“In that case, let us be gone.” She laid her fingers on his arm, and he felt her touch heat his whole body. Even when he’d been younger and randy, he’d never had that reaction to a female before.

They followed the family out of the room. Fortunately, the entrance was not far. After Worthington called for their coaches, John did the same. He finally had a chance to actually count the number of people who were with them and they were twelve. All the gentlemen except two were with their ladies. The two single men approached them. Both of them sharply resembled Ladies Eleanor and Alice, and John recognized the older one as Lord Stanwood.

She smiled at them before turning to John. “My lord, have you met my brothers, Mr. Walter Carpenter and Stanwood?”

“My lord.” John inclined his head to Stanwood. “We met recently at the Lords. Mr. Carpenter, I’m happy to make your acquaintance.”

The younger brother bowed. “It is good to meet you as well.” He grinned. “I hear you are to join us for Morning Mayhem.”

“Morning Mayhem?” John wasn’t certain to what her brother was referring.

Lady Eleanor glanced at the ceiling. “That is what he and our younger brother, Phillip, have taken to calling breakfast.”

His mother, sister, and brother-in-law joined them before he could inquire further. They greeted the rest of the group. He was a little surprised they all knew each other.

Mama turned to him. “Did you have a good evening?”

Aurelia chuckled under her breath. “Perhaps you should ask if it was as bad as he thought it would be.”

His mother gave a slight shake of her head, and he noticed that other people were starting to leave the supper room. It would not do to be heard criticizing Almack’s. Fortunately, he didn’t have to lie. “I had an excellent evening.”

“The coaches are here,” one of the gentlemen said.

He followed Lady Eleanor’s brother-in-law and sisters to a large town coach and assisted her in, then stepped back and bowed. “I hope to see you in the Park tomorrow.”

“Until then.” She gave a little wave before the coach started forward.

John watched the carriage leave before joining his family in their town coach. Again, he sat on the backward-facing seat with Lytton.