A Wallflower Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page B

free, while her heart pounded heavily. She wished he would stop staring at her—she could actually feel his gaze on her downbent head. “The carriage is waiting,” she said unsteadily.
    â€œI’ll take you to the entrance hall,” she heard Lillian say, “and we’ll ring for your cloak and—” She broke off as she heard the sound of a crying baby. “Oh, dear.”
    A nurserymaid came into the parlor, holding a dark-haired infant bundled in a pink blanket. “Beg pardon, milady, but she won’t stop crying.”
    â€œMy daughter Merritt,” Lillian explained to Hannah. Reaching out for the infant, she cuddled and soothed her. “Poor darling, you’ve been fretful today. Miss Appleton, if you’ll wait a moment—”
    â€œI’ll see myself out,” Hannah said, smiling. “Stay here with your daughter, my lady.”
    â€œI’ll go with you,” Bowman offered easily.
    â€œThank you, Rafe,” came Lillian’s grateful reply, before Hannah could object.
    Feeling a pang of nerves in her stomach, Hannah left the parlor with Rafe Bowman. Before he reached for the bell pull, she murmured, “If you have no objection, I would like to speak with you privately for a moment.”
    â€œOf course.” His gaze swept over her, his eyes containing the devilish glint of a man who was well accustomed to having private moments with women he barely knew. His fingers slid around her elbow as he drew her with him to the shadow beneath the stairs.
    â€œMr. Bowman,” Hannah whispered with desperate earnestness, “I have neither the right nor the desireto  correct your manners, but…this matter of the handshake…”
    His head bent over hers. “Yes?”
    â€œPlease, you must not extend your hand to an older person, or to a man of greater prestige, or most of all to a lady, unless any of these people offer their hands to you first. It’s simply not done here. And as vexing and annoying as you are, I still don’t wish you to be slighted.”
    To her surprise, Bowman appeared to listen closely. When he replied, his tone was infused with quiet gravity. “That is kind of you, Miss Appleton.”
    She looked away from him, her gaze chasing round the floor, the walls, the underside of the stairs. Her breath came in anxious little gusts. “I’m not being kind. I just said you were vexing and annoying. You’ve made no effort to be polite.”
    â€œYou’re right,” he said gently. “But believe me, I’m even more annoying when I’m trying to be polite.”
    They were standing too close, the crisp scents of his wool coat and starched linen shirt drifting to her nostrils. And the deeper underlying fragrance of male skin, fresh and spiced with bergamot shaving soap. Bowman watched her with the same intensity, very nearly fascination, that he had shown in the parlor. It made her nervous, being stared at in such a way.
    Hannah squared her shoulders. “I must be frank, Mr. Bowman. I do not believe that you and Lady Natalie will suit in any way. There is not one atom of likeness between you. No common ground. I think it would be a disaster. And it is my duty to share this opinion with Lady Natalie. In fact, I will do whatever is necessary to stand in the way of your betrothal. And though you may not believe this, it is for your own good as well as Lady Natalie’s.”
    Bowman didn’t seem at all concerned by her opinion, or her warning. “There’s nothing I can do to change your opinion of me?”
    â€œNo, I’m quite stubborn in my opinions.”
    â€œThen I’ll have to show you what happens to women who stand in my way.”
    His hands slipped around her with an easy stealth that caught her completely unaware. Before she comprehended what was happening, one powerful arm had brought her against the animal heat of his hard masculine body. With his