Too Scandalous to Wed by Alexandra Benedict Read Free Book Online Page B

Miss Ashby.”
    The rugged drawl of his voice did wonderful things to Henrietta. Delicious shivers rolled over her in rhythmic waves. How she longed to hear that deep and sultry voice by her ear! To feel the warm breath of his words caress her skin.
    Henrietta took in a sharp breath to steady her wayward thoughts. “Of course I’m teasing you, my lord. What is a little harmless banter between friends?”
    And since she’d never teased him a day in eight years, she could understand the man’s bewilderment.
    Sebastian lifted a sooty brow. “Friends, are we? Pray tell me, Miss Ashby, what will we do as friends?”
    “Why, we will do as every other couple engaged in friendship.”
    “Unfortunately, I do not have many friends, Miss Ashby, so I will need your guidance in this matter.”
    She counted off her gloved fingers. “Well, we shall share each other’s company and tease one another. Oh, and we shall confide in each other our deepest and darkest secrets.”
    “Like a penchant for pastries?”
    She quirked a grin. “Precisely, my lord.”
    “I see.” His smoldering gaze touched her like a hot iron poker. “Well, since we are friends, MissAshby, do you have any other deep and dark secrets you’d like to impart?”
    The scoundrel was trying to unsettle her with that piercing stare of his; muddle her thoughts, make her slip up and say something to betray her real secret. Well, she had an ideal countermeasure for just such a wily move.
    Taking Madam Jacqueline’s advice to heart, Henrietta thought about one of the many wicked images in the courtesan’s naughty book of pictures that she had come to memorize, even desire. An image of a naked couple, their limbs intertwined, their lips in very intimate places. And then she looked at Sebastian’s lips. Let her eyes rest on the soft, full pair as she delved deep into her fantasy.
    After a few decadent moments, she lifted her gaze to meet his penetrating stare, and smiled. “No more confessions tonight, Lord Ravenswood.” She let the words roll off her tongue, then curtsied. “Pleasant dreams.”
    Skirting around him, Henrietta all but skipped off the terrace. If she hadn’t bowled him over before, she’d bowled him over now. Madam Jacqueline had been right. Again. Think a naughty thought and it’d show in your eyes. Something a true rakehell would never miss.
     
    Sebastian stood on the terrace, staring at the vast winter wonderland. As the minutes ticked by, he looked more and more like a man of snow. Heshould really get himself inside where it was warm. But he did nothing of the sort. In truth, he didn’t feel the cold. He didn’t feel much of anything—but for a smoldering spark burning deep in his belly.
    Had the little hoyden just leveled a most sinfully wicked stare his way? Sebastian was sure the answer was an unequivocal no. All common sense indicated Henrietta a whimsical chit and nothing more. Which meant he was totally daft.
    Bah! He was just tired was all. The journey to the Ashby country home had taken a few grueling hours. He was imagining things. Fatigue was the culprit for his wayward thoughts.
    A sinfully wicked stare, indeed. He snorted. The chit didn’t know the first thing about being wicked. She was far too innocent.
    Sebastian took in a deep and measured breath. One thing was for certain, though. There was something very different about Henrietta. He sensed the change in her. Why, the girl had actually called him by his title! He’d all but tripped upon hearing the appellation. In eight years she’d never referred to him as anyone but Sebastian. And for some bizarre reason, it was strange to hear her call him “my lord.”
    And what was this deuced nonsense about friendship? Did the girl still want to marry him or not?
    Something was definitely amiss. There was one conundrum after another. Like what the devil did Henrietta mean by teasing him like that? An affair with pastries. Had all that sugar gone to the girl’shead? The sweet