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She stood up, and he readied himself to catch her when she slipped. But she simply stood there on the ice as if she had been doing it all her life.

Freddie couldn’t believe it. He’d only been skating a few times—when he visited his aunt and cousins. But he did not recall it being easy. Indeed, he remembered spending more time on his back than on his feet.

He’d been counting on Pippy falling—she had said she’d be dreadful. He’d thought it was an easy excuse to hold her again. At the very least, they would end up in a heap…together. So much could happen when one was in a heap with one’s wife.

It had been a grand plan. What was he to do now?

He sat down and strapped the blades onto the bottom of his boots. He didn’t wish to be the only one looking like a buffoon. Perhaps skating became easier as one grew older.

“Are you ready?” Pippy asked.

“In for a penny, in for a pound,” he muttered.

“I beg your pardon?” Pippy leaned closer to him.

He smiled. “I was only saying I’m ready.” He ran his hands down his thighs and stood up. But he was only standing for a second before his legs shot out from beneath him. “Whoa,” he called, his arms waving like a windmill.

“Oh dear, I have you,” Pippy said, as she reached out and grabbed hold of his arms. That seemed only to slow his descent, not stop it. “Come here,” she said, tugging him toward her and wrapping her arms around his body before he could hit the ice.

Briefly, he forgot about the ice and allowed himself to enjoy the feel of her pressed up against him.

She hugged him tight to her, inching him up until their cheeks pressed together. While she kept his upper body still, his feet slipped about in all directions.

He heard laughter behind him.

“He looks like my pointer when he walks on ice,” Fin chortled.

“Well done, Fred. You’ve made this miserable party entertaining at last. Perhaps you could stay on the ice for the rest of our time here?” Stan joined Fin’s laughter.

Freddie thought he even heard his sisters laughing.

“I notice…none of you…have come…to join me,” he said between slips.

“Do not listen to them, Freddie.” Pippy’s voice was low and quiet in his ear. “You need only concentrate and you’ll be fine.”

“I don’t think this is a matter of concentration, dearest. I think it has more to do with the blades strapped to my feet and the ice we are standing on.”

Her cheek pushed out beneath his.

“I believe I’m the only one standing.” There was laughter in her tone.

Her smile did not bother him as much as the others. Perhaps that was because he was in her arms.

“That is only one reason I’m clinging so tightly to you,” Freddie said as he tried to keep his legs beneath him. Why was skating so blasted difficult? Was it possible it was even more trying than he remembered?

“And what is the other?” she asked.

“I enjoy being in your arms,” he said before he thought to stop himself. But as soon as it was out, he chided himself. If she did not like the term “my love,” his confession surely would not please her. He laughed as if it were a great joke.

“Can you slide your arm around me?” The merriment was out of her voice, but perhaps that was only because she was trying to keep him upright? “Then I’ll put my arm around you,” she said as he slipped out of her hold. She grunted. “If we can keep you upright, we may even skate a rod or two.”

He looked into her eyes. “You make that sound far easier than I believe it will be.”

She nodded, but her lips tipped up. “You’re likely right.”

He slipped again. “I believe you may have false confidence.”

Her lips trembled ever so slightly. “We should endeavor to do it anyway, should we not?”