Page 62 of The Best of Friends
“What is on your schedule tonight?” she asked Tobias.
“We are returning to the O’Doyles’ home. Everyone is gathering there this evening since the family is leaving London in only a few days’ time,” he said.
Everyone. She knew he didn’t mean for that to pierce her as it did. She wasn’t there, yet it apparently felt as if “everyone” were. With her heart threatening to sink, she reminded herself that Gillian was also not present. There was a degree of likelihood that Newton and Ellie weren’t either. Duke and Poppy were not in London. Lisette was in France. Tobias, no doubt, meant everyonewho was able.
To her surprise, it was Colm who noticed her downcast reaction. “Everyone has said again and again how very unfair it is that you aren’t with us this evening. Indeed, Eve said that were she not certain it would undermine your chances of success tomorrow evening, she would simply come here, kidnap you, and take you back home with her.”
“If tomorrow goes well,” Daria said as much to herself as either of them, “then I’ll be able to do more things I wish to.”
“You’ve recounted your preparations to me many times,” Tobias said. “And I can say with confidence that your evening will be an unparalleled success.”
“You did say I had a talent for such things.”
“I meant it,” Tobias said. “Our parents have far too little faith in you. There is something wonderful in the anticipation of you proving them so very wrong.”
Shehadmade extensive preparations. Other than being a bit pressed for time the next day, she anticipated everything running very smoothly.
“Where do you suppose our music bearer has wandered off to?” Tobias turned back to the door, apparently waiting for someone.
Colm was still facing her, so Daria asked him, “What does he mean ‘our music bearer’?”
“We are not the only ones who have come bearing items for your gathering tomorrow,” he said. “It seems, though, we are the speediest.”
In the next instant, Toss stepped through the music room doors, a twine-tied bundle of papers tucked under one arm.
“I stopped to ask the housekeeper if the pianoforte had been recently tuned,” he said as he stepped farther into the room.
Daria’s heart leaped to her throat, beating out a rhythm of delight. A lump formed in her throat, and a strangled burst of emotion spilled over as tears. A single trickle, to her horror, quickly escalated to chin-quivering crying.
How was it she was crying again? She’d been rather embarrassed the last time her emotions had gotten the better of her, and Toss had been present for that outburst as well.
He set his bundle down on the pianoforte and moved directly to her. “Is this happiness or misery, Daria?” He didn’t speak as one did to an overwrought child. He spoke tenderly, earnestly.
“It’s unexpected, for one thing. I’m happy to see you. I really am. And relieved, but a happy relief, like I’ve been waiting and waiting and wasn’t certain you would ever come by, and here you are. And I didn’t even realize I was worrying about that, and suddenly I don’t have to worry about it anymore.” She shook her head, attempting to wave off yet another bit of incoherent rambling. “Father always says that if I spend less time searching for a coherent thought, I might manage to produce one more often.”
“Another of histeasingremarks?” Toss asked quietly.
“Histeasingis often cruel,” she admitted.
Toss took hold of her hand. “It istoo oftencruel.”
She wiped a tear just to find that something in his firm declaration set her crying even more.
“Tuck yourself in the doorway and look away if you must, Tobias, but I think your sister needs a hug, and if she’ll let me, I mean to be the one who gives it to her.”
“I’ll stand guard at the door and make sure none of the servants wanders by and senses a scandal.”
As they made their way to the door, Colm said to Tobias, “Perhaps we also ought to talk very loudly to one another as a distraction to the staff.” Then the two of them laughed.
As soon as Tobias and Colm were ensconced just beyond the door, leaving it open with their backs to the room, Toss did as promised and set his arms gently around her. She described her feeling upon seeing him as relief. The emotion that filled her as he held her in her exhaustion, worry, and uncertainty was peace. Until that moment, she’d not guessed that a person could feel so tranquil while her heart was pummeling her chest.
“I think you’ve been carrying a few too many burdens for too long,” Toss said quietly and gently. “Discovering you’re not alone with those burdens would lead anyone to tear up.”
“You carry burdens too,” she said. “Your brother’s despotism. Losing your parents. Worrying about your sister. Trying to discover how to pursue your music while knowing your brother will punish you for it.”
She felt him kiss the top of her head. “That explains why I needed this embrace as much as you seem to.”
“What if tomorrow goes poorly and I never see you again?” It was the version of her worries she’d not let herself speak out loud before.
