That John did not doubt at all. She had been enormously hard to please. But once she met Lytton she had wasted no time marrying him and presenting him with an heir. He had once asked Lytton why he wed her, and he told John it was because she was a lady of great good sense. Since he’d been in Town he’d noticed that many of the gentlemen he knew had praised their wives for that same trait. But was good sense really necessary in a wife?

A short while later they made their way out to the larger Montagu town coach. After his mother and sister were seated, he and his brother-in-law took the backward-facing seat across from them. He folded his chapeau-bras. “I gather there will be someone to take this hat. One cannot dance with it.”

“It will go with our cloaks,” Aurelia said. “I do not know why they are required. No one sees them.”

“For the same reason breeches are still required,” Lytton said drily. “Because the Lady Patronesses treat Almack’s like their own fiefdom.”

They settled in for the short ride and joined the line of carriages when they arrived. After making their way up the steps, they relinquished their cloaks and hats to a footman before approaching a man dressed as a butler and handing him their vouchers and tickets.

The man bowed. “Welcome, my lady, my lord.”

Mama inclined her head. “Good evening.”

John quickly followed suit. When they were a few steps past the man, he whispered, “Who is he?”

“The gatekeeper,” his mother said. “No one is allowed in without the proper dress, a voucher, and a ticket.”

John knew that, but he hadn’t thought about there being someone whose sole purpose was to enforce the rules. “Interesting.”

They entered the large assembly room. Long, curtained windows were spaced along the walls and a small balcony with an orchestra jutted into the room from above. As far as he could see, there were no hidden alcoves to encourage private conversation. Everything here took place in full view of all the guests. He surveyed the crowd, hoping he’d see Lady Eleanor.

“Come with me.” His mother tugged his arm. “I want to make you known to Lady Jersey before it becomes too crowded.”

He couldn’t believe even more people would squeeze into the rather large ballroom. There were quite enough people already. Still, he went along. Waltzing with Lady Eleanor was his primary purpose in attending, and for that he must meet at least one of the Patronesses.

“Sally, Emily, good evening.” Mama greeted a slender, dark-haired lady standing with another matron. “It is good to see you again.”

“You as well,” the lady called Sally said. The other lady smiled politely and inclined her head. They glanced at him.

“May I present my son, Montagu? Montagu, Lady Jersey and Lady Cowper.”