She winced because there was enough truth in what he’d said to make her feel guilty. But none of this would have happened if her brother had come to London. “I wasn’t flouting the proprieties. We went to the foyer because Elizabeth said cruel things to Sally, and we wanted to show that she wasn’t friendless.”
“Obviously, you think me an easy mark.”
“You have no idea what I think.” Of course, she would never admit he’d crushed her, hurt her so much she didn’t know how she would ever be able to risk her heart again. “If I had known you would dictate my every move, I would have begged to stay with one of my friends.”
“That brings me to the central problem. I cannot sweep your actions under the rug again. But since you object to me telling you what to do, I shall give you a choice.”
She regarded him with suspicion.
“Choice number one,” he said. “I take you home to your brother. Then you will explain what necessitated this action.”
She wanted to throttle him.
“Choice number two,” he continued. “You will stay home for an entire week. You will decline all of your invitations. You will receive no one. To ensure you abide by the rules, I will periodically call at different times to check on you. One infraction and you start the week over again.”
“May I remind you that you are not my parent,” she said, her voice rising.
“No, I’m your guardian. The choice is up to you.”
“You know very well it is no choice.”
“It’s the best offer you’re going to get,” he said.
She held her wrists out. “Go on. Shackle me.”
He laughed, damn him.
The carriage rolled to a halt. “Hawk, you know it is unreasonable to make me stay home. Others will question my absence.”
“I’ll put it about that you’re indisposed,” he said.
Use your wiles on him. She laid her hand on his arm. “Please.”
“Sorry, Julie-girl. I warned you there would be no more chances, and you chose to test my resolve.”
After the driver opened the door and let down the steps, Hawk descended and handed Julianne down. Then he escorted her to the house. When Henderson, the butler, opened the door, she started to pull away, but he smiled at her. “I’m coming inside.”
“Why?” she said.
“Because I wish to spend more time with you.”
She narrowed her eyes, knowing he had something up his sleeve.
After they shed their outer wraps, he took her arm and led her toward the stairs. She glanced sideways at him. “You don’t trust me.”
“Whatever gave you that impression?”
“I wish to retire. You may go home,” she said.
He shook his head and started up the stairs. “Not until my aunt returns.”
“If you wish to admire the mummy in the drawing room, be my guest. I am for bed,” she said.
“No, you will entertain me,” he said. “You can start by telling me the real reason you decided to leave the box tonight.”
“What difference does it make?”
“It might to you. If you tell the truth, I might give you an early reprieve. One day for the absolute truth.”
“I already told you I wished to speak to my friends privately.”
“I’m afraid that response is not good enough. In order to shave off one day of confinement, you must confess what you spoke about.”
“Balls, bonnets, and beaux,” she said.
“I may add an extra day for lying,” he said as they reached the landing.
“You may go to the devil,” she muttered.
He opened the drawing room door. “I probably will.”
She whipped past him.
When the door clicked shut, he said, “Ring for your maid.”
“Do you think I wish to expose our argument to a servant?”
“It wouldn’t be necessary if you hadn’t manipulated my aunt.”
Fuming, she marched past him. “It’s not as if we haven’t been alone before.” She flounced onto the sofa and kicked off her slippers.
He watched her with a bemused smile. “Nice stockings. Are they perchance silk?”
“I’m sure you’re well acquainted with lady’s undergarments.”
He joined her on the sofa. She moved over. He followed. She moved again, right next to the rolled arm. He slid over, crowding her. Exasperated, she started to rise, but he caught her arm and tugged her back.
“You are irritating me.” She pointed at the sofa directly across from them. “Sit over there.”
“I prefer close proximity during interrogations,” he said.
“What next? Torture?”
“You will answer my questions. No prevaricating, no diversions, no sassy remarks. Did you even go to the retiring room?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” he asked. “And this time, I want the truth.”
She couldn’t tell him about the pamphlet, but she recalled Georgette’s words and inspiration struck. “When Beaufort tried to show me how to perform the magic trick, I couldn’t help but notice your disapproval.”
Hawk folded his arms over his chest. “What does that have to do with your departure?”
“I didn’t understand why you objected, so I decided to discuss it with my friends in the retiring room. Georgette thought you were jealous, but I told her that was ridiculous. After all, you are my guardian.”
“Why do I suspect there is more to the tale? Ah, I forgot. You also took a little tour of the foyer, or so you said. All I know for certain is that you chose to flirt with Archdale.”
“I don’t know why you even bother asking me for the truth when you don’t believe anything I say,” she said.
“Because you’ve given me ample cause to distrust you.”
A startling realization occurred to her as she stared at him. “You won’t forgive my mistakes, but I forgave you.”
He reared back as if she’d slapped him.
She leaned toward him. “You don’t care about me. All that matters to you is discharging your duty to my brother.”
He shook his head. “How can you say that when we’ve been friends all these years?”
“I don’t know what to believe of you anymore.” She’d adored him as a little girl and loved him for making her laugh when she was sad. He’d been like a knight in shining armor during her youth when she’d felt the horror of knowing her very birth had disappointed her father. Because she was an unwanted girl.
