To what end? It was all practice with no hope for anything real between them. He’d realized last night as he’d tossed and turned, his body in a state of unrepentant arousal, that he wanted more. He thought of her almost constantly and looked forward to when they would next be together. After tonight, he didn’t know when that would be, and that was unacceptable. Thankfully, he had Ash to tie them together—at least he hoped that connection would continue. What would happen when they both ultimately returned to London?

“Remember, I am going to secure an invitation to the Phoenix Club before the night is out,” Susan whispered to both him and Clifford.

“I told you, I don’t think Mrs. Renshaw can do that.”

Susan stared at him as if he were daft. “She’s a patroness. Of course she can.”

Gregory gave her a slight smirk. “You think you understand the workings of the Phoenix Club better than she does?”

“Well, no,” Susan admitted. “But I refuse to believe she doesn’t carry enough weight to ensure our inclusion. She must.”

“And yet you were so eager to denigrate her dear friends the Creightons,” Gregory murmured.

“Let’s hope Mrs. Renshaw isn’t aware of that,” Clifford said with a flash of a smile.

Gregory stared at his brother a moment, wondering if he possessed any self-awareness whatsoever. He couldn’t possibly. Biting his tongue, Gregory quickly made his way to the Creightons.

Their hosts greeted Gregory, his brother, and Susan with warmth and smiles. “So glad you could come,” Mr. Creighton said. “I do plan to bore you with my refurbishment plans after dinner over port.”

“I won’t be at all bored,” Gregory assured him.

“Lord and Lady Witney, it’s our honor to welcome you this evening,” Mrs. Creighton said with a curtsey. Diamonds adorned her ears and neck and nestled in her artfully styled light-brown hair. She looked every bit the part of Society, not that it would matter to Susan.

“We appreciate the invitation,” Clifford said. “I shall also enjoy hearing about your refurbishments. Lady Witney and I are considering improvements to Witney Court.”

Gregory hated to think of them altering a thing about his childhood home, but it wasn’t really his home anymore, even if he would always be welcome. Indeed, he wasn’t at all certain Susan would extend that courtesy in the future, particularly after she and Clifford had children. Anyway, he had his small terrace house in London, and that would be enough.

Susan glanced about. “I’m keen to speak with your guest, Mrs. Renshaw.”

“Please do,” Mrs. Creighton said, gesturing toward where Mrs. Renshaw stood. “Do you know each other?”

“We met at the assembly,” Susan explained. “I look forward to deepening our acquaintance.”

But not yours.

Gregory couldn’t tell if Mrs. Creighton had gleaned that from Susan’s demeanor and sincerely hoped she hadn’t.