60444964-07202011-Charlotte-Lamb-Body-and-Soul by Lamb Charlotte

Author:Lamb, Charlotte [Lamb, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

MARTINE didn't even need to think for a second. Shaking her

head in utter disbelief, she whispered, 'Charles... thank you..

.you're the kindest man I know, and that's the most wonderful

offer... you've taken my breath away, and I'll never forget that

you asked me, but, you know, I couldn't possibly accept.'

'Why not?' He seemed taken aback, as if he had expected her to

jump at his proposal.

She made a husky sound, half sob, half laughter. 'Dear Charles, I

couldn't marry you for your money, even if it was all intended for my baby. I couldn't live with myself if I did. No, it's very

sweet and thoughtful of you to want to help me, but money isn't

really the answer to my problems. I earn enough to be able to

take care of my baby myself, after all, and I have plenty of

savings put by. I shall work something out after the birth, find

someone to look after the baby while I work. Lots of other

women find themselves in this predicament and manage to cope,

I'm sure I shall, once I put my mind to it. And, as for you

needing an heir with your family blood in his veins, well, I can't

advise you on that, but Bruno is still your nearest relative and he

understands merchant banking better than anyone I know apart

from you.'

She got up, pushing back her slightly dishevelled auburn hair

with both hands and Charles got to his feet too, frowning.

'I thought you hated him.'

She laughed. "The way I feel about him doesn't stop me

assessing his abilities honestly and recognising that the man is

brilliant!'

'Yes, he is, isn't he?' Charles murmured, pushing his hands into

his pockets and rocking on the balls of his feet. 'Brilliant, but

amoral, it seems. I'm not sure that makes him a suitable

candidate to take my chair at the bank, Martine. I'm not someone

who believes you don't need a morality if you're in banking.'

'I'm sure Bruno has very high ethical standards where banking is

concerned,' she drily told him, and Charles grinned at her, his

face lightening.

'You can always make me laugh, even when I'm very down. And

you're astonishingly fair-minded. I don't think many girls, in your

shoes, would have been so strictly scrupulous where Bruno was

concerned.'

She couldn't quite meet his eyes. In a low, muffled voice she

said, 'He didn't force me to do anything I didn't want to do, you

know.'

Charles was silent but he took her hand and held it tightly,

comforting her without words.

'I may hate his guts,' she went on with bitter humour, 'but he

didn't make me any promises, he didn't cheat me or lie to me. We

didn't even have an affair; I think Gerhard put it in a nutshell...'

'Gerhard?' Charles repeated, looking astounded. 'He knows about

the baby?'

'No, but he did guess that I'd been involved with Bruno. He said

being with the two of us was like being caught in an electrical

storm.'

Charles laughed. 'He hit the button there! I know exactly what he

means.'

'Well, the one time we made love was like being hit by lightning,

but getting up and walking away feeling dazed. I still don't know

why I let it happen.

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