Ivy grinned. “My youngest brother will devour them before I can remove my bonnet.” As she reached for her shawl on a hook by the door, she asked, “Where’s the new meeting location that you’re considering?”

Sophie frowned as she buttoned her pelisse. “I’m still looking for the ideal place. Some friends have generously offered to host at their private residences, but I’d prefer something closer to shops and businesses—in an area where most of the members are comfortable coming and going. It doesn’t need to be anything elegant. Just a bit bigger than this, with seating for three or four dozen of us.”

Ivy tapped a finger to her lips, thoughtful. “There’s a vacant building down the block. Madam Laurent said it used to be occupied by a tailor’s shop, but they shut their doors a year ago. She’s considering expanding to that space if business continues to be brisk for another season or two. But until then, perhaps you could ask the owner if he’d allow you to use it. After all, it’s just sitting there, unoccupied.”

Sophie wrinkled her nose. “I dislike the notion of asking a stranger—especially if he’s the curious type. He’s certain to inquire about the nature of our meeting. What on earth would I tell him?”

Ivy arched a mischievous brow. “That it’s a Bible study group?”

Sophie chuckled. “I fear that’s stretching the truth a bit too far.”

“Fine,” Ivy said, with a suit-yourself shrug. “You’re fond of gardening, are you not?”

Sophie nodded vigorously. Plants were her first love—her passion long before the Debutante Underground had come into existence.

“So,” Ivy continued, “you could tell the owner you chair a weekly meeting of the Ladies’ Botanical Society.”

Not a bad idea. Not at all. Except—“I hate to dissemble more than I have to.” Even as Sophie said it, she could picture Fiona and Lily rolling their eyes at her. Telling her that she was allowed a minor transgression every now and then. Urging her to focus less on following the rules and more on following her heart.

“Well,” Ivy drawled as she opened the door and pulled a key out of her pocket, “you do have another option.”

“What’s that?” Sophie stepped outside into the alley behind the shop and waited while the seamstress locked the door.

“You could simply skip the part about asking the owner’s permission.”

“What?” Sophie cocked her head. “Are you suggesting that we use the space without asking?”