Lady Hardacre was one of those women who had a great deal to say about everything, even if it did not concern her. She looked down on others she saw as beneath her and held herself up as a bastion of society, just like her husband. Ambrose had never liked the woman but managed to tolerate her.
“I’m not sure why you would want to join, Lady Hardacre, considering your husband’s words to me outside the day after we opened The Iris,” Tilly said.
“Well.” The woman paused, clearly not knowing how to respond to Tilly’s directness.
Ambrose swallowed his smile. Tilly never walked around a subject, but went directly to the point. He liked that about her.
“I—ah, he has now realized the error of his ways, and infact urged me to join your club. My dear friend Lady Crisp would also like you to rethink her membership. She was most upset you denied her entrance.”
“She did not like me questioning her reasons for joining, Lady Hardacre, and said she no longer wished to be part of our club, and that we should be honored that one such as her would even grace our doorstep here. She then insulted my appearance.”
Following Tilly’s words, there was silence for long seconds.
“So you can see why I am trying to understand why it is you both wish to join, Lady Hardacre,” Tilly added.
“Well,” Lady Hardacre said. “Perhaps if you were nicer and had elegant manners, my dear friend would not have spoken as she did.”
“It is not I who have no manners, my lady. I asked a simple question, and it was Lady Crisp who retaliated,” Tilly said. “And I will add that your husband’s manners were seriously lacking when he attacked me on The Iris Club’s doorstep.”
“How dare you speak like that about my husband!” Lady Hardacre shrieked.
Ambrose shot Leo a look. He was wincing.
“I will see that everyone knows of your shabby behavior!”
“I don’t think the shabby behavior is coming from Miss Wilson, my lady,” Violet said, speaking for the first time. “In fact, I think it’s obvious who is without manners in this encounter.”
“How dare you! I shall make it known exactly how I was treated here! Why, your pathetic little club will have no members when I’m finished!”
“If that is your wish, Lady Hardacre, then of course we cannot stop you,” Tilly said. “But I highly doubt you will succeed in your endeavors.”
“Lady Hardacre, what has you here at The Iris Club?”
He knew that voice. It belonged to Ellen Fletcher. Looking at Gray, Ambrose saw he was smiling now.
“I am leaving!” the woman declared theatrically.
“Probably for the best, as we only want members who understand what a privilege it is to have such a wonderful club like The Iris. A place for women to talk without interruption from men. A space to be and do exactly as we wish,” Ellen said.
“Well, that is not what I wish!” Lady Hardacre said.
“One wonders why, then, you came to The Iris Club,” Tilly said once again.
“You do not understand who you have wronged, Miss Wilson,” Lady Hardacre shrilled. “Be warned, we will not take this lightly.”
“And we don’t take your threats lightly, my lady. Please remember that too,” Ellen said.
“Bitch,” Leo hissed.
Ambrose wanted to step out from his hiding place and tell Lady Hardacre exactly what he thought about her behavior. As if sensing his intentions, he felt Leo’s hand on his shoulder.
“No, you won’t help if you confront her and will only create a scandal that men are in The Iris.”
He knew what his friend said was true, but it chafed. Ambrose hated anyone insulting his sisters, and Tilly as well, who he… What, exactly,didhe feel for her? He stomped on the thought because what he felt for that woman was many things, and he could make sense of only a few of them.
CHAPTER 17
Just as they finished the tea and food Margaret had prepared, the others arrived. Alex and Charles, with Mungo and Bram. Yet more men in a women’s only club. Tilly hoped the other members stayed away until they were gone.
