Afterward, she sat beside Hester and drank her tea. Hawk finished his biscuits and set the plate on the floor. While the dogs lapped the crumbs, he regarded Julianne with an enigmatic expression. “I expected to find the cubs here.”
“I will receive them another day,” she said.
He set his cup aside. “What are the plans tonight?”
“Hamlet is playing at Drury Lane,” Hester said. “Lady Durmont sent an invitation to a dinner party, but I sent our regrets.”
Julianne had breathed a sigh of relief when Hester had informed her earlier. The last person she wanted to spend an evening with was that nasty Elizabeth.
“The theater it is,” Hawk said.
A footman entered. “A package arrived for you, my lady.”
“You may leave it on the sideboard,” Hester said.
Hawk stood. “I should take my leave now. I will bring my carriage round this evening to escort you both.”
“Your escort is very welcome,” Hester said.
Julianne stood. “I will walk with you to the landing.”
He offered his arm. The moment she took it, her breath caught at the solid muscle beneath his sleeve. Her knees grew weak at the scent of sandalwood and some other essence, something primitive and male. Something completely and utterly him.
He slanted a sideways glance at her as they stepped outside the drawing room. “You wish to tell me something?”
She looked over her shoulder, and then she met his gaze. “Well done,” she whispered.
He frowned. “I deserve no praise.”
“You made a mistake and begged her forgiveness. Hester was touched by the rose and the thorn.”
He looked away. She suspected she’d embarrassed him. “You made her happy.” And me as well.
When he returned his gaze to her, a lopsided grin lit his face. “If only I’d known a barbed rose would win you over, I might have brought you one every day.”
His joke disappointed her a little, because he’d caused his aunt anguish. But the jest was probably a defense against tender emotions. Men didn’t like to show their feelings. And really, there was nothing wrong with using a bit of humor to ease the moment. “You may bring me a rose, but have a care. My thorn might draw blood.”
Hawk laughed and tweaked her curl. “That’s my girl.”
Her smile froze on her face. He’d uttered those same words the night he’d escorted her to the Beresford’s ball. The words that had twined round her heart and given her hope only a few short weeks ago. That night, she’d not known the casual endearment meant nothing to him.
She swallowed hard as he took the stairs two at a time. When he reached the marble floor, he turned to wink at her. Then he sauntered off as if he’d not a care in the world.
He was a charmer, through and through, the sort of man who effortlessly enchanted with a wink and a smile and never once realized he’d left behind a broken heart.
Ironically, she’d done the same to a dozen men.
“Julianne?” Hester called.
With a deep breath, she planted a smile on her face. She was learning to mask her feelings, not only for her sake but for others’ as well.
When Julianne entered the drawing room, Hester rose, clutching the package she’d received earlier. “Shut the door,” she said, excitement in her voice.
Julianne closed it. “Hester, what is it?”
“I’m unsure. Come sit with me, and open the package.”
Julianne’s fingers trembled as she untied the string. When she opened it, she found a small bound pamphlet. “Oh, my stars!” she cried. Tears welled in her eyes.
“Let us admire your printed words together,” Hester said.
When Julianne turned the page, she ran her fingers over it. “I do wish my name could be on it.”
“It is unfortunate, but necessary,” Hester said. “But let us not dwell on that. Will you read it aloud?” Hester said.
While Julianne read, she marveled that she’d actually written the words. She’d worked so hard, but now it almost didn’t seem real, even though she held the pamphlet in her hands.
When Julianne finished reading, Hester proposed a private celebration with Amy and Georgette. “We had better not include Miss Sally Shepherd,” Hester said. “I’m sure she’s a sweet young lady, but the fewer people who know the better.”
“I agree,” Julianne said.
“It is important that we remind your friends to remain silent about the pamphlet,” she said.
“Yes, we must tell them to pretend ignorance of its existence,” Julianne said. “I shall tell them not to give any opinions about it whatsoever.”
Hester nodded. “The less they say, the less likely they are to accidentally reveal something that might give away your secret. It is only a cautionary measure. As I said before, if the worst happens, I will take responsibility for writing it.”
Not long ago, Julianne had accepted that reassurance, but now she knew she could never let Hester take the blame. All of Hawk’s family thought Hester too brazen. If they suspected Hester had authored the pamphlet, they would denounce her.
Julianne shook off her concerns. Only three people knew she was the author, and none of them would ever betray her.
Hundreds of voices created a veritable din at Drury Lane Theater.
Julianne sat beside Hawk and straightened the sedate bodice of her gown. She had almost worn a scandalously low-cut gown that Hester had encouraged her to have made up. But at the last moment, she’d changed her mind. The fabric had barely covered her nipples, and she knew she’d worry the entire time.
Not long after they were seated, Hester spotted some of her friends and ambled off to greet them.
“My aunt must know everyone in the blasted ton,” Hawk said. “She is always wandering off.”
Julianne bit back a smile. She suspected Hester had made arrangements to meet Mr. Peckham.
She glanced at Hawk from the corner of her eye. “You look perfectly satanic all in black.”
“I thought it was red devils with horns and twitching tails that intrigued you.”
