Too Scandalous to Wed by Alexandra Benedict Page B

of skaters, and settle upon a little hoyden dragging two wobbling sprites along beside her.
    With one hand latched on to an unsteady niece and another clamped on to a rambunctious nephew, Henrietta steered the two novice ice dancers, encouraging them softly, her laughter spirited, but kind, when one little rump hit the sheet of ice. And yet she herself looked so graceful among the chaos. In her fur-trimmed cape and matching gloves, she appeared a winter faerie, dancing over the frozen pond.
    “What’s this?” Peter shouted from the ice. “Have you given up already, brother?”
    Snapped from his reverie, Sebastian stared once more at the snapping flames.
    Since Peter was already scaling the embankment, there was no reason for Sebastian to raise his voice. “I’m afraid so, Peter. I’ve lost my touch on the ice.”
    Peter sat down beside him with a snort. “The only time you’ve ever ‘touched’ the ice is with your arse.”
    “Yes, thank you for the reminder.”
    Peter knocked his brother’s hands out of the way, so he could hog the fire. “What are you doing out here anyway, Seb?”
    “Devil if I know.”
    “You’ve not skated in years.”
    “Yes, I know, Peter. I was tricked into the excursion—I think.”
    “Tricked? By whom?”
    “A redheaded minx.”
    “Henrietta? Be serious, Seb. She’s a darling chit and all, but she’s not one for skullduggery.”
    Sebastian was beginning to wonder about that. “Well, if she didn’t trick me, then what the deuce am I doing out here?”
    Lips parted, Peter looked like he was about to impart some witty words of wisdom, then paused. “You know, I’ve no idea, Seb. But then again, you are a bit of a mystery.”
    “How’s that?”
    “Well, you’re here for one. At the estate, I mean. A scoundrel like yourself cloistered amid the very essence of domesticity. It defies reason.”
    “Can’t a scoundrel visit with family?”
    “Yes, of course, but why would you come to call at this time of year? When every Ashby is gathered in rambunctious familial rapport. It’s beyond me.”
    “Well, then let me solve this mystery for you, brother. I’ve come to see Henrietta.”
    Peter brought his frigid fingers to his lips and blew. “Oh?”
    “I’d hoped to find the girl wed, even engaged. But regrettably she’s still unattached.
    “A vexing predicament.”
    Was that sarcasm Sebastian detected? “It most certainly is vexing. I’ve spent the last five months in exile, hoping the chit would find herself a mate. Allto no avail, I might add. The baron assures me the girl isn’t even interested in another bloke.”
    “So that’s why you disappeared to the mainland? And that’s why you’re going back again, isn’t it?” Peter chuckled. “My sympathies, Seb. You’ve a most dire predicament on your hands. What with a beautiful woman chasing you about, and all.”
    He growled, “You know damn well nothing can come of it.”
    “Oh yes, perish the thought that a man your age should retire his wicked ways and settle down with a lovely chit.”
    Sebastian glared at his brother. “What the devil do you mean, ‘a man my age’? I’ve yet to sprout a white hair.”
    “Listen, Seb, it’s worth thinking about—”
    “No! It’s not.”
    Peter sighed. “And why the devil not?”
    Because Sebastian wasn’t about to give up his foul habits. A deviant did not “retire” his wicked ways. Such behavior was an incorrigible way of life, an addiction in the blood. And he happened to like his wicked ways, blast it! A fussy wife was sure to dampen his lusty disposition, spoil his sinful pursuits. And he certainly wasn’t going to marry an adorable minx like Henrietta, who didn’t even spark a bit of arousal in him. “I won’t marry the girl.”
    “Oh, Seb.”
    Peter looked across the pond, and Sebastian unwittingly followed his brother’s gaze.
    The viscount caught sight of Henrietta with the children, waving to him. Something snagged on his heart. He quickly