Page 9 of The Best of Friends
“I know you didn’t mean it unkindly.”
Relief settled on her comfortingly. “I hope whatever she chooses this year proves a success. She’ll be in better spirits if it does, and I would prefer to end my final Season on a positive note.”
“YourfinalSeason?”
She nodded. “I mean to try very hard to have a wonderful last time in London.”
The smile returned to his face. “You and I are in very similar situations, then. I am here for what is, in many ways, mylastSeason in London, and I have vowed to enjoymytime here.”
“I thought this was your first Season.” She was almost certain of it. He’d come to London for Newton and Ellie’s betrothal ball the previous year but hadn’t been in Town for more than a week.
“It is both,” Toss said. “My brother insisted I be in London this Season and has declared that it is mine to do with as I choose because next Season I will be required to live by his dictates in pursuit of a match that meets with his approval.”
“And you can do whatever you want?”
Toss laughed lightly, quietly. “‘Within reason.’ He keeps adding that caveat.”
Daria smiled broadly. “Does he think you’re going to run about causing scandals?”
“I suppose that has crossed his mind.”
She bent around a gathering standing a bit in their way, though she kept her arm through Toss’s. A few in the group offered him a word of greeting. A couple of people did the same with her. He was probably liked for himself. For her part, she knew she was accepted mostly because of her association with the Huntresses, because Artemis had snatched her out of obscurity. Society’s notice she could take or leave. It was the escape from isolation that she cherished most.
Isolation.It was both fitting and sad to have that word echoing in her thoughts in the same moment she spied Gillian spinning about the dance floor with Scott. Daria was, in a way, being left behind as her dearest friend moved forward with her new life. But, then, Daria wouldn’t be coming to London in the years to come. She was going to be lonely either way.
Toss guided her around two ladies standing in their path. Thank the heavens for him. He was lovely company, kind and thoughtful. He didn’t make her feel silly or burdensome. And in that moment, he was keeping many of her worries at bay.
“I think my parents feel much the same as your brother,” she said “They likely don’t overly care what I do this Season, so long as I don’t cause them any inconvenience. I do need to introduce Tobias to Charlie’s various friends—that is the reason I was allowed to come to London. But outside of that, I can do what I wish this Season. Since it is the last I will ever have, I would like for it to be memorable.”
“Charlie suggested I pick things my brother would never choose for me; that way, I’ll have a chance to do those things at least once.”
“Within reason,” Daria added, repeating his rule.
“Precisely.”
She looked up at him as they walked on. “I ought to do the same: choose things my parents wouldn’t think of or choose for me. That would certainly make my last Season something I won’t ever forget.”
“Within reason.” Toss spoke very properly, with an ostentatious posture. She couldn’t help laughing at the picture he made, though she managed to keep the sound quiet enough to not draw undue notice.
“How many things do you suppose we could do in a single Season?” She was warming to the idea more by the moment.
“Loads, I imagine.” His mouth formed a suddenO. “I’ve just had a delightful idea.”
“What is it?”
“A competition, between the two of us. We receive a point for each thing we do that our respective families would not have chosen for us—though truly scandalous things are strictly off limits.” He looked more and more excited. “On whatever day we choose between us, whoever has accumulated the most points is declared the winner.”
Oh, she did like this idea. “And is there a prize for the one who wins?”
“There ought to be, though I don’t know what.” He shook his head as if trying to dismiss the thought. “Put your mind to it. We’ll stumble upon something.”
“My mind is not the best to set on questions,” she warned him. “You’ll have to think hard enough for both of us.”
They’d nearly reached her parents. Father and Mother wouldn’t care in the least whether she was there or not, but it was where she was expected to be when the Huntresses were all dancing or away and Tobias was not near at hand. For her part, Daria rather dreaded the time she had to spend near them; it was never a truly pleasant experience.
“Beginning in the morning, Daria.” Toss spoke quietly enough that no one would overhear his use of her given name. “No scandals, no crimes, nothing hurtful to anyone, just a Season filled with adventures we’d never otherwise have.”
“And a mystery prize at the end,” she added, smiling from her very heart.