“Believe this,” he said. “I tried to refuse your brother’s request because I didn’t think I was a suitable guardian. But I agreed because he is like a brother to me.”
She averted her face so that he would not see the pain his unspoken words inflicted upon her. Lady Julianne is practically a sister to me.
He released a loud sigh. “I did it for your sake as well. I wanted you to enjoy the season. And I suppose I’m partially to blame, because I’ve encouraged you in mischief for years. As it is, I am keeping secrets from your brother, because I don’t want him to worry. Quite frankly, I resent that you’ve put me in this position.”
What he’d really meant was that he resented having to give up his raking to guard her. He was probably elated at the prospect of regaining his freedom temporarily while she was restricted to his aunt’s home. No doubt he meant to spend his nights with a brazen hussy.
Pain flared again, making her furious with herself for caring. But the thought of him in bed with another woman burned.
“Julianne, you will abide by the restriction for the coming week,” he said.
Why should she make this easy for him? Thus far, she’d failed miserably to make him want her, with the notable exception of that one kiss. But she would turn the tables on him, starting tonight. “Yes, I understand,” she said. “But I am a bit confused.”
His eyes narrowed. “About what?”
“Earlier, you claimed I purposely lured gentlemen, but I never knowingly misled
them. I only wished to be nice. Obviously, my ignorance is a problem.”
“I will protect you,” he said. “All you have to do is cooperate.”
“But you cannot be with me every hour of every day,” she said. “Is it not true that rakes are very cunning? One of them might wait for the perfect opportunity to approach me, which is what happened tonight. Not long ago, you saw the way Ramsey cornered me in Lady Morley’s dining room—right under your very nose.”
“Are you suggesting I failed you?”
“No, but I am in need of an education. Since you are my guardian and an expert on rakes, you are the perfect person to teach me their tricks.”
“Let me see if I have this correct. You want me to teach you how to spot a rake?”
She nodded. “Yes, for my own protection.”
“What do you want me to say? Beware the red devils sporting horns and forked tails?”
“No, silly. I want you to teach me what rakes say and do to lure their victims. It may require a demonstration on your part.” Naturally she must remain unresponsive, but if all went well, he would have trouble resisting her.
“A demonstration?” he said.
“Yes. For educational purposes only.”
An arrested expression crossed his face. “You want me to seduce you?”
“Pretend to seduce me.” She smiled. “Since my activities are restricted for the next week, the timing is perfect for my lessons.”
“I agree your ignorance is problematic. Certainly, it has led you into more than one scrape,” he said.
Triumph surged through her veins. She had him in the palm of her hand. “Given the urgency of the matter, I believe we should begin immediately,” she said.
Her heart pounded as he turned to her and lowered his head until his breath whispered over her lips. She’d sworn to keep her desire firmly under control, but she found it difficult when his scent made her dizzy with longing.
His eyes darkened. “You are an eager pupil.”
She held her breath, certain he meant to kiss her.
“The forbidden excites you, doesn’t it?”
She dared not admit it.
He pinned her wrists against the sofa. A thrilling sensation shot through her. She ought to protest, but she didn’t. Because secretly, she liked the way he held her captive.
“You want to flirt with a little danger,” he said.
I want to be naughty.
When his gaze dropped to her breasts, her nipples tightened. She wanted to yield to him, wanted him to kiss and touch her again.
“I admit I find your request diverting,” he said, his voice rumbling.
Alarm pierced through the sensual haze in her brain.
He turned his head slightly, until his breath tickled her ear. “But there will be no seduction lessons, pretend or otherwise.”
He’d meant to teach her a lesson, but he’d come dangerously close to falling for his own ruse. The seductive words he’d spoken had left him half aroused.
The devil. He’d almost kissed her again.
“Let me go,” she hissed.
When he released her wrists, she bounded off the sofa and pointed at him as if he were one of his aunt’s spaniels. “Stay.”
He chuckled and knew he’d succeeded in inflaming her temper when she marched off to the bookcase. She selected a volume and padded over to the sofa across from him. After plumping a cushion, she reclined with her feet on the sofa. Clearly, she’d no idea that in her current position, her flimsy skirts revealed the dimensions of one of her slim thighs. Naturally, he imagined pressing her legs wide, raising her skirts, and exploring her soft folds… making her wet and ready for him.
Hawk shifted on the sofa as his cock stirred. He’d better distract himself. What better way than to tease her? “What are you reading?”
“Sense and Sensibility.”
“What is it about?” he asked.
She kept her gaze on the novel. “Women who have very little control over their destinies.”
“Sounds melancholy,” he said.
“The ladies triumph in spite of adversity.”
“Are there any rakes?” he asked, hoping to provoke her.
She kept her gaze on the novel. “As a matter of fact, there is one. Poor Marianne falls for Willoughby’s wiles. He gives her every expectation that he is in love with her, and then he crushes all her hopes.”
“Perhaps he will reform and offer to marry her.” That sort of fairy tale would likely appeal to Julianne.
