A Wallflower Christmas (Wallflowers #5)(44)

After Evie had finished reading, looking up with round blue eyes, Hannah said morosely, “It may not have been intended for me. It could just as easily have been written for Natalie. Men adore her. They’re always proposing to her, and she manages them so well, and I can’t manage them at all.”

“N-no one can manage men,” Evie told her firmly. “They c-can’t even manage themselves.”

“That’s right,” Lillian said. “And furthermore, any woman who thinks she can manage men shouldn’t be allowed to have one.”

“Annabelle can manage them,” Daisy said reflectively. “Although she would deny it.”

There was a brief tap at the door.

“The tea,” Lillian said.

However, it was not a maid, but Annabelle Hunt. “Hello,” she said with a smile, her gaze sweeping across the group. “What are we doing?” As she looked at Hannah, her expression softened with concern. “Oh, you’ve been crying.”

“She’s in love with Rafe Bowman,” Evie said. “It’s a s-secret. Come in.”

“Tell no one, Annabelle,” Lillian said severely. “This is confidential.”

“She’s not very good with secrets,” Daisy said.

“I am, too,” Annabelle said, coming into the parlor. “At least, I am good at keeping big secrets. It’s the little ones I seem to have a problem with.”

“This is a big one,” Lillian told her.

Hannah waited with resignation as the situation was explained to Annabelle.

Receiving the letter, Annabelle scanned the scorched parchment, and a faint smile came to her lips. “Oh, how lovely.” She looked up at Hannah. “This was not meant for Lady Natalie,” she said decisively. “Hannah, Rafe’s attraction to you has not gone unnoticed. In fact, it has been discreetly remarked upon.”

“She means everyone’s gossiping about you,” Daisy said to Hannah.

“I believe,” Annabelle continued, “that Rafe likes Lady Nataliethere is certainly much about her to like. But he loves you.”

“But it’s impossible,” Hannah said, her face drawn with miserable tightness.

“Impossible that he could love you?” Daisy asked. “Or impossible because of the infernal deal that Father has set up for him?”

“Both,” Hannah said dolefully. “First, I don’t know if what he feels for me is merely infatuation …” She paused to blot her burning eyes.

” ‘Ask me an hour from now,’ ” Annabelle read softly from the letter. ” ‘Ask me a month from now. A year, ten years, a lifetime …’ That’s not infatuation, Hannah.”

“But even if it’s true,” Hannah said, “I would never accept him, because he would lose everything, including his relationship with his father. I would not want him to make such a sacrifice.”

“Neither should Father,” Lillian said darkly.

“Perhaps I should mention,” Daisy volunteered, “that Matthew is determined to have it out with Father on this issue. He says Father can’t be allowed to run to such excesses. Limits must be set, or he’ll try to trample over everyone. And since Matthew has a great deal of influence with Father, it’s very possible that he can make him retract his demands.”

“But no matter what,” Annabelle told Hannah, “you have nothing to do with the relationship between Rafe and his father. Your only obligation is to make your feelings known to Rafe. Out of love for himand for your own sake as wellyou must give Rafe a choice. He deserves to know your feelings before he makes important decisions about his future.”

Hannah knew that Annabelle was right. But the truth was not exactly liberating. It made her feel hollow and small. She drew the toe of her shoe on a flowered medallion pattern on the carpet. “I hope I can be that brave,” she said, more to herself than to the others.

“Love is worth the risk,” Daisy said.

“If you don’t tell Rafe,” Lillian added, “you’ll regret it forever. Because you’ll never know what might have happened.”

“Tell him,” Evie said quietly.

Hannah took an unsteady breath, looking at the four of them. They were a peculiar group, all so bright and pretty, but…different. And she had the feeling that these women encouraged each other’s eccentricities, and relished their differences. Anything could be said or done among them, and no matter what it was, they would accept and forgive. Sometimes, in some rare and wonderful friendships, the bond of sisterly love was much stronger than any blood tie.

It felt nice to be around them. She felt comforted in their presence, especially when she looked into the Bowman sisters’ familiar dark eyes.

“All right,” she told them, her stomach dropping. “I will tell him. Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow night is the Christmas Eve ball,” Annabelle said. “Do you have a nice gown to wear?”

“Yes,” Hannah replied. “A white one. It’s very simple, but it’s my favorite.”

“I have a pearl necklace you could borrow,” Annabelle offered.

“I have white satin gloves for her,” Daisy exclaimed.

Lillian grinned. “Hannah, we’ll adorn you more lavishly than the Christmas tree.”