In her desperation, she consented to wed the son of a wealthy man who could not walk and a month later, she realised…
“You cannot be serious,” Eleanor said, her eyes wide as she stared at Edward Whitmore.
He shook his head. “I assure you, I am. But I shall give you time to consider. The offer is far from ordinary, and I can well imagine your thoughts. Weigh it carefullyI shall return in a week.”
Eleanor watched him leave, stunned. His words refused to settle in her mind.
She had known Edward Whitmore for three years. He owned a chain of petrol stations and other ventures. Eleanor worked part-time as a cleaner at one of them. He was always courteous to the staff, speaking warmly to them. By all accounts, a decent man.
The wages were fair, so there was no shortage of applicants. Two months prior, as she finished her shift, Eleanor sat outside, enjoying a brief respite before heading home.
The service door opened, and Edward appeared. “Mind if I join you?”
Eleanor stood abruptly. “Of courseno need to ask.”
“Why rise so hastily? Sit, I shant bite. Its a fine day.”
She smiled and sat again. “Spring always feels so pleasant after winter.”
“Because were all weary of the cold,” he remarked.
“Perhaps youre right.”
“Ive been meaning to askwhy work as a cleaner? Margaret offered to move you to the till, did she not? Better pay, lighter work.”
“Id gladly accept, but the hours dont suit. My daughter is young and often ill. When shes well, the neighbour minds her, but when shes poorly, I must be there. Margaret and I swap shifts when needed. Shes been kind.”
“I see What troubles the child?”
“Oh, its dreadful. The doctors dont quite understand. She has fitsstruggles to breathe, panics. The thorough tests are private. They say she may outgrow it, but I cannot simply wait…”
“Hold fast. It will be alright.”
Eleanor thanked him. That evening, she discovered Edward had granted her an unexpected bonusno explanation, just the money.
She did not see him again until he appeared at her doorstep. At the sight of him, her heart lurched. Then came his proposal, and it grew worse still.
Edward had a sonAlistair, nearing thirty. Seven of those years he had spent in a wheelchair after an accident. The doctors had done their utmost, but he never walked again. Depression followedwithdrawn, scarcely speaking, even to his father.
So Edward devised a plan: marry his son properly, in earnest. Give him purpose, a reason to live. He doubted it would work but resolved to try. And Eleanor, he thought, was the ideal choice.
“Eleanor, you shall want for nothing. Your daughter will have every test, every treatment. I propose a one-year arrangement. After that, you may leaveregardless of outcome. If Alistair improvessplendid. If notyoull be handsomely rewarded.”
Indignation choked her words.
As if sensing her thoughts, Edward murmured, “Eleanor, please. This benefits us both. I doubt my son will even touch you. Youll gain respect, a proper marriage. Think of it as a match of circumstance. Onlyspeak of this to no one.”
“Wait does Alistair agree?”
Edward smiled sadly. “He claims not to care. I shall tell him I have troublesbusiness, health The important thing is the marriage. Properly done. He trusts me. So this is a lie for a greater good.”
He left, and Eleanor sat numb, fury simmering. Yet his plain words dulled the proposals edge.
And if she considered it What would she not do for little Charlotte?
Anything.
And he? He was a father too, loving his son just as fiercely.
Before her shift ended, the phone rang. “Ellie, hurry! Charlottes having one of her fitsa bad one!”
“Im coming! Call an ambulance!”
She arrived as the ambulance pulled up.
“Where were you, mother?” the doctor chided.
“At work”
This episode was severe.
“Should she go to hospital?” Eleanor whispered.
The doctor, new to them, sighed. “What good would it do? Theyll only unsettle her. You ought to take her to Londonto specialists.”
The doctors left forty minutes later.
Eleanor dialled Edward.
“I accept. Charlottes had another fit.”
The next day, they departed. Edward himself came, accompanied by a clean-shaven young man.
“Take only whats necessary. The rest well buy.”
She nodded.
Charlotte eyed the gleaming car with delight.
Edward crouched before her. “Do you like it?”
“Very much!”
“Fancy sitting up front? Youll see everything.”
“May I? Oh, please!”
The girl glanced at her mother.
“The police might fine us,” Eleanor warned.
Edward laughed and opened the door. “In you hop, Charlotte! And if anyone tries fining uswell fine them back!”
As they neared the house, Eleanors dread grew.
“What have I done? What if hes odd, cruel…?”
Edward noticed her unease.
“Eleanor, relax. The wedding isnt for a week. You may refuse at any time. And Alistair is clever, kind, but something in him broke. Youll see.”
She stepped out, helping Charlotte down, then froze at the sight of the housenot a house, a manor.
Charlotte squealed. “Mum, are we living in a fairy tale now?”
Edward laughed, lifting her. “Do you like it?”
“Immensely!”
Before the wedding, Eleanor and Alistair met only at dinners. The young man barely spoke, his mind elsewhere. She studied himhandsome, though pallid, as if starved of sunlight. She sensed he, like her, bore pain silently. She was grateful he never mentioned the impending marriage.
On the wedding day, a whirlwind of activity surrounded Eleanor. The dress arrived the night before. Seeing it, she sank into a chair.
“What did this cost?”
Edward smiled. “Best not to dwell on it. Lookheres something else.”
He produced a miniature version of the gown.
“Charlotte, shall we try it?”
Her daughter shrieked with joy. The fitting followed, the little girl parading like royalty.
Then Eleanor turned and saw Alistair in the doorway, watching Charlotte. A faint smile touched his eyes.
Charlotte now slept in the room beside theirs. Theirs. Eleanor could scarcely believe it.
Edward suggested a honeymoon abroad, but Alistair declined. “Thank you, Father. Well stay home.”
The bed was vast. Alistair kept his distance, made no advances. Eleanor, who had resolved to stay vigilant, fell asleep at once.
A week passed. They began talking in the evenings. Alistair was witty, well-read, fascinated by science. He made no move toward her. Gradually, she relaxed.
One night, she woke with a starther pulse racing.
“Somethings wrong.”
She rushed to Charlottes room. Just as fearedthe child was mid-fit.
“Alistair, help! Call an ambulance!”
He was there in an instant, seizing the phone. Moments later, Edward arrived, dishevelled. “Ill summon Dr. Bennett myself.”
The ambulance came swiftlysmartly dressed medics, modern equipment. The family doctor followed, conferring at length. Eleanor stayed with Charlotte. Alistair held the girls hand.
“Eleanor,” he murmured, “has she always had these fits?”
“Yes Weve been to hospitals, done testsnothing helped. Thats why her father left. Said I was a burden.”
“Did you love him?”
“Once. But that feels lifetimes ago.”
“So you accepted Fathers offer”
Eleanor raised her brows.
Alistair smiled. “He thinks me oblivious. But Ive always read him plainly. I feared whom he might choose. Then I saw youand marvelled. Youre not the sort to do this for money. Now it all makes sense.”
He met her gaze. “Dont weep. Well heal Charlotte. Shes strongunlike me.”
“Why did you break? Youre clever, handsome, kind”
“Be honestwould you have married me otherwise?”
She considered, then nodded. “Yes. Loving you would be easier than loving men who play at heroism. But its more than that. I cant explain.”
Alistair smiled. “No need. Somehow, I believe you.”
Days later, she found Alistair at a peculiar taskworking on an elaborate contraption.
“A trainer,” he explained. “After the accident, I was meant to use it thrice daily. But I decided it didnt matter. Now Im ashamed. Before Charlotte. Before you.”
A knock came. Edward peered in. “May I?”
