Today was the monthly meeting of those who had found the Pavlov fortune. Bramstone Nightingale, the head of the family, had decided this should happen, as the amount of money they had found was vast, and all involved had ideas of what to do with it. So, this meeting took place each month to discuss that, as well as what they had already implemented.
It was an odd grouping of people. Most were family, or had a connection to the Nightingales, like he did, as his sisterwas wed to a cousin, and then there was Miss Matilda Wilson, his sister’s best friend, and a sharp thorn in Ambrose’s side.
With lips that tasted like the finest champagne.
He was now seriously concerned for the safety of those who entered The Iris Club. Whatever was going on below was dangerous. He was under no illusion that just locking that outside door would stop whoever had been gathering there.
Ambrose would not put it past Tilly to go down into that room again either. He needed to have a stern word with her about that and to be on the lookout for any strangers lurking around the building.
He’d checked the outside door multiple times, and it had remained locked, with no signs that anyone had tried to enter. Ambrose needed to convince Tilly to nail hers shut.
“I was coming to the meeting also, but I thought Flora may need me as she’s unable to attend,” Ram said, drawing him back to the present.
“For pity’s sake, man, let her breathe,” Mungo muttered. “Come to the Pavlov meeting and be done with the fussing.”
“While I don’t make a habit of siding with our large Scottish heathen, I agree in this case. Violet told me that your wife is ready to throw you under a carriage,” Ambrose said.
“You’ll badger her half to death with your worry if you keep it up,” Mrs. Greedy, now upright, agreed. Her lined face was flushed red from cooking, her tattered lace cap lopsided. “You men always a thinking you know the right of things, when the truth is, you couldn’t be further from it.”
“Amen,” Mavis added.
“We’re going to have our knitting meetings in The Iris Club,” Mrs. Greedy informed them suddenly.
“Well, that’s good to hear,” Ram said, frowning. “But backto me. Do you really believe my wife is trying to get rid of me?”
“I should imagine it’s like taking off an ill-fitting pair of boots when you leave the house,” Mrs. Greedy suggested.
“Like when you’ve walked through a deep puddle, and the leather tightens uncomfortably?”
“Exactly, Mavis,” the older woman agreed. “Just like that.”
“Well then, I shall attend the meeting and give you all my sage and intelligent counsel,” Ram decided, not looking at all put out over the thought that his wife wanted to get rid of him like she would a pair of ill-fitting boots.
“Idiot,” Mungo muttered.
They debated the merits of cakes and pies, then left. Ambrose’s first bite of the meat pie encased in soft buttery pastry told him he’d made the right choice.
“Flora went to The Iris Club yesterday and said that Tilly and the others have done an amazing job there,” Ram said. “It’s just a shame about all the things happening. One would think they were deliberate, due to their regularity.”
“What things?” Ambrose hadn’t meant the words to sound like a demand, but they had.
“The broken windows and fire in the kitchen. If that weren’t bad enough, just last week, two windows were left open in one of the parlors. It was a night of heavy rain, and rugs and furniture were soaked by the deluge,” Ram said.
One would think they were deliberate.Could whoever was involved in what went on below also be involved in these things happening at The Iris Club? Ambrose needed to talk to Tilly.
“I feel for Tilly, as she has put so much into the club, and these things keep happening,” Ram said.
“She’s reckless and seems completely unaware of how many people she’s annoyed choosing that location.” Ambrosewished he’d kept his mouth shut when he felt their eyes on him.
“She’s an intelligent, lovely young woman who is championing others in a world that is dominated by men. The Iris Club is offering a place for ladies to be themselves, which I doubt is often available to them as it is to us,” Ram said.
“What he said,” Mungo grunted. “However, I’ll add that I’m not happy the women I care about are going there, but only because I agree with Talbot and doubt the men who are displeased about it will stop voicing their displeasure. Why it could not have been formed in a quiet area of London and not on a busy street next to a gentleman’s club, I have no notion.”
“I think she’s making a point,” Ram said. “I know there are other women’s clubs making less of a statement, but Tilly and the others decided on that location for a reason.”
“To annoy the members of the men’s club?” Ambrose asked.
“To make a stand on women’s rights,” Ram replied.
