Free How to Be a Proper Lady: A Falcon Club Novel by Katharine Ashe Page B

suitors.”
    “I treat them like family. For that they are to me.” Her only family after her father stole her away from the one she had known.
    “You flirt with them.”
    “I make difficult work seem appealing.”
    “And Jonah’s fawning when you assigned him to clean the head just now? What was that, his sheer idiocy?”
    “He is very loyal. He gladly does what his captain wishes, unlike some sailors who shall remain nameless although we both know exactly who I’m talking about.”
    He shook his head, his look incredulous. “And I suppose if you told Jonah to jump into the belly of a whale he would do it without hesitation.”
    “Very clever. I am really astoundingly impressed.”
    “What? Would you prefer classical references from the stories you read to them at bedtime like a nursemaid reads to her infant charges? No wonder they all make dog’s eyes at you.”
    She was getting to him. She could see it in the tight sinews of his neck, the taut line of his jaw. She was making the cool, confident Pharaoh agitated, and the success swirled inside her like a dram of gin. Beneath his crystal gaze she did feel a bit drunk. A bit reckless. Like the girl she had once been.
    “Jealous of their devotion, Seton? Perhaps if you read to them they would make dog eyes at you too.” She waggled her brows.
    “This is no way to captain a ship. These men are all half in love with you.”
    Her heart did an odd little jump, but she forced a shrug.
    “If it works, who’s to complain?” She allowed herself a taunting smile. “Is that why you’re distressed that I’ve been avoiding you? Are you half in love with me too, then?”
    “Good God.” He scowled. “What do you take me for, a complete fool?”
    “A man must be foolish to fall in love with me?”
    “That, and nearsighted and bereft of the capacity for rational thought, not to mention in possession of a death wish.”
    That stung, and she didn’t like that it stung. She struggled for a retort and words tumbled through her lips.
    “I’ll wager I can make you fall in love with me.” Oh, God.
    He cracked a hard laugh. “I dare you to try.”
    “Do you?” Her cursed tongue! “All right. What shall we wager?” The unbidden words just kept popping out. But there was something exciting about the idea, something dangerous and tempting that she should not feel.
    His mouth actually hung open. But holy Magdalene, what a mouth. She could nearly taste him with her imagination, male heat and smooth command. Pity he was looking at her like an escapee from McLean Hospital. And of course, pity she couldn’t stand him.
    “You are mad,” he said in wondering tones. “Aren’t you?”
    “I never back down from a dare. How do you think I got here? A mere woman?” She gestured aft to the quarterdeck.
    “You are serious.” His eyes narrowed. “You cannot be serious.”
    “Afraid I’ll win?”
    “Patently, no.”
    “Then let’s agree to terms. If I win, I get your new ship.”
    “ No .”
    “And if you win, I will return to England with you.”
    He went perfectly still. Viola struggled to breathe evenly. She didn’t know where her words had come from. She did not wish to return to England.
    On the other hand, it might be worth it to watch him squirm while she hung all over him in an effort to seduce him. She would not meet with success. He had a heart of stone and a will of iron and he would win. But she could always turn right around and come home afterward. After seeing Serena. Her half sister. The countess.
    Oh, good God, what had she done?
    “The duration of the wager?” he finally asked.
    “A fortnight.”
    “A fortnight ?”
    She lifted a brow. “Men have fallen in love with me in minutes before.” Aidan always claimed he had.
    He looked at her with clear disbelief. “I have no doubt that some men are equally as mad as you.”
    That was rather lowering. And more than a sting. It actually hurt.
    Her ire flared. “Perhaps you are as well, pirate