Page 10 of The Best of Friends
“Brilliant.”
Long after he left her to her parents’ indifference, her mind remained on that final word of farewell.Brilliant.No one had ever said that about her.
Not ever.
Chapter Four
Miss Martinette’s modiste shop wasrelatively new to London, having opened late in the previous Season. Yet it was already consideredtheplace for fashionable ladies to obtain their gowns. Artemis and a woman the Huntresses thought of as an older sister or favorite aunt, Rose Narang, ran it. In the back of that shop, in a private room, the day after the Debenhams’ ball, the Huntresses all gathered to select the details of new day dresses.
“The shop appears to be an unparalleled success,” Gillian said as she flipped through a pile of fabric samples.
“We’ve hired a second woman to work the front,” Rose said. “And we’ve added six seamstresses.”
“That is a lot of people who know your secret,” Daria said. “Aren’t you worried they’ll tell someone?”
If anyone knew the identity of the shop’s actual owners, the scandal would be volcanic. Artemis would struggle to not be ruined socially. Rose’s participation would not be looked on with kindness by an unfortunately large portion of London Society. No matter that India had long ago been forcibly made part of the United Kingdom, those who hailed from there were too often treated as if they had no place in that kingdom.
“Only the original woman we hired, Mrs. Beckett, knows that Artemis and I run the business,” Rose said. “The rest are told that Mrs. Beckett is the sole proprietress.”
“Oh, that was wise,” Daria said.
“I thought so.” Rose allowed a little smile.
Daria had inadvertently said something that could have been construed as an insult. Fortunately, Rose didn’t appear to have taken any offense.
Artemis had created this group of friends, but Rose made them feel like a family.
“You ought to consider this one, Daria.” Gillian held up a swatch of blue fabric with small white flowers.
“My parents do prefer that I wear shades of blue,” she acknowledged. But that caught her up short. “Except, this Season I’m meant to choose things my parents wouldn’t, so perhaps I oughtn’t choose a blue fabric.”
Six pairs of eyes were quite suddenly on her, confusion in them all.
Artemis was the first to speak. “What do you mean you are meant to choose things your parents wouldn’t?”
“Toss said at the ball last night that his brother has said that Toss can do what he chooses this Season and enjoy himself in London, but next Season, he will have to fall in line with whatever his brother insists he do. That will, I’m certain, prove a misery, but at least he gets to return to London. I do so wish I could.”
“You won’t be returning to London next year?” Artemis looked and sounded horrified.
Daria shook her head. “I’m to put on caps and remain at home.”
“And what’s all this to do with you doing things they’d not choose for you to do?” Eve, the older of the O’Doyle sisters, always sounded more Irish when she was put out about something.
Perhaps Daria had agreed to something she oughtn’t have. Perhaps what had seemed like a harmless lark was, in fact, very inappropriate. She hesitantly explained, “Charlie suggested to Toss at some point that he ought to do things this Season that his brother was unlikely to choose for him next Season.”
“That sounds like something my Charlie would suggest,” Artemis said, eyes twinkling with amusement.
“Toss suggested I could do the same,” Daria continued, “but with regard to my parents’ preferences. Nothing scandalous or inappropriate or truly terrible. Little things. Silly things, really. Things like...” Oh, why did her mind always empty itself so entirely in precisely the moment she needed it to offer up information?
“Like choosing a dress in a color other than blue?” Ellie suggested.
“Yes, precisely.” With one example provided, Daria was able to think of others. “I’d thought of having an ice at Gunter’s. That isn’t a scandalous thing, but my parents always said I ought not do it because it was an unnecessary indulgence. They also disapprove when I offer greetings to the dogs being walked in the green outside our London house because it makes me seem dim-witted.”
“I, for one, think you should do all of those things,” Gillian said firmly. “Not despite the reasons your parents gave but because those reasons are utter poppycock.”
Firm nods of agreement filled the room. Daria would like to do all those things, and it seemed that none of them were truly shocking.
“I would have three points, then.” She pressed her lips together to hold back her grin of delight.
