“I would like that,” she found herself saying, before she could help it. What else could she say? James had power over her, she was living in his house. Anger, at herself, burned inside her. Why was it so difficult to say no? She’d been unable to reject Michael face to face, and now James too. Why did they assume she would be interested and why could she not disabuse them of the notion as soon as it arose?
“Excellent.” James was clearly pleased, probably misinterpreting her discomfort as coyness. “Shall we say one day next week then? Perhaps we can visit the British Museum and take lunch close by.”
“Yes.” Evelyn still avoided looking directly at James. She was relieved when she heard the front door open and the distinctive sound of Lilian’s heeled shoes on the tiled hallway floor. Moments later, Lilian, still in her outdoor hat and coat, breezed into the sitting room.
“Oh, smashing, you’re both here! I’ve got a new song to sing which is just the cat’s pyjamas, I can’t wait for you to both hear it. I want to go and see Vernon tomorrow and run the idea past him. Do you fancy coffee at the Yellow Orchid tomorrow afternoon, Evie? I’ll ask Dorothy along too. Plus, we can find out what the New Year’s plans are. It’s always a top-hole evening at the Orchid.”
“That would be lovely,” Evelyn said with enthuasiasm. Suddenly the idea of visiting the Yellow Orchid was more appealing because she knew James disliked the place. “I’ve been wanting to go back there.”
“Excellent! Now, is it dinner time? I’m famished.” Lilian left the room to remove her coat and hat. Evelyn glanced briefly at James and then hurried after her, before he could speak again. Over dinner, she found her appetite much reduced, as a new tension clenched her insides. As if she did not have enough to make her anxious, with the beginnings of a new life in London, now she had to worry about James too.
Chapter Eleven
Lilian and Evelyn arrived at the Yellow Orchid just after half-past two in the afternoon. Considering Lilian had told Dorothy they would meet her at two, it was no wonder, Evelyn thought, that Dorothy looked a little less than friendly. However, that seemed to be Dorothy’s default expression, so she tried not to be intimidated. She’d liked Dorothy when they’d first met, so there was no reason to be timid of her now.
The Yellow Orchid looked a little different by day, although the windows at the front were not large, so it was still largely illuminated by the electric lights around the walls. The yellow light was tempered by what daylight did creep in, making the room seem brighter but also a little colder. The clientele were less colourful and less exuberant, and there were far more empty tables. Lilian did not receive greetings from the daytime coffee drinkers, although she still walked across to Dorothy as though she were the queen of the establishment.
Dorothy did not bother to rise to her feet to welcome them. Instead she looked cooly up at Lilian. “Afternoon, Lilian. When will I learn to add at least a decent half hour onto any plans we make? Or simply to forget time entirely, since you seem to exist in your own world, free of such cares? Afternoon, Evie. Waiting for her to dress, were you?”
Evelyn could not help but smile. “Good afternoon. Something like that.” Dorothy was exactly right. Lilian had been dressed and ready in one lilac dress before she’d decided it was making her skin appear sallow and disappeared to return in a navy and cream striped suit. Her skin had looked much the same to Evelyn, but Lilian had been much happier. For her part, Evelyn had borrowed one of Lilian’s jackets to complement her grey skirt and added a dark jade velvet scarf which Lilian had given her, saying she never wore it herself so Evelyn might as well keep it. She was used to Lilian’s disapproval of her appearance by now and was beginning to accept that one did not have to dress exactly as Lilian did to get by in the capital.
Lilian and Evelyn sat in the seats opposite Dorothy, who was smoking but did not seem to have ordered a drink yet. A waiter was with them in moments—not Clive, who had served them previously, but a rather younger man with pale blond hair, who seemed quite nervous of their party.
“Coffee, please, black,” Dorothy said.
“Coffee for me too, but could you bring cream please. Evie?”
Evelyn had only previously consumed coffee on one or two occasions and had no preferred way of taking it. “Coffee with cream for me too, please.” If it was what Lilian drank, she reasoned, it could not be too unpleasant.
As the waiter went away to fetch their coffee, Evelyn was aware of Dorothy looking at her from across the table. “So, my dear, it looks like London suits you. How are you finding it?”
“Oh, it’s wonderful,” Evelyn replied enthusiastically. “I’ve seen an awful lot of sights and Liliian’s been very kind.”
“I try my best, darling.” Lilian smiled.
“It’s quite out of character, I assure you,” Dorothy retorted. “You’re honoured.”
“Well, I appreciate it very much.” Evelyn glanced around her, wondering if Jos was in the cafe today. She had been telling herself it would be a good test of her true feelings, to see Jos and assess her reaction.
“Dorothy, you forget I’m such a top-hole educator. I’ve been teaching Evie the ways of the world! Which reminds me actually, did you read the book I lent you, Evie?”
“Which one?” Evelyn asked, trying not to blush.
“Yes, just what have you been inflicting on the poor girl?” Dorothy looked to Evelyn expectantly.
“Lilian was kind enough to lend me The Rainbow and Ideal Marriage.”
“Well, that’s quite a pair, my
