The Duke's Indiscretion Read Online Free PDF

“Besides, she needs to get married; let her husband buy her a piano, right?”
    Colin decided he didn’t like Brixham very much, or at least that part of him that cared so little about his sister’s feelings. Nodding, he agreed, “Exactly. How old is she?”
    He had no idea why he asked that, though he supposed he was vaguely curious.
    â€œNearly twenty-four,” the earl fairly blurted, unable to hide his irritation. “She refuses every suitor, and I’m at the point where I’m ready to force her to take the next one or I’m tossing her out on her backside.”
    Colin didn’t like him at all, but he covered his annoyance well. Chuckling, he remarked, “Females are a menace, are they not?”
    Brixham shook his head. “You’ve no idea,” he replied, “unless you have a sister of your own?”
    Truthfully, Colin said, “I’ve got two, both well married by twenty and giving me more nieces and nephews than I can count.”
    â€œAs every good lady should,” Brixham agreed.
    Suddenly Colin heard the faintest music drift in from beyond the study. “Is that her?”
    Brixham nodded. “Can’t get her off the thing, though I suppose once I sell it to you, she’ll have to take her responsibility of choosing a husband a bit more seriously.”
    â€œIndeed,” he replied, squirming a little in his chair.
    â€œWould you like to see it?” the man asked, already standing.
    â€œVery much,” Colin replied, completely uncaring what an antique pianoforte looked like at all, though oddly desirous of meeting the poor sister.
    The earl strode quickly to the door. “You can also get an idea of its sound from Charlotte’s playing. Sadly, she’s quite good.”
    Sadly? Apparently, the man seemed to think his sister spent too much time wrapped up in nonsense.
    Earl Brixham led them down the dimly lit hallway, then paused in front of the last door on their right. Turning back to him, he advised, “Don’t mind her if she’s rude, your grace. She’s not going to like this at all.”
    â€œI understand,” Colin returned, his tone harsher than he’d intended.
    With a strong hand on the latch, Brixham opened the door to the music room and stepped inside. Immediately the music stopped.
    â€œI’ve already embroidered this morning, brother, and I’d like to play for a while.”
    Colin heard the soft voice before he saw her. Then he strode around her tall brother to view the stubborn, though clearly talented, Charlotte Hughes for the first time.
    Instead of introduction, as he expected, she gaped at him, her mouth dropped open in surprise as she pushed her thick spectacles up the bridge of her nose to see him clearly.
    â€œDon’t be sassy with me, girl,” her brother ordered through a snort. “His grace, the Duke of Newark, is here to inquire about the pianoforte.”
    Her face flushed pink and she bit her lip. Or rather chewed on it. Colin stood with his hands behind him, silently amused, noting her shock, taking in what he could see of her behind the instrument, her slight figure dressed in a simple day gown of cream muslin. She possessed the same coloring as her brother, though her features seemed more refined, her massively curly, thick strawberry-blond hair pulled back from her face with pins and tied with a ribbon, exposing a wide forehead, and sadly drawing attention to her spectacles, which did nothing more than hide her feminine appearance. A scattering of freckles fell across the bridge of her nose and cheeks, which, he noticed, had abruptly gone quite pale as she peered at him from across the top of her pianoforte.
    â€œWell, don’t just sit there, girl,” Brixham fairly bellowed. “Either play for the man or stand up.”
    Her fair lashes fluttered as she realized she was staring. “Your grace,” she mumbled in acknowledgment,