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

by Peggy Ann Craig

  An hour later, Evelina, her parents, and Victoria crowded into a rented buggy and headed for St. Paul’s Anglican Church just two blocks down the street from their home while the rest of her siblings walked the short distance. Evelina sat squeezed into a corner while her sister’s white chiffon veil blew in her face in the open buggy. She wrestled with the bothersome garment trying to keep it out of her way until Victoria finally noticed just as they reached the harbor.

  “Sorry, Evie.” She shot her an apologetic smile and gathered the veil to tuck it behind her.

  “Here, let me help.” She went to assist her sibling but something at the docks caught her attention. The Francesca sat in port and was in the process of lowering her plank. “Stop!”

  “What? Why?”

  “Just stop!” Excitedly getting to her feet, she barely allowed the buggy to come to a stop before swinging open the door. Stumbling, she nearly fell out of the coach in her rush to get out.

  “Slow down, Evelina, you’re going to fall.” Her father declared while rushing to help her out of the carriage.

  Giving him a grateful smile, she turned around and stared down the pier toward the wharf where the larger vessels docked. She went as if to move toward the Francesca but then pulled herself short. Partly because she didn’t trust her reaction at seeing Ryan after a month apart. But mostly on account the pier was narrow and loomed dreadfully high over the water. Therefore, she resigned herself to stand on the boardwalk where it met the pier that led down to the docks and watched as the passengers and crew disembarked from the massive schooner.

  Her eager gaze shifted from one traveler to the next. With each person, the anticipation in her eyes began to wane until the captain was the last person to come ashore.

  There was no sign of Ryan.

  She hadn’t realized it, but her father stood next to her on the boardwalk as the captain approached them. He reached out and shook his hand, exchanged pleasantries and inquired how his passage went.

  Then on Evelina’s behalf, he asked, “Was Ryan Colby on board?”

  “No, ‘fraid not. He never came aboard in Placid.”

  She hadn’t needed the captain’s confirmation that Ryan had not returned but hearing him say it made it feel final.

  She felt her father’s hands gently cup her shoulders. “Come along, Evie, or we’ll be late.”

  With despair, she turned aside and allowed him to help her back up into the carriage. Ten minutes later, they pulled up in front of the little church her family attended every Sunday for service. Well, everyone that was except Evelina. It had been many, many years since she last attended. The curious glances and whispering tongues behind her back became too unbearable for Evelina to endure. Not that the church consisted of a large congregation, but they were a close-knit community who enjoyed idle talk and spreading rumors. Hence, the explanation why she suddenly broke out into a cold sweat the moment she stepped inside the narthex.

  Next to her, Victoria was oblivious to her sibling’s discomfort as she excitedly prepared for the biggest moment of her life. Evelina watched her sister fret with her wedding dress as a genuine feeling of happiness somehow managed to overpower her budding anxiety.

  Managing a smile, she told her with sincerity, “You look beautiful, Victoria.”

  The bride beamed looking exceptionally handsome in her best Sunday dress complimented with a crown of flowers and a floor length veil. “Truly?”

  “Yes. Congratulations, I wish you a lifetime of happiness.”

  “Oh thank you, Evie.” She clutched her hands and gave a nervous glance toward the altar. “I’m so excited yet so nervous.”

  “You’ll be fine. You’ve got a great man waiting for you down there.”

  Victoria glanced at her and her happy glow dimmed slightly. “Your day will come too, I just know it.”

  She attempted to form a brave smile. “I don’t think so. Who would ever want me?”

  “Don’t say such foolish things.”

  “You know it’s true.”

  Victoria pursed her lips in disapproval yet reframed from disagreeing which in itself spoke volumes.

  Evelina turned from her sister and headed for her seat. She paused just inside the nave and glanced at the low attendance. With relief, she released an inner sigh and proceeded to slip into a nearby pew. Only her family and the groom’s family attended. No whispering tongues or unwanted glances staring at her.

  Throughout the ceremony, Evelina kept glancing back at the doors whenever they opened, hopeful that it would be Ryan. However, each time it wasn’t, her heart broke a little piece at a time. Had he not promised he’d come? She scolded herself for feeling so heartbroken. There was no future with Ryan. No church wedding for her. No happy ever after. With Ryan Colby or any other man.

  The organ started up and she glanced back to watch a beaming Victoria walk down the aisle on the arm of their father. Love spewed from her eyes as her gaze locked with her future husband waiting at the altar. For the umpteenth time, she felt a wave of jealousy for one of her siblings. They seemed to have it all. Beauty, personality, and poise. Evelina, on the other hand, was robbed of her confidence and instead was forced to live a life in the shadows. Rather than celebrating a wedding of her own someday, she could look forward to a lifetime of loneliness.

  * * *

  A week later. Evelina took a stroll down to the harbor. Her family’s home was closest to the northern point of the waterfront and where the Lady Evelina sat docked. It was also where the pier sat at the low end of an embankment. She bypassed a small flight of wooden steps and followed the embankment down a slope until it became parallel to the docks. There she stepped onto the boardwalk and strolled down the wooden planks observing all the boats floating in port.

