However, with Evelina, he couldn’t bring himself to do it any longer. He didn’t want to see her hurt. He wasn’t sure why he felt this way, perhaps it was because of the inner demons she seemed to face on a daily basis. It pained him to see her suffer. He wanted her to heal and more importantly, he wanted to be a part of that healing process.
He left the pier and headed up the boardwalk then crossed the street to her family’s little home. It was a beautiful morning and he did not intend to dampen it.
When the door opened, Evelina greeted him uncharacteristically. A delightful smile lit up her face and made her eyes even bluer than they already were if that was at all possible.
“You look ravishing this morning.”
He was delighted when the glow on her face grew even brighter. “Why thank you kind sir. You are too generous.”
“I thought today we could have a picnic.” He raised a basket he held in his hands. “If you like, we could enjoy it in your mother’s garden.”
She bit her bottom lip in a nervous manner and he wished she didn’t always feel so frightened of trying something new. He would have loved to take her to the bluffs overlooking the river for their picnic. But her false misconceptions kept her imprisoned in her own home.
“I, um, hear the park is lovely.”
His brows shot up in surprise. “Yes, yes it is. Would you care to go?”
She hesitated and he almost feared she was going to back out. “I think so.”
A huge smile spread across his face. “Wonderful.”
He took her arm and escorted her down the narrow path to the waiting carriage. After settling her onto the bench, he directed the driver to take a long route to the park, wanting to enjoy as much time with Evelina as possible. As they passed by several interesting landmarks, he discovered it was the first time Evelina had ever seen them. Though it troubled him to see the evidence of her sheltered life, it also admittedly pleased him greatly to see her face light up with joy. More so knowing he himself was the instigator behind her happy mood that day.
“Have you ever been to the Waterworks Park? It’s a bit of a distance, but well worth it.”
“No, I haven’t,” she admitted. “Where is that?”
“North of here. It’s where the pumping houses are held that provide water to all of Detroit’s residents.”
“Oh,” she said, sounding slightly disappointed.
He grinned. “Not to worry. It’s much lovelier than it sounds. The grounds also have over a hundred acres of park land to picnic upon.”
When she looked far more pleased, he added, “As well, a less chance of running into crowds.”
“Oh.” He had a feeling that her high-pitched exclamation sounded far more delighted than she probably intended.
He shook his head in silence at her, perplexed at her dislike of public places.
Twenty minutes later they arrived at Waterworks Park, where they disembarked from the carriage at the entrance near Cadillac Boulevard, named after the founder of Detroit, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. The park, itself, housed one of the few waterworks systems found anywhere in America. Its main source was to provide clean drinking water to the thousands of residents of the city, but it was also home to a glorious park that drew in tourists from all over. It was a botanical oasis away from the polluted streets of the metropolitan. Together, Ryan and Evelina enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the many geranium scented pathways lined with garden beds and chestnut trees.
It was a beautiful summer day. The sky was a clear blue and the air hot and thick with a mid-July humidity. Not surprisingly, the park was overflowing with park goers, far more than Ryan anticipated. He wasn’t entirely certain but he wondered if that was why Evelina chose to stroll unnaturally close to his side most of the day. Not that he minded. In fact, if it wasn’t considered improper, he would have loved to walk arm in arm. As it was he had to contend with being granted the odd brush of her arm against his own every now and then.
That was until their footsteps led them to the first of many canals that flowed in from the Detroit River. At that point, she seemed to be hanging back, keeping a proper distance from him. Or possibly the water’s edge?
He thought of the story her father had recounted of that day on the rocky bluffs and wondered if Evelina would ever gain his trust enough to reveal what happened. He very much wanted to help her however no matter what he did, she would not allow him in. Which was probably all for the best, he cautioned himself. He had big plans and bigger goals. There was no time in his life to coddle a woman suffering from neurosis. Yet he realized as he watched her lovely face crinkle in agitation, that he also was in no rush to leave her behind either.
* * *
Evelina liked that Ryan had slowed his pace considerably that day. He always seemed in a rush, moving about quickly. It was nice to see him slow down and enjoy his surroundings. As he was now. They had strolled past a canal and were approaching a small lagoon where they came across a father sitting on a bench observing his boys who were playing with a little wooden sailboat along the water’s edge. The scene immediately drew Ryan’s attention.
“My favorite toy as a child was a hand-me-down sailboat from my oldest brother. Our father had carved it for him for a birthday present, but he rarely played with it. So after my many attempts at begging and pleading, it was finally handed down to me. I played with that boat for hours on end. I’d take it down to the lake to watch it ride the current, dreaming of the day I would actually be able to sail away on a real ship.” He offered her a genuine smile, his mind full of happy memories.
Evelina paused then found herself revealing, “So did I.”
He arched a brow. “You had a toy boat?”
She held his gaze and wondered what he would think if she told him, she too had dreamed of sailing away on a boat. That the water beckoned her as it did any other sailor with the sea in their blood.
“Yes,” she found herself saying instead. “My father also made it for me.”
