Page 67 of Impeccable
“I’m here!” Millie, Lady Hargrove, announced as she sailed into the room. She was always the last to arrive. At least today, she wasn’t late. Closing the door behind her, she went to the refreshment table and filled the last wineglass with sherry. “Must we always have such delectable-looking cakes?” she complained. “I am trying to guard my waistline from expansion.” Exhaling, she took one and popped it into her mouth prior to taking her seat.
“Welcome, ladies,” Evie said with a smile. “We’ve much to discuss as the Season begins to pick up speed.” She set her wineglass on the table beside her and picked up the parchment with today’s agenda. “Today, we’ll propose ideas for our four themed balls.” Every Friday during the Season, starting in March, they held an assembly. On the first Friday of each month, from March until June, it had a theme. “We will also discuss the addition of new patronesses.”
“What?” Millie blurted the word, drawing the other three to pin their attention on her. “Who decided we needed new patronesses?”
Evie responded evenly, “Club membership has grown so much—”
Millie cut her off. “It would grow even more if my recommendations weren’t ignored.”
Continuing as if she hadn’t been interrupted, Evie said, “Lord Lucien believes we require more patronesses to meet the needs of the club.”
“Now you’re going to ignore me just as my recommendations are overlooked?” Millie clucked her tongue.
Evie spoke slowly and calmly. “Millie, you know that Phoenix Club membership isn’t for everyone. It is the same at every membership club.”
“But why aremyrecommendations always ignored?”
“They aren’t always,” Emma said. “I recall Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway were invited last Season.”
Millie pursed her lips. “A paltry few. I want to know why more of them don’t receive invitations. Evie could tell me, but she won’t.”
“That isn’t true,” Evie said, keeping hold of her temper in the face of the woman’s belligerence. “How the membership committee decides upon invitations is known only to them.”
“But you areonthe committee,” Millie sniped. “You could tell us the process.”
“You know the committee is secret.” Evie resisted the urge to down the rest of her sherry in one long gulp. “In any case, may we please discuss the matters at hand? If you have complaints, I urge you to take them up with Lord Lucien.” He would hate that, and yet it was his duty to deal with such things.
“I’ll do that.” Millie sniffed. “Who are these new patronesses to be?”
“That is what we shall discuss,” Evie said, glad they were moving on, but bracing herself for what was likely to be another storm. “Due to the increase in membership last Season and the success of our Friday assemblies, Lord Lucien has advised we select ladies to join us. They must already be members. Does anyone have a name they’d like to propose?” This was all for show—for Millie’s sake—since she’d already discussed this with Emma, and Emma had shared it with Harriet.
“I’d like to suggest Lady Edgemont,” Emma said.
Millie’s nostrils flared, but she said nothing.
“She’d be excellent,” Harriet added with a nod. “What about Lady Warfield, since she is already employed at the club and is so intrinsic to the assemblies?”
“Disgraceful that a viscountess has employment,” Millie muttered.
“What’s that?” Evie asked, as Millie pushed her precariously close to her last nerve.
Never one to back away from her convictions, Millie spoke louder this time. “I find it distasteful that Lady Warfield hasn’t resigned her position as bookkeeper now that she is a viscountess. It’s unseemly for her to beworking.”
“It’s absolutely in line with everything the Phoenix Club stands for.In individuality, we are one,” Evie said, quoting the phrase Lucien had written as the club’s primary mission.
“I fail to see how that has anything to do with Lady Warfield,” Millie said sharply.
Of course she didn’t. Evie ignored her. “Shall we vote on the names presented?”
Millie sat forward in her chair. “I haven’t made my suggestion.”
Evie forced a faint smile. “I haven’t made one either, so don’t feel as if you must.”
“But I want to.”
“Who?” Emma asked, fixing her gaze on Millie.
Harriet also looked to Millie. “Yes, who?”
