“Hmm.” Her forehead wrinkled. “I do not know him very well personally. I can tell you that since taking his seat in the Lords, he has been extremely active.”

“Is he a Whig?” Eleanor thought he must be if he was friends with Turley and Fotherby, but one never knew.

“Yes. On the liberal side.” Her friend grinned. “Not as radical as my father, but close.”

Henrietta and Dotty’s father had been a vicar before inheriting his brother’s baronetcy and was known to espouse doing away with the peerage, even though both of his older daughters had married into it. “That is good to know. Has he introduced any bills?”

“Not to my knowledge. He just took his seat. His father died a few years ago; I do not know why it took him so long. I can ask Nate if it matters.”

“No. I met him, and he is a possibility, but nothing more than that.” Eleanor would simply have to see for herself.

“His mother and sister are expected to be here. When I see them, I shall introduce you.” Henrietta searched the room. “There they are. Come along.”

Eleanor laughed. “That is what you used to say when we were children.”

“I had forgotten.” Henrietta smiled. She led Eleanor in a winding path around groups of ladies to the two women. Both of them had the same dark auburn hair and the blue-green eye color as his lordship. “My ladies,” Henrietta said, getting their attention. “I would like to introduce you to a close friend of my family, Lady Eleanor Carpenter. Eleanor, Lady Montagu and Lady Lytton.”

The ladies inclined their heads and Eleanor curtseyed.

“How lovely to meet you,” Lady Lytton said, holding out her hand. “We are acquainted with your older sisters and friends of your family.”

“I hope we will see quite a bit of you this Season,” Lady Montagu said. “I remember my come out fondly.”

“I expect it will be exhausting but a great deal of fun,” Eleanor responded. She could not ask them about Lord Montagu, but she could discover more about the family and the ladies’ pursuits. “In which charities are you interested?”

“We have donated to Lady Merton’s charities, naturally,” Lady Lytton said. “I have thought about starting one of my own, but I am not quite sure where to begin.”

“My sister, Lady Worthington, helped Lady Merton form the one to which we all donate. She started a school for the children on the Worthington estates and villages.”

“I have begun a school project on my husband’s estates,” Lady Lytton said.

“I did for the Montagu estates as well,” Lady Montagu commented. “I do wish they were better attended.”