Elijah shook his head and sighed. "No. I'd never be able to live with myself if I did that." He smiled at her weakly. "I suppose your father never told you some of the more unsavory details in the case." Though Rose clearly knew, he decided not to worry about it. "I had hoped your father would be reasonable and not force you to marry someone. I believe that you could have found love on your own. It's rare but there are men out there who don't care about a woman's past and only who she is. And you are very pretty and have such a huge heart. I hate to see it trampled so."