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office routines moved swiftly by.
    â€˜You’re quick to learn,’ Sally observed, ‘and I can see you’re used to balancing cash and all that sort of thing. No’ like poor Norma, who was here before you. Oh dear, she was a lovely girl, but got into such muddles sometimes. I was always having to sort her out! But I’ll no’ have any worries leaving you on your own.’
    â€˜What next, then?’ Jess asked, pleased that she was doing well. So far, at least. Hadn’t sold a ticket yet, though.
    â€˜Well, you’ve got the ticket prices sorted out, and where all the different sections are? Front stalls, ninepence, back stalls, a shilling. Back circle, one and six, front circle, half a crown, children half price except for matinees. Threepence reduction for adults at the matinees for the front stalls, sixpence off the rest.’
    â€˜Oh, I know all about the reductions!’ Jess said with a laugh. ‘Paid ’em often enough. Never sat in the circle, though.’
    â€˜Take a peep at Jezebel up there this afternoon, then,’ Sally told her. ‘Go on, have a treat for your first day, eh? Now, I think we’ve just got time to nip along to the projection room to meet Ben Daniel. Oh, yes, and that nice young guy we saw the other day. Ben’s showing him the ropes, so we’ll no’ stay long.’
    â€˜Rusty MacVail got the job? Oh, that’s nice.’
    â€˜Aye, much the best candidate, Ben said. From England, you know, but I think his dad’s Scottish. Come on, let’s get along before we have a bit of lunch. The usherettes will be here by one.’
    The projection room, separated from the auditorium by a specially built wall, appeared cramped to Jess with the projector taking up most of the space. Rather stuffy, too, in spite of the ventilation that had been put in to replace the windows that were not allowed.
    â€˜Natural light – very damaging to the film,’ Sally had explained on their way. ‘Always plenty of problems with the projection department, eh? Fire risks and all. That’s why they have to be separated from the circle.’
    â€˜Fire risks?’ Jess repeated, her eyes widening.
    â€˜No need to worry. Everybody’s very careful. It’s just that there’s a lot of flammable material around, and it can get pretty hot in the box, as they call it.’
    No wonder the two projectionists were in shirtsleeves, Jess thought, as she and Sally entered their ‘box’. And then she smiled, because one was Rusty.
    â€˜Jess!’ he cried, leaping forward to shake her hand. ‘I was wondering when I’d get to see you!’
    â€˜I was so pleased to hear you’d got the job,’ she murmured, aware as she let Rusty’s hand go that the black-haired man next to him was looking like a thunder cloud.
    â€˜Oh, for God’s sake, Sally, what’s up?’ he snapped. ‘I’m in the middle of showing my new chap around.’
    â€˜Temper, temper, Ben,’ Sally replied easily. ‘We’re no’ staying. But I’m showing my new assistant round as well, and I thought she should meet you.’
    â€˜Oh.’ His gaze went to Jess and seemed very slightly to soften, but so dark were his eyes – brown, almost black – it wasn’t easy to tell. When he spoke, though, his voice seemed to have lost his irritation. ‘And this is?’
    â€˜Jess Raeburn,’ Sally told him. ‘She’s Norma’s replacement at the box office. Jess, meet Ben Daniel, head projectionist.’
    Tall – almost as tall as Rusty, but slim, rather than thin – Ben Daniel reminded Jess of someone she couldn’t exactly place. The long face with the high cheekbones and distinctly marked dark brows, the deep-set eyes – yes, they were familiar. And the stern look – who had a look like that? Hadn’t someone said, ‘He’s gorgeous, too –