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Chapter 11

"I would like for you to marry my daughter, Isabella."

I sat there, dumbfounded and confused. He wanted me to do what? I didn't know whether I should laugh or cry at his proposal. However, saying yes was furthest from my mind. The girl, and she may still be young enough to consider a girl, hated me on sight.

"Why?" was all I could voice at the moment.

"I need to make sure she's taken care of before I leave this world. She's a delicate creature, fragile even, and needs a good man to look after her. She'd not make it on her own."

She hadn't seemed all that fragile to me when she was trying to kill me with a look, but I had to take her father's word for it. He knew her best, after all. As well, I had found in the past that looks could be quite deceiving when it came to the gentler sex.

"What does your daughter say about all this? Is she agreeable to marriage or even marriage to me?"

"She will do what I tell her to do. She's a good girl, smart and able to care for a husband. She cooks well and can do all manner of womanly tasks. She's been doing her best to look after me since her mother turned ill. There are some conditions that I require before you agree."

I decided to play along with his game. I was fairly certain Miss Swan would much rather eat strychnine than marry me but I didn't want to ruin Justice Swan's charade.

"What conditions are those?"

"Firstly, treat her well. Do not touch her unless you are absolutely certain she wishes you to. Don't ask me why, I won't and can't tell you but I need you to swear on this. Your marriage might be chaste for many years but you must swear not to punish her or divorce her for this. I know you are the kind of man who will respect his bride in this way. Tell me you won't." He stressed this so emphatically I had to nod my agreement. I didn't really think of what I was giving up until after I had agreed to it.

"Second, I'll deed you the house, please don't make her move from here. After what happened awhile ago, I offered to sell and move but she would have nothing to do with it. She even offered to buy it herself with money she had saved from an inheritance. I know the house is in disrepair; I haven't the energy, knowledge or inclination to do the upkeep. You can't hire anyone for she and I will not allow strangers onto our property. If you knew our history, you'd know why."

He went on about this as if I did know their history. I wanted to ask, desperately wanted to ask, but I stupidly held my tongue.

"Thirdly, if I have to leave again as I did last week, I need for you to promise you'll tell anyone who asks that I was taken to my bed with illness."

"But..?" I would need to know why before I felt comfortable lying for him. It wasn't in my nature to be untruthful.

"No questions boy. Not yet, anyway."

"Fourthly, you will allow her her odd behaviours. She has earned them. She had a great deal of trouble sleeping and often spends a lot of time in bed, late into the day."

He stared off into the distance for awhile. I didn't know if he was going to continue or if he was finished.

In a very quiet voice he resumed speaking.

"I need her to be safe, I need her away from any hostile gossip that would ruin her. I failed her once, I can't do it again. I need her to be cared for by someone I can trust. I know you have questions, I still have questions and there are things she won't tell me. I don't want to press her and have her break down. I know she is only just holding onto her sanity. Although she is not mad, I want you to know, she's damaged in ways I will never understand. There is no way she could go out and find a man of her own and she's too young to be left to fend for herself."

He stopped and looked at me.

"She is very pretty, isn't she? I saw how you looked at her last week. If you want her, marry her and do all that I ask. You'll be rewarded. Your clerkship, the bar and my home, practice and reputation. All these things are yours for the taking if you promise."

"What do I tell my family? They'll want to meet her, to know her and…"

"Love at first sight, Edward. You saw her and could not resist. I could marry you two this afternoon or as soon as you agree to my terms. You can go pack your bags and move in when possible as long as it is within this calendar month. You have the impetuous nature of youth behind you to cover your actions."

He countered almost every argument I could come up with. I had been struck by his daughter but I wouldn't go so far as love at first sight. Esme was a romantic and would easily swallow that idea. Carlisle was more centred but distracted with his own work. The weeks I had already spent here clerking and the month to come might just be enough hours to fulfill my clerkship. However, help with the bar exams and everything else Justice Swan was promising me, well, I didn't know if they were worth it. Worth promising my life to a woman/girl who loathes me.

There was a part of me that wanted to protect her. I could see that there was something, not wrong, but amiss with her. Perhaps she needed me more than I needed the dowry a wife might come with.

AN: Many thanks to Beachcomberlc for her stupendous efforts toward keeping me sane and readable. My IpsitaC77 is a bright jewel in my day. LunaBev makes me smile. JulieToo keeps me level.

Hi to Rebadams7

Thank you for reading.