  It had been years since she had been able to do this. Never in a million years did she ever think she would come down to the docks alone again. Or ever for that matter. It had been far easier for her to hide away in her parents’ home away from disparaging glances or harsh tongues. The outside world was a dangerous place and Evelina felt a false sense of security hiding away from the universe. She didn’t have the strength or willpower to fight against such a cruel and unrelenting force.

  However, after having met Ryan, she felt a growing confidence in her that she could only attribute to him. He did not look at her as if she was a monster or a mutant. Though she conceded he did not know the real Evelina, he did see something promising in her that was hard to resist. If anything, it gave her the nerve to try to crawl out of her shell.

  With a start, she discovered her musings had caused her to wander further down the boardwalk then she intended. She came to a halt when she found herself standing before the Lady Evelina as it sat neglected at her dock. The sight of the deserted schooner brought her downcast spirits even lower. Already feeling wretched at Ryan’s no-show, the small schooner was only another reminder he was never coming back. The fact that it sat tied up and abandoned at her docking post mirrored how Evelina felt after Ryan’s desertion. Never before had her emotions felt so raw.

  Unexpectedly, someone emerged from the cabin below to stand at the stern of the boat causing Evelina to falter. Then catch her breath. It was Ryan.

  At first, she didn’t think it was him. That she was seeing things, letting her mind develop hallucinations like a mirage. But it was him.

  Joy filled her insides, overwhelmed by the sight of Ryan after so long. Then just as swiftly, anger flared in her belly smothering that feeling of elation. What was he doing here? And more importantly, what was he doing on the Lady Evelina?

  “I should have known you wouldn’t have given up Pappa’s boat so easily.”

  His chin snapped up, startled at seeing her and from the words that followed, seeing her down at the docks in general. “What are you doing here?”

  “Taking a walk.”

  His gaze lifted over her head and scanned the boardwalk. “Who are you with?”

  She ignored his question. �
��I could ask you the same question. What are you doing here? You weren’t on the Francesca.”

  He paused and met her eyes.

  “I came on horseback.”

  “Well, you’re too late. You missed Victoria’s wedding.”

  “I know, and I’m sorry. I hurried as fast as I could.”

  “You promised you’d come.”

  “I said I would try.” He corrected. “And I had every intention of being there.”

  “Something more important came up?”

  “Yes, actually. Erika and Jay had a baby.”

  “Oh.” Feeling contrite, she asked, “I’m sorry, I had no idea.”

  “Neither did I.”

  “I trust all went well?”

  “Yes, mother and baby are doing well. Dad’s over the moon. They delivered a great big boy. Takes after his dad but has his mother’s coloring.”

  “That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.”

  “So what brought you back? And what are you doing on my father’s boat?” Wanting desperately to reestablish her indifference toward him, she latched on to her condemnation. “As far as I’m aware, the wager involved you marrying me in order for you to take possession of the Lady Evelina.”

  He searched her face, and then slowly said, “I decided to risk it all.”

  “Risk what?”

  Instead of answering her question, he held out his hand toward her. “Come here, I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  “That’s not necessary.”

  “Your surprise is on the Lady Evelina.”

  “I’m not interested in any surprise.”

  “Don’t be foolish, Come here.”

  “I’ve already declined.”

  “What for? You don’t even know what it is I want to show you.”

  “Whatever it is you can just tell me instead.”

  “You have to come aboard to see it.”

  “I have no wish to go on that boat.”

  He paused, frowning. “Why not?”

  “No reason. I’m sure describing it to me will suffice.”

  “I’d rather show you.”

  “Then it’s obviously not that important.” She went as if to turn and leave but Ryan rushed to stop her.

  “All right, wait!” He quickly leaped off the boat to place a hand on her arm. Then exhaling a weary breath he relented and tells her, “I’ve renovated the cabin and converted the single bunk into a double bed.”

  “Whatever for?”

  A gradual smile lit up his face. “For us.”

  “I beg your pardon!”

  He quickly reiterates. “I meant as a married couple.”

  She froze.

  “Is that meant as a proposal?”

  He blinked then produced a dazed grin. “I suppose it is.”

  Evelina turned away, concealing her disappointment. She had always dreamt of a romantic proposal. However, she was no ordinary heroine. Indeed, she was the type of woman who would receive an off the cuff kind of marriage proposal.

  “So you decided you want to marry me after all?”

  “Yes, if you’ll have me.” He smiled. “I don’t want a wife who is waiting back at home while I’m gone months on end. I want her by my side.”

  Her insides went numb. “You want to take me sailing with you?”

  “Yes.”

  Pausing, she allowed his words to sink in and waited for the rush of remorse. When she was a child, she loved nothing else. Her happiest memories were out on the water alongside her father as they sailed up and down the Detroit River or up into Lake St. Clair where they would stop along the Indian reserve and visit with the locals. So many happy memories. But such was often the case with all happy memories came sorrowful ones too. For she also remembered the times he would sail off alone on some expedition and she would shed far more tears then she cared to remember, begging him to take her with him. But that was before the accident.

