To Bed or to Wed Read Online Free PDF Page A

“It certainly doesn’t mean I’m not desirable. It simply means I choose not to tie myself to a boring man for the remainder of my life.”
    Boring man? To whom had she already been exposed to? As to her desirability, once again he cursed the darkness. At least if they were inside the house, he could look her over and decide for himself. Nathan shook his head, with a firm reminder he didn’t wish to concern himself with her life. “Right.” He cleared his throat, but his thoughts wouldn’t be dislodged so easily. For such an advanced age, she was still quite vital and full of energy. “Then why the unaccountable attachment to me?” He needed to keep the conversation on topics where his temper could flare and not on subjects where his libido might.
    “Don’t flatter yourself. You are not the sort of man I’d ever choose.” She managed to make him feel even colder with her glare. “I simply am trying to—”
    He continued as if she hadn’t spoken, not wishing to have a reason to bond with her. “If scheming to make me come up to scratch is your game, I must say it won’t work. It is not my intention to ever marry.” He’d known for at least five years he couldn’t inflict his darker moods on a wife or family. He’d known for much longer than that he’d do whatever he could not to be like his father. Yet, at times his temper escaped and he became like a snarling beast until he found his control again. A man couldn’t outrun his roots or experiences; he could only survive them. It would be unfair to ask others to do the same simply to tolerate him.
    “My lord, you’re hurting me.” A soft sound of pain infiltrated his consciousness. “Please release my arms.”
    Nathan let her go. His gut roiled. Appalled, he cleared his throat. “I beg your pardon, Lady Charlotte. I had no idea I’d lost control.” He forced a swallow into his tight throat. Never had he accosted a woman or even hurt a female. Why had he gone woolgathering now? “Perhaps it would be best if you returned to the house.”
    She peered into his face with narrowed eyes while rubbing one of her arms with a mittened hand. “Not unless you accompany me.”
    “What difference does it make to you?” How obnoxious to stand in a darkened evergreen maze with snow and cold all around arguing with the most stubborn female he’d ever come across. “This is my property. I ’m the marquess. If it’s my prerogative, I shall stand on my head in a snow bank.”
    “Then by all means, proceed to invite frostbite on the tip of your rarified nose. Perhaps it will give you a sense of humor. Impossible man.” She huffed in displeasure. Exasperation rang in her voice. “I used to think my brother was difficult. Now that I’ve met you, I have revised my opinion. Felix is a saint among men.” Another shiver accosted her. “It would seem the rumors about you are true, and for that, I’m disappointed. Good evening, Lord Ravenhurst.” Without another word, she spun then marched off firmly in the opposite direction from where Jamie was.
    Disappointed? Why the devil would she say something like that?
    “Damnation.” Nathan set off after her. He caught her at the next turn and waylaid her with a hand on her arm. “My curiosity has been piqued. Why are you disappointed?”
    Slowly, Lady Charlotte pivoted to face him. “Oh, now you lower yourself to take an interest in what I have to say? From all accounts it seems you don’t care about anyone except yourself.”
    Devil take it. He didn’t care for her waspish tongue either, but there was something about her that refused to dislodge his curiosity. In ordinary circumstances, he wouldn’t give the gossipmongers a thought, but with Charlotte Darrington, it was different. He knew a desperate urge to see what impression he’d made on her and to find out why he needed to. “I’ll admit, I have done a very good job of keeping people at arm’s length, but there is a reason for that.”
    “Such