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our
board members would want to be associated with a tacky Soho
nightclub.’
    ‘ Well this one would,’ Leo said. ‘Bloody spiffing idea if you
ask me. What were you thinking of charging on the door
Sweetheart?’
    ‘ Oh I don’t know. Ten bob. A pound.’
    ‘ I’d happily pay ten bob to see beautiful women parading
around. As long as you’re one of them Iris.’
    ‘ Oh I don’t know about that,’ she blushed.
    ‘ I suppose it wouldn’t do any harm,’ Kenneth
conceded.
    ‘ And surely you’re always looking for people to donate money to
the charity?’ Iris asked. ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if we could drum up
some support? I mean, if we got some famous faces in, they might
well donate large amounts.’
    ‘ Yes they might. But why do you want to do this for us? You’ve
no need for my charity and I would imagine you don’t know anyone
who lives in a Tanner Beresford place.’
    ‘ No, I don’t. Not any more. But I come from humble beginnings
and I’d like to give something back. Like you do.’
    They
ordered lunch. Leo opted for steak, whereas both Iris and Kenneth
had the salad. Iris found it amusing how, like her, Kenneth hated
tomatoes and requested for them to be left out of his dish. While
they were eating, the two men chatted about old times and Iris
couldn’t help but wonder if Leo would have even considered being
friends with Kenneth if he’d remained that rough and ready boy from
Battersea. She doubted it.
    Leo
wanted to stay and move onto brandies afterwards, but Kenneth
looked at his watch and made to leave.
    ‘ I’ve a meeting this afternoon,’ he said. ‘I’ve got to go. You
two might as well stay though.’ He took his wallet from his inside
pocket and threw some notes onto the table. ‘That should cover
it.’
    ‘ Shall I get in touch as soon as I’ve made some progress with
the fashion show?’ Iris asked tentatively.
    ‘ Of course. Thank you for thinking of us Iris, it’s very kind
of you.’
    He shook
Iris’s hand, then Leo’s; then headed over to the maitre d’ to ask
him to fetch his coat and hat. Once he’d gone, Leo looked at Iris
and smiled slyly.
    ‘ Been here before have you?’ he asked, reaching inside his
pocket for his cigarette case.
    ‘ No. Why do you ask?’
    ‘ You called the waiter John. How would you know his first name
if you’d never been here before?’
    ‘ Maybe I have been, I don’t recall.’
    ‘ My brother-in-law is Simon Duffy, the Member of Parliament for
Dudley North. I’ve done my fair share of socialising with him. You
get to know certain haunts and what they’re used for.’
    ‘ I don’t follow you.’
    He took
hold of her hand and turned it over, running his rough fingers over
her palm. It felt intrusive, and yet wildly exciting and sensual at
the same time. Iris felt her heart start to race and her cheeks
burn.
    ‘ I know what sort of girl you are Iris,’ he said quietly. ‘And
I find that wildly appealing.’
    ‘ I’m not a tart,’ she blurted out.
    ‘ No, maybe not any more. But I’d lay all my money on you once
being one.’
    ‘ You won’t tell Kenneth will you?’ she fretted.
    ‘ Kenny? Dear God no. He hates anything like that. Me on the
other hand….’
    ‘ What are you saying?’
    ‘ My flat is only in Chelsea. Ten minutes away. Fancy an
afternoon of fun?’
    Iris
knew she should say no. She was with Patrick and she only saw her
other clients to pay the rent. But Leo Andersson excited her in a
way no man had in a long time. She was sure her formative years had
shaped her. All that servicing horrible, sleazy men from the age of
thirteen, had made her feel comfortable in their presence. Being
treated like a whore had become normality. Maybe that was why
Patrick bored her– he actually treated her like a worthwhile human
being.
    ‘ Okay,’ she replied quietly. ‘But no one must ever find out
about it.’

Chapter Six
     
    Annie
asked Iris to work the next day, so she was back playing the dumb
mannequin. Eddie