Page 48 of The Best of Friends
Charlie liked to tease, and Daria sometimes forgot that unlike her father, his teasing wasn’t cruel.
“Toss was playing the pianoforte, which I know his brother wouldn’t approve of,” Daria said. “So that’s earned him a point in our competition. And he played a song of his own composing, which should earn him another point. Ooh, and he was in a room alone with a lady, though with the doors wide open for propriety’s sake. I still think his brother would not choose that for him, which means another point.”
“Don’t stop there,” Toss said. “I need the points.”
“As I have been on Miss Mullins’s side of this competition from the beginning,” Mr. Layton said, “I feel I need to point out thatsheshould also receive a point for being in the empty-with-open-doors room. And she was here speaking of the musical evening she is planning, and though her parents have agreed to it, they would likely not wish for her to be making strides so quickly.”
“Another point!” Artemis declared.
“And I accepted a handkerchief from a gentleman without my father’s permission,” Daria added, excited to have thought of another item so quickly. “That should add a point.”
With a chuckle, Charlie said, “Our comfortable lead of only a moment ago has quickly disappeared, Toss.”
“Though he did make me cry, and even his brother couldn’t approve of that, which would earn Toss a point.” She mentioned it to be teasing, but Charlie, Artemis, and Mr. Layton’s expressions all turned suddenly thunderous.
It was Charlie who spoke first. “You made her cry?” She had never before heard Charlie Jonquil sound so formidable.
Mr. Layton was glaring at Toss as well. “Explain yourself.”
Daria quickly realized her mistake. “They were happy tears, and he didn’t actuallycausethem. I was only teasing, trying to make a joke.” She pleaded with them all. “I am forever saying things wrong. Please don’t hold that against him.”
Toss set a hand gently on her arm. “Charlie’s father taught all his sons to never tolerate a man mistreating a woman. And as the late earl and Mr. Layton were very good friends, I suspect he feels as strongly on the topic as Charlie’s father did.”
“I don’t want them to think badly of you, Toss.” The very possibility sat painfully on her mind.
“If either of them fully believed I had caused you pain, I would likely already be flattened on the floor. That they hesitated enough to allow for an explanation is proving to be one of my proudest moments.”
She watched Toss, wanting to make certain she hadn’t made tremendous trouble for him.
He took her hand once more. “All is well, Daria. I promise.”
The same warmth that had rushed over her as they’d attempted to dance spread through her once more. She’d thought in the moment before Charlie had stepped into the room that Toss might have been considering kissing her. But she had no experience with such things, and her ability to analyze new situations was far from reliable. She would let herself be certain that he had enjoyed dancing with her and that he liked her very much, but she would keep herself from becoming too attached to any possibility beyond that.
As quickly as Toss had taken her hand, he released it once more, then turned to the others in the room. Daria pushed down the feeling of loss.
“I had a very enlightening conversation with a friend of yours, Mr. Layton,” he said.
“Which friend?”
“A certain Frenchman with a knack for poetry.”
“Ah.” Mr. Layton nodded his understanding.
While Toss recounted his conversation, Artemis crossed to Daria and threaded an arm through hers. They walked together to the far windows.
Little louder than a whisper, Artemis said, “I’ve known you three years now, Daria. I have seen you in moments that would crush most everyone else’s soul, and yet I’ve not seen you truly cry. Please tell me, honestly, without attempting to protect him, did Toss actually bring you to tears?”
“I did grow a little teary, yes. But they truly were tears of happiness.”
“Again, I have known you a long time, and I’ve not ever seen you cry, even when you were happy.”
It was odd, now that Daria truly thought about it. She didn’t cry, hadn’t in years. “He said something very kind. I desperately needed that bit of kindness.” She sighed a little. “The Huntresses, of course, are always very kind to me, but there’s something different about it when he is. It’s also different from when Tobias is.” Even as she began babbling yet again, she managed to keep her voice very quiet. The gentlemen would not be able to overhear. “I suppose because Tobias is my brother and the Huntresses feel like my sisters, and kindnesses from him and from all of you are...” She shook her head. “Family doesn’t always speak kindly. I’m likely making no sense whatsoever. I’m only trying to say that it was special. Thatheis special.”
There was studying quality to Artemis’s gaze. “Don’t feel you have to answer immediately, as you might not have pondered this yet, but is it possible you have developed a bit of a tendre for him?”
The question swirled around in Daria’s head and bumped up against her heart, but it didn’t cause any foundation-shifting realizations. She already knew he had laid claim to her affections. She already knew a bit of her heart walked about with him. But she’d not ever admitted that to anyone. “I do like him very much,” she said. “All the Huntresses do. All his friends do. But I—I think perhaps—” She couldn’t manage the denial any longer. She was bungling the effort as it was. She pushed out a breath of frustration. “Oh dear.”
Artemis faced her. “Why ‘Oh, dear’? Toss is a wonderful person.”