“No ordinary demon would suit me,” she said. “I prefer Hades, king of the underworld.”
He scoffed. “Hades abducted Persephone.”
“But he made her a queen, and she chose to stay by eating the pomegranate seeds.”
His golden brown eyes darkened, and he looked at her from beneath his lashes. As he drew her in with his intent gaze, she wondered why the mention of the pomegranate seeds had led him to look at her in such a wicked manner. His lips parted, and as his breathing grew heavy, she found herself unable to tear her gaze away from his mouth.
Thunderous applause erupted. Hawk sat back, interrupting the spell. She released her pent-up breath and reminded herself to act like a proper lady.
When the curtains opened, the applause dwindled. An actor wearing a white robe walked out onto the stage, his face painted an unearthly pale shade. As he paced about, the watchmen cringed in obvious terror. The younger actor playing Hamlet entered the stage. At first, she thought the ghost silly, but when the apparition spoke to Hamlet about murder and revenge, Julianne shivered.
“Scared?” Hawk murmured.
A shaky laugh escaped her. “A little. I know it’s silly. I’ve seen the play before.”
He made a low, scary noise in his throat.
“Stop that,” she said.
He leaned toward her. “You’re not afraid of the real devils, but you’re afraid of ghosts.”
“How do you know they’re not real?”
“I believe what my eyes and ears tell me.”
“You once told me there was one in our attic.”
He chuckled. “I had to clamp my hand over your mouth to stifle your scream.”
She returned her gaze to the stage. “You were always incorrigible.”
“But you liked it when I encouraged you in mischief.”
“You were very bad to do so,” she said. “I was on
ly an impressionable little girl.”
“My three elder sisters boxed my ears when I tried to taunt them. You, however, were ripe for teasing and adventure.”
“Well, then, you can blame yourself for all of my transgressions this season.”
“Ah, so I’m to reap what I’ve sowed.”
“I’m afraid so,” she said.
“I admit I was a bad boy,” he said, his voice rumbling.
“You still are.”
He grinned at her. “I’ve not done a single bad thing since becoming your guardian.”
“You have a faulty memory,” she said.
“I do not.”
“I can prove you wrong,” she said, repeating the words he’d said the day he’d kissed her.
He was silent a moment. “Are you referring to our kiss?”
She was skating on thin ice now, but she meant to keep their banter light. “Thank you for supplying the evidence. I’d forgotten.”
“Liar,” he said. “You haven’t forgotten.”
“Neither have you, apparently.”
He paused and when he spoke again, his voice was serious. “I shouldn’t have touched you.”
She didn’t want to spoil the fun of bantering with him, so she decided to keep the conversation light. “I apologize for seducing you.”
“I kissed you,” he said.
“I kissed you back.”
“True,” he said. “Liked it, did you?”
Her shoulders shook. “I’ve no basis for comparison. For all I know, you’re a bad kisser.”
“I am incomparable,” he said.
“You take all the credit, but you know I acquitted myself quite well, despite my lack of experience.”
“You benefitted from my expertise,” he said.
His conceit encouraged her to make a bold move. She leaned toward him, accidentally brushing her sensitive breasts against his arm. He inhaled sharply as she cupped his ear and whispered, “How do you know?”
He turned toward her. The subtle scent of his spicy cologne and something else indefinable curled through her senses. “You abandoned yourself completely to me,” he said in a rough voice.
Her breath caught, but she refused to let him win this sensual battle. “So did you.”
He angled his head until his lips were inches from her own. Her heart thumped hard as he closed the scant distance.
Applause broke out among the crowd. He inhaled and turned away.
Her head was spinning. Dear God, they’d almost kissed in full view of the ton.
She gulped in air, but the scent of him still enveloped her. He was much too close, making her all too aware of him. He was breathing through his mouth—as if he’d run a race.
Julianne unfurled her fan and applied it near her hot cheeks. Her tingling skin and rapid heartbeat frightened her. Not because of the desire, but because she feared that in a moment of weakness she would let him back inside her heart.
• • •
The curtain closed, signaling the end of the first act. When Hester returned with Mr. Peckham, Hawk walked over to the balcony and gripped the rail. The lingering ache in his groin reminded him how close he’d come to kissing her—in public, for God’s sake.
Was he mad? Of course he was mad—madly in lust with a woman he couldn’t touch. He wasn’t quite sure how matters had taken a decidedly seductive turn, though he’d felt the tension almost from the beginning. That was nothing new.
The sound of feminine voices interrupted his thoughts. Hawk looked over his shoulder to find Julianne greeting her friends, Amy and Georgette. Hester asked the footman to bring a round of champagne for everyone. Hawk left the balcony railing and joined them. A few minutes later, Hester held her glass aloft and proposed a toast. “To the incomparable Julianne,” she said.
Why the devil had his aunt proposed a toast? Then again, who knew where his aunt got her strange notions. He clinked glasses with everyone else and started to turn away, but Georgette’s voice stopped him.
“Well done,” she said.
Hawk regarded Julianne with lifted brows. “Have I missed something?”
The silence following his question increased his suspicion.
His aunt laughed. “Have you not heard that the ton has proclaimed Julianne the most incomparable belle of the season? Did you not see it in the papers?”
