The Female Charm Read Online Free PDF

hopped
off.
    Hoping to catch up
with the rest of the departing passengers, Amelia hurried down the
platform and towards the train station exit. A grin spread across
her face as soon as she saw Daniels leaning against the driver door
of Myron's sleek black car. The chauffeur smiled back and doffed
his cap with one hand while he opened the back door for her.
    “Good morning,
Daniels,” she said on her way past him and into the interior. She
tried not to let her nervousness at seeing Myron get the better of
her and kept the smile on her face.
    “Good morning,
Myron,” she added a few seconds later, noticing that he wasn't
looking at her but out of the opposite car window. He was
impeccably dressed, as always, in a deep green three-piece suit,
with his short black hair slicked back on the sides of his
head.
    A small moment of
smugness enveloped her as she realised she'd picked the perfect
colour for all her accessories. They matched. She opened her mouth
to say something related before her brain caught up and reminded
her that he would find the thoughts far too feminine and probably
childish. As she closed her mouth over the words, he finally looked
her way, his eyes stopping when they caught sight of the rose in
her hands. He frowned.
    “I do hope that's
not for me?” he asked.
    Uhh... No... It's
mine. I mean, I was given it.” She leant forward to tuck the stem
into the side of her handbag, feeling the intensity of Myron's gaze
and wanting to gather her thoughts.
    “Valentine's Day,”
he sneered. “I hope whoever gave you that rose won't distract you
from why you're really here. I don't have time for that sort of
sentimentality.”
    Amelia wasn't
sure, but she thought she heard a hint of jealousy in his voice.
But if it was jealousy, was it because he didn't have a Valentine
of his own or because he wasn't hers?
    “It was just some
gentleman on the train. He had some going spare and offered me
one,” she explained, wondering if she really ought to justify it,
but she plunged on anyway. “I have no Valentine of my own.”
    Myron turned back
to the window and what was now moving scenery, hiding any possible
reaction to her words. It didn't take her long to realise she was
being silly. Neither Holmes brother was sentimental, just like he'd
said.
    “Anyway, I am
here, as you summoned. What would you have me do?”
    “As my brother
summoned,” he replied, correcting her. Her eyes widened before she
could hide her reaction. Myron was in a very unpleasant mood.
Several angry responses flashed through her head, but she held them
all back. It would do no good to antagonise him more, despite
wanting to.
    “What would you
have me do?” she asked again as gently as she could. He sighed and
met her eyes, this time acknowledging that she was really
there.
    “You're here to
observe and learn. I would normally send my brother to handle these
tasks, but he insists he is busy today.”
    “Of course he
does,” she sighed and shook her head. “And, of course, he then
phoned me to let me know how much I was required to assist you
today,” she said, reacting to feeling played by Sebastian before
she could stop herself. Immediately, she regretted interrupting
Myron, but for once he nodded in agreement.
    “Perhaps you
should have been more careful about keeping our arrangement from
him.”
    “You know about
that, then.” She looked down, knowing he'd be angry.
    “Of course. It was
obvious. I'm surprised you thought hiding it was a good idea.”
    Amelia let out
another sigh. At the time she'd told Sebastian that his brother
would find out, she had just expected to be able to tell Myron
before he did. She knew, in retrospect, it was a very stupid
mistake to make.
    “You aren't going
to try and justify your actions?” he asked when she didn't say
anything more.
    “No. There's no
point. I made a mistake. I shouldn't have. It is as simple as
that.”
    “My brother seems
to think it's his fault and that I shouldn't blame you.