Lady and the Gamble: A Sweet Victorian Romance (The Colby Brothers Book 2)

by Peggy Ann Craig

  As she stood there with her eyes closed trying to calm her trembling nerves, she felt a gentle gust of wind sweep past her on the back verandah. It blew gently across her cheeks and down her throat where it lifted the loose tendril of hairs at the base of her neck, tickling the skin beneath them. Evelina had forgotten how wonderful it felt to have a warm summer breeze upon her skin and silently admitted how much she missed the feeling.

  “You stand there much longer, and I fear you will cause the lemonade to grow warm.”

  Her eyes opened to find Ryan watching her humorously.

  She swallowed a hard lump that had suddenly materialized in her throat before saying, “Perhaps you care to join me on the porch for your lemonade?”

  His brows dipped. “I do not.”

  Frustrating man.

  She bit her bottom lip and looked down at the two steps before her. “Please, I insist you come out of the sun and enjoy your lemonade here in the shade of the porch.”

  He cocked his head to one side but said nothing.

  “Please, sir, I insist.”

  To her relief, he got slowly to his feet. However, noted in frustration that he left his book on the bench as he approached the porch. Just a few feet from it, he stopped short and looked up at her.

  “Come here, Evelina.”

  Her eyes locked with his and she observed the determination in his eyes. He was not going to let this go. She blasted herself for even having come this far. She should have remained in the parlor where it was nice and safe.

  “I don’t wish to.”

  “Why not?”

  “The sun is very hot—”

  “You’re lying.”

  She blinked. “Pardon me?”

  “I said you are lying,” he repeated. “I don’t think it has anything to do with the sun.”

  She shifted on very unstable legs and held out his glass. “I brought you your lemonade. If you would kindly take it, I believe I will retire back to the parlor. It is too, er, hot out here.”

  His brow arched at the lie. “Bring it to me.”

  “Please, Mr. Colby, come fetch your lemonade.”

  His eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms over his chest as he emphatically noted, “You’re frightened.”

  “No, I am not!”

  “Then bring me the lemonade.”

  She drew in a long deep uneven breath than on wobbly legs took a step forward. This brought her foot to the edge of the porch just above the first step. She looked down the small flight and felt her throat close up. Trembling, she immediately thrust out his glass of lemonade. “Please. Take it.”

  As if sensing something was wrong, he moved quickly, removed the glass of lemonade with one hand, and took her arm to steady her with his other. “Are you all right?”

  “I want to go inside.”

  Lord, she sounded childish and feared she would break down in tears. If she could, she would rush back into the house. However, he still had a grip on her arm, forcing her to remain on the porch hovering over the small flight of steps.

  “You’ve come this far, why don’t you come the remaining distance?”

  “I-I,” she stuttered before glancing down into his face and found him staring up at her with an understanding look so intense she caught her breath. “I can’t.”

  “I promise,” he said softly as his hand slid down her arm and took her hand. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  The mocking and teasing were gone from his eyes and instead were replaced with such sincerity that she felt her insides begin to weaken.

  “Let me take your glass from you.” He let go of her hand to remove her glass of lemonade. However, she immediately felt shaky and reached out for something to grip onto.

  Grasping the banister railing, she looked down at the two lone steps and shook her head. “I can’t do it.”

  “Yes, you can.”

  “No, I don’t think I can.”

  “Look at me.”

  She did but felt her knees wobble.

  “I know you can do this. Nothing is going to happen. I won’t let it. I’m right here.”

  Something in the way he looked at her sent a warmth to spread over her body. She was overwhelmed with the urge to please him. To do as he bid.

  With a trembling sigh, she placed her foot on the first step. Her leg buckled horribly and she reached over and grasped the railing once again. She couldn’t do this. It was impossible. What foolish, reckless notion made her think she could?

  “Come on, Evelina, I believe in you.”

  She lifted her gaze and stared at him again. She wanted to hate him, despise him for forcing her to do this, but at the same time, she marveled at the idea that he not only wanted her to succeed, he expected her to.

  She reluctantly let go of the railing and placed her other foot on the bottom step. Her body tilted and she gasped, terrified she was about to take a tumble, but at the last second found herself being steadied.

  She looked up to discover Ryan had grabbed her arm. “Are you okay now?”

  When she was certain she had regained her balance, she nodded lamely and nearly cried out in sorrow when he let her go. She took a few minutes to regain her equilibrium and some false confidence, then took the last step and stepped off the porch. As soon as she did, a rush of relief swept over. She released a loud breath and glanced up at him with a huge smile.

  “I did it.”

  He smiled in return. “Yes, you did.”

  She couldn’t believe it. She had done it. After nearly twelve years of self-inflicted house arrest, she had finally come outdoors.

  “Now, since you’re out here,” he smirked, “Would you care to join me on the bench?”

  Her smile beamed. “I believe I would.”

  He held out his elbow and she took it, relieved to have his support. Even though she had made it down those two little steps, she wasn’t confident enough to believe that making it across the garden to the bench would have been any easier.

  “Oh wait,” she stopped suddenly. “I forgot Moby Dick in the parlor.”

