Yay, it's the weekend! I survived the heatwave and now I only have one day left in work before I break up for my summer holidays. Whoop, whoop.

Thank you so much for all your replies and comments, it is very good to know that the Sherlolly fandom is still alive and well despite us growing ever older waiting for the mythical season 5. I wonder if it really will ever happen.

Anyway, shall we see how Sherlock gets on with the show dances…

Chapter 9

As Molly ordered her drink and looked around, she was surprised at just how busy the place was. This dancing event was obviously a big draw for the hotel and pretty much every seat was filled. Most people were coming to the end of their meals and there was a buzz of anticipation.

Once Molly had her drink she took another look, this time to see if there was anyone that matched Sherlock's description of who she should sit with, and she bit her lip as she wondered how to approach them.

In the end it was easy. There was a woman sitting on her own at a table for two just off to one side of the dance floor. She looked to be about 80 and she reminded Molly of a much-loved aunt who had died in recent years.

She made her way around and smiled at the older woman as she gestured to the empty chair opposite her. 'Hi, is anyone sitting here? Would you mind?'

'No, no of course not...sit yourself down. It would be nice to have a little company. Are you here to see the dancing?'

Molly nodded as she settled herself. 'I am, yes. My...umm...friend is one of the dancers. I'm Molly by the way, Molly Hooper.'

'Anne...Anne Levett. I'm pleased to meet you, Molly; what a lovely name. It's nice to see the old ones back in use.'

'So, what brings you to the hotel Anne, are you on holiday?'

The older woman nodded. 'Of sorts, yes. Obviously, I'm retired but there's only so much sitting about that you can do at home. It gets lonely, you know. So, three times a year I come here. It makes a nice change, and they know me, so it feels a bit like a home from home. And I love to watch the dancing...I used to dance a lot in my youth but I'm too old for it now. This year's dancers are very good. Which one do you know? Chantelle or Harlow?'

Molly chuckled but took her opening. 'Neither. Apparently, Harlow is missing...no one knows where he's gone. Anyway, my friend William is a pretty good dancer, so I volunteered his services to step in as a replacement.'

Anne looked both shocked and a little excited at the news and she leant forwards. 'Missing you say. Well, that does surprise me. He seemed very...shall we say...settled here.'

Molly cocked her head to one side. 'Why do you say it like that? What do you know?'

'Well, let's just say he had more than one iron in the fire and he wasn't picky about who he was with if you understand my meaning. Old, young, male, female...I rather think they all had one thing in common though...'

She waited until Molly leant forward and asked 'what' in reply.

'Money. He liked the nicer things in life did Mr Twinkle Toes and he liked other people to pay for them. Don't get me wrong he never approached me...I think he thought I was far too old for that kind of thing, and he'd have been right.'

She gave a tinkling laugh and Molly couldn't help but laugh with her. She was enjoying Anne's company more than she expected to and just as Sherlock predicted getting information from her was easy.

'So, who did he...you know?'

Molly looked around the room and hitched her chair a little closer to Anne so she could see who she pointed out.

'You see that woman there, the one in her late fifties trying and failing to look thirties. Margaret Dickers, her and Harlow have definitely been having some kind of affair. That's her son opposite her, not sure of his name but I think he's joined his mum to try to make sure she doesn't give away all his inheritance...believe me, she's stupid enough to have.'

'Then over there are the Havers, they own the hotel which makes them prime targets for a gold digger like Harlow. Chantelle had a go as well I believe but Harlow was already there. There were others when I was here earlier this year at Easter, but they've all left now.'

There was a change in the music and Anne sat up a little straighter and turned towards the stage. She patted Molly's hand. 'Looks like the dancing is starting. No interrupting now, I like to enjoy the show.'

Molly nodded and turned to watch herself. She couldn't wait to see Sherlock's performance herself and she even found herself feeling a little nervous for him.

Marie Havers stepped forward with a microphone and thanked everyone for coming to the event. She then promoted a couple of other upcoming dance nights before she finally introduced the dancing.

'Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have a slight change to our original line up but I'm sure it won't affect your enjoyment. Please put your hands together for Chantelle Whelan and her partner Mr William Scott.'

The lights dimmed around the dance floor and Chantelle and Sherlock took up their positions and waited for the cue in the music. Chantelle had really pushed the boat out tonight with a floor length, gold, sequined gown with a split up to the top of one perfectly sculpted, tanned thigh and a neckline which plunged almost down to her stomach. Molly couldn't help but acknowledge that she looked stunning and very theatrical, and she felt a twinge of jealousy as Sherlock took the younger woman's hand and together they started their first routine.

Molly recognised parts of it from seeing them practice earlier but with the lighting and the outfits it seemed so much more glamorous and professional.

As the music changed, they seamlessly morphed into a different dancing style with all the audience breaking into applause for a moment.

Molly found herself mesmerised watching Sherlock as he danced and spun. To her untrained eye he really was very good, but she could tell that Chantelle was better. He complimented her and spun her and lifted her and as far as Molly could tell he hit all his marks without any errors, but she was still nervous, wondering what everyone else's opinion would be.

As the music ended there was another round of applause and Sherlock and Chantelle took their bows before splitting off and asking different audience members if they would like to dance. Sherlock had obviously had Margaret pointed out to him because he immediately made his way to her, and she blushingly accepted his hand as he led her out onto the dance floor. A few other couples joined them, and a more traditional waltz started up.

Molly turned back to Anne. 'So, what did you think? Did you enjoy it?'

