Page 78 of The Best of Friends
Her Grace smiled slowly and confidently. “Do you, for one moment, think your parents are capable of bullying my husband into doing anything he doesn’t wish to do?”
Her husband was the Dangerous Duke, the Infamous Kielder, arguably the most powerful and feared man in all the kingdom, the only person whose mere presence sent the Prince Regent himself scurrying from gatherings in a posture of deference. Her parents wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Set aside any fears of being dragged from this house,” the duchess said. “You are entirely safe here.”
With Toss holding her in his arms and the unwavering confidence of the Duchess of Kielder, Daria felt safe. And in that safety, she could begin to feel hope.
***
Word had been quietly sent to all who had been searching for Daria that she was safely ensconced at Falstone House. They had returned with all possible haste. Mater had arrived with Charlie and Fennel and had immediately taken on a motherly role in reassuring Daria.
Everyone was gathered in the drawing room. Toss sat on a sofa beside Daria, holding her hand in his. The few times that he’d been required to let her go, he’d been seized all over again by the worry that had all but consumed him when he’d thought she was in danger. Thinking on it again in that moment, he held tighter to her hand, needing the reassurance that she really was there and safe.
“If you do not wish to stay with us at Brier Hill after the Season,” Artemis said to Daria, the continuation of a conversation that had been ongoing ever since the Huntresses’ rush to Falstone House, “Gillian, I am certain, would be anxious for you to stay with her and Scott.”
Daria shook her head. “Their finances are too strained as it is.”
“I would be beside myself with delight if you were to stay with me,” Mater said. “I live in the same neighborhood as Gillian and Scott.”
“That neighborhood is the envy of many,” Daria said with a hint of a smile.
It did Toss’s heart good to see her expression lighten a little, but the worry in her eyes didn’t abate.
He leaned closer to Tobias, who sat beside him in the drawing room, where they had all gathered. “Would your parents make a fuss if she were invited to stay with the dowager countess?” He spoke quietly, not wishing to burden Daria with thoughts of her parents.
“A fuss? Likely not. But I also don’t think they would allow her to avoid Anglesey even to accept the dowager’s invitation.” His mouth sat in a seemingly permanent line of frustration. “Great-Aunt Theodosia’s expectations are all they talked about. They weren’t worried that Daria might be in danger. Our aunt was the only person for whom they showed the least concern, other than themselves.” He shook his head, the quick and small sort of movement that indicated a person who wished he could dismiss the truth of an unpleasant realization. “Their dishonesty has compounded their troubles, and they have no one to blame but themselves.”
“Dishonesty? For not telling Daria their plans from the beginning?” Toss asked.
“More than that,” Tobias said on a sigh. “Worsethan that.”
Only when Daria asked, “What else have they done?” did Toss realize the other conversation had ended and theirs was being overheard.
“Best tell her,” Colm said. “She deserves to know.”
Daria was watching her brother closely, expectantly, worriedly.
“Your dowry is gone.” Tobias looked more miserable by the moment. “They discovered last year that it was not specified by any legally binding agreements, and therefore, they could spend it if they chose, which they did.”
“What did they spend it on?” Of all the questions Daria could have asked, that was not the one Toss would have predicted.
“Nothing of any significance.” Toss’s mouth twisted in disgust. “Countless different nothings. But it is gone, and they are determined to keep that fact a secret.”
“But they told you?” Daria pressed.
“They didn’t intend to. Mother let it slip while she and Father were fretting over what Great-Aunt Theodosia would do if you don’t arrive in Anglesey when she expects you to.”
And suddenly, Toss had a realization. “Something about Daria’s removal to Wales is connected to her missing dowry, isn’t it?”
Tobias nodded. “That’s my suspicion. Our aunt is wealthy, and our parents have, it seems, mismanaged their funds. Though I cannot sort out how restoring Daria’s dowry in exchange for Daria being flung far away from Society would make the least sense.”
“Unless they are planning to spend my ‘second’ dowry.”
“That would explain why they didn’t want you to return to London this year.” Toss met Daria’s eye. “And why they are now so determined to see you as far from Society as possible as soon as possible.”
“They would ruin my entire life for the sake of spending money.” Her shoulders drooped.
“They are selfish people,” Tobias said firmly. “And I think you should seize whatever opportunity you have to build a life free from them, whether that is at Brier Hill or the Lampton Park dower house or visiting the Huntresses in turn.”
