“All right, we’ll go ahead and vote on the ladies proposed last week. All those in favor of—”

“It isn’t fair!” Millie shot to her feet, spilling her sherry. Muttering a curse, she set the glass on the table between her and Emma’s chairs. She shook her hand out, and sherry droplets went flying.

“No, it isn’t. Such a waste of good sherry,” Harriet murmured.

Evie had to bite her cheek to keep from laughing, and she purposely didn’t look at Harriet or Emma lest she not be able to contain herself.

Millie sent Harriet a furious glance. “None of my closest friends are members, and they are the ladies I would propose.”

“You know membership is not up to us,” Evie said quietly, bracing herself for the coming storm.

“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 am not,” 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.”