Free The Nanny's Little Matchmakers (Love Inspired Historical) by Danica Favorite Page B

just don’t know what to look for in a nanny,” she said, giving him a wink.
    “I hired you, didn’t I?” The light had returned to his eyes, and Polly thought she caught the hint of a smile at the corners of his lips.
    “Then I suppose there’s hope for you, after all. You’ve finally learned from all of your mistakes.”
    Mitch chuckled, a sound she hadn’t heard before, and from the awkward way it creaked out in the beginning, something he probably hadn’t done in a while. Which, of course, he wouldn’t have, given that he’d just buried his wife and was dealing with accusations of her murder.
    “You have been good for my family, that I will admit.” Then he composed himself and said with his usual solemnity, “Thank you. I know the situation has been difficult for you, and I’ve made it even more challenging. But what you’ve done for the children means the world to me.”
    It seemed unnecessarily cruel to bring up the fact that it would make her job a lot easier if he would just open up to her, to her family and let them help. The emotional admissions he’d given her just now seemed to be hard-won, and if she pushed, it could take them backward rather than forward.
    “You’re welcome. I meant what I said about your children being easy to love. I know the other nannies had difficulties with them, but it’s only because the children have had such instability in their lives. They need to know they are loved unconditionally and that no matter how badly they behave, they are still loved.”
    “What about discipline? The other nannies seemed to think that was the real problem with the children.”
    Polly frowned. “Discipline is important, certainly. But it’s absolutely useless if it’s not given in the context of love. A child will obey out of fear if the source of fear is present. But what happens when the child is on his own? If the discipline has been given in love, then the child wants to obey, even when the child is left to his own devices.”
    Funny how her mouth spoke her own mother’s words so easily. She’d been blessed with a mother who taught her about love and never disciplined out of anger. Ma might not have been the best example in terms of romance, but if Polly could be half the mother she’d been... Polly shook her head. She was never going to be a mother. But at least she could impart that same loving wisdom on any children who were in her care.
    “You make it sound so simple.” Mitch rubbed his forehead again. “I’ll be honest. They can try my patience even on the best of days. I’ve often wondered if the other nannies were right. If I wasn’t hard enough on them.”
    Then he peered into the room at his sleeping daughter. “But how can I not love that sweet girl? How could I possibly be harsh with her?”
    “Discipline, if done in the right way, is love. You’ve just never known a loving way of doing it.”
    A screech sounded from the bottom of the stairs, and then the blur of two children ran past them, yelling as they climbed the stairs into the attic room.
    “Give it to me,” Clara wailed.
    “It’s mine,” Rory shouted.
    Polly let out a long sigh.
    Mitch grinned. “About that loving discipline you were just telling me about?”
    “Follow me.”
    She led Mitch into the large attic all the children shared as a bedroom. Uncle Frank had built several sets of cozy bunk beds lining each side of the attic—one for girls, and one for boys, divided by a large sheet across the room. It gave them plenty of space for the MacDonald children, the Taylor children and any other children who happened to need a bed for the night.
    Clara and Rory rolled around on the floor, hitting each other.
    “That is enough,” Polly said in a quiet but firm voice as she stood over them.
    The children stopped, midswing, and stared at her.
    “Now, would you please tell me what is going on?”
    “She started it!”
    “No, he did!”
    Polly shook her head. “I didn’t ask who started it,