Page 63 of The Best of Friends
“No matter what happens tomorrow, wewillsee each other again,” he said. “It may take time, but we will.”
She held tighter to him. “When do you expect to receive an answer from the Royal Society of Musicians?”
“Soon, I hope.”
Soon.He would have his membership and could begin claiming his place in the world of music. If she could continue living and traveling with her family until then, she wouldn’t have to be so alone and so abandoned in the meantime.
Toss leaned back a bit, his gaze sliding over her face. He brushed a hand along her cheek. “I missed you terribly these past days, my darling Daria.”
My darling Daria.Oh, she liked that very much. “Artemis gave me your flowers.”
He laughed again, quietly but sincerely. “I readily admit I am no artist.”
“I love them. They are the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever seen.”
Seeing his smile fully bloom once more did her heart a world of good. He’d been heavy-hearted of late, every bit as much as she had been. “I’ll draw you flowers whenever you’d like.”
“And you’ll hold me when I cry?”
He pulled her into an embrace once more. “I’ll hold you anytime you ask.”
“I would like that.”
“So would I,” he whispered.
“Do you know why?” she asked, her heart light and her spirits soaring.
“Why?”
“Because I’m going to earn so many points for this.”
Standing in a room dedicated to music, which meant so much to Toss, feeling the warmth of his embrace and the rumbling of his chest as he laughed, Daria felt at home in a way she never had before.
Chapter Twenty-five
The night of Daria’s musicalearrived. Toss was nervous for her, not because he didn’t have faith in her but because so many things were out of a person’s control, and so much was riding on the evening’s success.
All the Huntresses and their gentlemen counterparts were meeting at the Mullinses’ home one hour before the musicale was set to begin in order to offer what assistance they could and to make certain Daria had the encouragement and support she needed. Toss was grateful to offer what help he could but resigned himself to knowing there would be no opportunity to hold her again. He wanted to. Helongedto. But he would have to wait.
Before he could leave for the evening, he was summoned by Laurence. He’d long since accepted that the “free to do as he chose” Season he’d been promised had been, in many ways, a lie from the beginning. His brother had been more difficult than usual since his less-than-flattering reception at Falstone House. Knowing Laurence would be in attendance at the musicale, Toss thought it best not to begin the evening at war with him.
“I am leaving in another moment,” he told Laurence. “So I haven’t time for a drawn-out discussion.”
Laurence’s eyes darted to the clock on the tallboy. “The musicale doesn’t begin for over an hour.”
“Those of us who are particular friends of the younger Mr. Mullins and Miss Mullins are arriving early to be of what assistance we can.”
“You’ve volunteered to act as a servant in someone else’s home?”
That was not at all what Toss had said, yet he knew arguing with his brother was futile. “It is my freedom-infused bachelor Season, after all,” Toss said dryly.
“Within reason,” Laurence reminded him for the umpteenth time. His valet was rushing about, preparing Laurence for the evening, but Laurence was so determined to give Toss a dressing down that the poor man was struggling. Was there anyone whose life Laurence didn’t make more difficult?
“I know perfectly well that you are aware that friends often arrive early to such things for the express purpose of offering support,” Toss said. “You can argue against that all you want, but we both know that it’s perfectly ordinary and acceptable.”
“And we further both know that you have a tendency to make a fool of yourself when music is involved in a gathering. I would have your assurance that you’ll not commit the same misstep you did at the Brinleys’ home.”
“I promise to make as good a showing for myself tonight as you did at Falstone House.”
