Page 75 of Impeccable
“You can deny being a part of the committee all you like, Evie Renshaw, but I know the truth.”
Evie said nothing. She clasped her hands in her lap and sat placidly.
“Let us vote,” Emma said. “Who is in favor of inviting Lady Edgemont and Lady Warfield to join us as patronesses?” She, Harriet, and Evie raised their hands and said, “I am.”
“I amnot,” Millie said angrily. “But you will all do as you please.” Letting out an enraged growl, she spun on her heel and quit the room, slamming the door behind her.
The remaining trio sipped their sherry in silence. It was a long moment before Evie spoke. “The majority has voted in favor of inviting Ladies Edgemont and Warfield to join us as patronesses.”
Harriet smiled broadly. “Splendid.”
“How shall we inform them?” Emma asked.
“Lady Warfield is in her office. We could invite her to join us,” Evie suggested. She could hardly wait to tell Ada that she was now a patroness of the Phoenix Club. Though Ada knew her name was being proposed, she didn’t expect it would happen. She’d just never imagined herself in such a position. But then she’d never thought of herself as a bookkeeper of a large, impressive London membership club, nor as a viscountess. Yet, she’d carried off both with grace, integrity, and irrefutable success.
“Oh, let’s!” Harriet said. “She’ll be delighted, don’t you think, Evie?”
“I do. What about Lady Edgemont?”
“How about we invite her for tea here tomorrow?” Emma suggested.
Harriet nodded enthusiastically. “That’s an excellent idea. She’ll be thrilled too, I think.”
“Then we are agreed.” Evie didn’t really want to talk about Millie anymore, but they must. “What are we to do about Millie? She is not going to simply accept this and go along her merry way.”
“When has she ever been merry?” Harriet curled her lip and rolled her eyes. “I don’t suppose we can ignore her.”
Evie shook her head. “We’ve tried that, at least with regard to her membership recommendation complaints. However, this is something different.”
“Are you hinting we should ask her to resign as patroness?” Emma asked. She grimaced. “I don’t think that will go well.”
“I don’t disagree, but I’m not sure the situation can be repaired,” Evie said. “I’ll speak with Lucien.”
“Perhaps with the new patronesses, she’ll hold her tongue,” Harriet mused. As they had before Millie had arrived, they fell silent just before bursting into laughter. Although, this episode lasted much longer than the last.
Evie wiped her eye. “She is already in the minority with the four of us and will only become more isolated in her opinions and complaints after Ladies Edgemont and Warfield join us. I still hold out a fraction—however small—of hope that she’ll resign.”
“As patroness or her entire membership?” Emma asked.
“As patroness, but both would be welcome. I can’t see her doing the latter when her husband is still a member.” Evie blew out a frustrated breath. “In truth, I can’t see her doing either.”
“I should like it very much if she would just go.” Harriet sipped her sherry. “Pity, because Hargrove is quite pleasant.”
“Yes,” Emma agreed. “Perhaps he could be prevailed upon to calm Millie.” She looked to Evie. “Could Lord Lucien speak with him?”
It wasn’t a bad idea. It might be all they had left to try. “I will ask him. I’ll go and fetch Ada from her office.”
Smiling, Evie stood and went to the door. Ada’s office was on this floor. It was part of her living quarters. Or had been, until she’d become Lady Warfield. On occasion, she and Max still used her room when they were in London, but for the most part, they stayed in a hotel. However, Max had apparently leased a house for the upcoming Season, and Ada said they planned to purchase one this year or next.
It was a short walk to Ada’s office. The door stood half open, which typically indicated she was inside working but could be interrupted.
Evie pushed the door open wider and stepped to the threshold. “Ada?”
Ada looked up from her desk. “Done with the patroness meeting already?”
“Not quite. We wanted to invite you to join us.” Evie was fairly brimming with excitement.
“To discuss the Frost Fair Ball?” Their first themed ball of the Season was a celebration of the frost fairs held on the Thames when it froze over.