  “That’s all right. I would rather spend the afternoon gazing upon your face anyway.”

  She flushed and turned away. “Your flirting is a waste of time, Mr. Colby. It only falls on deaf ears. I know my looks are trivial compared to my beautiful sisters.”

  “I daresay you lie again, Miss Hepworth.” He stopped to stare accusingly down at her, his face all at once serious. “You outshine them all.”

  Again, her cheeks grew hot. “You’re too kind, sir.”

  “Not at all.”

  She was not accustomed to a man’s admiring glances or compliments, so had to turn away and urge them into a walk. “Let us retire to the bench.”

  He turned them toward the bench but stated, “For a woman who enjoys so much of her free time sitting around, it amazes me how remarkable slight your frame is. You hardly feel as if you weigh a pound more than the clothes on your back.”

  “Please, I ask you to hold your tongue. Such words are inappropriate.”

  He smirked. “Since when has flattery been considered inappropriate?”

  She brought them to a complete stop and glared at him reproachfully. “Do not make me regret my decision to join you out here.”

  “My apologies.” He grinned but nodded and then moved them back into a walk. “Why did you come out here if you so detest the outdoors, not to mention my company?”

  Her eyes shifted but she refused to make eye contact with him. “I conceded you were right and it was too beautiful of a day to miss.”

  He leaned close and whispered, “Liar.”

  She sighed. “If you continue speaking to me in such a derogatory way, Mr. Colby, I will have to insist you take me back to the house.”

  He chuckled but continued toward the bench. “My apologies, my lady, I hate for you to turn back now after coming so far.”

  Her glance shifted in his direction. “Contrary to your words, Mr. Colby, I do not dete
st your company. As a matter of fact, I have quite enjoyed it.”

  He shot a quizzical glance at her. “Truly?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Don’t get a big head over it.”

  He laughed outright. “I promise I won’t. Though I admit, I thought it had more to do with this.”

  They stopped in front of the bench where he picked up Evelina.

  She blushed and shrugged her shoulders. “Perhaps a little.”

  He smiled. “I confess to being slightly insulted, but pleased you are honest enough to admit it.”

  She took the book from him before he could change his mind and sat down on the bench, relieved to get off her feet.

  He slumped down next to her and crossed one leg over the other as he leaned back and gazed at her.

  “You weren’t serious about staring at me all afternoon, were you Mr. Colby?”

  He paused then said, “Ryan.”

  She nodded. “Ryan.”

  “And yes, I do plan on gazing upon you. What else is there for me to do? You’ve taken my only reading material.” He accused humorously.

  Evelina couldn’t help but grin. “You could take a stroll amongst the garden.”

  “But then I would have to part from your company.” He shook his head. “No, that wouldn’t do.”

  “Perhaps you could play your harmonica?”

  He gave her a knowing look. “But that would disturb your reading.”

  She hesitated before saying, “Or perhaps you recount one of your adventures from out on the lakes?”

  He stilled while a softness crept into his expression that immediately warmed Evelina’s heart.

  “You would care to hear one of my stories?”

  “Yes.”

  He glanced down at the book. “What about Evelina?”

  “I think,” she paused. “I would rather hear you narrate one of your own tales from the sea.”

  The softness in his gaze grew slightly pained. “Not quite the sea, my lady.”

  Surprised, she asked, “Have you never sailed up the St. Lawrence?”

  “I’m afraid not. I’m just a poor provincial sailor helping to transport goods to communities along the lakes.”

  “That’s a noble duty.”

  He smirked, cocking his head and putting on a false Irish accent. “Aye, but the seas are the place to be for a sailor such as me.”

  She looked closely and saw past the façade he placed in front of himself. “Is that why you want my father’s schooner? To be able to sail to the ocean?”

  He sighed then nodded. “I’ve always dreamt of sailing the seas and docking on foreign lands. There’s a great big world out there and I intend to see all of it.”

  “All of it?”

  He grinned. “Well, as much as I can.”

  She hesitated, and then asked, “And how were you planning on doing that with a wife in tow?”

  His grin faded. “I wasn’t. Life out at sea is no life for a woman. Let alone a family.”

  She frowned. “Then why are you here, Mr. Colby?”

  He stared at her hard and said, “I’m not sure yet.”

  Her brows drew together even more. “That is a very non-committal response.”

  “What would you have me say? You don’t act much like a woman wanting to be courted either, Miss Hepworth.”

  She shifted on the bench. “Perhaps that has to do more with the gentleman who wishes to court me. I don’t fancy being a pawn in my future husband’s life.”

  “You are under the assumption I have already agreed to marry you. I simply agreed to humor the idea and see where things may lead.”

  “It sounds to me as if you are toying with people’s emotions without any care of the outcome.”

  “I disagree. I would be concerned if I believed any emotions were involved. However you, my lady, as you ardently like to remind me, carry no torch for me and hence cannot be harmed.”

  Angered, she retorted, “Could you please refrain from referring to me as my lady. You know very well that I am a simple and poor sailor’s daughter.”

  “I apologize, but I do not judge one’s regard by class alone.”

