As they were seated, Evelyn realised that this was the most out of place she’d felt since she’d been in London. Although the surroundings, the clientele, of the Park Lane Hotel teased her curiosity, her thirst for learning more of London, she had to admit she felt out of her depth. And she knew she had no desire to be comfortable here. She did not have to love everything that Lilian did. She did not have to be enthralled by all of London. And such a grandiose, formal place as this was not to her taste, beautiful though it was.
Lilian was looking around surreptitiously, clearly wondering if anyone of fame or fortune was present. Evelyn did not quite understand the fascination and was relieved when the waiter came to take their order. Again, she was struck by the notion of being on the wrong side of the transaction. Just as she could have found herself in the place of Grace, Lilian’s servant, the waiter could, in different times, have been Edward or Peter. She could have been a domestic in the hotel, cleaning up after people like Lilian. The idea made her uncomfortable. She allowed Lilian to place their order, glad that she had not been asked for an opinion, hoping their tea would be brought to them quickly.
As she sat upright and uncomfortable, watching Lilian return to glancing around her furtively, in the hope of recognising a face, Evelyn thought back to the previous night. The Yellow Orchid was the height of modernity too, it seemed, and yet she was more comfortable there. In Vernon’s little cafe, with the taste of gin in her mouth and jazz in her ears, she had felt at home. She had felt as though she was really living.
And of course, she’d also met some fascinating people there. Dorothy and Vernon, who seemed two sides of the same sardonic, modern, cynical coin, decadent through intention and loving every minute. Clara and Courtney, both beautiful and like no one Evelyn could have even have imagined to exist. Two women in love with each other. The idea intrigued her and she could not help her thoughts lingering on it. What would it be like to be in love with a woman? To kiss a woman? She tried to put herself in Courtney’s place, to imagine Clara courting her, embracing her, kissing her. But of course, Clara was very much Courtney’s, that was obvious to the world. But there was Jos Singleton too. Jos who had been so kind, so friendly. Jos with those blue eyes and warm fingers. What would it be like to be kissed by her pink lips? To look into those eyes and see love, shared secrets?
“Are you all right, Evie?” Lilian’s voice startled Evelyn out of her pleasant reverie.
“Yes, why?” Evelyn asked, feeling defensive.
“No reason. Only you look a little flushed.”
“I expect it’s the excitement of being in a place like this. And of course, I’m a little tired.”
“Yes. I’m sure a cup of tea will revive you. Plus, I’m fairly sure that the Sitwells are here, at the table right over by the wall. Isn’t that exciting?”
“I’m not sure I know who they are.” Evelyn only half listened to Lilian’s enthusiastic explanation of who the Sitwell family were and why it was exciting to see them. Her thoughts had returned to Jos Singleton. To the way thinking about Jos made her feel, quite unexpectedly. Her head was light, her heart beating a little faster, and she was suddenly warm in a way that made her skin prickle. A queer sort of excitement rippled through her body. She had never thought of another person and felt this way. If this was how it felt to be attracted to someone, Evelyn suspected she was attracted to Jos. She should be alarmed by this, she realised. And yet it did not seem at all alarming. It seemed rather exciting and modern.
Chapter Ten
In her desire to return to the Yellow Orchid, Evelyn was frustrated for several days. She did not want to ask outright that they return, since she suspected Lilian would question her reasons. Explaining that she was fascinated to see Jos Singleton again was not something Evelyn expected to be well received by Lilian, who had not seemed particularly favourable towards Jos previously. So she remained silent on the subject and hoped to be taken to the cafe soon.
In those days, Lilian took Evelyn to see some of the sights of London. They visited the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum. On another occasion Evelyn was delighted to see Nelson on his column above Trafalgar Square and to walk the short distance to see the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Lilian could not be prevailed on to enter the Abbey to view the illustrious tombs inside, but Evelyn was still excited to finally gaze at buildings she’d previously only read about or seen photographs of. Around every corner was a famous address or statue, a museum she’d never believed she would have a chance to explore. As the days passed, she still found it difficult to believe the reality
