Philippa understood Tommy’s point. Of course she had heard of the famous Irish lesbians who, Philippa refrained from pointing out, left their homes because they could no longer live in society and were now relegated to the fringes of it. Celebrated writers and poets like Byron and Shelley and Wordsworth needn’t follow the same rules as a young lady of the ton.

The couples Tommy named needn’t worry about the censure of Patronesses. Nor did they run a reading circle whose membership contained many other young ladies whose standing in society would be jeopardized by even the hint of scandal. If Philippa was ruined, association with her could tarnish her friends’ reputations, risk their charity projects, and jeopardize Philippa’s carefully cultivated alliances with other philanthropic ladies and organizations.

It wasn’t just Philippa’s reputation hanging in the balance. The lives and well-being of children and the less fortunate were at stake as well.

As much as she might dream of being the sort of person with no ties or cares, who could just move to North Wales with her lover and not give a fig what the rest of the world thought about it, that was simply not her reality. She couldn’t be happy knowing she chose herself over her friends, her family, and the futures of those who needed her aid the most.

Philippa shook her head. “First, we need to stop Captain Northrup. Securing his public confession will be justice for Damaris, and also have the splendid secondary effect of his losing favor in the eyes of my parents.”

At that point, if Baron Vanderbean swooped in, Philippa and Tommy could do as they pleased with no one the wiser. A young man stealing a kiss from his betrothed was hardly the stuff of scandal broth.

Philippa and Tommy could just…live.

Chloe strode into the room with Tiglet in her arms. Several members of the reading circle followed close behind.

“I was so worried.” Sybil rushed into the room. “I feared our sisterhood was to be disbanded indefinitely without our leader. And what about the libraries? Philippa is the one who comes up with the ideas and makes the arrangements. I just make the charts.”

Philippa’s chest filled with pleasure. “Your charts hold us together and keep us on schedule.”

Sybil grinned. “Can you say that louder for Florentia’s sake?”

Florentia rolled her eyes. “Philippa is wonderful. Your charts aren’t terrible.”

Sybil fanned herself. “High praise indeed.”

Philippa took Tiglet from Chloe. “Where are Gracie and Jessica?”

“Gracie is late.” Florentia lowered her voice. “Jessica wasn’t allowed to attend. Chloe is a duchess now but still a Wynchester.”

Philippa winced. Poor Chloe. And…poor Baron Vanderbean. If a duchess was not acceptable to all, then a foreign baron would fare even worse. As would his baroness—and the people who counted on her.