  She blinked and stared at him. He confounded her. “You have an art of flipping insults and compliments within the same breath.”

  He looked genuinely surprised. “Insults? When have I insulted you?”

  “You just finished saying you were not interested in marrying me.”

  “You are twisting my words. I said I hadn’t made up my mind.” He eyed her curiously. “May I ask you to be honest with me once more, Miss Hepworth?”

  “I suppose.”

  “Would you be happy married to a sailor?”

  This caught her off guard. She hadn’t expected the question. What was more surprising, she didn’t have an immediate response. She turned her gaze toward the river just beyond her parent’s small two-story house. At one point, she would have loved nothing more than to sail off on her father’s schooner next to him on one of his great adventures. But that was a long time ago.

  Releasing a soft sigh, she said, “No, I don’t suppose I would.”

  He didn’t respond immediately. Then when he did, he surprised her by saying, “I am more saddened by that response than I would have thought.”

  Her chest constricted as she silently conceded she felt letdown. It surprised her to realize that she would have liked to been Ryan Colby’s wife.

  “I think I’ve had enough of the pleasant outdoors today, Mr. Colby,” she muttered, trying not to let the scorn she felt to show in her voice. But from the darkening of his eyes, she knew he caught the hidden sarcasm in her wording.

  Hating to ask, but knowing she had no other choice, she requested his assistance. “Would you please walk me back to the house?”

  He stared at her far longer than was necessary and caused her to squirm uncomfortably until he sighed and got to his feet. “As you wish.”

  After he helped her to her feet, he tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and led her back to the small porch. She took longer than the usual person did to stumble up the two steps, but he kept a firm grip on her elbow until she stood soundly on two steady feet once again.

  “I will bid my farewells here.” He stopped her on the top deck. Though she was not surprised he decided to leave, she was surprised at her level of disappointment. After their conversation in the garden, she feared she would never see him again. “Would you kindly pass them on to your family?”

  She nodded, unable to find her voice. The emotion he had resurrected had lodged itself in her throat.

  He eyed her closely as if waiting for a response. When she didn’t offer any, he exhaled and glanced back at the house. “Would you mind if I returned tomorrow?”

  Astounded, she blinked and stared up at him. She was certain this was it. That they had concluded there could be no future between them. So why was he asking to see her again?

  “Of course not.”

  He smiled feebly in return, then gave a nod and leaped off the porch and marched out of the garden.

  She stared after him feeling confounded. Why would he continue to court her if he just realized that she was not a suitable wife for him? The answer came swiftly. Indeed, she thought herself stupid and foolish for even having forgotten. So caught up was she being enthralled by those deep chocolate eyes and that warm caring touch.

  No other wife could fulfill his lifelong dream. No other wife came with a schooner as a dowry.

  Chapter 6

  Ryan stood on the opposite side of the little blue picket fence surrounding the Hepworth’s tiny two-story house, and toward the parlor window where he knew Evelina sat alongside her sisters working on their endless supply of needlepoint.

  He shouldn’t have returned. It was all wrong. The more he has gotten to know Evelina, the more she drew him in. There was obviously something mysterious about her. He had never met anyone with such a phobia of the outdoors. It explained her father’s inability to marry the g
irl off. It certainly couldn’t have anything to do with her looks.

  There wasn’t a prettier woman he had ever laid eyes on.

  He pushed the tiny wooden gate open to the narrow footpath and walked up to the front door. He wasn’t sure what could have caused Evelina to develop such an irrational fear but he was curious enough to find out.

  “Good morning, Mr. Colby.” May greeted him with a warm smile.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Hepworth.”

  She stood back and allowed him entry. “The girls are in the parlor.”

  He grinned. “Of course.”

  “We’ve begun a quilt for Victoria as a wedding gift. She’s to marry later this summer.”

  May led him into the room just off the front entrance where indeed the six beautiful daughters along with a group of older ladies he had never met, all sat around busy at work on a large frame propped up by four ladder back chairs.

  “Ladies, this is Ryan Colby, a gentleman friend of Evelina’s.” She addressed the gathering of women. Their old plump faces beamed up at him and they murmured and nodded in agreement.

  “Good morning.” He greeted them before allowing his gaze to slide to Evelina who sat with cheeks flushed amongst the group before turning back to May. “I was wondering if I had your permission to take Evelina out on an excursion today?”

  “Oh.” She exclaimed before glancing over at her daughter who did not give the impression she was as excited as he would have wished.

  “I’ve hired a carriage to take us for a ride through the city.”

  “Oh, that sounds lovely. But of course, you must take along a chaperone.”

  “But of course.”

  “Kathleen, you may accompany them. Fetch your shawl and one for Evelina too.”

  Evelina who had sat silently listening to the exchange finally spoke up. “I’m not interested in going for a ride, mother.”

  The quilting bee ladies gasped at her outburst but Ryan wasn’t surprised in the least. He whole-heartedly anticipated a refusal.

  “Thank you, Mr. Colby, but I regretfully decline your offer.” She swiftly composed herself shooting a glance around the quilting frame. “As you can see, I’m already occupied.”