'Oh, very much. Your friend is very good looking, isn't he? It compensates for his slight lack of experience. I have to say he looks very familiar. Would I know him at all? Is he famous or has he been in the papers recently?'

At that Molly shook her head. 'No, I don't think so. He's just a businessman nothing interesting. Maybe he looks like someone you know.'

The older woman frowned. 'Yes, maybe. Now tell me how you know him. I'm assuming this isn't just a platonic friendship given the way you smile and blush whenever you've mentioned him. If the two of you are together well...that would just make my day...I think you'd make a very attractive couple.'

Molly launched into the agreed spiel. 'I...umm...we were engaged up until last week but he was always so wrapped up in his career. I used to joke that he was married to his work, but in the end it was too much and I...we broke up. He's taken time off to prove to me that he can relax and let his job go but I'm not so sure.'

She hated lying to Anne. There was something so very reassuring about her, she felt like the type of person Molly could really confide in and receive good advice, but she didn't dare go against their cover story. The trouble was that bar talking about Sherlock being married to his work the rest all felt very false. That was apparent by the other woman's reaction.

'Hmm...' she looked back and forth between Molly and Sherlock, who was now dancing with Margaret and engaging her in conversation. He had his fake charming face on but from the looks of it Margaret was lapping it up.

'That's funny, I would have put you down for a new relationship given the glances you keep giving each other and the way you blush when you talk about him, but I've obviously got it all wrong. Well then, my dear, I hope he does prove himself to you...I can see you care for him a great deal.'

As the music came to an end Sherlock led Margaret back to her seat and Molly saw her interacting with her son. At the same time that she saw Sherlock turning and starting to make his way over to her, no doubt to ask her to dance, Molly saw the son getting up and starting to go to the bar.

She was torn between wanting to dance with Sherlock and wanting to help him with the case; it was the latter that won out...but only just.

'Would you like a drink Anne? I'm going to get myself another wine and...'

'Oh well thank you, a dry sherry would be lovely.'

Sherlock was almost across the dance floor and as he caught her eye he smiled and started to hold out his hand, but she saw his expression falter as she stood and turned away from him. Dammit why had the son decided to go to the bar now and not in ten minutes.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Sherlock felt a momentary confusion. When he'd seen Molly stand, he'd assumed she was about to accept his offer of a dance, but before he could even say her name, she turned away from him, and made her way to the bar.

Her companion must have seen his expression because she smiled sympathetically. 'She's getting us both a drink. I'm sure you'll have a chance to dance with her later.'

Sherlock took a deep breath and his eyes narrowed as he contemplated what he should do now. He hated dancing with strangers, but it was proving a useful way to start a natural conversation.

He plastered on a smile and held his hand out. 'Would you...?'

The older woman laughed and shook her head. 'Oh believe me in my day I would have loved to dance with someone as handsome as you, but my dancing days are behind me. Thank you for the offer though.'

Sherlock nodded in response and turned away. He could see a couple of other women looking hopefully in his direction, but he was in no mood to just dance with just anybody.

Neither was his mood improved by seeing Molly chatting to Margaret's wretched son at the bar. He was about the same age as her and superficially good looking though from the sounds of it he was more worried about his inheritance than his mother. He was a prime candidate to be the murderer, so Sherlock appreciated Molly's efforts to get to know him, but it didn't mean he liked it. He felt a strange kind of anger low in his gut that he couldn't quite explain.

He turned away looking for a distraction and that's when he saw Marie Havers, standing at the side of the dance floor, watching over the proceedings.

He made his way over and smiled. 'Would you care to dance?'

She looked shocked for a moment, but then acquiesced and took his hand.

'My, it's been a while since I danced. The regular dancers are probably too afraid to ask me, and my husband gave up dancing the day we were married.'

Sherlock laughed at her obvious attempt at humour, and he started to move them around the dance floor. She was very fit for her age and moved well.

He couldn't help but still be distracted as he glanced over at the bar to see Molly laughing at something Margaret's son had said, her hand briefly touching his arm. It meant he missed some of what Marie was saying to him.

'...again, it was so good of you. Our hotel has been holding these dance nights for decades and I would have hated to have had to cancel it...well, at least cancel the show dances.'

'You enjoy being in the hotel business then?'

'I love it, it's in my blood. The Havers family have owned this hotel from the start, over one hundred years of heritage.'

The other man was walking Molly back to her table, indicating towards the dance floor.

Sherlock turned Marie, making her laugh a little, but it was all so he could keep watching Molly. It made him speak without really thinking.

'So, your husband's infidelities don't bother you then? You overlook them for the sake of the hotel?'

He felt Marie falter in her dance steps, and he turned his attention back to her, berating himself a little for being so blunt.

'My, but you're observant aren't you.' She said dryly. 'Well, you're right that my husband does have a weakness for younger ones...particularly dancers...' he saw her eyes slide across the room to where her husband seemed to be in deep conversation with Chantelle.

The music started to come to an end and as they stepped away from each other she looked at Sherlock and he saw her steely resolve.

'We all make our choices Mr Scott, of what we are prepared to live with, and what we aren't. You'll see that when you and Miss Hooper marry. Sometimes overlooking weaknesses is worth it. Anyway, thank you for the dance.'

As she turned away Sherlock's attention moved back to Molly, and he felt his ire grow as he saw her being led out onto the dance floor by another man.

Do we love a jealous Sherlock, or do we love a jealous Sherlock? I know I do.