How to Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling

promised your brother I would protect you from rakes.”
    She arched her brows. “Does that include you?”
    Her words pierced a bleak place inside him. He looked away, but his heart seemed to fall to his stomach as he recalled that awful day his father had confronted him.Time rolled backward, and once again, his world shattered all around him. His chest burned anew with remembered fear and shame at his father’s disgusted denouncement. He could have withstood the remorse if not for the fear that he’d condemned an innocent to a life of misery.
    “Hawk?” Julianne asked tentatively.
    He drew in his breath, realizing he’d let the mask fall. Out of habit, he planted a grin on his face and wagged his brows. “Beware the big bad wolf lurking in the drawing room.”
    She held her hands up. “Oh, I’m so afraid.”
    You should be
. “I’d best be off.”
    She rose with him. He winked and swept her a ridiculous courtly bow.
    Her husky laughter reverberated all along his spine. He maintained his grin until he strode out of the drawing room. Only then did he let the clown mask fall away.

Chapter Six
     
A Lady’s Secrets of Seduction: To become irresistible, you must be seemingly unattainable.
     
    I definitely approve of your first chapter,” Hester said the next morning as she perused Julianne’s work in the Egyptian drawing room. “Your analysis of male behavior is quite insightful.”
    Julianne smiled. “I had a bit of help from you.”
    “Now we must plan your next chapter,” Hester said.
    “It occurred to me that the first step is to exude confidence.”
    Hester nodded. “I agree. A lady who is sure of her charms attracts the notice of gentlemen. And if she pretends not to notice them watching her, they will grow more interested. Men are attracted to what they cannot have. They love the chase.”
    All these years, she’d never made a secret of her feelingsfor Hawk. She’d agreed to his every suggestion, laughed at his every joke, and followed him everywhere when he visited her family’s country estate. Would he have been more interested if she’d not been so open about her feelings?
    She fisted her hands, despising herself for speculating about what she might have done to attract him. Did she have no pride at all?
    “Once the chase begins, the lady must use her wit, charm, and vivacity—all of which you possess,” Hester said.
    Hester’s voice snapped her out of her reverie. “You mean flirt?” she asked.
    “Teasing and witty repartee will beguile a gentleman, but once again, the lady must not let her true feelings show,” Hester said. “Once she secures his interest, she must drift away before
he
becomes too confident of
her
affections.”
    Julianne thought of all the young men she’d teased over the years. She’d danced and flirted with them, but she’d been certain they’d understood it was all in good fun. Yet, twelve gentlemen had proposed to her. Had she given them the wrong signals?
    The same way Hawk had done to her?
    Guilt flooded her chest. “Hester, isn’t it wrong to mislead gentlemen?”
    “All is fair in love and war,” she said. “If you give the impression you are elusive, you’ve done nothing wrong.”
    Julianne bit her lip. If that were true, why did she feel as if she’d done something wrong?
    “Something is troubling you, gel.”
    “I never meant to wound those gentlemen who proposed to me, but I must have inadvertently encouragedthem.” She looked at her clasped hands. “Afterward, I always tried to explain that I wasn’t ready for marriage, but I wounded them nonetheless.” Of course, she didn’t mention that she’d been waiting for Hawk.
    “Did you ever allow any of those gentlemen to court you exclusively?” Hester asked.
    She lifted her chin. “No, of course not.”
    “Did any of them seek your brother’s permission first?” Hester asked.
    “No. I think their proposals were rather spur of the moment.”
    “Oh?” Hester said.
    Julianne winced.