He looked at her, hoping she’d agree. “That’s what we need to do now.”
“What do you mean? I’m not at strife with anyone in Pine Haven. I’m not out for vanity. But I do need a good name to run a successful business. What man will want his wife to patronize my shop if he thinks poorly of my character?”
“I’m afraid that’s already happened. People assumed the worst when they saw us together last night.”
“But we weren’t together.”
He shook his head. “That’s not what they saw. I don’t think we’ll be able to convince them otherwise.”
Lily put her hands to her face and closed her eyes. After a moment she opened them and held her hands out, palms up. “I came here to be independent. How can I do that without the goodwill of the townsfolk? You’ve ruined everything!”
“Would you rather I’d let you die in the fire? I couldn’t stand by and watch the building burn to the ground, knowing you were inside.”
Her shoulders slumped. “You’re right, of course. But what are we going to do?”
Daisy and Tucker stood quietly while he and Lily tried to sort out this conundrum.
What he had to say next was private. He didn’t know Lily well, but he was most certain no lady would want witnesses for what he was about to say. “Will you excuse us, please?”
Daisy looked at Lily. Sisterly sympathy emanated from her.
Tucker took his wife by the arm. “We’ll go for a slice of pie at the hotel and come back after you’ve had time to talk.”
When the door closed behind them, Edward turned to Lily. “You know you’re going to have to marry me now.”
Lily’s jaw dropped. To his surprise, words seemed to fail her.
“There is more to consider here than just you and me. I received word today that it’s very possible my sister and her husband may have died of influenza.”
She closed her mouth. “I’m so sorry. Poor Ellen.” She’d gone from incredulous when he spoke of marriage to compassion for his niece in an instant. He hoped it would help her understand why he was making this proposition.
“I won’t allow gossip to cause an innocent little girl to lose the only family she may have left. If my name is smeared with yours, I could lose her. A judge could say I’m not fit to be a guardian as an unmarried man—especially if I’m purported to have committed unseemly behavior.”
“But we’re innocent.”
“I know that, and you know that.” He put a hand on her sleeve and turned her so she could see through the entry of the workroom to the windows in the front of the shop. Two women had stopped to peer in the glass. When they caught sight of Edward and Lily, they frowned and hurried away. “But we’ll never convince them. Or the people who are like them.”
“Did the doctor put this notion in your head?”
He shook his head. Never would he have imagined himself offering marriage to someone he’d just met. If it weren’t for Ellen, he might not have offered.
Then he looked into those blue eyes, churning to violet with emotion, and knew he was doing this for Lily and himself, too. No one deserved to be destroyed by gossip and rumors. “Believe me, I was just as resistant as you. Until I spent part of the day trying to convince people that nothing happened. Now it looks like we don’t have a choice.”
He willed her to understand. “If you don’t open your shop, I don’t know how I can pay the mortgage. I can’t lose this building. I need to be able to give it to Ellen when she’s grown. Maybe it will help her remember her mother.”
“But why would you want to marry me? I’m not your responsibility.”
“It’s not just about you.” He drew in a breath. “Ellen needs a mother. It’s something I started pondering lately, and this must be God’s way of answering.”
“I can’t mother her. My own mother passed when I was younger than Ellen. 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 before Jane left Ellen in his care. “But you’re also gentle. She needs a woman’s hand.”
“How did this ever happen?” Lily’s head sank into her hands.
“It seems that it was out of our control from the beginning.”
She looked up at him. “Do you think we can do it? Raise Ellen and protect my reputation so the shop will be successful?”
“From what I’ve seen of you, I don’t think the shop’s success is in question, as long as we take care of your honor.” He prayed he was doing the right thing. “As for Ellen, it looks like the good Lord left her in my care. I don’t think He orchestrated your problems, but I’d say as His children, He’s giving us a way to make the best of it.”
“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.”
“I didn’t come to Pine Haven to find a husband. I’ll never forget what you’ve done here today, Mr. Stone. You’re giving up an awful lot to take on a wife you didn’t want.”
“I want Ellen to have a mother.”
“In that case, I accept.” She offered her hand for him to shake. Did she really see this as a business arrangement like the one he had with her father for the lease on his building?
It was a relief she seemed to accept his reasons so quickly, but the reality of how much his life was about to change threatened to overwhelm him at any moment.
* * *
“I do.” Lily stood in front of Reverend Dismuke and repeated the marriage vows.
Daisy and Tucker had agreed with Edward, and it had only been a matter of hours before they’d arrived at the church. Long enough for Lily to change to her best dress. The lingering hint of smoke in its fibers reminded her of the reason she was doing this. When she’d prepared for bed the night before, she’d never have dreamed today would be her wedding day.
Edward took her hand and slid a small gold band onto her finger. She’d told him she didn’t need a ring, but he’d insisted, saying it was another way to reinforce their union in the eyes of the community. He’d escorted her into the general store and asked her to choose from the tray of rings. She’d been relieved when he’d asked Mr. Croft to assist them, leaving Mrs. Croft sputtering and mumbling as she’d moved on to help another customer.
Lily looked at the delicate, plain ring. Edward didn’t release her hand for the rest of the short ceremony. His hands were large but gentle. And strangely comforting, as if he was trying to reassure her they were doing the right thing.
“You may kiss the bride.” Reverend Dismuke’s words rang out in the nearly empty church. Only Daisy and Tucker, with their twin sons and baby daughter,