Nurse, Nanny...Bride! by Alison Roberts

Author:Alison Roberts
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2010-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

The fact that Andrew had accepted her offer of help with childcare had been unexpected.

He might not be able to tell her she was worthy of his trust, but actions spoke louder than words and this was a loud shout.

It hadn’t been a grudging acceptance because he had no choice, either. He’d thanked her, when it would have been perfectly acceptable to have turned his attention immediately back to his patient. And not only had he thanked her; Alice had been treated to a glimmer of one of those smiles.

Directed at herself!

It gave her a warm glow that might have negated the need to build a fire if it hadn’t been for poor little Emmy. The girl had red cheeks and overbright eyes and her nose was dripping like a tap. Her chest was clear, however, and her temperature only slightly raised. She wasn’t sick enough for it to be any more than a mild viral infection.

‘We’re going to give you some paracetamol and then a lovely warm bath,’ Alice told her charge. ‘Have you got pyjamas and slippers and a dressing gown?’

Emmy nodded. ‘Are you going to be my nanny now?’

‘Just for today, hon. Till Daddy gets home.’

‘Coz I’m sick?’

‘That’s right.’ Alice led the way into the kitchen to measure out the liquid paracetamol she’d brought from work. She lifted Emmy to sit on the old scrubbed pine table while she opened drawers to find a spoon.

‘I like being sick,’ Emmy announced.

‘Do you?’

‘Yes.’ Her small face was screwed up in distaste while the anti-inflammatory medicine was swallowed but then Emmy smiled at Alice. ‘I think I’m going to be sick for a long time.’

‘No, it’s just a cold, hon. You’ll be as right as rain in a day or two.’ Emmy’s scowl made her raise her eyebrows. ‘You don’t want to be sick for a long time, do you?’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘Why?’

‘Coz you’ll look after me.’

‘Ohh.’ Alice lifted the child down and then took her hand as they left the kitchen.

Oh, help. Emmy sure knew how to climb right into someone’s heart, didn’t she? Andrew had made a valid point the other day. Getting attached would make it much harder when she had to leave. For both Emmy and herself.

Maybe this hadn’t been such a brilliant idea. Except this was the first time she’d stepped inside this wonderful old house and Alice had to admit she was fascinated.

‘Where’s the bathroom, hon?’

‘Up the stairs. C’mon, I’ll show you.’

Alice was being tugged along by one hand. She ran the other up the smooth banister of golden wood, where each rail beneath was intricately carved with vines and flowers. Brass rods held a faded oriental-style carpet in place, which seamlessly extended to run the length of the gallery at the top.

‘This is my room.’

There were shelves full of books and toys scattered on the floor. A doll’s house in one corner and a blackboard easel where Emmy’s name had been beautifully written in different coloured chalks, presumably by her father. Alice turned her head and had to catch her breath.

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