He ought to have known it was something ridiculous. “I do not read the scandal sheets.”
Julianne lowered her lashes. “Oh, you are all embarrassing me. Truly, I’ve done nothing to deserve such praise.”
He was monumentally relieved that none of her scrapes had reached the blasted papers.
After Hawk returned to the balcony, Julianne took her friends aside. “Georgette, you nearly gave me away,” she whispered.
Georgette winced. “I’m sorry. The words just popped out.”
“You’ve got to be more careful. I don’t want Hawk to suspect anything,” Julianne said under her breath. “If it is ever discovered I authored the pamphlet, I will be ruined.”
“I knew this was a bad idea,” Amy whispered.
Hester joined them. “Girls, you look concerned, but everything is fine. He took the bait.”
“I feel horrible.” Georgette hung her head.
“Chin up. A guilty look will cause suspicion,” Hester said. “Julianne is not the only one who will suffer if word ever got out.”
“Wh-what do you mean?” Georgette asked.
Hester sighed. “I believe Julianne mentioned this the first day we discussed the pamphlet. As her particular friends, you and Miss Hardwick will be implicated as well if Julianne’s identity is ever uncovered.”
Georgette covered her mouth. Amy winced.
Julianne now thought that possibility rather remote. If it happened, she would tell her friends to deny any knowledge of the pamphlet. She started to voice the words but held her tongue when Hester gave her a speaking look.
“There is no need to be fearful, however,” Hester said. “Just keep in mind your reputations, and that will prevent you from making a slip of the tongue.”
After her friends departed, Julianne eyed Hester. “You exaggerated the danger to them in order to ensure Georgette’s silence.”
Hester nodded. “I thought you would catch on, for you’re a clever girl. I hope you’re not angry with me, but…”
“What is it?” Julianne murmured.
“Oh, it’s silly,” Hester said, waving her hand.
“You can tell me anything, Hester. I’ll never judge you.”
Hester looked a bit abashed. “I just feel this sudden motherly urge to protect you. I know it’s silly, for you are grown.”
Julianne squeezed her hand. “It’s not silly. You have given me wonderful advice.”
Hester swallowed. “I shall miss you when the season ends.”
She linked arms with Hester. “Spring is a beginning, and you will always be the aunt of my heart.”
The next day, Julianne sat in Hester’s drawing room with the five cubs and knew it was past time to make her intentions, or lack thereof, clear. “There is something I’ve been meaning to discuss with all of you,” she said.
“Is something wrong?” Beaufort asked.
“No, not at all,” she said. “I’ve been thinking about friendship and how much I’ve enjoyed getting to know all of you.”
“You’re the best girl in the ton,” Charles Osgood said.
“Thank you, Charles, but I am only one of many young ladies who are out in society.”
“Yes, but you are an incomparable,” Beaufort said.
Beaufort worried her more than the other four. “Your friendship means a great deal to me. We are all close in age and ought to enjoy ourselves,” she said.
“I’ll drink to that,” Caruthers said, lifting his teacup.
The other gentlemen laughed.
Julianne realized she was not making herself clear. “In a few short years, we will have greater responsibilities. F
or now, let us dance, have fun, and be light of heart. With no expectations other than friendship.”
“As we do now,” Portfrey said. He lifted his teacup. “To Julianne.”
“To Julianne,” the other four echoed.
She breathed a sigh of relief, because she truly liked the young men and didn’t want to mislead them.
Chapter Sixteen
A Lady’s Secrets of Seduction: Some secrets really should go to the grave.
Lady Dunworthy shook the pamphlet in the air. “Whoever wrote this filthy advice ought to be burned at the stake.”
Julianne’s cup rattled on the saucer as she imagined flames licking at her slippers right in Lady Dunworthy’s elegant drawing room. Her nerves threatened to overwhelm her as numerous society dragons ranted about the scandalous pamphlet.
Hester, on the other hand, watched the proceedings with a bemused smile. “Lady Dunworthy, have you read the pamphlet?”
“Only parts of it,” she said. “It is appalling. The author exhorts young ladies to ignore their mother’s advice.”
Lady Boswood shuddered. “Well, I shall ensure my Georgette never reads a word of it.”
When Georgette snorted, Amy elbowed her.
Lady Wallingham sighed. “The worst part is that everyone is rushing out to purchase it because of the vulgar title. I heard most of the customers are men.” She sniffed. “They obviously are hoping to learn new seduction techniques. We must protect our innocent daughters.”
“I agree,” Mrs. Shepherd said. “I certainly do not want my dear Sally exposed to such horrid advice.”
Sally leaned closer to Julianne and whispered, “I bribed my brother to buy me a copy. I hid it under my bed.”
Julianne’s eyes widened “Have you read the pamphlet?”
Sally snickered. “Yes. I shall have to try the author’s suggestions to catch a husband.”
“Girls, this is no laughing matter,” Mrs. Shepherd said.
“I beg your pardon, Mama,” Sally said.
Julianne was secretly delighted Sally had found the pamphlet helpful. Hopefully other young ladies would as well.
How to Seduce a Scoundrel Page 20
