Page 13 of The Best of Friends
In any other household, the arrival of a woman, one who had worked as a ladies’ maid, calling on a gentleman so boldly would be looked at askance, and the gentleman she was calling on would be eyed with some degree of suspicion. But Rose was well-known and well-liked at Falstone House, and Artemis and Charlie were far too significant to the Duke and Duchess of Kielder, whose house this was, for their staff to have any interest in so much as thinking unflattering things about Rose or Charlie.
“Sit back down,” Rose instructed the four of them. “I’ve been sent to parley with you, and I suspect doing so will take some time. We’d do well to all be comfortable.”
“Oh dear,” Newton said in a theatrical whisper, “what is Charlie in trouble for this time?”
“Shockingly enough, he is on firm footing at the moment. That, however, is not what I have been sent here to discuss.” Rose smoothed the front of her sapphire-blue dress, her posture one of a person who’d come to see to a matter of business and was unlikely to be distracted. “The Huntresses have decided to assist Daria in the contest she and Mr. Comstock have invented and are doing so with the likely correct assumption that you gentlemen have already decided to do the same for him.”
“We have,” Charlie said quite matter-of-factly.
“Further, since no specific ending date was chosen, they would like to propose that the final tally be made on the last evening the O’Doyle sisters will be in London. The O’Doyles are the first scheduled to depart Town, aside from Gillian and Scott, who are leaving too soon for the contest to truly be undertaken.”
Toss exchanged looks with his friends and saw no objections. “I can agree to that.”
Rose dipped her head in acknowledgment. “Since no prize for the winner was decided upon, they have identified the forfeit they wish to receive should Daria emerge victorious. I am sent to deliver their request and hear what you would ask ‘in the unlikely event that Toss proves the victor.’”
“Not exactly a neutral negotiator, are you?” Scott asked with a laugh.
“I assure you, Mr. Sarvol, I am quoting them.”
“I don’t doubt that.” Charlie’s grin only grew wider. “What is it they are asking for?”
“They are asking that another house party be held with the Huntresses and ‘that group of gentlemen who are so lacking in creativity that they have not managed to fashion a name for themselves despite having been an established group for years.’”
“Quoting them?” Newton guessed aloud.
“Naturally.” She returned to the topic without batting an eye. “In the event of Daria’s victory, the unnamed group of gentlemen will be charged with planning and carrying out this house party and will be further charged with making certainallmembers of both groups are in attendance.”
“I’d say that was a simple enough ask, and one we’d enjoy as well,” Scott said, “but three of the Huntresses do not live in Great Britain. And we’d have to schedule it with the Cambridge terms in mind. And Newton and Ellie are not in a position to leave London for any length of time. And Gillian and I haven’t the funds yet to trek across counties.”
“Neither have I,” Toss added, “unless Laurence suffers a blow to the head and suddenly decides I ought to be permitted a bit of happiness.” If Daria was not returning to London and Toss was not given the means of traveling outside of his brother’s preferences, he didn’t know when he would see her again after this Season ended. A heavy disappointment settled over him at the realization.
“The complications are the reason it is a prize worth striving for,” Rose pointed out. “And they are well aware you are likely to choose a forfeit that will not be easily managed either.”
“This is a rare opportunity, my friends,” Charlie said. “We dare not squander it.”
“You may have your work cut out for you, Miss Narang,” Scott said. “This group of very distinguished gentlemen has a penchant for increasingly ridiculous suggestions.”
“I am painfully aware of that.” She did not, however, seem upset at that aspect of their collective behavior. “And while I do hope you think of something that will motivate both groups to dedicate themselves all the more to this very welcome distraction from difficulties, I also intend to make certain your forfeit is something reasonable.”
“Something complicated and difficult to arrange but also motivating for our competitor.” Charlie assumed an amusing expression of pondering. “Could the ladies arrange for Mr. Laurence Comstock to suddenly absent himself from London for weeks on end?”
“And Miss Rosamond Comstock to just as suddenly arrive in London for those same weeks on end,” Newton added.
“I would love to have Rosamond here.” Toss turned to Rose. “She is my twelve-year-old sister.”
“Ah.” Rose gave a single nod.
“What if the ladies are charged with leaving Laurence where he is but somehow arranging for Toss to be returned to Cambridge to finish his studies.” Scott’s suggestion was equally sincere and teasing, a sure sign that he understood how perfect that would be and how impossible.
“We know he cannot return to Cambridge,” Charlie acknowledged, “but there must be another way of furthering his education. Informally if need be.”
“Is there the equivalent of the Inns of Court in the study of music?” Newton asked.
“Not exactly.” Toss shrugged. “The Royal Society of Musicians provides opportunities for its members to learn from and support one another. And sometimes, outside of that society, aspiring musicians are mentored by more established ones, helping them find more opportunities for their works to be performed and income to be obtained. But I don’t know any well enough to arrange for anything like that.”
Rose’s expression had turned ponderous, her deep brown eyes studying him. Charlie wore a look very similar. Truth be told, so did Newton and Scott.
It was Charlie, though, who spoke first. “What if that was our forfeit? Should you emerge victorious, the Huntresses will have to introduce you to an established musician who is willing to assist you in filling the gaps in your knowledge and connections that your early departure from Cambridge has created.”
