They’d decided at The Iris people they knew and trusted could be admitted to begin with, but when they had reached the core number they’d set, then any new member must be nominated by a current one.
She had no trouble allowing these women entry to The Iris because they were respected and well-loved. They had reputations for being no-nonsense, and while they could be termed odd by the more straitlaced members of society, Tilly thought them wonderful, as did Violet.
“Thank you for allowing us entry, Matilda,” Lady Sinclair said. She was another beauty.
In fact, were Tilly the type to feel self-conscious, it would happen now, when she was surrounded by these women.
“Yes, James said joining a man’s club is quite the to-do,” the duchess said.
“We will have to make decisions on members in the future, but for now, I am so pleased you are here, and I want you all to feel comfortable in The Iris Club. Come and go as you please and do as you wish.”
One of the duchess’s younger sisters—Tilly had no idea which one, as she was a twin—clapped her hands in excitement at her words.
“Cambridge said he believed it was going to be a great deal more fun here than in any stuffy gentleman’s club and that the food would be better,” Mrs. Emily Sinclair said.
A loud knock sounded on the front door. It was clearly going to be a busy day at The Iris Club, Tilly thought.
“Excuse me.” She moved to open it.
“Good day.”
“Good day to you, Mrs. Greedy,” Tilly said, looking from her to the two other women at her back.
One was the large and intimidating Mavis Johns, stern-faced as always, and beside her stood Tabitha Varney, smiling in a flirtatious manner which seemed to be her constant expression.
“Good day to you, Miss Wilson.”
“Hello, Mrs. Greedy.”
Looking over her shoulder, she noted the Sinclair twins were there and waving to the three women on The Iris Club’s doorstep.
“Good day to you all,” Mrs. Greedy said.
Tabitha sank into a surprisingly elegant curtsy, exposing much of her chest. Unlike the other ladies, who were wrapped in multiple layers to ward off the cold, she was exposed.
“Are you to join the club too?” the duchess asked from behind her sisters.
Standings in society clearly did not matter to any of these women, and Tilly found she liked that very much.
“We had hoped to hold our knitting club here if there is space,” Mrs. Greedy said.
“And the other thing,” Mavis said with a small nudge of her elbow in Mrs. Greedy’s side.
The older woman sucked her lips into a thin line and nodded before speaking. “As you know, Appleblossoms Bakers is run by us now, and we’ve an offer for you, Tilly.”
“Well then, please come inside.” She stepped back to wave them into The Iris.
There was a lot of shuffling as everyone moved to accommodate them, and suddenly the area was congested.
She had no issue with anyone joining The Iris but knew nobility often disliked mixing with those they saw as beneath them. It was a delicate matter, and Tilly wasn’t sure how to address it.
“Miss Wilson, may we speak in private briefly?” Lady Sinclair asked. “Perhaps we could step into your office.”
“Of course,” Tilly said, waving them in that direction, and then followed. “How may I be of assistance?” she inquired when they were inside the small space.
“We are quite intuitive,” the duchess said. “And I feel you have reached your first of many dilemmas regarding The Iris Club, Miss Wilson.”
“Tilly, please.”
