Page 19 of The Best of Friends
“She sometimes speaks out of turn,” Father said. “And her hamfistedness in making your introduction must not be held against the entire family.”
Heat stole over Daria’s cheeks.
“I thought her introductions were well made and charmingly executed.” Mr. Layton’s eyes narrowed on Father even as one of his white eyebrows arched ever so slightly. “In what way do you considermyevaluation of her efforts to be incorrect or lacking?”
“I didn’t—wasn’t—” Father was almost never at a loss for words.
“We consider you to be quite an undisputed arbiter of all good taste.” Mother’s words emerged almost as a plea.
“Yet, you corrected your daughter’s introduction, in contrast to my feeling that she managed it very well indeed.” His posture was somehow casual and unwaveringly alert at the same time. “Either that correction was warranted,orI am ‘an undisputed arbiter of all good taste.’ I am deeply curious to know which is actually true.”
Oh, that was clever. Were Toss there, he would, without question, declare Mr. Layton brilliant as well, though Daria knew she was not the older gentleman’s equal. Still, she would have enjoyed seeing how impressed Toss would be and how broadly he would smile to have witnessed the well-delivered retort.
And how would her parents answer Mr. Layton’s question? Either they insulted him by insisting their disapproval of Daria’s introduction was warranted, or they admitted to being wrong in order to not contradict their previous compliment of him.
Father sputtered a little. Mother simply blushed deeply.
Mr. Layton continued without looking the least uncomfortable. Here was a gentleman who was entirely comfortable in his place among all of Society. “Your daughter had hoped to make me acquainted with your son. As she assured me he is above reproach, I had looked forward to the introduction.”
“Oh, our Tobias is a perfectly lovely young gentleman.” Mother found her voice once more. “I do wish he were here so he could make your acquaintance.”
“If he and your daughter do not have other plans this evening,” Mr. Layton said, “I would extend to them an invitation to attend a small gathering at the home of Lord and Lady Aldric Benick this evening.”
“The uncle and aunt of the Duke of Hartley?” Father’s words filled with awe as he asked the question.
“Do you truly not know who they are, or was the question rhetorical?” Mr. Layton asked.
Again, the sputtering and blushing. Oh, it was a fortunate thing Tosswas notpresent just then. She suspected his eyes would have danced with amusement at Mr. Layton’s expert navigation of the situation, and she would have been hard-pressed to keep hidden how much she enjoyed his company. Mother and Father were likely to interpret that as Daria taking delight at their embarrassment.
With her thoughts wandering, she’d not realized Mr. Layton was speaking to her. “I hope to see you and your brother there at eight o’clock this evening.”
There?Oh, yes. The home of the Duke of Hartley’s uncle. “Will not Lord and Lady Aldric be upset to find themselves with additional guests they were not expecting?”
“They will be delighted, I assure you.”
This was, then, the event that Mr. Layton suspected would earn her a point in her competition with Toss. But her parents seemed to approve. She wasn’t certain how to reconcile those contradictory facts.
He rose, and she and her parents followed suit. Quick words of farewell were exchanged as they walked with him to the entryway. In the moment before stepping out, Mr. Layton looked back to Daria and asked, “How fond of poetry are your parents?”
“I can’t say they have any taste for it.”
A slow, small, conspiratorial smile spread over his face. “Excellent.”
***
“You are certain Mr. Layton’s invitation included me?” Tobias looked as uncertain as he sounded. He had ever since they’d left their home to journey to the sophisticated residence of Lord and Lady Aldric. Now that they had arrived, his obvious worry grew enormously.
“Mother and Father also understood it to include you,” she said. “I think that decreases the chances that I am wrong.”
“I hadn’t meant to imply that you were thickheaded. I’ve simply never met Mr. Layton, and I don’t wish to make a nuisance of myself in such exalted company as he keeps.”
“Hedidinvite you. I swear to it.” She was certain of that much, but she’d not yet managed to sort out why Mr. Layton thought she would earn a point for that evening’s entertainment. Her parents were quite pleased that their children had received such a distinguished invitation.
And why had Mr. Layton asked her about poetry of all things?
Daria was beginning to suspect she wasn’t clever enough for the game she was playing.
They were ushered into a stately entryway by a statelier butler, whom they followed all the way to anevenstatelier drawing room. Mr. Layton was nearest the door and smiled when he saw them, which set Daria’s mind more at ease.
