Too Wild to Wed Read Online Free PDF Page A

medieval history, had escorted Letty to a handful of chamber music performances and a production of Hamlet. Letty had been home shortly after midnight on each occasion and Peabody had hung around just long enough for a cup of tea before taking his leave.
    Xavier had made it a point to meet Dr. Sheldon Peabody and had not been particularly worried by the competition.
    All in all, Xavier had concluded early on, Letty Conroy was an eminently suitable wife for him. There was an air of class about her. Real class. The kind that could not be faked or bought or learned
    — the kind he had worked so hard to cultivate.
    Letty was not stunningly beautiful, but he had learned long ago not to let himself be blinded by a woman's superficial attractions. In any event, her lively features held a piquant charm and intelligence that appealed to him on a deep, fundamental level.
    She had huge hazel eyes, a tip-tilted nose and a soft, vulnerable mouth that responded beautifully to Xavier
    ’ s kisses. She was slender and feminine with high, round, pert little breasts. Her hair, which she almost always wore in a classic knot at the nape of her neck, was a thick, lustrous chestnut color. Last night it had glowed with the reflected light of the fire. As he had drifted off to sleep, Xavier had imagined flames burning in that thick, sleek hair.
    And she had the most delightful way of deferring to his wishes, Xavier reminded himself a bit smugly. She was always terribly anxious to please him.
    She also had excellent manners, stimulating conversation, a sweet temperament and she was head-over-heels in love with Xavier Augustine. Most important of all, she was an honorable, old-fashioned sort of woman who would take such things as wedding vows way seriously.
    The perfect wife
    — an eminently suitable wife. Exactly the sort of wife he wanted, Xavier thought with satisfaction and not for the first time. All he had to do now was smooth her ruffled feathers. Husbands had to do that sort of thing occasionally. He might as well get in some practice.
    The truth was, he did not really mind this unexpected display of temper now that he was past the first shock of surprise. Temper indicated passion and he definitely wanted passion in his wife. He was a man of strong, sensual appetites himself and he could not imagine a worse fate than being married to a woman who did not respond to him physically.
    "I was very pleased with that report," Xavier said carefully, searching for a way to defuse Letty's volatile mood. "It confirmed everything I already knew or suspected. You are exactly what you claimed to be."
    "Well, you aren't what you claimed to be at all, Xavier Augustine. You're a fraud. Do you hear me? A complete fraud."
    Xavier felt as if he'd been kicked in the stomach. For an instant, genuine panic set in. There was no way she could know the truth, he told himself desperately. No way at all. He had buried it long ago.
    He found his breath with an effort and stood up abruptly to cover his startled response. "What are you talking about, Letty?"
    "You let me think you were in love with me," Letty wailed. "I thought you trusted me. I thought you cared for me."
    The sick feeling was washed away by a wave of relief. She did not know anything, after all. Xavier started toward the kitchen. "I do care for you. Very much. And I trust you, sweetheart." I trust you completely now that I've seen that report, he added silently. He smiled down at Letty and ducked his head to drop a quick kiss on her forehead as he went past.
    She stepped back hurriedly but not in time to avoid the light, possessive touch of his mouth. Her eyes narrowed behind the lenses of her glasses as she glowered up at him. 'If you trust me so much, why did you have that background check run on me?"
    "Routine, honey. Just routine." He walked into the kitchen and started opening cupboard doors.
    "Routine? You expect me to believe that?" She hurried down the hall after him and came to a halt in the