Page 55 of The Best of Friends
The duke sat beside his wife, taking her hand in his but in a way that if a person weren’t looking very closely, he’d not realize it. He was as dangerous as the kingdom believed, but he was, in the privacy of his home, the sort of husband and father every man ought to be.
Toss’s gaze shifted to Daria standing with Artemis near the windows. Did she have any idea how often he thought of her? How often his imaginings included a life together and the all-too-distant hope of the sort of familial happiness he witnessed at Falstone House?
Little Lady Hestia, standing at the edge of the sofa where her parents were sitting, was watching Toss expectantly when his eyes returned there.
“What would you like me to play for you, my lady?” he asked.
She didn’t blush the way bashful children often did, but neither did she answer. She also didn’t look away.
Toss lowered himself to kneel in front of her. It wasn’t precisely a dignified and gentlemanly position, but he’d long ago given up on aspiring to unending starchiness. “My little sister and I used to play a game when we were younger. She would whisper something to me, and then I would tell it to whomever she wished to receive the message. Perhaps if you told Lord Falstone, he could tell me.” Hoping to give her ample reason not to be embarrassed by her shyness, he added, “It would be like a game.”
The little girl looked to her brother, who moved up very close to her.
“What do you want him to play?” Lord Falstone whispered to his sister, though loudly enough that the entire room must have heard.
The response was much quieter and whispered directly into the little lordling’s ear. Toss made absolutely certain his expression communicated nothing but patience and delight at being the children’s musical entertainment for the morning.
Lord Falstone stood stiff and straight once more. “Lady Hestia says—” His eyes settled on something behind Toss. “Grandmother!” And he ran toward the door.
“I don’t know that tune,” Toss said with a laugh.
Hestia had abandoned him as well. Toss, along with the duke and duchess, rose and turned to face the doorway. Mater had arrived and already had her arms around the two children. She was something of an honorary mother to a great many people; it was no surprise that role had expanded to surrogate grandparent.
With both the little ones clinging to her, she offered her greetings to the duchess and duke. Toss did his utmost not to stare when the Dangerous Duke not only accepted a warm embrace from her but a kiss on the cheek as well. And he seemed entirely comfortable with the exchange. Toss knew Mater was on very close terms with the duke and his family, but this was a more revealing moment than he’d expected.
Then, to his further surprise and absolute delight, she turned to him. “Toss, how are you?” She hugged him as well. Until that moment of maternal regard, he hadn’t realized how much he missed simply being hugged by his mother. “I saw your brother on his way out of the house, and he looked none too happy. I assumed you were inside somewhere feeling annoyed with him.”
“I am usually annoyed with him,” Toss said with a laugh. “It is very much a mutual experience.”
“Someday, you will have to introduce me to your sister,” Mater said.
“I would like that very much.”
Artemis arrived at Mater’s side and received a hug as well. “I hope you have not called in the hope of seeing your son. Charlie has spent the entire day pacing the book room in stockinged feet, looking quite a sight, while muttering about transitive properties.”
“He is enjoying himself, then?”
“Immensely.”
Mater’s gaze fell next on Daria, who looked a little uncertain of her place in the very familial moment. But Mater, as always, did not withhold her warmth or kindness. She crossed to Daria and embraced her. “How are the preparations for your musicale coming along?”
“Very well, I think.”
“Mr. Toss?” The voice was so quiet Toss almost didn’t hear it.
And the shock of Lady Hestia inserting herself into a conversation was so great that the entire room grew instantly silent. That, unfortunately, brought nervousness to her face once more, and she clamped her mouth shut.
Poor thing.
Toss knelt again. “Have you thought of the tune you’d like me to play?”
She nodded.
“Is it one I play often when I’m here?”
She nodded again.
Though Lord Falstone could likely tell him the answer, Toss felt in his heart that the little girl would be quite proud of herself if she managed the exchange on her own.