His smile increased. “You must show it to me someday.”
“I no longer have it.”
The disappointment on his face was swift. “Why ever not?”
She paused, then said, “I would imagine because I outgrew it.”
“I do hope you passed it on to a child who could enjoy it.”
“I don’t remember what I did with it.”
He lifted his chin and held her gaze causing her to shift uncomfortably almost as if he knew she was lying. She had loved that little boat but after the accident, she threw it in the fireplace and watched it burn to ashes. The sea doused from her blood forever.
As if sensing a melancholy arising within Evelina, Ryan turned away from the boys, took her elbow in his hand, and led her down the garden path where they came across a tower that soared high above the park.
“Good Lord, that’s tall,” she exclaimed.
“It stands at 185 feet tall,” he informed her. “They say you can view the entire city up there and follow the Detroit River as far as the eye can see.”
“How on earth do you get up there?”
“A staircase of course.” He grinned. “Race you to the top?”
She actually laughed. “That’s an unlikely scenario.”
He quietly accepted her rejection, not pushing the subject.
“Though I’m sure it would be a breathtaking view.”
He turned and stared down at her face. “I would carry you all the way to the top just so you could see it. All you have to do is ask.”
Evelina’s insides glowed. Never before had anyone other than her parents made her feel so special.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Then shall we have our picnic instead?”
“Yes, please.”
“How about along the shore of the canal? There were some beautiful picnic areas I spotted.”
She hesitated, and then pointed to a location furthest from the canal at the top of an open glade overlooking the par
k.
“How about there instead?”
“But it is so far from everyone—”
He glanced at her face and noticed her steadfast expression. “Right. Of course. Away from that maddening mob we go.”
His accompanying grin took away any sting his sarcastic words might have caused. For though he was right in assuming it was the crowd along the canal that left her feeling uneasy it was, in fact, the canal itself that she wished to avoid.
They turned away from the canal and made their way to the large clearing where they proceeded to spread out a blanket on the well-manicured lawn. Evelina stood overlooking her surroundings as Ryan began unpacking their lunch. There were a few other park goers in the glade with the same idea, but they generally had the area all to themselves. Though they were located in the center of the park, it somehow felt intimate and private to Evelina.
She glanced down and watched Ryan as he finished unpacking the picnic with a genuine smile on her face. She was so glad she gathered the nerve to ask him to take her here. She couldn’t remember having felt this contented in a long while.
Gathering her skirts, she carefully lowered herself to the blanket and made herself comfortable. Before her lay a bountiful meal, which admittedly impressed Evelina with how articulate he was in his selection.
“Why, Mr. Colby, what an impressive spread you have here.”
“My mother always taught me the importance of packing the necessary provisions when courting a lady.”
She made a face. “Your mother taught you that?”
“Of course.” He feigned insult that she would question his claim. “The many teachings of a proper woman desperate to make gentlemen out of her three sons.”
Evelina’s interest was immediately piqued. “Three sons?”
It occurred to her that this was the first time Ryan had ever talked about his family and that little tidbit of memory he shared earlier was the first time he ever talked about his personal life at all. She remembered her father mentioning a brother who had married Ryan’s fiancée and suddenly she had an urge to know more. Particularly about this fiancée.
“Yes, the poor woman, we were three wild and insufferable boys.”
Wanting to learn more, she wondered how to approach the subject. She didn’t want to overstep her boundaries but she longed to inquire further. He certainly seemed fond of his siblings but she wondered if there were any underlining grudges or unresolved issues toward the brother who had stolen his fiancée. Desperately wanting to ask yet mindful of how inappropriate it would be, she couldn’t summon the courage to ask.
“I brought us something I think you will enjoy.”
“What would that be?”
From the bottom of the picnic basket, he withdrew a flat wooden box. Evelina recognized it immediately from when he brought it that day that he and Kathleen played a round of chess together.
“Care to play?”
She smiled naturally. “I’d love to.”
“I am curious to see if you play as well as you boast.” His eyes twinkled in mirth as he jested good-naturedly.
“Prepare to lose, Mr. Colby. The odds have been favorably on my side when playing against father.”
“Is that so? Do you care to wager on that, Miss Hepworth?”
Her cheerfulness vanished immediately. “Betting is a sin.”
“I beg your pardon,” he said. “I should have elaborated further. I did not mean money. Simply for fun.”
“How so?”
“Let’s say for information. For each opponents piece captured, you may ask whatever question you wish as a means of getting to know one another better.”
Evelina frowned. She was certain it was still considered a sin if a person were the benefactor of a bet. No matter how innocent the wager. However, the chance to glean more knowledge of Ryan was too alluring. It would serve as a pretext for her insatiable curiosity. Not to mention, answer some of her burning questions. Such as his feelings regarding his past fiancée.
“All right.”
He grinned with approval then began laying out the board and placing the chess pieces on their squares. Once done, he turned the board around so that the white pieces faced Evelina. “Ladies first.”
She didn’t hesitate and made the first move. Ryan followed suit, as did Evelina. By her third move, she took the first pawn.
