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“I never once claimed it was my boat I was gambling off. I told you, repeatedly I’m certain that it was my sweet little lady–Evelina–I was putting up for wager.”
“Don’t play coy with me, Hepworth. You never mentioned a daughter. Whatever words you chose to use, you heavily implied it was your boat and not your daughter that was up for wager. If it had been, there is no infernal way I would I have played.”
“Exactly.”
Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “Of all the low, cheating—”
“Just hear me out.”
“What fraudulent game are you trying to pull here?” His temper rose. “Is she with child? You trying to find some chump to marry her off to so she doesn’t bring a bastard into the world? Well, I ain’t falling for it. You’ve tried to hoodwink the wrong fellow.”
“No, of course not. She is not with child or in any similar predicament. And as a gentleman, I would be offended by such a remark but under the circumstances will choose to ignore your slanderous allegations.”
Ryan felt slightly ashamed, and curiously relieved at Clive’s response. He hated to think that the beautiful fragile creature in the other room was tainted in any way. “What else would you have me expect? What type of father offers his daughter as winnings in a poker game?”
“I have my reasons.”
“Are you in some financial trouble?”
Clive looked up. “Why do you say that?”
“Well, it’s obvious
she is very beautiful and would make great collateral. But for a man who accepts that kind of collateral. I don’t run no brothel business.”
Clive’s face became very fierce as he took a step closer to Ryan. “Again, I will forgive such a sordid comment on an account you have been shocked and are upset.”
“Then you tell me, Hepworth, what type of man barters his daughter off in a poker game?”
“The kind of man who is desperate.” The man snapped back before turning away, looking justly mortified. “I have six daughters, Ryan. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find respectable husbands for six daughters? I can only offer so much in the form of a dowry for each.”
“Six beautiful daughters. I hardly think it would be very difficult at all.”
“If it were just two or three, perhaps. But with every year that passes, they grow another year older and become less desirable.”
Ryan thought of Evelina and couldn’t bring himself to agree with her father. He didn’t think he had ever seen anything more desirable. But not enough to marry. There was no room in his life for a wife who would only strap him down.
“Look, I’m sorry you feel that way but I can’t help you out. You’ve tricked the wrong man. I’m not interested in a wife.”
“I didn’t trick you, Ryan.”
“The hell you didn’t!”
“I targeted you. My girls mean the world to me and I only want the best. Perhaps that creates more of a burden in the selection of husbands, but I didn’t want my number of daughters to affect their quality of husband material. I’ve known you a long time and know what an upright and moral individual you are. You will do right by my Evelina.”
“That’s very nice of you to say, but sorry, it isn’t going to sway me. Evelina is very beautiful, she won’t have trouble finding herself a husband. And one, hopefully, she doesn’t have to con into marriage.” He turned to go. “Give my regards to your family.”
“I’ll give you the boat.”
Ryan’s swift departure came to a screeching halt.
“As part of her dowry. If you agree to marry, Evelina, you will inherit the boat on your wedding day.”
Ryan turned to look at him then. “You’d give me the boat simply because I marry your daughter?”
“Yes.”
“What the hell is going on, Hepworth? What’s wrong with her? Why such a huge dowry?”
