Page 60 of The Best of Friends
Mother’s eyes darted from Tobias to Daria and back again as a frown grew on her face. Then, with the sudden stiffness of one making up one’s mind, her expression hardened and her shoulder set. “Do not allow your brother’s impertinence to make you lax in your remaining work, Daria. Focus your attention on the musicale and make certain it is a success.” On that declaration, she left, chin held high.
Tobias watched her go. “Our parents do not always show you the kindness you deserve.”
Daria sighed. “No, they don’t.”
“Have you not found their behavior strange in regard to their plans to send you to live with Great-Aunt Theodosia?” His eyes remained on the now-empty doorway. “Our great-aunt has always been a bit overbearing, and no one could argue she isn’t a bit of a dragon, but I’ve not known them in the past to seem actually afraid of displeasing her.”
“I suspect they are so convinced my musicale will be a failure that they are growing impatient to move forward with their plans.” Her parents’ doubts in her were well established, after all. “When it is a success, they’ll likely be shocked into utter silence.”
Tobias set an arm around her shoulders. “I, for one, will not be shocked.”
The butler, rushed and a bit harried, stepped inside to very quickly announce the arrival of Mrs. Artemis Jonquil in the fraction of a moment before the lady herself stepped inside, bubbling over with excitement.
Artemis rushed over to them and took Daria’s hands in an enthusiastic grip. “I know how much is resting upon your parents’ perception of the success of your musicale, so I have raced over to offer an exciting bit of related news.” Artemis led her to a sofa, and they sat together. Tobias stood nearby. “I wish to tell you of the distinguished people who are confirmed as attending your musicale. If you mention even half of this list to your parents, they will be so beside themselves with the honor of such esteemed individuals in their house that they would never express doubt in you ever again.”
Daria knew her friend’s tendency to grow overly expressive and dramatic when she was excited. Until she heard the list for herself, she didn’t wish to get her hopes up.
To Tobias, Artemis said, “See if you can’t drop a subtle hint here and there to your parents about this list. If Daria tried, they might not believe her.”
“I wish that weren’t true,” Tobias said.
“So do I,” Artemis said. Looking at Daria once more, she began reciting her list. “The Earl and Countess of Techney are attending. Lord and Lady Cavratt, the baroness being quite an accomplished musician. The Earl and Countess of Lampton, as well as the Dowager Countess. The Duke and Duchess of Kielder also.”
Everyone listed was directly connected to Artemis and Charlie; their attendance was no doubt the result of those two dear people advocating on Daria’s behalf. But to boast such a guest list that might also include other highly revered members of Society would be something indeed.
“Also, Lord and Lady Aldric Benick are confirmed to attend,” Artemis continued. “Mr. Layton, Mr. and Mrs. Greenberry, Mr. and Mrs. Fortier, all of whom, while not titled, are revered in Society.”
Daria would be declared a hostess whose invitations were highly sought after. It would be an utter triumph.
“That list will certainly impress our parents,” Tobias said. “In fact, I will enjoy mentioning it to them and watching their shock turn to overawe, hopefully enough to render them quiet for a time.” He dipped his head, then slipped from the music room.
Alone now, Artemis adopted a conspiratorial tone. “I have been charged with delivering a message and a note. Which would you like to receive first?”
“The message,” Daria said. She was a slow reader, and if the note was long at all, Artemis would be kept waiting. Though none of the Huntresses had ever belittled her, nor expressed frustration at her struggle, Daria still found it embarrassing.
“I have received word from Cambridge that Duke and Poppy, now on term break, are coming to London.” Poppy was the nickname of Charlie’s friend Fennel Kendrick, the youngest of their group. That those two members of the group had not been present had been a source of disappointment for their friends. To have them here again would be delightful.
“They asked me to keep their arrival a secret,” Artemis said. “They would very much like to see the looks of shock and surprise on their friends’ faces when they simply appear in Town. But to render their sudden appearance as delightfully shocking to their friends as possible, I’ll need your help.”
“Mine?” Daria wasn’t used to being the one employed in a scheme. But then, that had happened quite a lot this Season.
Artemis nodded. “They are arriving in Town tomorrow evening—they didn’t think to send the letter several days before their departure; it barely beat them here—and they are hoping to make their grand appearance at your musicale and surprise their friends that evening. I do not wish to detract from the success of your event or the feeling your parents will have of it being a reflection on them. I thought we could arrange for the two missing members of our group to be here earlier in the evening when the rest of us are here so they can have their reunion before any of the guests have arrived.”
Thank the heavens Artemis had already strategized. So much depended upon a successful evening that Daria feared every little disruption.
“It will be a wonderful thing to play hostess to that reunion.” Daria was actually growing a bit excited at the prospect now that she knew Artemis had thought it through enough to avoid problems with Mother and Father. “Toss has expressed several times how much he’s missed having them here. I think he would rather be at Cambridge with them, but his brother has made that impossible.” She wasn’t certain how to finish the sentence but could see Artemis understood the sentiment she was reaching for.
“Now, speaking of Toss, he has charged me with delivering a note to you. I told him to give it to you himself, but alas, he is determined to be well-behaved.” Artemis sighed dramatically. “I suppose I couldn’t entirely argue with that. You are both unmarried, and you are unrelated. Your parents are such difficult people. His brother is an absolutely miserable dictator who monopolizes the poor man’s time.” Artemis shook her head. “I decided to be cooperative this time.” She held out the letter.
“Toss sent me a note?” She took it immediately.
“He did and, in so doing, further increased my good opinion of him.”
“Is it ridiculous that I miss him so much when it hasn’t even been an entire week since I last saw him?”
Artemis reached out and squeezed her hand. “Not at all. That is one of the ways I first realized I’d begun falling in love with my Charlie. I longed for him after even short absences.”
“I don’t know how I’ll survive if I’m sent to Anglesey and don’t see him for months and months.” She pressed his letter to her heart.
