What is prim and proper Miss Vivianna Greentree to do when her precious haven for orphans is threatened? She has no choice but to turn to the owner of the property, Sir Oliver Montegomery—yet the heartlessscoundrel refuses to be swayed by reason. So Vivianna must resort to other means of persuasion ...

Under the tutelage of Madame Aphrodite, London's most notorious courtesan, Vivianna is determined to learn the sensuous secrets that will render a man weak with desire, to melt Oliver's stony heart with a kiss, a caress and a promise. But as her encounters with Oliver become more intense, Vivianna unexpectedly discovers a fiery passion that leaves her breathless. And soon it becomes unclear exactly who is seducing whom ...

Lessons in Seduction

By Bennett, Sara

Avon Books

ISBN: 0060584386

Chapter One

Berkeley Square
London
1840
Fourteen years later

Inside the tall, elegant London townhouse, LordMontegomery was impatiently allowing his valetto put the finishing touches to his evening ensemble.Fitted black coat and tapered black trousers and a finewhite linen shirt with a high collar and white cravat.The only splash of color came from his waistcoat;bottle-blue velvet with gold embroidery and large goldbuttons.

There was a time when Oliver never would haveworn such an item, when black and white were theonly accepted colors for evening dress. The waistcoatwas unforgivably vulgar and tasteless, but he thoughtit appropriate; it represented to him the present stateof his life. Tonight he was planning to spend a pleasantfew hours at Aphrodite's, before moving on to a drinking house affectionately called the Bucket ofBlood, where he hoped to see some bare-knucklefighting and lay a bet or two. In the past, a night likethat would occur every month or so, but now it wasclose to every night. Drinking, gambling, carousing;his standards had slipped. To all inte nts and purposeshe was on a downward slide -- everybody said so.

And that was just as he wanted it.

"My lord?"

A glance at the door showed him his butler, lookingtroubled.

"What is it, Hodge?"

"The young person who called earlier is outside inthe square. I can see her lurking by the garden railings.Should I call the constables?"

"Do you mean Miss Vivianna Greentree?"

"Correct, my lord."

Oliver frowned at his own reflection. Here was acomplication he had not expected. Miss Greentreefrom Yorkshire, come to ring a peal over him.

"My lord? Shall it be the constables?"

Oliver picked up his ebony-handled cane. "Efficientas the members of Sir Robert Peel's Metropolitan PoliceForce are, Hodge, I do not think they are requiredjust yet. Let her be. If she tries to follow me, she willfind she has bitten off more than she can chew. Sendthe carriage around. I am ready."

Hodge bowed and went to do his bidding, whileOliver followed at a more leisurely pace. Miss Greentreemight be an unexpected complication, but he didnot think she was a particularly dangerous one. Infact, her presence in London might well enhance hiswicked reputation even more. Time would tell whatpart Miss Vivianna Greentree from Yorkshire had toplay in this story.

* * *

Miss Vivianna Greentree stood outside the tall, elegantLondon house, its windows ablaze with light, andfelt very small. Beneath the thin soles of her leatherhalf-boots she could feel every bump in the square,and the cold crisp air made her shiver despite her sensiblewool gown and her warm cloak with its furtrimmedcollar.

Impotent anger stirred inside her, a dark, smotheringsense of frustration that had been building sinceshe left the Greentree estate all those days ago in responseto a frantic letter from the Beatty sisters concerningthe fate of the Shelter for Poor Orphans.

Before her, on the west side of Berkeley Square, theelegant Queen Anne home of Lord Montegomery roseup like an accusation. The Montegomerys were anold, proud, and aristocratic family, and Oliver was thelast of them. What would a gentleman of his privilegedbackground know of poverty and abandonment?Vivianna's fingers tightened upon the ridingcrop she held in one hand -- protection, in case sheneeded to go into streets that were less than suitablefor a woman of her class and refinement.

Vivianna had already been up to Lord Montegomery'sdoor to ask that he speak with her on a matterof urgency. The supercilious-looking butler whoanswered her brisk use of the knocker had informedher that Lord Montegomery was about to go out to hisclub, and besides, he did not allow unaccompanied femalepersons into his dwelling.

As if, Vivianna thought furiously, it was her reputationin doubt rather than his!

Again her gloved fingers tightened upon the ridingcrop. Well, he would soon realize that Miss ViviannaGreentree from Yorkshire was not so easily thrown off the scent. She was determined that the Shelter for PoorOrphans would not close down because of one selfishgentleman.

A rattle of wheels and clatter of hooves heralded theapproach of a carriage from the far end of the square.It drew to a halt outside Montegomery's house. Hislordship, it appeared, was preparing to go out to hisclub just as his butler had said.

This was the moment Vivianna had been waitingfor. Even she, country bumpkin that she was, knewthat fashionable London gentlemen were wont to goout in the evening. And from what she had learned ofLord Montegomery, he was a very fashionable gentlemanindeed.

Quickly, she moved into the shadows by the ironrailings that protected the garden and the plane treesin the middle of the square. One of the passengers onthe mail coach, with whom she had shared the longjourney south, had been very informative when itcame to London gentlemen of Lord Montegomery'silk, and with an eye to the future, Vivianna had encouragedhim to talk of such creatures in general.

"Gaming and drinking clubs, night houses, and disorderlywomen! My goodness, miss, you mind yourselfin London, a sweet innocent little thing likeyourself."

Vivianna did not consider herself "sweet," and althoughshe was "innocent" in the physical sense, shewas very well read and informed. Nor did she believeherself to be in any danger from Montegomery. A manlike that would prefer all the superficial womanlyvirtues -- sweet and biddable, and certainly beautiful,in a wan and helpless sort of way. Vivianna knew herselfto be none of these things; certainly she was notbeautiful in the current fashion ...

Continues...

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