Page 14 of The Best of Friends
“They can’t possibly know any such musicians,” he objected.
“And we have not the first idea how to arrange a house party.” Charlie shrugged.
Rose nodded slowly. “Both forfeits are complicated, not easily accomplished, and deeply motivating to those who would be the beneficiaries.”
A mentorship at the feet of an established musician. Toss didn’t dare get his hopes up, and yet...
“Are you, the neutral negotiator, agreeing to these terms?” Toss asked Rose.
“I believe I am.” She rose, and they all did as well. “Gentlemen, I leave you with two bits of wisdom. The first: fashion a name for yourselves; you will simplify so many things if you do. And second: pour yourselves into this effort, but be advised that Miss Daria Mullins is more easily wounded than she generally lets on; do not cause her any actual misery.”
“I never would,” Toss insisted and, despite not being the sort of person who wished misery on others, was surprised at the earnestness with which he meant the declaration.
“See that you don’t.” It was not a request. If Toss wasn’t mistaken, it was a warning.
Chapter Six
“Your time would be farbetter served at a gathering of thetonthan sitting in a likely half-empty venue waiting for interminable music to come to an end.” Laurence’s parting declaration repeated in Toss’s mind for the umpteenth time, the one his brother had laid out as Toss had left the London house bound for the chamber orchestra performance. That denouncement, no doubt intended to convince him to change plans, had only further solidified them. After all, Laurence had made it perfectly clear that an evening listening to a symphony wasnotsomething he would choose for Toss to do.
His very first point! He could hardly wait to tell Daria.
He had, at first, thought to purchase a subscription to the Argyll Rooms and attend the concerts held there by the Royal Philharmonic Society, but he’d learned upon his arrival in Town that the venue was closed and undergoing extensive renovations. Considering how the past weeks had gone, it seemed rather fitting.
The venue chosen that night for the symphony performance was not so large nor so crowded as the various opera houses and dramatic theaters of London, making Scott, Gillian, and the dowager Lady Lampton easy to find upon his arrival there. Mater, as he would likely always call the dowager countess, greeted him as warmly as she always did, offering genuine words of delight at his presence.
“Not everyone appreciates chamber orchestras,” Mater said after everyone had expressed their delight at being in company. “I am so pleased to know that all three of you do.” She looked at Toss with an expression of mischief he had seen in Charlie’s eyes on more than one occasion. “I trust your brother expressed his rejection of your choice of entertainment this evening?”
“You trust?”
She shrugged a little. “How else are you to earn a point in your competition?”
He ought to have known she would be aware of the game. Few things escaped Mater’s notice. “I am happy to report that I have earned an indisputable point by being here this evening.”
“Excellent,” Scott said, earning a teasing look of disapproval from his wife.
“Do not grow too confident, you two,” Gillian said. “I happen to know the invitation was extended elsewhere as well.”
It was in that very moment that Daria and her brother entered.
“Do you think for even a moment that Mr. and Mrs. Mullins would have chosen for their daughter to spend her evening listening to a chamber orchestra in so unremarkable a venue?” Gillian answered her own question with a quick shake of her head.
“Hmm. It seems you are at one point all.” Mater looked ever more mischievous.
“Whose side are you on?” Toss whispered in tones of mock offense. Truth be told, he was pleased Daria had also secured a point in their competition. And based on the bubble of excitement forming in his chest, he was perhaps even more pleased simply to see her again.
Mater laughed as she turned to greet the newest arrival. Mater was the only person he knew who could exude cheerfulness and joy whilst always wearing black. It was notunrelievedblack but enough that on anyone else the effect would have been somber.
“Mr. Comstock!” Toss had discovered, to his delight, during the house party that Daria legitimately spoke in exclamation points. She hadn’t adopted theton’spreference for ennui and indifference. “I have earned a point.”
“Your parents were not enthusiastic about tonight’s entertainment?” he guessed aloud.
“Not at all.” She smiled brightly. “And as a chamber orchestra concert in a respectable place is not scandalous nor criminal, I believe this qualifies for a point.” Her brows shot low. “Except, I did agree to bring Tobias so he could be introduced to Mr. Sarvol, whichdidmeet with my parents’ approval. Do you suppose that means I lose the point?”
He resisted the urge to reach out and take her hand, unsure where the inclination had come from. “I do not think so, and as I am one of the inventors of the game, I think that opinion holds some weight.”
Her smile returned on the instant. “I am theotherinventor, and I agree with you.”
“Well then, we have a consensus.”
