How to Seduce a Scoundrel by Vicky Dreiling Read Free Book Online Page B

sound. “Hiding will only postpone the inevitable and make everyone angrier with us.”
    “Hah! You’re not the one who must face the f-firing squad.” Georgette lurched to the door and opened it. “Meg, come inslide.”
    “She means
inside
.” Julianne hiccoughed.
    After the maid entered, Georgette spoke. “We need to go to the water cl-closet.”
    Meg looked uncertain. “You had better wait for the lady to return.”
    “I cannot wait,” Georgette said. “Tell Lady Rut-Rutledge to meet us downstairs if we mish her.”
    “My lady, you’d better stay put,” Meg said. “The wine has gone to your head, it has.”
    “No.” Georgette motioned to Julianne and Amy. “Come.”
    Julianne hesitated. “Georgette, we’d better not.”
    “I’m going,” Georgette said. She walked unsteadily out into the corridor.
    Amy rose. “Julianne, we must stop her.”
    They hurried to the door. “Georgette, come back here,” Julianne hissed as her friend weaved the wrong way down the corridor.
    Meg followed them to the door. “My lady, come back. The stairs are the other way.”
    Georgette giggled and continued on.
    “I’ll fetch her,” Meg said.
    “Meg, I fear she’ll not listen to you,” Amy said.
    Julianne took Meg’s candle. “We’ll return quickly, Ipromise.” She cupped her hand around the candle flame, but it went out as they hurried along.
    Georgette’s white gown was like a beacon. At the end of the corridor, she stopped and stared at a door.
    When they reached her, she swayed on her feet. “There was a noise.”
    “Come, let us return,” Amy said, tugging on Georgette’s arm to no avail.
    Something started thumping rhythmically against the door. Julianne hiccoughed and stared in horror, fearing whoever was in there would fling it open.
    A man grunted again and again.
    Georgette frowned. “Is he ill?”
    The door thumped harder. A woman started making repetitive high-pitched noises, sounding like a squealing pig.
    Julianne frowned. “What are they—
hic—
doing?”
    “We must leave,” Amy whispered.
    The thumping turned into banging, and the man’s grunting grew louder. “Feel my mighty sword.”
    “He has a sword?” Georgette asked.
    The woman behind the door screamed.
    Georgette gasped. “He killed her.”
    “I’m coming,” the man said.
    “Not inside me,” the woman said in a curt voice. “I don’t want a brat.”
    Julianne dropped the candle and clapped her hand over her mouth. She’d thought a bed was required. As she stared at the door, she tried to work out how the amorous couple had managed, but she failed.
    “We must go,” Amy hissed. “Now!”
    The three of them lifted their skirts. Shrieking withlaughter, they hurried down the corridor. Julianne sprinted ahead and looked over her shoulder.
    “Look out!” Amy cried.
    Julianne plowed into something big and male. She gasped as two large hands caught her by the shoulders.
    “You are in deep trouble,” Hawk growled.

Chapter Four
     
A Lady’s Secrets of Seduction: Forget your mother’s well-meaning advice and take matrimonial matters into your own capable hands.
     
    W hen the carriage jerked into motion, Hawk slapped his hat onto the leather seat beside him. He’d never forget the sight of Julianne and her friends scurrying down the corridor, laughing like wild brats. Damn her. She’d tricked him.
    Aunt Hester patted Julianne’s hand. “Are you feeling bilious, dear?”
    He couldn’t hear Julianne’s reply over the clacking of hooves on the cobbled street. “Do let me know if you feel sick,” he said, raising his voice. “I’d prefer you didn’t cast up your accounts in the carriage.”
    “Marc,” Hester cried.
    He’d managed to shock his aunt for the first time in his life. “Should I have the driver pull over?”
    “I am not sick,” Julianne said in a seething voice.
    He huffed. “You’ll have the devil of the head tomorrow morning,” he said, projecting his voice to ensure she heard