Journey of the Bride by Mary Fox Read Free Book Online Page A

reading? ” Talbert said after several minutes of silence. It was then Courtney realized her folly. She ’ d forgotten to turn the page every once in a while.
     
    “ I was for a bit, ” she admitted. “ Then my mind began to wonder as I realized the silly predicament Romeo and Juliet put themselves in. ”
     
    “ What do you mean? ” Talbert turned toward her, his hand on his chin as he thought over her words.
     
    “ Well, think about it. They are just kids. Their individual families have been fighting for years. They meet one another and supposedly fall in love with each other, but when then Juliet comes up with a half-planned idea to fake her death in order to bring their families together. However, Romeo doesn ’ t get the word, so he thinks she ’ s really dead and kills himself, to which she wakes, sees him death and kills herself. ” She shook her head. “ If you ’ re going to plan such a scheme, one really needs to have some idea of including all the pawns within the plan before executing such. ”
     
    He nodded, although Courtney could tell from the look in his eye that he was just agreeing with her. While he may have known the plot and the story, he wasn ’ t thinking of such. No. He was plotting something else entirely based on what she had said. The idea didn ’ t comfort her in the least.
     
    “ The thoughts and schemes of children, ” Talbert told her. “ Do you think they would have acted with more sophistication had they been older? ”
     
    That was a question Courtney couldn ’ t answer. She didn ’ t know the answer to such and had never thought of it before. It didn ’ t matter in the end. Shakespeare had made them the ages they were and plotted the story he wanted, and the kids died in the end. That was Shakespeare ’ s way. Everyone died.
     
    “ Enough of dead writers though, Courtney, ” Talbert said after a few moments of silence had passed. “ I came to speak with you about another matter entirely. ”
     
    “ Miss le Brush, please, ” she said, returning her attention back to her book.
     
    “ Excuse me? ”
     
    She looked up at him. His face was red and there was the stirring of anger in his voice at her words. “ My name is Courtney le Brush, but you will address me as le Brush, as everyone else does, please. ”
     
    She knew she was tempting fire. Knew that while her words were polite, there was the bitter tang to them that meant she was insulting him, treating him of lower status than he actually had. She knew it. He knew it. However, society ’ s propriety protected her because she was correct in her correctional use. He may not have liked it but as they weren ’ t married, or even courting one another, he hadn ’ t the right to call her anything but her title unless she deemed otherwise, and she ’ d just made it clear that she didn ’ t wish so.
     
    His mouth opened and shut several times and his facial expression contorted in rage, but Courtney ignored it all, choosing to return her attention to the book she ’ d been reading. It was hard not to smirk at the way his jaw flapped open and shut like that of a fish, but she knew she had to if she had any hope of winning this battle with him.
     
    It wasn ’ t like she didn ’ t know what he wanted anyway. She figured he was here because he wanted to marry her. She also knew she had no say in the matter. It would be her father ’ s decision since she still lived under his guardianship. She had married Brandon in a desperate attempt to save her father face and knew when he found out, he would be angry but relieved that she was well cared for. This was different. This was not about desperation. This was blackmail, pure and simple, and she was going to make it as hard for him as humanly possible.
     
    “ I shall take my leave of you for this evening, Miss le Brush. I hope to find you better company at a later date, ” Talbert told her once he gained control of his emotions.
     
    She glanced up at him