Read Too Scandalous to Wed for Free Online

Ashby?”
    “In capital health, my dear boy.”
    Odd. If Henrietta wasn’t ill and tucked away in bed, then where was she?
    The baron made his way over to the bookcase and collected a decanter, filling two glasses with a splash of brandy.
    “So tell me, Ravenswood, how was the mainland? Drab compared to our mighty England, I daresay.”
    It was nothing of the sort, but the viscount wasn’t about to admit that. He accepted the drink with a nod of thanks. “Quite right, my lord.”
    Resting his heavy frame in an opposite chair, the baron plunked his feet upon the ottoman with a sigh.
    Sebastian stared at the door, waiting for it to open, anticipating Henrietta to come fluttering in, all out of breath and professing apologies for being tardy in her welcome.
    But she did nothing of the kind.
    Perhaps the girl was wed and thought nothing of him anymore? Now that was an agreeable thought.
    Taking a sip of brandy to warm his belly, Sebastian wondered, “And how fares the youngest Miss Ashby?”
    “Henry? Capital. Capital. The darling boy is such a pleasure.”
    Sebastian grimaced at the “darling boy” bit. The baron, so determined to have a son, brooked no argument that Henrietta was, in truth, a lady and thus needed to be reared accordingly. A deuced nuisance it was, too, for had Henrietta been raised as a proper young miss, she’d be married by now, instead of hounding him.
    “I’ve been gone so long, my lord,” said Sebastian. “Tell me, has there been any cause for celebration here at the house?”
    Like a wedding, perhaps?
    “Oh yes!” the baron cried. “A happy event indeed.”
    Splendid! The girl was married. No more adoring looks or scandalous quips to combat. Sebastian could rest easy now, be free of the smitten chit.
    “I have leather-tip cue sticks!” The baron clapped his hands together. “Isn’t it grand? We must play a game of billiards, Ravenswood.”
    Not exactly the good news Sebastian had been hoping to hear.
    With a sigh, the viscount tried another tactic. “My lord, about Miss Ashby?”
    “Yes, Ravenswood.”
    “Is the girl fond of anyone?”
    “To be sure, Ravenswood. To be sure. The dear boy’s fond of many folks. He’s got a most generous heart, I daresay.”
    Sebastian took another swig of brandy, and sincesubtle conversation was not the baron’s forte, asked outright, “My lord, is the girl engaged yet?”
    “Rot!” cried the baron. “Henry’s got more sense than to get himself leg-shackled. Nasty business, I say. Drives a poor chap into hiding.”
    Sebastian glanced around the cramped reading nook. A dusty nook, filled with heavy tomes. It was the only part of the house reserved for the baron’s exclusive use.
    The viscount sighed in disappointment. “Yes, nasty business.”
    The baron gave a curt nod. “One needs a strong disposition to be riveted. An authoritative voice, a firm hand. Now I have such a disposition and can weather the storm of matrimony, but dear Henry is a most delicate boy, and I feel better suited to a quiet life at home.”
    “Quite right, my lord.” Sebastian downed the rest of the brandy. “But is the girl interested in a gentleman?”
    “Interested? My Henry?” The baron looked at the ceiling. “Why, I don’t think so.”
    “Are you sure, my lord?”
    “Oh yes, quite sure. Why, I’d hear all about it from Lady Ashby if Henry had a beau. Now back to my cue sticks…”
    The viscount turned his thoughts to more pressing matters. The girl was still unattached, was she? He had underestimated her stubbornness. Well, then he’d just have to go back to the mainland.Traipse through the Parisian underworld and consort with the Italian demimonde. It was an infernal bother, visiting all those lovely Spanish wenches, but he was a gentleman, and as such he had a duty to disabuse Miss Ashby of her girlhood fancy. He had no choice, it seemed, but to return abroad to cavort with more foreign beauties—after Christmas, of course. He wasn’t a total