“That was true, then?” Gregory flinched. “Never mind. I am not one to gossip. They are charming, genuine people, and I enjoyed meeting them.” Because that was how he’d met Evie. If not for her visiting them, he never would have encountered her at the hedgerow.

Lucien rose to refill his glass. “I’m still waiting to hear about the loss of your innocence. If you didn’t hire someone for the deed, whom did you engage?” He grinned as he sat back down. “Are you still shagging her?”

Gregory readjusted his weight in the chair. “Isn’t there some saying about gentlemen not telling?”

“I haven’t heard it, but it’s probably a good maxim. In any case, I hope you are enjoying yourself and that it was worth the wait. I, for one, can’t imagine.”

Most men struggled to comprehend why Gregory had remained celibate. “It cost me a friend or two over the years, but then I don’t think they were probably going to be anyone I wanted to call friend anyway.”

“I would agree. Boys and young men can be cruel and stupid. I ought to know.”

“I can’t see you as cruel,” Gregory said.

“No, but I was plenty stupid, getting into scrapes and generally infuriating my father.” A wicked smile curled Lucien’s mouth. “It was great fun.”

“Did you go out of your way to annoy him?”

Lucien’s dark eyes glinted with mischief. “Oh yes.”

“And do you still?”

“Not entirely. Though, I do wear a brightly colored cravat when I pay him a call. He hates that.”

Gregory had taken a sip of whiskey and now sputtered. “Why do you do it? Annoy him, I mean.”

Lucien shrugged. “Because it’s expected? Isn’t that why you behaved in the way you did? Because your father expected it?”

“I suppose,” Gregory murmured. “Though I am beginning to think it’s perhaps better to do the unexpected.” That was what had prompted him to pursue Evie. And he had no regrets. “I doubt your father expected this club.”

“Perhaps not the club, but he certainly expected me to champion what he would call outcasts and miscreants. Present company excluded.”

“Damn, that sounds exciting. I might like to become one or both.”

Lucien let out a hollow laugh. “Trust me, you don’t. It sounds captivating until you’re on the outside. Much easier to stay within the realm of polite acceptance.” He took a drink of whiskey. “Now, back to your meeting yesterday—and your brother and sister-in-law. They aren’t going to receive invitations, I’m afraid. The membership committee will not be intimidated. Is that going to cause problems for you?”

“Not personally, no. It’s no difference to me if they’re invited or not.” That wasn’t precisely true. Gregory would actually prefer they weren’t, but he wasn’t going to tell Lucien that.