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 are on the 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 be working.”

“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?”

Millie sputtered. “I don’t know yet. I haven’t had time to properly consider this. How did you know to suggest Ladies Edgemont and Warfield?”

Emma shrugged. “Lady Edgemont came immediately to mind.”