Page 77 of The Best of Friends
Quiet and frustrated, he walked with the couple out of the book room. They took the stairs up to the next floor where the family’s private rooms were. Why? He needed help from the staff, who would all be found in the public rooms and belowstairs. He needed the stable staff, who would be at the mews. He needed to find Daria.
The duchess took hold of the handle of one of the doors but paused and looked back at him. “Discretion, Mr. Comstock. The more I have learned of the situation, the more convinced I am of the need for careful secrecy.”
She opened the door and indicated he should step inside first.Trust her, the duke had said. Despite his growing frustration with the delay, Toss passed through the threshold.
Daria. She was there. In the room.
In his relief, all the fear and panic he’d kept at bay rushed over him with nearly overwhelming intensity. His heart lodged itself in his throat, preventing any words he might have spoken. His lungs emptied even as emotion threatened to pour from him. His legs felt in danger of collapsing beneath him.
Daria. HisDaria. Safe and whole.
She rushed to him and threw herself into his embrace.
She’s safe.That phrase repeated in his mind over and over again.She’s safe.
He held her tightly, fiercely.She’s safe.And he was determined to never let her go again.
Chapter Thirty
Daria had found paradise: Toss’sarms wrapped around her, the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed, the smell of his shaving soap, the warmth of his nearness. In a day that had been spent in the depths of purgatory itself, she was, for that one moment, in heaven.
“My Daria,” he whispered. “I was so afraid something horrible had happened to you.”
When she had been told that Toss was pleading for help in his search for her, Daria had warred with a sense of guilt intertwined with the most indisputable feeling of being cared about. “I didn’t mean to cause you worry,” she replied in a whisper of her own.
“I’m just relieved you’re safe and you’re here.” He kissed her temple as he held her ever tighter. “You’re whole?”
“I am now.” She leaned more entirely against him, allowing the reassuring solidity of him to give her the strength she needed.
“Obviously you arehidinghere, not merely visiting,” he said. “What happened?”
“They lied to me, Toss.” She swallowed back the emotion that filled her throat. “They were never going to allow me to remain, no matter how the musicale was received. It was all a ruse. They simply wished to get a bit more work out of me before sending me to Anglesey.”
“You’ll have to go?” He still spoke softly.
“The day after tomorrow, they said. And they spoke of Great-Aunt Theodosia in such a way that... They’re afraid of upsetting her—trulyafraid.I can’t bear the idea of living with someone I should be frightened of. I would never feel safe again. So, I had to go where they couldn’t find me.”
Toss rubbed her back in slow circles. “We are birds of a feather, sweet Daria. I had a row with my brother last night. I came here as well, looking for refuge.”
They were both at Falstone House, dependent on the kindness of the duke and duchess.
Daria turned her gaze to the doorway, where the duchess remained, no doubt for the sake of propriety, they having needed to close the door in order to keep Daria’s presence a secret. “I have doubled the burden on your household.”
Her Grace shook her head. “It is not a burden, I assure you. I have been the one in need of help many times in my life and could never countenance turning my back on others who find themselves in such circumstances. And my husband, though it will likely shock you, would probably be hurt if he thought either of you believed he would turn you away in your moments of need.”
Daria felt a weight instantly lift from her heart. “Thank you.” She wasn’t certain to whom she was offering the expression of gratitude: the duchess, the absent duke, or Toss. Likely all three.
“What ought we to do, Daria?” Toss asked. “All our friends are searching for you. Your brother is beside himself.”
“But if my parents find me, I’ll lose everything.”
“I do think you can trust the discretion of our friends, dearest,” he said. “And I know your brother will take your part against your parents if need be.”
Daria didn’t straighten, nor pull away from Toss. His arms around her helped her feel braver and stronger. She looked to the duchess once more. “What do you think?”
“I agree with Mr. Comstock. Not only would you be alleviating the worries of people who deeply care about you, but you would also benefit from their help and wisdom.”
It was a little unkind to leave them in such a state of worry. And heaven knew, she could use all the wisdom they could offer. “I don’t think they would do so intentionally, but it is possible one of our friends might inadvertently indicate to my parents where to find me. Then what will I do?”
