Page 36 of The Best of Friends
“You play very well.” The duke’s compliment was clearly sincere yet still intimidating.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“He wrote the piece he was playing,” Charlie said.
Toss’s attention shifted immediately to his friend. “You recognized it?”
“You played it at least 475,000 times while we were at Cambridge. Of course I recognized it.”
“Just as you mentioned Euclid575,000 times, which is why I can remember his name despite his being shockingly boring.”
Charlie leaned back in his chair. “Clearly we both received a very well-rounded education.”
The duke had not been distracted from his purpose in the least. “You are a composer?”
“I had hoped to be, Your Grace. But I was not permitted to complete my education on account of...”
“On account of his brother being a shabby dunghill of a fellow,” Charlie supplied.
“You know I don’t care for cant,” the Duke said.
Charlie sighed as if it were a great tragedy. “And I, sadly,can’thelp myself.”
Nothing in the duke’s expression changed, yet Toss thought he detected amusement there. Best offer his explanation while the duke’s mood wasn’t too black. “And I came here today to make use of your pianoforte because my brother disapproves of my musical interest and, to punish me for continuing to pursue it, sold our pianoforte yesterday without giving me any chance to save it.”
The duke nodded slowly. “He really is a shabby dunghill of a fellow.”
Charlie grinned. “He really is.”
“I can’t argue with that.” Toss kept the duke’s gaze. “Do you mind if I continue playing? I will bow to your preferences.”
“You’re supposed to bow to his face,” Charlie said.
“Charlie is even more ridiculous when he is with you,” the duke said, “which I wouldn’t have thought possible.” But there was a laugh in those terrifying eyes and very real brotherly affection. Most people wouldn’t believe it possible of His Grace. “You are welcome to come here and play the pianoforte whenever you’d like.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
The duke watched him a moment longer. “Have you ever met Mr. Henri Fortier?”
“I have,” Toss said.
“If you have the opportunity, you ought to speak with him about your situation. He, too, pursued an interest at Cambridge that his brother didn’t approve of, and that disagreement between them continued for some time afterward. He’d understand. He might even have some advice.”
“I could certainly use all the good advice I can get.”
The duke nodded. “Charlie’s mother has a knack for giving a person back his foundation when he’s lost it.” He spoke as one who knew. “I would suggest you allow her to help you reclaim yours.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
Even that small bit of sentimentality disappeared almost instantly. “And return to your playing. My daughter was enjoying it.”
And it was that last sentence of all that His Grace had said that lifted Toss’s spirits the most.My daughter was enjoying it.
Chapter Fourteen
Falstone House was not merelyconsidered one of the most elegant homes in London, it was also one of the most exclusive. The Dangerous Duke was not overly fond of people in general, but he was known to be quite fond of his wife and, for her sake, permitted gatherings to be held now and then. While the duchess did receive callers on her at-home day, it was not a place where many people spent much time, which added to the mystique of both the house and its owner.
Yet Daria was there, in the guest room being used by the duchess’s own sister, passing a casual and friendly morning in a way most people could only dream of. Because she knew Artemis as a friend first and foremost, it still sometimes caught her off guard to remember just how well-connected and significant she was in Society. And when Daria would remember that, she inevitably found herself overflowing with gratitude that Artemis had seen fit to rescue her all those years earlier.
