A Wallflower Christmas (Wallflowers #5)(11)

“You shouldn’t be intrigued, you should be appalled!”

Natalie smiled and patted her hand. “Oh, Hannah, you don’t know how to manage men. You mustn’t take everything so seriously.”

“But courtship is a serious matter,” Hannah protested. It was at moments like this that she understood the differences between herself and her younger cousin. Natalie seemed to have a more thorough understanding of social maneuvering, of the process of pursuit and capture, than Hannah ever would.

“Oh, heavens, the moment a girl approaches courtship as a serious matter is the moment she’s lost the game. We must guard our hearts and hide our feelings carefully, Hannah. It’s the only way to win.”

“I thought courtship was a process of revealing one’s heart,” Hannah said. “Not winning a game.”

Natalie smiled. “I don’t know where you get such ideas. If you want to bring a man up to scratch, never reveal your heart to him. At least not early on. Men only value something when they have to put some effort into getting it.” She tapped her forefinger on her chin. “Hmmn…I shall have to come up with a good counterstrategy.”

Climbing off the bed, Hannah went to retrieve some gloves and stockings and other items that had been dropped carelessly to the floor. She had never minded tidying up after Natalie. Hannah had met other lady’s companions whose charges had made their lives a misery, treating them with contempt and subjecting them to all kinds of small cruelties. Natalie, on the other hand, was kind and affectionate, and although she could be a trifle self-absorbed on occasion, it was nothing that time and maturity wouldn’t cure.

Placing the personal articles in a dresser drawer, Hannah turned to face Natalie, who was still ruminating.

Natalie was a pretty sight, tumbled on the white ruffled bed, her hair falling in golden curls. Her blue-eyed sunny appeal had stolen many a gentleman’s heart during her first season. And her delicately regretful rejections of her suitors had done nothing to dampen their ardor. Long after the season had ended, towering arrangements of flowers were delivered to the Blandford mansion, and calling cards piled up on the silver tray in the entrance hall.

Absently Natalie wound a lock of shimmering hair around her finger. “Mr. Bowman is betting on the fact that since I went through an entire season without settling on someone, I must have tired of all these bland, respectable lords of leisure. And since it’s been months since the season ended, he also assumes that I am bored and eager for a challenge.” She gave an abbreviated laugh. “He is correct on all counts.”

“The proper way for him to get your attention is not to ravish your companion,” Hannah muttered.

“You weren’t ravished, you were kissed.” Natalie’s eyes twinkled mischievously as she asked, “Now confess, Hannah does he kiss nicely?”

Remembering the warm erotic sensation of Bowman’s mouth, Hannah felt the damnable color sweep over her again. “I don’t know,” she said shortly. “I have no basis for comparison.”

Natalie’s eyes widened. “You mean you’ve never been kissed before?”

Hannah shook her head.

“But surely Mr. Clark”

“No.” Hannah raised her fingers to her hot cheeks. “He must have tried,” Natalie insisted. “You’ve spent so much time in his company.”

“I’ve been working for him,” Hannah protested. “Helping with his manuscript and papers.”

“You mean you’ve actually been taking dictation from him?”

Hannah gave her a bewildered glance. “What else would I have been doing?”

“I always assumed when you said you’d been ‘taking dictation’ from him that you were letting him kiss you.”

Hannah’s mouth fell open. “When I said I’d been ‘taking dictation,’ I meant that I had been taking dictation!”

Natalie was clearly disappointed. “My goodness. If you have spent that much time with him, and he has never once kissed you, I’d say that is proof of the fact that his passion for his work will eclipse all else. Even a wife. We must find someone else for you.”

“I wouldn’t mind taking second place to Mr. Clark’s work,” Hannah said earnestly. “He will be a great man someday. He will do so much good for others”

“Great men don’t necessarily make good husbands. And you’re too dear and lovely to be wasted on him.” Natalie shook her head in disgust. “Why, any of my leftovers from last season would be better for you than silly old Mr. Clark.”

A troubling thought occurred to Hannah, but she was almost afraid to voice her suspicion. “Natalie, did you ever let one of your suitors kiss you?”

“No,” Natalie said reassuringly.

Hannah let out a sigh of relief.

“I let nearly all of them kiss me,” Natalie continued cheerfully. “On separate occasions, of course.”

Aghast, Hannah leaned hard against the dresser. “But…but I was watching over you …”

“You’re a terrible chaperone, Hannah. You often become so absorbed in conversation that you forget to keep an eye on me. It’s one of the reasons I adore you so.”

Hannah had never dreamed that her pretty, high-spirited cousin would have let any young man presume so far. Much less several. “You know you should never allow such liberties,” she said weakly. “It will cause rumors, and you might be labeled as fast, and then …”