Dorothy pointedly did not offer her hand to Vernon for a kiss. “Good evening, Vernon. Have you been on the champers already?”
“But of course, sweetheart. One can’t reach this point in the day without a glass or two of champers, you know that.”
Dorothy smiled slightly. “Quite.”
Unperturbed and clearly used to Dorothy’s manner, Vernon turned to James. “Good evening, James. You look ever so disapproving tonight.”
“No more so than usual, Singleton.”
“Oh, how can I impress you, convince you I’m a good man?”
“I think it’s unlikely.” James did reach out and shake Vernon’s hand. Evelyn wondered just how strong James’s disapproval was. Surely he wouldn’t even visit the cafe if he really disliked Vernon. Before she had chance to contemplate this further, Evelyn found herself looking directly into Vernon’s eyes. They were a vivid, piercing blue, quite at odds with his dark hair and complexion. He was smiling at her, so she smiled back, dumbly, hoping someone would introduce them.
“And who is this delightful creature?” Vernon glanced at Lilian, then looked back to Evelyn.
James took on the duty of introductions, after what seemed like a long time. “Singleton, may I present Miss Evelyn Hopkins, our house guest. Evelyn, this is Mr. Vernon Singleton, the proprietor of this fine establishment.”
Vernon’s eyes swept over Evelyn’s face and she felt as though he took in every detail of her appearance, even as he reached out a hand. She allowed him to take hers lightly in his fingers. “Miss Hopkins, I am very pleased indeed to meet you.” Keeping his eyes on hers, Vernon raised Evelyn’s hand to his lips and kissed it, close to her knuckles.
Evelyn was surprised at just how the gentle kiss made her nerve endings tingle. “I’m happy to meet you too,” she replied, wondering why Vernon was still holding her hand. She drew it back abruptly.
“Are you just passing through, or will we have the pleasure of your company again?”
Evelyn hesitated. “Well, I haven’t got fixed plans—”
“You’ll see her again, Vernon. We haven’t talked about how long she’s staying with us, for now, but we’re in here so often, I’m sure this won’t be the only time Evelyn’s here.” Lilian’s interruption rather ended the need for conversation between Vernon and Evelyn. Vernon simply smiled once more and responded,
“That’s excellent news, thank you Lily. In that case, Miss Hopkins, welcome to our exquisite demi-monde.” With a last lingering look, he turned away. A few steps later, he paused, to turn back to Lilian. “On stage in ten minutes, yes, darling?”
“Whatever you say, Vernon.” Lilian touched her fingers to her painted lips and blew a kiss in Vernon’s direction. He winked in return and then returned to the back of the room, near the bar. Evelyn watched him go, thinking he was rather fascinating but also quite an unnerving presence in their group. She was actually rather glad he had not stayed, however much she was intrigued by him.
“Vernon never changes, does he?” James asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
“Can’t see why he should,” Lilian retorted.
“I think the word is incorrigible, James, darling,” Dorothy added. Evelyn was not sure whether she referred to Vernon or Lilian.
“What did he mean by demi-monde?” Evelyn asked, thinking of Vernon’s last words.
“It’s nonsense,” James replied dismissively. “It means half-world in French.”
“So typical of Vernon,” Lilian said, apparently enjoying James’s exasperation.
Dorothy smiled a seductive, knowing smile. “James is right, it does mean half-world, if you translate it literally. But it means a good deal more than that. It means a world that is not quite part of the respectable world you know. It means a world that admits our parents were wrong and there’s something more to strive for. It means that drink and fashion and making love are all important in the pursuit of draining what life has to offer, of living in all the ways that can be lived. It means looking for that something more that you know is there but can’t quite reach.” Dorothy concluded, still smiling, then licked her lips and winked at Evelyn.
Evelyn stared, transfixed, into Dorothy’s dark eyes, part entranced by the alluring words and part confused by their implications. These seemed like decent people, yet Dorothy’s words suggested something altogether deeper and more subversive was at play. Dorothy did not drop the eye contact and Evelyn wished she could question her further, try to understand what Dorothy was telling her.
“Oh, Dorothy, don’t tease!” Lilian exclaimed. Evelyn relaxed, and Dorothy turned her attention to the drinks, still on the tray where Vernon had deposited them. She handed the glasses around. Evelyn contemplated her own drink with consternation. Dorothy had placed a tall goblet in front of her, filled to the rim with sparkling clear liquid and ice. It was decorated with a slice of lime, a sprig of mint, and a bright red cherry. She caught a perfumed, dangerous aroma from the glass.
“Aren’t you going to try it, Evie?” Lilian asked, taking a sip of her own cocktail. Lilian’s drink was a startling yellow colour, in a conical glass with a long stem. Dorothy’s looked a lot like Lilian’s, and James’s a lot like her own, despite her having heard them order distinctly different cocktails. She wondered if she should’ve trusted Lilian to order for her. A glass of water would have been safer.
“Oh, of course I am,” she replied to Lilian, trying not to appear nervous. She picked up the cold glass and took a very small sip of the drink. The cold hit her first, followed by the bitter sting of lime, balanced quickly by the perfume of the gin. It was cool and refreshing as it slipped over her tongue and down her throat. Slowly, savouring the taste, she smiled.
“I think you ordered well, darling,” Dorothy told Lilian.
“I can always guess what someone will like,” Lilian replied. “It’s a gift I have.”
“Well, thank you,” Evelyn said, before taking a rather larger gulp of her
