“The one who looks ever so much like Vernon. That’s why I’m asking.”
“Aha! You mean Jos, darling,” Dorothy told her.
“Of course. No wonder you’d notice her. She does look a lot like Vernon. They’re twins.”
“She’s his sister?” Evelyn was a little surprised since, from this distance, the person in question had seemed more likely to be Vernon’s brother. Her hair was short, not slicked back as her brother’s but certainly cropped in a masculine style. She was in white shirtsleeves and a light tweed waistcoat, a loose blue cravat at her neck. Evelyn did not express her surprise.
“Yes. Jos Singleton, who is eleven minutes older than Vernon. She’s an interesting one,” Lilian said.
“How so?” Evelyn was already interested, but there was something more implied in Lilian’s tone.
“Now, Lilian, be nice. Just because you’re not her best friend, there’s really nothing wrong with Jos.” Dorothy smiled indulgently at Lilian, then turned her attention to Evelyn. “Jos is what you might call a free spirit. I rather admire her for it, honestly. She’s like her brother but with a little more integrity.”
“You really should give Vernon more credit,” Lilian protested.
“I’ve known him longer than you, darling,” Dorothy retorted.
“I don’t know why you’re always defending him, Lilian,” James put in. “And his sister’s just as bad, if you ask me. It’s not really cricket, is it?”
“I don’t think we did ask you,” Lilian replied.
“Oh now, James, darling, are you worried she’ll steal all the pretty girls away from you?” Dorothy teased.
Evelyn tried to follow their conversation but found herself growing ever more confused. She turned her gaze back to Jos and her two companions. One was a woman in a striking red dress, the fabric so sheer over her shoulders that the shadowy outlines of her collarbones and the valley between her breasts were visible. Although she was seated, Evelyn could see the glimmer of silver embroidery on the bodice of the dress. Her short chestnut hair was styled in immaculate waves and decorated with an ornate silver comb and red feathers. Her skin was strikingly pale, her lips coloured unnaturally red.
This striking woman was seated very close the person at her side. At first, Evelyn had assumed she was holding the arm of a man. The white tuxedo jacket, stiff-collared shirt, and black tie seemed to make it obvious. However, as she looked again, she realised she’d been mistaken. The shoulders were too narrow, the jawline too smooth. It was obvious when she looked directly at the woman’s face, she was certainly no man. And yet her attire was masculine in the extreme, far more immaculate and sharply tailored than Jos Singleton, a few feet away. In addition, her dark blond hair was cut in a severe short style.
“Bet you’re wondering about the others now too.” Lilian had tired of laughing at her brother and had noticed where Evelyn’s attention was drawn.
“Yes, I must admit, I was rather.”
Dorothy smiled. “I can see the fascination. I’m not sure there’s a man or woman in here who doesn’t have a real crack on for one or the other, or both. Attagirl, Evie, you’re fitting right in already.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Evelyn waited for an explanation from Dorothy. “Who are they?”
Lilian chose to enlighten her. “The one in the red dress is Courtney Craig. She’s American, though she went to school here. Same school as Dorothy, in fact, though she was in the form above. Awfully rich, apparently her daddy is someone high up in banking in New York City. The one she can’t let go of, with the Eton crop, is Clara Bridgford. Also at school with Dorothy. They were schoolgirl sweethearts and now they’re as good as married.”
Evelyn took a moment to process this information. “But they’re both women,” was her response, which did not, for a moment, convey the intrigue and confusion she felt.
“Oh yes, they most certainly are. Not the sort of thing that happened in West Coombe, I’ll warrant!” Dorothy seemed to take delight in Evelyn’s naiveté.
“I don’t really think I understand,” Evelyn admitted.
“And why should you?” James said. “Really, you two, this is Evelyn’s first night here, must you really try to open her eyes to everything there is to know in just a few hours?”
“We were only trying to answer her questions.” Lilian pouted.
James apparently decided to explain the matter himself, to draw an end to the conversation. “Evelyn, Clara, Courtney, and Jos are what’s known as inverts. They feel the same towards other woman as normal women feel towards men. They form relationships with each other and act as though they’re real couples. That’s all there is to it, really.”
“Oh…I see.” Evelyn was taken aback by James’s brusque and condemnatory tone.
“So there’s nothing really to understand,” James said. “And, yes, Courtney is certainly a beautiful woman but Dorothy is exaggerating how attractive they are.”
“I am not! I could be charmed by Clara myself. Used to carry a bit of a torch for her at school.” Dorothy winked at James.
“You’re absurd, Dorothy.”
“Oh, dry up, Mrs. Grundy. There’s nothing wrong with it. Modern times, don’t you know?” Dorothy was apparently unperturbed by James. “Evie, I’m sorry if we’ve overwhelmed you a little. This is just the world we live in.”
“Oh no, don’t apologise, I find it all fascinating.” Evelyn smiled, still trying to process these new developments and trying to stop herself staring over at Clara and Courtney, still in conversation with Jos Singleton. Perhaps the gin was having an effect on her after all, since she thought she could understand why Clara was so attractive. Jos too, for that matter.
“Aha, the drinks. Just what we need.” Lilian smiled up at Vernon as he approached with a tray of glasses.
“You know I employ waiters for this, Lily, darling.” Vernon was only mildly exasperated.
“Of course. But I’m your star, aren’t I?”
“Yes. You know you are. The earth moved for me tonight, every note was
