Chapter 31
“Dalton…”
“Thank you, Edward,” he said, “for keeping me company. I’ll think back on this night fondly because of you.”
Edward jumped to his feet when Dalton reached the door, his hand landing on Dalton’s shoulder to keep him from opening it.
“What if I could help?” Edward asked. “What if…what if wemarried instead?”
Eyes growing and jaw dropping, several emotions ran across Dalton’s face. They were hard to catch, but surprise seemed the most dominant. Edward even surprised himself, but he could not take the words back and wouldn’t even if he could.
“You want to marry me?”
“Well, it’s…it’s logical, isn’t it? Rational. A sensible solution. Taking a husband will be good for the estate as well and, after tonight you’ll be seen as sympathetic, but this’ll keep your reputation intact.”
Face falling a fraction, Dalton nibbled his lip and shook his head. “You’re proposing marriage because it’s the sensible solution?”