Читать книгу The Marriage Bargain - Angel Moore - Страница 3
Оглавление“I’m not your responsibility.”
“It’s not just about you.” Edward drew in a breath. “Ellen needs a mother.”
“I can’t mother her. I won’t know what to do.”
“I think you will. You’re strong. She’ll need to be strong.” He hesitated. This was not the way he ever imagined proposing to someone. For that matter, he hadn’t really imagined proposing to anyone. His solitary life had suited him just fine. “But you’re also gentle. She needs a woman’s hand.”
“I can’t think why you’d do this for me.” Lily bit her bottom lip.
“It’s like the verse.” He pointed to her needlework. “We’re taking care of the needs of others. Ellen needs us both.”
Lily’s face turned pink, and she met his gaze. “What kind of relationship do you expect the two of us to have?”
He could tell it cost her a great deal to form the words. Then he felt the same heat rushing into his face. “Miss Warren, I’d expect for you to care for Ellen as a mother. This arrangement will be strictly for the sake of my niece.”
Edward watched her as the breath she’d been holding seeped out of her to be replaced by relief.
“For the sake of Ellen?”
“Yes. And you.”
