Page 53 of The Best of Friends
“You didn’t.”
“And Toss said horses sometimes misbehave and it isn’t the rider’s fault.”
How he hoped that meant he’d given her some reassurance. The heavens knew he could use some reassurance himself.
“Exactly right,” Tobias said. “No reason to blame yourself for any of this. And certainly no reason to decide not to ride again.”
“I’ll ride again,” she said, “given the opportunity. Though probably not today,” she offered with a little laugh.
Her brother squeezed her shoulders. “Your only task for today should be eating your fill of sandwiches.”
“I believe that is something I could accomplish with near perfection.”
Toss followed along behind them, feeling a little unnecessary. Daria was receiving the comfort she needed, and he was deeply grateful for that. But he wanted to be the one with his arm around her, making her laugh, lifting her spirits. It wasn’t his place, and he hadn’t that right, but propriety didn’t change the pull he felt.
He also felt increasingly frustrated with Daria’s parents. They gave her so little credit for the strong and brave person she was, but it was so obvious to anyone paying the least attention. Life had done its best to drown her in discouragement, but she continued to rise to the surface.
“I’m so glad Toss was so nearby,” Daria said. “I don’t know what I’d do without a friend like him.”
A friend like him.
Afriend.
Chapter Twenty-one
“Do not think that facilitatingthis introduction makes me think better of your constant calls at Falstone House.” Laurence was in his usual “sunny” mood. “You have, no doubt, made a nuisance of yourself.”
“You are welcome to express your suspicions to His Grace, should the duke choose to meet you.”
“If he is willing to endure you day after day, he’ll likely find me a refreshing change.” Laurence stepped out of their carriage on that pronouncement, his calling card already in his hand.
If fate were truly kind, the Dangerous Duke would simply strangle Laurence and put them all out of their misery. But then, if fate were the least kind, Toss would not be spending every waking minute and some of his sleeping ones filled with the memory of Daria declaring him her friend and his breaking heart silently pleading for so much more than that.
Once I have my future secured, and if someone else hasn’t captured her heart, I’ll have my chance.He simply needed to be patient.
The Falstone House butler, upon answering the door and discovering Laurence standing proudly there, looked to Toss instead, a question in his expression.
“This is Mr. Laurence Comstock,” Toss said. “He has come to call on Their Graces, if they are at-home to visitors.”
With a nod of understanding, the butler motioned them inside. He fetched a silver salver for Laurence to place his calling card on, which Laurence did with an obnoxious degree of flourish. The butler turned to deliver the card but paused and looked to Toss once more. “Mr. Thomas, you are, of course, welcome to continue on as always.”
Doing his utmost to hide his delight at Laurence’s look of shock, Toss responded simply with, “Thank you, Gordon.”
Toss and Laurence alone remained in the entryway.
Laurence’s surprise had turned to annoyance. “I can hardly believe Their Graces employ a butler who is lax in proper behavior.”
“They wouldn’t,” Toss said. “And they don’t.”
Laurence shot him a look of exasperation. “Inviting a guest to simply wander about? Do you not know anything about how these interactions are supposed to proceed?”
Toss knew from a lifetime of experience that there was little point arguing with Laurence. It was only Toss’s respect for the Falstone House resident family and staff that prevented him from abandoning his brother and going straight to the music room.
Laurence eyed the entryway. “This is an elegant home.”
“Most in Grosvenor Square are,” Toss said dryly.
“Do not lecture me about London, Thomas. I know it better than you ever will.” One thing could certainly be said for Laurence: he had a very high opinion of himself. “The home’s address is enough to recommend it, but I daresay the opulence within is excessively impressive. I would wager this is a residence that has on more than one occasion boasted a pineapple.”
