Gregory thought of his brother and couldn’t help but agree.

“While that is true, that will not be the case with your father,” Lucien said with a note of certainty. “I assume your reunion was wonderful; otherwise, you would not be here telling me all about it and making my father out to be some sort of good Samaritan.”

“It was wonderful,” Evie said. “I shouldn’t leave him any longer.” She rose.

Lucien put his hand on her arm. “First, you have to agree to stay at the club—as a member and a patroness.”

“If I agree, will you let me fetch my father?”

Grinning, Lucien wrapped her in a hug. Gregory smiled, feeling no jealousy. They really were just the closest of friends, and he was glad they had each other.

Lucien let her go. “I am so happy for you both.” He sent Gregory a warm glance.

“Thank you.” Evie narrowed her eyes slightly. “Yes, I will stay at the club, but some people still won’t like it. And I’m not entirely certain it’s because I was a courtesan. I don’t think they like that I’m a woman with an important job at a popular membership club. The same probably goes for Ada.”

“You may be right, but ultimately, their reasons for being judgmental don’t matter. If they’re going to have a problem with you—or Ada—then they are not worthy of membership,” Lucien said haughtily. “I will gleefully expel them if they don’t leave of their own accord.”

Evie shook her head with a faint smile as she left the study. Gregory remained behind. “Are you certain this is what’s right for the club?”

“Yes. It can’t be a haven for people like Evie if it fails to be a haven for Evie herself. And what good am I doing with the club if I can’t wield whatever power it gives me to do what is right and proper?”

Gregory couldn’t argue with that. “You are a singular man. I know you don’t want to hear this, but you may find you and your father are not that unalike. I hope you’ll give yourself—and him—the chance to work that out.”

Lucien’s eyes glittered with dark promise, and Gregory wondered if there was something else going on. There was an underlying tension to him—an unease that seemed to go beyond the news they’d given him today. “Oh, I intend to get to the bottom of this entire affair,” Lucien vowed. “Of that you can be sure.”

Chapter 22

Three weeks later

Witney, Oxfordshire