A Bluestocking Christmas by Monica Burns Read Free Book Online Page B

good friend would? He dismissed the notion immediately. Anthony was blind to the possibility that Ivy Beecham was without flaws. He didn’t like the idea of having made a mistake where she was concerned. It would mean an apology was in order, and he’d never been very good at apologies.
    Turning away from his nephew, Simon picked up a stack of invitations from his desk. The woman might have thought to seduce his nephew, but she was about to have the tables turned on her. He would enjoy seducing the avaricious, but tempting, Ivy. Behind him, Anthony uttered an expletive.  
    “Miss Beecham was right, Simon. Your attempt to seduce her was the height of arrogance.” Anthony’s comment made Simon smile with satisfaction. So Ivy Beecham had realized seduction had been his intent. It meant she’d been disturbed enough by him to label their encounter a seduction attempt. The thought pleased him. He shot a brief glance over his shoulder at his nephew.
    “So the esteemed Miss Beecham thought I was attempting to seduce her simply because I offered her a settlement to stay away from you. She was foolish not to accept the money if she knew your affections lay elsewhere.”
    With a silver letter opener, Simon slit open the note card he held. As he pulled the parchment out of the envelope he stared down at the note, his mind focused on Ivy. Why hadn’t she taken the money? This time the probability that he’d misjudged her was far too strong a possibility to easily discard the thought. His fingers tightened on the delicate notepaper and it crumpled slightly beneath his grip. Behind him, Anthony uttered a small oath of disgust.
    “For your edification, Miss Beecham doesn’t need your money. She’s wealthier than the two of us put together.”
    “If that’s true, why is she working in the London Library?” Simon snorted with disbelief as he turned to face his nephew.
    “Because she loves books. It’s her passion.”  
    Anthony’s voice was fierce as he defended the woman. It was difficult to fault his loyalty. He wouldn’t have Carlton blood running through him otherwise. As for passion, Ivy was going to realize there were other things besides books to be excited about.  
    His mind immediately conjured up the image of Ivy standing naked before him. The picture in his head wasn’t just pleasurable—it was arousing. Soon, quite soon, he’d make that irresistible image a reality. Anticipation nibbling at him, he returned his attention to the conversation at hand
    “And this passion for books, I suppose Miss Beecham told you this.” Simon folded his arms across his chest and directed an arched look at his nephew.
    “Actually it was Lord Asterly who told me.”
    “Exactly why would Lord Asterly tell you such a thing?” Surprised by Anthony’s response, he frowned.
    “Because I mentioned I’d like to supplement her salary with a gratuity. The old man nearly laughed himself into an apoplexy. He said Miss Beecham was Neville Beecham’s sole heir.”
    “Neville Beecham,” Simon exclaimed, “The shipping magnate who died in shipwreck just off the Dover coast two years ago?”
    “Beecham was her uncle.” Anthony nodded. “As Asterly tells it, Beecham didn’t know about her until she was of age. He’d been estranged from his brother for years, and learned of Ivy by happenstance.”
    Simon winced at this new information. It left him in a decidedly prickly position given his behavior this morning. His jaw tightened at his behavior in the library. He’d insulted Ivy, and it wasn’t one of his better moments. Anthony was right. He’d assumed the worst and not bothered to investigate the woman extensively before rushing forward with his attempt to protect his nephew. Even his servants had never been treated with such disparaging behavior. Regret bit its teeth into him, and he found himself wishing he’d handled the matter more diplomatically.
    His behavior would make it difficult to find his way back into Ivy’s