“No, there is a twist in the plot,” she said.
“How do you know?”
“I’ve read it before. Now be quiet,” she said.
“Why would you read it again? You already know what happens.” Damn, he’d never understand women.
“I adore the story and wish to experience it again. Stop interrupting me.”
He thoroughly enjoyed needling her. “But I have nothing to do.”
“Go home,” she said.
“Not until my aunt returns.”
She made an exasperated sound and sat up. “Obviously, you need something to occupy you.”
As she marched over to the bookcase again, he admired her bottom through the outline of her skirts. Naturally he imagined sliding his hands down to her derriere so he could press her against his swelling erection. Lord, he’d better think of something dull before she noticed. Such as books about ladies triumphing over adversity.
She selected another book and brought it to him. The overwhelming temptation to pull her onto his lap gripped him, but he didn’t dare.
“Read this,” she said in a supercilious tone. “You might learn something about women.”
“Pride and Prejudice? Are there are any rakes in this one?”
“Yes. George Wickham is very bad.”
Clearly Julianne had an unhealthy obsession with bad men. “What does Wickham do that is so awful?” he asked.
“Read it and find out,” she said. “And for heaven’s sake, do keep quiet.”
After she returned to the sofa, he opened the novel and read the first page. “The author has a razor-sharp wit.”
“You’re talking again,” she said in an irritated voice.
He continued reading. After a few moments, he glanced over at her. She was thoroughly engrossed in her novel, but of course he couldn’t pass up another opportunity to bedevil her. “Miss Elizabeth Bennett reminds me of you.”
“Thank you. I shall take that as a compliment.”
“This Darcy fellow is a regular prig,” he said.
“He redeems himself in the end.”
“Bingley, on the other hand, is too cheerful and likes everyone on the spot. A man of his age and consequence ought to be more cautious in his opinions.”
“For the last time, be quiet,” she said.
Hawk stretched out his legs and continued reading. His cock settled down enough that he could concentrate on the story. He thought the novel would be more interesting if the narrator focused more on Darcy. There was far too much emphasis on the relationship between the two elder sisters, which he found tedious. But he kept reading, mostly because he wanted to see how the author portrayed the rake. And then he would exasperate Julianne by pretending sympathy for the evil George Wickham.
A few minutes later, the sound of deep, even breathing drew his attention to Julianne. The novel lay open upon her chest. Her sweet face was turned toward him.
The room had grown a bit chilly. He thought she might be cold. After he stood, he managed to get his tight coat off. Then he crossed the room and gently removed the book. She twitched but didn’t awaken. He placed his coat over her, trying not to wake her.
Her eyes opened. She looked dazed. “Hawk?” Her naturally raspy voice sounded a bit hoarse.
“You fell asleep,” he murmured.
“Your coat is warm.”
The clock on the mantel chimed. It was one o’clock in the morning. Where the devil was his aunt?
Julianne
sat up and handed him his coat.
He struggled with the tight sleeves.
She stood. “Turn your back and let me help.”
The brush of her fingers as she assisted him made his skin tingle. When he faced her, she straightened his lapels. Something inside his chest tumbled over.
He’d kissed her. He’d touched her. He’d whispered in her ear. But for reasons he couldn’t understand, her simple gesture felt far more intimate. The sort of thing a wife might do.
He thrust that thought out of his head. “I should stay until my aunt returns.”
Julianne shook her head. “We’re both tired. Go home.”
He escorted her to the landing and watched as she ascended the stairs. Then he hurried downstairs to collect his greatcoat, hat, and gloves.
Fifteen minutes later, he walked inside the set of rooms at the Albany he’d occupied since leaving university many years ago. After his valet helped him undress, Hawk donned a banyan robe, poured himself a brandy, and looked about the spartan bedchamber. No paintings adorned the walls. The shaving stand held the usual accoutrements—brush, bottle of cologne, and razor. An untidy stack of papers and books on his desk showed the only signs that he actually lived here.
It was a refuge, but it wasn’t a home.
Even though his father had died years ago, Hawk had never returned to live at Ashdown House. He managed the business of two estates from a distance, because every inch of the properties reminded him too much of his father’s disappointment in him.
He knew his refusal to return home grieved his mother and angered his sisters. His brothers-in-law thought him a callous beast for abandoning his mother. But if he returned home, his mother and sisters would hound him daily to do his marital duty. He could fob them off easily on his weekly visits simply by escaping.
They had expectations of him. He was the earl, and therefore it was his duty to produce the requisite heir and spare. They didn’t know he never would.
Even his brother Will, the heir presumptive, didn’t know. Hawk had thought of telling his brother, but he wanted Will to remain carefree as long as possible. As years went by, his brother would guess the truth. By then, Will would be older and likely would have married.
Hawk snuffed the candles, shrugged off the banyan, and climbed into bed, staring at the dark canopy. Years ago, he’d hoped time would lessen his remorse, and though his regret was no longer acute, he could never forget. Because he could never right the wrong he’d done, and he would bear the guilt in silence always.
How to Seduce a Scoundrel Page 14