17: Sensitized

Inside, the British Pavilion was spectacularly beautiful, outfitted with rich carpets and tapestries, damask drapings and graceful floral wallpapering over the high walls, with polished crystal lamps and chandeliers glittering throughout. Heavy Victorian chairs and settees provided visitors with a resting place to watch newsreel films and study humongous, framed paintings of the castles and royal history of the United Kingdom with the fragrance of flowers drifting around from decorative vases that stood as high as Evelyn and were filled with stunning floral arrangements.

Had she been any less conflicted, her mind’s confusion warring with her body’s fierce attraction, the lavish British Pavilion was enough it might have overwhelmed her. As it was, however, Evelyn could only stare about her numbly, scarcely taking in any of it at all.

She’d never been kis