, and Mickey removed his hat and Bonny her scarf, they were recognized by the owner, who came over and gave them his undivided attention, but after paying the bill, they walked to the door of the restaurant and were met by a hoard of photographers.

  Bonny turned and looked accusingly at the owner. ‘How could you?’

  He did have the grace to look abashed. ‘It’s good publicity for me, Miss Burton.’

  ‘But don’t you see? We’ll never come here again now.’

  Mickey looked livid. ‘Once is enough for him, darling’, he’s got what he wanted!’

  They fought their way through the reporters and for once Mickey was curt with them. ‘Listen, you lot, it’s Sunday, Miss Burton’s only day off, for once give us so
me peace!’ And he hailed a passing taxi.

  Bonny too was annoyed. It had been so nice to be with Mickey, to have the privacy that now was impossible, but to have been used in such a manner really irritated her. ‘The public are like vultures. Everyone wants a piece of you!’

  Taking her hand Mickey said, ‘As I’ve told you, darlin’, it goes with being a star. You can’t have it all ways.’

  With a sigh she looked out of the cab window. ‘I do know that, but in all honesty, I hadn’t ever envisaged being famous. Being in a West End show was my ambition. The rest just happened.’

  ‘Are you telling me you don’t want success?’

  ‘No, of course not. I just wasn’t prepared for it, I suppose.’

  Wally Cole was making his own plans. Broadway Melody would not be taking off to America if he had his way. He could not allow Foxy Gordon to make any more money out of his investment. Cole was aware that the show needed Bonny Burton to star in the production – after all, he could read, and the papers were full of her talent. After Gilmore’s announcement, the critics were certain she would be a great success in New York. Without her – the show was just another musical.

  It was Saturday night. Broadway Melody had been playing to packed houses and there wasn’t an empty seat in the theatre for tonight’s performance. It was the final number – of the dockside scene with the liner in the background, waiting to sail. Bonny danced her way around and on the luggage waiting to be loaded, and as the last case was put on the conveyor belt, Bonny pranced up the gangway, which was then hauled on-board. As usual, she stood on the deck and climbed on to a rail, waving, as the liner’s funnel roared, announcing its departure. The machinery started rolling and the ship started to move … then there was a loud grinding noise. The ship shuddered violently. There were screams from the audience as Bonny was thrown from her perch, landing with a sickening thud on to the stage below: The curtains were hastily drawn.

  Mickey O’Halleran rushed from his seat and ran backstage. Bonny was lying awkwardly, moaning with pain. He knelt beside her. Taking her hand he said, ‘I’m here, darlin’, please don’t move.’ He looked up. ‘Has anyone sent for an ambulance?’ he shouted.