Page 41 of The Best of Friends
“Let us know if Charlie and the others ever decide on a name for the lot of us,” Scott added. “I am sorry I will not be here to have a say in what they decide. Without Duke and I taking part in the discussion, I suspect they will decide on something ridiculous.”
There was too much truth in that not to laugh at it. Daria had met Duke at the house party. She found him wholly intimidating, though he’d given her no reason to actually be afraid of him. He was solemn and quiet and seemed to notice absolutely everything.
Daria stood on the front step of her family’s London house and waved as Scott and Gillian’s carriage left.
Farewells had always been difficult for Daria. She’d cried for two months when Tobias had first left for school. And she always felt despondent at the end of the London Season when she returned to Yorkshire. But she didn’t cry now, as Gillian’s carriage disappeared from view. Instead, she set her shoulders the way she’d seen Artemis do countless times and reminded herself to wield her shield.
She would redirect her parents’ efforts. She had spent time practicing her assertions, amassing in her mind a list of evidence that her parents would be wise to allow her to remain in the household. She felt she could be convincing if only given a chance.
And that chance was now.
She turned around and stepped back into the house. Inwardly trembling but with head held high, she walked to the sitting room, where Mother and Father would most likely be. As always, Father was tucked behind his newspaper and Mother was bent over her embroidery. Their predictability, she hoped, would prove helpful. When unexpected things were thrown at her without warning, she struggled to formulate ideas and understand what to do next, but this situation was more predictable, which allowed her to approach it more prepared and more competent.
“During my visit to Falstone House yesterday, I heard a great many positive things about the soiree Tobias and I held two nights ago.” She didn’t bother attempting to make the observation entirely casually, as she suspected her parents would know she was making the observation for a very specific reason.
She sat in a chair that allowed her to face them both. In perfect unison, they looked up at her, matching expressions of confusion on their faces. Daria gulped a breath, uncomfortable at having them both looking at her at once. But she pushed forward.
“Those who attended spoke highly of the evening, and that praise was repeated. That I was spoken of highly in so grand a household for having planned the evening with so little time feels like quite a triumph.”
“Are you certain you didn’t misunderstand what was being said at the duke and duchess’s residence?” Father asked. “They might have been expressing disbelief rather than praise.”
Daria had expected Father to have doubts. “I think the Duke is well able to express himself, enough that I can’t imagine suggesting he can’t make himself understood.”
“Heavens, you didn’t say anything to him about not expressing himself well, did you?” Mother asked, looking a little worried at the possibility.
“I certainly did not.” Daria pressed forward. “I should very much like to plan another gathering to be held here this Season. It would be a fine thing both for the family name and for Tobias as he’s beginning to make a splash in Society, for this house to become known as a place where enjoyable events are held.”
“I am quite capable of hosting any number of events.” Mother was clearly a bit offended.
Daria had anticipated that objection. “I haven’t the least doubt what success I had was owing to your example. I made my suggestion, not because you aren’t fully capable but in the hope of taking a burden off your shoulders and freeing up your time for more of the things you enjoy. This is something I am capable of, as evidenced by the praise I received at Their Graces’ home.” How she hoped they didn’t press the question of whether or not the praise she had received there had actually come from the duke. It hadn’t, though she had intentionally given her parents that impression. The duke likely hadn’t heard a thing about the soiree.
“A gathering of a group of friends is not going to help the family standing or further Tobias’s social cachet,” Father said. “He has already made the acquaintance of those you are in a position to introduce him to.”
“I must agree with your father on this,” Mother said. “If we send out invitations to a gathering and promise it will be grand and extraordinary, we would look worse than if we hadn’t hosted anything to begin with. Best that we don’t risk it.”
Daria had long felt her parents were a bit indifferent to her and her happiness, but she couldn’t describe them quite that way now. There was an anxiousness, a hint of panic when she so much as suggested she might continue on in Society. That did not seem to be a good sign. But she wouldn’t give up. Too much depended on success. Perhaps a slightly different approach would help.
“If the evening goes terribly,” Daria said, “you can always point to the failure as the reason why your daughter is no longer attending the Season in years to come.”
That shifted her mother’s expression from doubt to interest.
“If, however, it goes wonderfully well, I can organize future gatherings,” Daria said. “Perhaps even invite a young lady who would be worthy of Tobias’s consideration.”
“We wish Tobias to meet people this year,” Mother acknowledged, “but he is still too young for marriage.”
It was the perfect opportunity to at least hint at this as a long-term arrangement. “I would, of course, work hard to plan and organize gatherings for however long is needed to see him appropriately settled.”
That clearly set her parents a bit on edge. Why did the possibility of hernotgoing to Wales worry them so much?
“I only wish to offer you more freedom to enjoy yourself.”
From the doorway of the sitting room, Tobias entered the conversation. “You have said how much you appreciate the time you spend with your friends during the Season, Mother. Daria’s evening really was quite a success. Mr. Greenberry has almost as many impressive connections as the youngest Mr. and Mrs. Jonquil, and he spoke of how much he enjoyed his time in this house. I think it’s worth seeing if Daria can recreate that success.”
At that—a repetition of almost exactly what Daria had said—Father grew very ponderous.
“You make a very good point, Tobias.” He even lowered his paper. “And should the evening be disappointing, we would know not to try again.” He spoke as if it were his idea and not Daria’s. “The evening will need to be something more than people merely mingling, though I don’t think something as complicated as a ball ought to be attempted.”
Daria agreed with him on that. She didn’t feel ready to undertake anything so challenging. “What about a musical evening?” she suggested. “Either a performance by a professional musician or one in which the guests are invited to display their talents.”
