Victorine's Art of Seduction
By Debra Finerman,
Author of Mademoiselle Victorine

We women in the twenty first century are the most accomplished, talented,
educated women in history. But are we as charming or mysterious as women we
read about from the past? Do we flirt and fascinate? I don't mean just
flirting with men. Do we flirt with old ladies, the butcher behind the
counter, little kids, and dogs? Have we forgotten the rules of the Art of
Seduction?

I began to wonder about this last weekend. It all started when I went
searching in the back of my closet for a flapper dress to wear to a Great
Gatsby themed summer garden party. I thought to myself, I should start by
looking in that old steamer trunk. It's a rusty trunk from my late
grandmother's house that had somehow ended up in my possession. When I pried
open the top, I saw only one item in the trunk, a sheaf of yellowed papers.
What could this be? Written in an elegant script, I read, "Great-great
grandmother Victorine's letters."

I knew that Victorine Laurent had been a member of the French branch of my
family who had lived in Paris during the 1860's. My grandmother had told me
when I was little that Victorine had been a great beauty and whispered with
a wink, she had been a courtesan! I didn't know what a courtesan was at the
time but I got the message that it was very alluring and a bit naughty.

I carefully smoothed out the crinkled pages of the letter, and realized that
Victorine had indeed been the mistress to many famous rich men in Paris and
here was the advice she had written for her own daughter, my great-great
grandmother.

I'd like to share these tips with you because they don't simply relate to
seducing a man. By using these laws of seduction, we can charm or seduce
anyone in any situation life presents us.

Victorine's Art of Seduction

To my darling daughter -- Don't cry over this young man who has been so
unkind to you. Wipe your tears, follow these laws of seduction and you'll
have scores of men pining for you. --

To help you recall these rules, just remember: V-I-C-T-O-R-I-N-E

Variety--
Never become predictable or boring. Create suspense. Keep the gentleman
guessing. Send mixed signals. Be warm then suddenly cool. Throw a tantrum,
then initiate rapprochement. Argue with him, but share his interests,
desires and dreams. Have your own opinions and be different enough to be
fascinating.

Intellect--
Your intellect is the most seductive quality you possess.

Confidence--
Be self-confident. If you don't feel so, feign it until you discover your
true self-worth. If you must embark on a journey of self-discovery to
acquire confidence, do so.

Transpor