  She stiffened, putting up a protective wall.

  “I have no intention ever of stepping on that boat let alone sail off on it.”

  His expression dropped. “What do you mean? Your father said you loved the water.”

  “When I was a child. I’m no longer a child.”

  “Well, perhaps you just need—”

  “I’m not interested.”

  “There’s nothing to fear out there. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  “I never said I was frightened.”

  “You could have fooled me. You can’t even come near on the dock.”

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Are you afraid of water, Evelina?”

  “That’s absurd,” she said in indignation.

  He cocked his head and narrowed his eyes. “You are, aren’t you?”

  Getting defensive, she pinned him with an angry glare. “You don’t understand. I’m not frightened of the water. I resent it.”

  He paused, taken aback. “What are you talking about?”

  She turned to leave. “Our discussion is over.”

  “Evelina, wait, at least think it over—”

  “I don’t need to think it over.” She spun back around and scowled at him. “I know what my answer is and it is no. You’ll never change my mind.”

  There was a moment’s pause, and then Ryan’s face grew serious, as he asked, “No to sailing or no to marrying me?”

  From the moment they met, Ryan had never hidden the fact that his interest lay with the Lady Evelina only. It was never his intention or aspirations to take on a wife. However, without marrying Evelina, he would lose the boat. It hurt knowing he was willing to make such a sacrifice to ensure he fulfilled that goal. “No to both.”

  Not surprisingly, he looked devastated. “What would you rather I do? Let you lock yourself up in that house forever like some kind of—of—?”

  “Crazed woman?” She finished for him. “That’s what you were going to say, right?”

  His lips came together in a straight line. He exhaled heavily out of his nostrils confirming Evelina’s words. Stung, she fought back. “You have no idea what type of woman I am.”

  “Then tell me.”

  “I can tell you this, I’m not crazy and I’m not the type of woman you can just abandon any time some other port catches your fancy.”

  “Then come with me.”

  Infuriated, she shook her head. “I can’t be who you want me to be.”

  She turned and made her way angrily off the pier but in her haste, she wobbled and lost her balance. Horrified, she realized she was beginning to tilt toward the water. But before she could even tip to one side, Ryan was there to catch her by the shoulders and keep her upright.

  “Are you all right?”

  Angry with herself, she shrugged out of his hold and corrected her balance. “Yes, I’m fine.”

  “You were limping. Are you hurt?”

  “No, I said I’m fine.”

  “Let me take a look.” He bent as if to inspect her leg but she pulled away swiftly, gathering her skirts close and not allowing him to peek under them. “Nothing is wrong! I said I was all right.”

  Starting to get angry himself, Ryan straightened to his full height. “I was just trying to help.”

  “Yes, you keep telling me that. But I don’t need your help.” She continued as if to leave once again but this time came face to face with the small flight of wooden steps she had bypassed earlier to the street above. Coming to an abrupt halt, she stared with resentment at the steps.

  “Are you sure about that?” He asked cynically close to ear before she even knew he was there. Then without waiting for her consent, he swept her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs. When he would have continued to head down the road toward her home, she stopped him.

  “You can put me down now. I can walk from here.”

  “I have serious misgivings about that, but fine,” he declared and released her with an exaggerated flour
ish. “As you please.”

  “You’re insufferable.”

  “And you are infuriating,” he growled in response before running an angry hand through his unruly hair and said, “I don’t understand you at all.”

  “Then stop trying.”

  “I’m beginning to agree with you.”

  Hurt, she lashed out and said, “Just leave me alone. Go live the life you’ve always wanted. I don’t care anymore.”

  “And what will you do if I do that?”

  “Maybe if I’m lucky, possibly another suitor desperate enough will be willing to accept a crazy bride in exchange for a boat.”

  He stilled. Then instead of looking ashamed as she had intended, he looked troubled instead.

  Miffed, she turned abruptly and left him abandoned on the side of the road as she made her way home.

  Slowly and deliberately.

  * * *

  Ryan’s first stop after Evelina stormed off was to the shipyard where he found Clive repairing the rivets on the hull of a boat.

  “I’m returning the Lady Evelina to you, Clive.”

  The older man turned and peered over a pair of protective goggles at him. “Why’s that?”

  “I have given it my all but Evelina is too stubborn and mule-headed and refuses to marry me.”

  Clive’s brows rose in surprise. “You asked her to marry you?”

  “Yes.”

  “And she declined?”

  “That’s right.”

  “And you’re giving me back the Lady Evelina?”

  “I didn’t earn it. She refused to marry me.”

  “But I said you could have it either way.”

  “And if I took it…what else does she have in the way of a dowry?”

  He conceded with a nod. “That’s true, but I was wrong in trying to trap you into marrying Evelina. You won the boat fair and square.”

  “Tempting as that may be, I can’t consciously take it. It would only remind me—” he broke off as an image of Evelina came to mind. Her beauty and delicate ways would forever haunt his memory if he kept the boat. No, it wouldn’t do to be reminded of her daily. It would be pure torture.