Page 81 of The Best of Friends
Excitement lit his eyes. “I’m nearly finished, and I’m quite pleased with it.”
If she’d had any lingering doubts that heneededto reclaim the musical path that had been taken from him, seeing how enthusiastic he immediately became at the very introduction of the topic would have washed them away.
“I can hardly wait to hear it,” she said.
In that very instant, Artemis hurried into the room. “There you are.” She spoke, not as she would if scolding them for being alone for so long but with anxiety. “My brother-in-law gave his staff very strict instructions on what they were to do should your parents arrive at Falstone House.”
Daria’s lungs turned to ice in her chest.
“They are in the small sitting room, waiting to be told if they will be admitted.”
No words came. Her parents had come to drag her home, no doubt. To throw her into a carriage and send her off to Anglesey, never to be seen or heard from again.
“What have Their Graces decided to do?” Toss slipped an arm around Daria once more and tucked her protectively to his side.
“Whatever Daria wants them to do.” Artemis looked at her. “They will allow your parents to join everyone in the drawing room, come directly here, be tossed out onto the pavement. Truly. Whatever you want.”
She’d never had choices where her parents were concerned.You always have a choice.Rose’s words returned to her thoughts once more. There was always a choice of one kind or another. In the past, her options had been between attempting to secure fair treatment or being granted any degree of peace.
In that moment, though, she had additional possibilities.
“We will all support you in whatever you choose, darling,” Toss said.
Whatever I choose.She would be grateful to not see her parents, that was certainly true. But when would she have another chance to stand up to them, to defend herself, when the consequenceswouldn’tbe utter misery? And when would she be more likely to insist on fair treatment and actually achieve it? She wouldn’t be alone should she choose to face her parents. That wouldn’t prevent Mother and Father from being hurtful, neither would it stop her from trembling with fear.
“Your sister said the duke cannot be browbeaten into doing anything he doesn’t wish to do,” Daria said.
“No onehas ever or will ever force the hand of the Duke of Kielder,” Artemis said with palpable conviction. “And he has declared that you are safe under his roof. That will not change no matter how much your parents might bluster.”
Daria still wasn’t certain what to do. “Their ‘blustering’ is often unkind.”
“You do not have to face them,” Artemis reminded her. “They can be sent away.”
It was tempting. “I’ve often wished, though, I could have even one moment in which I wasn’t powerless when faced with them, just one moment in which I could insist that I deserved better than the treatment I have endured from them without risking making it worse or being made miserable for weeks or months afterward.”
“We will do whatever you want, Daria,” Artemis repeated.
“Without question,” Toss said. “You simply say the word.”
“Your sister and brother-in-law won’t let them drag me away?” Daria knew full well the question had already been asked, but she had to be certain. Absolutely certain.
“Should they make the attempt, the duke will dragthemfrom the house and will, by means we would likely do best not to ask the details of, make certain they do not ever return.”
This was her chance, then. A chance to say what she’d wanted to say for years. Scared and uncertain though she might be, she wanted to seize it. “I think I want to talk to them.” She tightened her grip on Toss’s hand as she spoke. “They’ve never before had to actually listen to me, and I’d like to have that happen, even just this once.”
Toss pulled her arm through his. “As much as I would enjoy holding your hand, I think striking a very proper pose would make the most sense.”
“As much as I would feel braver having my hand in yours,” Daria replied, “I think you’re right.”
“Bear in mind,” Artemis said, “that just because you’ve decided that Return Fire is your current preferred approach, it doesn’t mean you cannot change strategies if you choose. And knowing when to change course—”
“Is a sign of strength and cleverness,” Daria finished the well-known reassurance. It was nearly as familiar to them as Artemis’s three-pronged battle strategy.
“We will follow your lead,” Artemis said.
Toss set his hand on hers where it rested on her arm. “When you’re ready, Daria.”
She took a breath. Then another. “I think I’m ready.”
