“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.

Evie leapt on that excuse. “Yes.” While Ada knew she was being considered as a patroness, she didn’t know today was the day they’d voted to make it official.

“Let me just bring something to make notations.” Ada picked up a small book where she kept lists and information that she consulted regularly along with a pencil.