A Bluestocking Christmas Read Online Free PDF

emphasized how much her voice was like the call of a siren. He gritted his teeth to avoid answering its seductive promise.
    “I realize you had hopes of a more permanent relationship with my nephew, but that is out of the question.”
    “Permanent relationship—”
    “Forgive me, Miss Beecham, but I’m well acquainted with women of your ilk, and I have no intention of letting Anthony marry you.”
    “Marry?”
    The shocked and horrified look on her face made him hesitate. Was he mistaken about her? No, of course not. No woman of respectable means or social standing would be working in the London Library. It was the perfect setting to ensnare a rich, doddering old fool looking for a young wife or mistress.
    “While I’m sure it would be a step up for you financially and socially, I cannot allow him to marry a commoner.”
    Simon barely missed the sting of her hand as she took a swipe at him. Dodging the blow, he captured her wrist in a tight grip and jerked her toward him. The softness of her body curved into his, and he drank in the soft, exotic fragrance of lilies. In a split second, his body tensed with an anticipation he’d not felt in a very long time.  
    Damnation. Perhaps he’d be better off making the woman his mistress instead of ordering her not to see Anthony again. Not only would it destroy the boy’s affections for the woman, but he was certain it would be an enjoyable pastime to soak himself in Ivy Beecham’s hot honey. He immediately rejected the idea.  
    Anthony might think he was in love, but Simon knew firsthand the pain of someone destroying his illusions about a woman. Even if it had been for his own good, the devastation that had followed the brutal revelation had still been a crushing blow. He could never hurt the boy like that. He cared too deeply about Anthony and his nephew’s happiness. Yet as he stared down into Ivy’s brilliant blue gaze, he almost forgot why he’d come here in the first place. He clenched his teeth with irritation.
    She’d gone still in his embrace, and the outraged expression on her features was an extraordinary performance. The indignant glare she directed at him seemed so genuine it gave him pause for a several beats. Could he have been wrong? No, Anthony had been quite clear about his intent toward Miss Beecham. The woman was simply an excellent actress intent on deceiving him as to her real intentions when it came to his nephew.
    “Release me, my lord,” she said quietly. The frigid tone of her voice was icy enough to freeze the Thames in the spots where it wasn’t already bearing a layer of ice. “Now.”
    The single word was emphatic, and he did as she asked, although his body protested the loss of her warm curves. She took a step back to study him in silence, anger flashing in her blue eyes. Again, he questioned his assumptions about her before discarding them just as quickly.
    “I came here today—”
    “Forgive me, my lord, but I have no intention of marrying Anthony or anyone who’s a member of the peerage.” Her obvious contempt startled him before he narrowed his gaze at her.
    “That is a comforting thought,” he said with wry skepticism. “But to ensure that you don’t change your mind where my nephew is concerned, I’m prepared to offer you a substantial sum in exchange for your word to break off all association with Anthony.”
    The gasp of horror that escaped her proved as surprising as everything else in their conversation up to this point. With a look that labeled him little more than a lowly insect, she wheeled away from him and stalked down the aisle. Stunned, it took him several seconds to stride after her. The instant Simon caught her by the elbow and drew her to a halt, she jerked away from him. The movement forced her to press her back against a row of books.
    “If you touch me again, my lord, I’ll scream.”  
    The quiet fury in her voice furrowed Simon’s brow in aggravation. This wasn’t going at all like he’d