Page 70 of The Best of Friends
“I hope Daria is proud of all she accomplished tonight,” Colm said. “Tobias has told me of his sister’s struggles to see her own value sometimes.”
“Her parents’ opinions are very loud in that regard.”
Colm nodded slowly. “If she is victorious in your competition and we are to plan a house party, I know my parents would be happy to allow us the use of the family estate. And I think it would be good for both the Mullins siblings to spend some time in an encouraging household.”
“I could use a bit of that myself,” Toss said. “A lot of us, both the Huntresses and the gentlemen, could use some of that.”
“I have been humbled as part of this group to realize how insufficiently I have appreciated the family I have.”
“I didn’t appreciate my parents as much as I should have until they were gone,” Toss said. “Now my sister and I have to endure Laurence without our parents to soften that misery.”
“Is your sister still very young?”
Toss nodded. “Twelve years old. We both will have to endure our brother for years. Forever,it sometimes seems.”
“If your hopes where Daria is concerned come to be, then at least you won’t be enduring him entirely alone.”
His hopes had been in competition with Colm’s. But his friend was being very gracious. Their group was fortunate to have Colm and Tobias among them now. The Season hadn’t begun on a good footing for Toss, but it had proven beneficial in countless ways. Perhaps that was how fate found a balance in the world. The good with the bad. Ups alongside downs.
They reached Laurence’s house.
“Thank you again for thinking to wait for me,” Toss said. “Walking home would have been miserable, and hailing a hackney this late would have been difficult.”
“You are very welcome.”
As he alighted from the carriage, Toss had a spring in his step once more. The walk to the Mullinses’ house earlier had been a difficult and trudging one. He felt better now, lighter.
Exhausted but not defeated.
Daria’s declaration rang in his ears while the tune she had inspired played in his heart.
He fully expected to find the house quiet when he entered. Laurence had left the Mullinses’ home more than an hour earlier. But that balance he had attributed to fate seemed to be leaning a bit toward the misery end of the pendulum swing.
Toss was not more than a few steps inside when Laurence appeared in the entryway, looking absolutely thunderous.
“You waited up for me,” Toss said with a grin. “I’m flattered.”
“Don’t be.” Laurence glared. “Within reason, Thomas. How many times have I reminded you of that this Season?”
Toss pretended to be confused. “Doesn’t sound familiar.”
“Since coming to London, you have had freedom to do as you chose, within reason. Freedom to choose your friends and associates, within reason. Freedom to hum your pathetic tunes and blubber about Cambridge, within reason.”
“This sounds even less familiar.”
“After your humiliating display at the Brinleys’, how dare you disregard my instructions for this evening. How dare you further risk our family’s good standing. How dare—”
“Could we finish the ‘how dare you’s’ in the morning? I’m tired.” Toss stepped past him, but Laurence grabbed hold of his arm, yanking him around once more. His brother had been difficult and demanding, but this was the first time he’d become physically forceful.
“Within reason.” Laurence pulled out each syllable. “I have endured nothing butunreasonable behavior from you. Playing your inane music tonight, then setting that harridan on me afterward is the final straw.”
Harridan?“You speak insultingly of a gentleman’s daughter after accusingmeof not behaving appropriately?”
“You—”
“No, Laurence, you have had your say, and now I will have mine.” He yanked his arm free of his brother’s grasp. “You behaved abominably tonight, and Miss Mullins rightly corrected your uncivil behavior beforeyourisked our family’s good standing. She saved you from your own unacceptable actions, and still you speak insultingly of her. You insist I behave ‘within reason,’ but I don’t think you have the least idea what that means.”
Laurence jabbed him with an angry finger. “I am the head of this family.”
