Substitute Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

could love you.'
    'Stop being so sily and evasive, Rex!' She could have stamped her small foot that he wasn't apparently inclined to take her seriously.
    Again his mouth twitched, then he sobered, his eyes narrowing as he studied her upturned features. 'Do you know,' he frowned, 'I do believe you have distinct possibilities.'
    'Oh, for goodness' sake, Rex, we're not discussing me!
    Besides, what you suggest is ridiculous. I expect,' she stared at him almost beligerently, 'you're just trying to put me off.'
    'No,' adamantly he shook his head as he went on studying her, 'I'm too used to assessing raw material, if you'll forgive the pun, to dismiss you out of hand. I'm suddenly convinced I could turn you into something outstanding. If you ever need a job, Emma…'
    'I don't,' she cut through what looked like becoming a definite offer, abruptly, wondering why men liked to tease when something important was at stake. 'We're talking about Blanche.'
    'You are,' he corrected smoothly. 'You've implied that I'm corrupting an innocent young girl. Wel, let's get one thing straight. True, Blanche is engaged, but she is neither innocent or a young girl like, you any more. She stopped being either years ago.'
    'But all that's behind her now,' Emma insisted holowly.

    'She's going to settle down, I'm sure of it. And she'll have Rick to help her.'
    'Oh, Conway doesn't mind her the way she is. I'm not saying she isn't delectable, but in another year or two, when the glamour wears off, what will he be left with?'
    Emma shivered as she recognised the truth of this. In the mornings, Blanche with a hangover and without make-up could easily pass for a woman years older. 'That's not the point, though, is it?' She wasn't sure whether she was arguing with herself or Rex, but there had to be some way out of what she sensed was impending disaster.
    'Never mind about the point, child,' Rex's arms tightened irritably. 'Blanche is quite capable of sorting out her own problems, and I never interfere unless I'm asked.'
    That was part of the trouble! Everyone, including Blanche, thought she was more than capable of taking care of herself, but was she? Wasn't there such a thing as having too much faith in one's own infalibility? No one appeared to realise Blanche could need help, and here was Rex, who Emma was certain Blanche might listen to, refusing to even consider giving it!
    Unhappily Emma's eyes wandered to where Blanche was dancing with Rick Conway. She appeared to have made an extra effort this evening and her appearance was scintilating.
    So was her dress—what there was of it! As she watched broodingly, Emma's eyes widened as she saw Rick's hand caressing Blanche's waist, which the low back of her dress left bare, then, to her disgust, he drew Blanche even closer and his hand slid upwards into the brief bodice, where Emma considered no man's hand had a right to be.
    Suddenly, as if he sensed an audience, Rick's eyes lifted from the sophisticated girl in his arms to meet the open scorn in Emma's directly. As she flushed but was unable to look away, his mouth curled contemptuously. 'Yes, take a good look,' his mocking expression seemed to say, 'No man's going to admire you enough to want to possess you.'
    Feeling utterly humiliated by a message she received only too clearly, Emma almost refused to dance with him when he asked her later. And though she sensed his surprised pleasure in the perfect unison of their limbs she hated him too much to forgive him. He didn't talk much, but he did ask if she had known Rex Oliver long.
    'Quite a long time,' she replied cautiously, trying in vain to remember when it was that Blanche had first brought Rex to the house.
    'Are you sure's he's your type?' Rick continued bluntly.
    'Now wait a minute!' he threw up a quick hand as Emma started and stared at him resentfuly. 'So far as I can make out you've no one to advise you. Or perhaps I should forget about trying to be diplomatic? Blanche was just saying how you won't