Journey of the Bride by Mary Fox Read Free Book Online

most of his time in his own room, wallowing in self-pity. When he had come out, it had been to sit in the library and read the paper while drinking a scotch or to eat a meal in the kitchen. Either time, his gaze was vacant. He was only a fourth of the man he had been.
     
    Seeing him herself, Courtney had to admit Gerald was right. His only joy seemed to come in the form of Simon Talbert, the very man who Courtney was sure had sent him into the state he was in.
     
    Courtney noted that Talbert appeared more often than he had in the past, visiting her ill father and going over facts and figures to “ make up the money they were down ” as he put it. She sneered at the thought, a trait she ’ d picked up in Brandon ’ s presence. It was unladylike, but she didn ’ t care. She honestly couldn ’ t stand Talbert and wanted him out of her home and away from her father.
     
    Of course, her father didn ’ t agree with her, so when Talbert was visiting, she retired to her room, stating she had other matters to care for. Most of the time, it worked. Other times, her father forced her to stay and entertain Talbert while he retired.
     
    Those were the moments she hated the most, being alone with Talbert. When he touched her, it was hard to hold back the sneer of contempt she had for him, and she didn ’ t bother trying to repress the shiver of disgust that rippled through her body.
     
    Despite her thoughts of him, he wasn ’ t a repulsive-looking man. He was rather a handsome man with his blond hair cut close to his head and his cool blue eyes. He always dressed rather smartly in a suit complete with a tie, but his looks did nothing for her. Behind the cool blue of his eyes, Courtney always suspected was a conniving man, waiting for his moment to strike, waiting for his moment to reveal his actual plan. She always got the feeling he only said a third of what he thought and that the words he said weren ’ t based on the real thoughts swirling in his mind.
     
    A snake in the grass. That ’ s what he was. Something to be shot as soon as it was seen, lest one might feel its bite. Courtney had no intention of his biting her, but the more time passed, the more she realized it might happen anyway.
     
    That seemed to be what her father was pushing for anyway with his wanting to leave her and Talbert alone for a bit each time he visited like now.
     
    She sat in her favorite chair in the library, pretending to read her book — Shakespeare, of course — even though she was really watching Talbert, who stood next to the window, his hands tucked neatly behind his back, which faced her. He seemed to be ignoring her, but she knew he was thinking of several things while pondering his words. It was his ability to stay silent and process his thoughts that made her father love him and her distrust him.
     
    In her opinion, the longer he stayed silent, the longer he had to plot and plan. Her father just saw it as a sign of intelligence. He thought things through and didn ’ t do anything without first considering all aspects of the problem.
     
    Brandon was the complete opposite. He thought on his feet and always responded with a brashness that Courtney had come to admire. She sighed, thinking of the man, wishing she were back at the ranch, cooking the luncheon meal and tidying the kitchen. Life had been good at the ranch. No one held her to standards she was afraid to fail. All they cared about was a good, hot meal twice a day and a decent breakfast in the morning paired with a good, strong coffee.
     
    It had been a simple life she ’ d grown to love in the week she ’ d spent there. It was the life she wanted to return to now. Instead, she was stuck here, pretending to like Talbert and society ’ s rules and etiquettes for a woman of her stature. Of course, society didn ’ t know that the le Brushes were poor because — or so Courtney honestly believed — of the snake, Talbert.
     
    “ My dear Miss le Brush, are you even