Page 37 of The Best of Friends
They’d both been present at the same at-home, Daria’s first ever. Her mother had been deeply worried from the moment they’d arrived in London that Daria would prove a failure in Society, and all that worry had rendered Daria utterly terrified. She’d been overawed at how beautiful and elegant and entirely at ease Miss Artemis Lancaster had been. Daria was not one to envy the good fortune of others, but she’d seen in Artemis what she herself wished she were, what she longed to be: good enough.
The society column was being passed around, the various ladies present discussing its contents and conjecturing as to the truthfulness of it all. Daria watched Artemis, wondering if she was one to speak ill of people or further the often cruel whispers one heard. Somehow, this Diamond of Society was above even that pettiness. When someone would attempt to pull Artemis into a bit of speculation, she would offer a little smile, one that was clearly not approval but which also did not give offense, and make some neutral observation.
Daria silently repeated those very useful phrases, hoping to remember them should she have need of them. “One never quite knows what to think when something is heard third- or fourth-hand.” Or, “I would not wish to speculate, knowing I might be wrong,” or, “I did hear the most wonderful thing about Mrs....” And she would move to a very kind observation about some person or another.
It was then Daria realized that Artemis Jonquil, as she was known now, was a good person.
When one of the twattlers handed Daria a section of the gossip column, insisting she read a particular bit out loud, Daria panicked. It wasn’t merely that she didn’t care to engage in the unkind gossip swirling about, but she was also a very poor reader. She was literate, and she could comprehend what she read, but she stumbled a lot, mixing up words and struggling to keep her place. When reading out loud, those struggles were painfully evident.
How well she remembered Mother’s immediate look of embarrassment, appearing before Daria had even attempted a single word. Daria had tried to excuse herself from the unwanted assignment, but the older ladies had ignored her objections.
“I did hear the most wonderful thing about Mrs....” Her mind had emptied. She couldn’t think of a single person she knew.
Artemis had risen and crossed to her, holding out a hand of friendship. “I know precisely whom you’re speaking of. I believe I see my friend, Miss Phelps, arriving. Let us go see if she has heard what we have.”
She’d spared Daria painful humiliation and had brought her into the Huntresses’ circle. That friendship had changed Daria’s life for the better. And though she wasn’t certain how to go about it, she was determined not to abandon that life without making some effort to change her parents’ plans for her future.
“I cannot say I like that you are frowning.” Artemis’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Are you disappointed?”
Daria was quick to shake her head. “The frown was not to do with the dress at all, only my thoughts wondering. I can’t imagine anyone not being entirely delighted with this dress.” She eyed herself in the tall mirror once more, the purple dress she’d ordered from Miss Martinette’s finally finished and managing somehow to surpass even her high hopes for it. “I love it so much that I’m almost willing to forfeit the point I will receive for choosing purple. It seems almost unfair to be so delighted with something I’m also winning a game with.”
“We will not be telling the gentlemen that you’re willing to let go of the point. We are currently ahead, you’ll remember.” Artemis moved one of Daria’s sleeves, eyeing the lay of it with the same studying gaze Rose always employed.
“I do hope we win,” Daria said. “And not only because it is terribly fun to win games but also because that means I won’t miss the next house party, no matter what my parents have to say about it. I know the Huntresses would do whatever they could to help me be there, but none of us has income enough at our disposal to fund a trip from the Irish Sea.”
Artemis met Daria’s eyes in the mirror. “The Irish Sea? Your family doesn’t live in that area of the kingdom.”
“But my great-aunt does. My parents told me that’s where they mean to send me when the Season is over. I’m certain once I’m there, they’ll forget about me entirely.”
“Is this your great-aunt Theodosia?” Artemis asked.
“I’ve told you about her?” Daria didn’t remember having done so.
“You’ve mentioned her a few times these past years. From all I can ascertain, she’s a rather miserable dragon of a woman who runs roughshod over anyone and everyone.”
That was, unfortunately, accurate. “My parents have concocted a story about how she needs someone to look after her and help her, but I don’t believe that is actually true.” If Great-Aunt Theodosia’s health had taken a turn or she had suffered a debilitating injury, it would have been mentioned sooner. That they still hadn’t spoken of anything of that sort put the lie to their assertion about Daria’s help being needed in Wales.
What she couldn’t sort out was the actual reason they intended to send her to Anglesey. It made no sense whatsoever.
“There’s that frown again,” Artemis said. “It is a difficult thing how many of the Huntresses have families who inspire expressions just like the one you are now wearing.”
Daria turned a little to look at Artemis more directly. “We have often wondered among us why it is you’ve taken under your wing so many with difficult families. Your sisters and brother clearly think the world of you.”
“My father didn’t. Heavens, he didn’t. And when my oldest sister married and began building her life with her husband, I was left behind, as I always was. One by one, they left. I had family who weren’t cruel to me, but I know what it is to feel lonely. And I know what it is to be rejected by a parent. But thanks to Charlie’s dear departed father, I did learn how much joy comes from knowing there is someone in the world who’s happy that you’re in it.”
“And that is why you adopted all of us? So we would know there was someone who cared about us?”
“Actually, I was amassing an army.” Artemis had always had a flair for the dramatic, and she utilized it then, managing to look very much like her fearsome namesake. And yet, there was enough laughter in her expression to bring a smile to Daria’s face.
“I don’t know what we would all do without you,” Daria said. “Without each other.”
“For my part,” Artemis said, “I don’t intend to find out.”
“I’m hoping I don’t have to either.” Daria straightened her shoulders. “I simply need to find a means of convincing my parents that having me with them in London during the Season and at home the rest of the year would be to their benefit. Then they won’t send me to Wales.”
“There is unlikely to be anything ‘simple’ about that,” Artemis warned.
As true as that was likely to be, she knew she couldn’t not try. “I have an idea, but I don’t know if it will work. I’m no strategist.”
