Page 90 of The Best of Friends
Duke was with Toss in the Falstone House drawing room, finalizing their travel plans back to Cambridge. Duke and Fennel were also making room for Toss in their lodgings while he waited for the fellowship to be granted, though it would mean tight quarters.
“I can’t thank you enough for this,” Toss said. “Searching out the fellowship and a means of securing it and now giving me a place to live.”
“The Huntresses are not the only group of friends who would do anything for each other,” Duke said. “The Pack is simply less dramatic about it.”
“We do have to admit, though,” Toss said, “that the Huntresses were correct about our needing a collective name. Now that we have one, I can’t understand how we went so long without it.”
Duke nodded a little. “Which makes me think we are, indeed, a pack of idiots.” He offered the observation with no indication of humor, though that didn’t mean it wasn’t a jest. No matter that Toss had known Duke for years, he still couldn’t always interpret his friend’s tone and expression. Sometimes he wondered if anyone really could. Toss suspected that was why people found him intimidating, even if they didn’t realize the reason.
“Toss!” Hearing Daria excitedly call his name filled Toss’s very heart with joy.
He turned to see her rushing toward him, smiling broadly.
“You’ll never guess,” she said as she reached him.
“Then you’d best tell me.” He took her hands in his, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms while he was still near enough to do so.
“Charlie and Artemis have said we might have our Huntresses and Pack house party at Christmastime, and Ellie thinks she and Newton will be able to attend as well, though we’ll need to hold it somewhere nearer to London, which Charlie says can likely be arranged, but we would need to find someone to host it. And Artemis says that if we have the duchess or the dowager countess in attendance, which might happen because we will likely need to borrow an estate from one of their families, then we will have all the proprieties seen to, and London Society won’t be able to turn their noses up at us.” She shook her head. “I’ve gone so long without babbling like this, but I am beginning to suspect I always will when I’m excited.”
“I hope you do.” He pressed their interlocked hands to his heart. “I love the way your face lights up when you’re spilling all your joyous thoughts.”
The smile she already wore grew ever broader. “Did you knowyourface lights up when you are playing the pianoforte? It is one of my favorite things.”
Quite out of nowhere, Duke spoke. “I believe I will wander elsewhere in the room before the two of you start complimenting each other’s lice or dandruff or something equally ridiculous.”
Daria’s brow pulled as Duke walked away. “Do you think he is actually annoyed? Or was he teasing? I can’t always tell.”
“Most people can’t,” Toss said. “The Pack can’t even always manage it.”
“But you like having him among you even if he confuses you?”
“He’s a good gun, as Charlie is wont to say.”
A look of sudden remembering pulled Daria’s eyes wide. “Did you finish your composition? You said last night that you were close, and I heard you in the music room this morning playing it again.”
“I did.” He raised her hand to his lips, gently kissing her fingers. “Often, at this point, I begin adding other instruments and movements, but I think this one is proving to be best suited for the pianoforte exclusively.”
“Sometimes the simplest approach is the best,” she said.
“Precisely.”
The duke stepped into the drawing room. Though it was his home, and thus, his presence was not a surprise, and though he didn’t speak a single word, his arrival had the usual effect: the room grew very still and very quiet.
And His Grace didn’t enter the room alone. A man Toss was certain he recognized walked at his side.
“Who is that?” Daria asked, sounding a little nervous. “You look... anxious or uncomfortable or something.”
“Surprised, truth be told. That is Mr. Williams. He is an important member of the Royal Society of Musicians, a composer, in fact.”
“Does His Grace know Mr. Williams?”
“He might, though I hadn’t heard as much.” Toss watched the two men as they crossed toward him. “What do you suppose he has come here for?”
“Apparently, something to do with you.” Daria kept one hand in his, giving every indication she meant to stay at his side.
“Mr. Comstock, this is Mr. Williams.” The duke made the introductions with his usual efficiency. “He wishes to have a conversation with you.”
Toss and Mr. Williams exchanged the expected words of greeting.
