Page 36 of Why Do Rogues Fall in Love?

His smile widened. “I merely find it interesting that you have explained Wellington’s absence when I remarked upon yours.”

Cordelia's lips parted in astonishment. “You are impossibly outrageous.”

“So I have been told.”

“Repeatedly, I imagine.”

“Usually by women. I daresay one might conclude that the fairer sex simply does not understand the inner workings of men.”

“Or perhaps women understand them perfectly well and find very little worth admiring.”

George pressed a hand to his chest. “Your words are as a lethal arrow piercing straight through my heart,” he said dryly, even as humor gleamed in his eyes.

“I suspect you shall recover.”

“With time, perhaps. Though I had hoped for a kinder reception after enduring seven days of your absence.”

Cordelia's heart gave another ridiculous flutter, but she refused to allow him the satisfaction of seeing it. Instead, she glanced toward the instrument. “Is it not rather unusual to have two grand pianofortes in one house?”

“Only if one intends to keep them both.”

She approached, admiring the handsome mahogany case and polished ivory keys. “Then this is a recent acquisition?”

“Very recent. It arrived yesterday.”

“Is it French? My cousin is forever declaring that we ought to acquire a French pianoforte, preferably one made by Érard. She insists they are exceedingly fashionable, though I cannot imagine what we should do with one. No one in our household plays, and I daresay such a fine instrument would only gather dust.”

His mouth quirked. “Then I fear your cousin would find my choice disappointingly patriotic. It was made by Broadwood, here in London.”

“Ah, so you favor English craftsmanship over French fashion?”

“When it comes to pianofortes, certainly. Though I am not so unreasonable as to dismiss everything the French have to offer.”

“And what might those things be?”

His smile turned faintly wicked. “I should think of something eventually.”

Cordelia glanced at the open sheet music. “It seemed as if you were playing for Sir Charles’s amusement.”

“An additional obligation I had not anticipated. His lordship has proven a most exacting audience.”

She laughed. “It is a beautiful instrument.”

“It has a lovely tone, though a few notes have been troublesome since its arrival. I have been testing them while waiting for the tuner to attend to it properly.”

He pressed several keys in succession, listening critically before trying them again.

“And what will become of the other pianoforte?”

“I intend to donate it to an orphanage.”

Cordelia turned toward him, surprised. “An orphanage?”

“One that provides music lessons to the children. I made inquiries some weeks ago, and they assured me the instrument would be put to good use.”

She studied him for a moment, touched by the casual manner in which he spoke of such generosity. “That is a very kind thing to do.”

George shrugged. “It seems a pity for a perfectly serviceable instrument to spend its days gathering dust when someone might derive pleasure from it.”