Page 7 of The Best of Friends
“That’s because your mother hasn’t the least understanding of fashion,” Eve declared firmly. Her stern expression quickly melted into the trademark grin she and her sister were known for, and the lot of them dissolved into quiet laughter.
It was in this joyful moment that Artemis—their fearless leader—and her beloved Charlie arrived in company with Gillian Sarvol and her husband, Scott.
Daria’s smile turned to one of absolute joy. Gillian was her dearest friend among the Huntresses, and Daria had missed her these past months. They had done absolutely everything together since the Season three years ago when Artemis had taken them under her wing.
They quickly embraced.
“We’re both in London,” Daria said, realizing in the next moment how utterly obvious the observation was. But Gillian never mocked her for that, never laughed at her.
“Fate is, at last, choosing to be kind.”
Gillian’s attention returned to Scott, who was gabbing with Charlie and Newton. Daria loved Scott almost like a brother, and she refused to feel sorry for herself that he had so much of Gillian’s time. She refused, but her aching heart did not always obey orders.
The other Huntresses also greeted Daria warmly each time they saw her, a welcome reminder that she had an entire group of friends, not merely one. She would not be completely alone even if Gillian did not spend as much time with her as she used to.
“Is Lisette not in London yet?” Daria asked Artemis. Lisette was the youngest of their group.
“She is not. And there is reason to believe she won’t be leaving France to join the whirl this Season.”
“No.” Daria’s heart dropped. “She’ll be so miserable at home.” Lisette didn’t talk a great deal about life with her family, but she said enough for all the Huntresses to know full well that leaving France behind when she had the chance was a source of relief for their dear friend.
The gentlemen broke off their conversation, moving to stand beside their wives, who all took their usual positions in the Huntresses’ V formation they assumed when making this annual entrance. Artemis stood at the front. Gillian stood to Artemis’s right, and Daria always stood in the V after Gillian, trailing a few steps behind.
The group’s arrangement was adjusting, though, making room for the husbands who had become part of their circle. Scott stood directly beside Gillian now, her arm through his.
“I am prepared to be amazed,” Scott said to his wife. His American accent made his voice easy to distinguish even in a crowd.
“That is a very good thing,” was Gillian’s reply, “because we are inarguably amazing.”
It was the sort of repartee that Daria and her dearest friend had once exchanged together. Daria wasn’t part of it now.
Do not feel sorry for yourself, Daria. Be grateful you are in London at all.
The band of Huntresses moved with confidence into the ballroom. Everything and everyone came to a halt, watching with awe this now-familiar entrance.
Artemis had explained it as starting the story of each Season the way they wished it to be told. Every year Daria prayedherstory didn’t prove to be a tragedy.
Once Artemis was satisfied with the impression they had made, the Huntresses began to disperse, something that didn’t used to happen so quickly or so entirely. But half of their present number was married and became rather distracted. Eve and Nia, the only others of the present Huntresses who were unattached, kept close to each other.
Just as Daria began to feel she would be spending the evening alone, Tobias stepped up beside her. Bless him for that.
“I, for one, cannot imagine how it is Father and Mother aren’t so overawed by your group of friends that they feel that alone is worth continuing to bring you to London.” He slipped her arm through his. “Could it be our parents are insufferably stupid?”
“No.” She shook her head. “That’sme.”
“Just in case you actually believe that, I will say yet again that it is not the least bit true, Daria.”
She appreciated her brother’s kindness but knew he was wrong. She often said rather stupid things and struggled to remember information. She could read but not as quickly as most, and she stumbled over her words when reading aloud.
Her governess had declared her a lost cause and had simply stopped trying, and Daria had been grateful when her daily lessons had been abandoned; they’d only ever made her feel more thickheaded than she already had.
“Now, dearest sister, our parents are watching. Let us make a point of you providing me with the very beginnings of a foot in the door to Mr. Charlie Jonquil’s circle of impressive friends, one that will, of course, require many more meetings in the coming weeks.”
She smiled conspiratorially; they’d decided to make measured progress so as to stretch out Tobias’s need for her in these introductions. “Mr. Seymour and Mr. Kendrick are still at Cambridge, I believe. And you met Mr. Hughes in Bath. But I don’t think you know Mr. Comstock. He’s here tonight.”
“All the more reason to introduce me to him.”
Of course. She shook her head at her silliness. “You didn’t need me to restate all of that. I could simply have moved directly to undertaking the introductions.”