“You weren’t kidding.” He looked impressed. “You are good.”
“I’ve had lots of practice.”
He didn’t respond to her comment but instead asked, “So what will it be? What would you like to know?”
Evelina paused a moment and wished she had the nerve to ask him directly her most probing question, but instead found herself enquiring, “Which brother did the toy sailboat previously belong to?”
“That would be Garrett.”
She waited, hoping he would offer more. When he didn’t, she ventured to ask, “And, er, do you have any sisters?”
“Nuh-uh-uh,” he held up his hand. “One question per capture.”
Chastised but eager to get an answer, she made a few more quick moves before capturing yet another pawn.
Ryan blinked. “How did you do that?”
“Nuh-uh-uh.” She parroted his words with a smile and held up a hand. “My capture, my question.”
He chuckled. “You’re absolutely right. Ask away.”
“Sisters?”
He laughed. “No, no sisters. Just a sister-in-law.”
“Oh,” Evelina said while keeping her eyes downcast and trying to appear uninterested. “How lovely.”
“Actually,” he said drawing her attention back to his face. “She’d like you.”
“Why is that?”
“She’d be impressed at how bull-headed you are.”
Evelina narrowed her eyes at him. “Haha, I’m not that stubborn.”
He threw back his head and let out a loud laugh. “Only when it comes to anything you don’t want to do. Like visit a library, stroll along the pier, climb the tower, picnic along the canal—”
“All right, all right.” She actually smirked. “I suppose I can be a bit obstinate.”
“You suppose?” He leaned toward her with a knowing grin and Evelina found herself smiling back. They shared a mutual look and for that split second, something unfamiliar stirred within Evelina. But before she could explore the emotion further, Ryan turned his attention back to the game and broke the connection leaving Evelina feeling confused.
“Your turn.”
She blinked and gave an embarrassed smile before quickly moving a piece. But she wasn’t paying attention, which allowed Ryan to capture one of her bishops easily.
“My turn,” he exclaimed triumphantly.
Evelina shifted uneasily on the picnic blanket, suddenly anxious he might ask something too personal. Or worse. Something too painful.
His gaze met hers and as if sensing her sudden unease, he hesitated as if rethinking his question. “When is your birthday?”
She actually chuckled with relief. “April 20.”
He smiled and she smiled back. Then putting her focus back on the game, it only took her a few more moves and she was declaring checkmate.
“Blasted!” Ryan declared. “I had no idea you were this talented.”
She felt her cheeks blush and turned her gaze away. Receiving compliments was not one of her fortes.
“If you keep playing this good, Evelina, we’re not going to get to know one another very well.”
“I suppose we could have played poker as I don’t know anything about that game,” she said then horrified herself by continuing with, “But then you apparently are an expert in that game leaving us with the same dilemma.”
He didn’t respond immediately forcing Evelina to sneak a peek at his face while pretending to straighten her billowed skirts.
“I realize you consider gambling a sin, but I won’t apologize for partaking in the game as I would never have met you if I hadn’t.”
Flabbergasted, her gaze flew to his face to find him staring at her openly. However, his expression was bland and didn’t match his words leaving Evelina feeling confused.
“Ask your question.”
“Pardon me?”
“You won checkmate. Is there something about me you’d like to know?” He suddenly grinned. “I’m an open book.”
Evelina chewed on her bottom lip. Oh, she had a dozen pressing questions and narrowing it down to just one would be a challenge. If she had any sense of hindsight, she would have prolonged the game and won several more chances of asking questions.
“Um, your sister-in-law? Is she, uh—headstrong?” Dang, that was not what she wanted to ask but shied from what she truly wanted to say at the last second.
“My sister-in-law?” It was obvious he was surprised that her question was pertaining to someone else and not him. “Oh, heck, ya, she’s headstrong.” He chuckled then caught himself. “Sorry about that.”
She brushed his use of foul language off, not wanting to interrupt any morsel of information he might disclose of his past fiancée.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love the girl, but bossy as all can be.”
Evelina blinked. Love? Did Ryan still hold feelings for her? And just openly admitted it?
“I see.” Her throat went suddenly dry and she looked around the picnic spread for something to drink. “A-and would she be Garrett’s wife?”
“No.” He reached for the sandwiches in the picnic basket and handed her one. “Jay’s.”
Garret and Jay. And Ryan. She made a mental note of his brother’s names.
“Garret’s not married. Or probably ever will be. The guy’s a hermit. Horribly shy.”
“Really?” She found herself liking the sounds of his oldest brother already. “And what about Jay. Is he also shy?”
“Nope.”
She waited for more and when he didn’t elaborate, she pushed. “Is he a sailor as well?”
“Who?”
“Jay.”
He frowned, pausing in mid-munch on his sandwich. “A sailor? No, he’s a fisherman.”
“A fisherman?”
“Well, he used to be at least. I suppose he spends much of his time now being mayor of Placid.”
Lady and the Gamble: A Sweet Victorian Romance (The Colby Brothers Book 2) Page 10
