AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“As I mentioned, I had my eye on you for a long time as a prospective husband but knew I had to have something of great value to offer in the way of a dowry. Men like you don’t come along too often.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes, not swayed in the least by the older man’s praise of his person. “Is she unstable? A bit cuckoo upstairs perhaps?”
The stout man’s eyes widened. “Pardon me?”
“Is she crazy? Deranged? Feeble-minded?”
“No, no, no, none of that.”
“Come on then, she’s obviously very beautiful so there must be some reason you are having troubles marrying her off. And I don’t entirely buy this “too many daughters” notion. She got a mouth on her? Too lippy? Is she difficult?”
“No!” Clive exclaimed. “She is the sweetest lass. Most agreeable.”
“Beautiful and agreeable? And you can’t find her a proper husband the old-fashion way?”
“I’m afraid not.”
Ryan shook his head not believing him. “You’re not telling me something. What is it?”
“She is my youngest and last child to marry. All of her sisters’ hands have been claimed already. The misses and I, well we’d like to get on with our retirement, spend the remainder of our years just the two of us. It’s mighty crowded in this small house.” He paused as if contemplating how much he could reveal. “And, well, Evelina, she keeps to herself and is not very social.”
“She’s shy?”
“Yes, you could say that,” Clive conceded.
Ryan exhaled, having nailed the problem down, however thought there could be worst fates to befall a single young woman than being an introvert. Still…
“I’m not sure, Clive. I mean, geez, marriage is a big commitment. And I wouldn’t make a very good husband. After all, I plan to travel the world with the Lady Evelina. There’s no room on it for two.”
“Of course there’s plenty of room but who’s to say you must drag your wife and children around with you. I spent thirty years on the waters and came back every weekend to a family and a home. Life is meaningless if you don’t have loved ones waiting for you.”
Ryan thought of his own family and admittedly knew Clive’s words carried some weight. Though he loved them dearly, they didn’t quite fulfill that desire to return home. He had thought Erika, his brother’s now wife, might have been the one to fulfill that void but he had always known that her heart belonged to Jay and not Ryan. Not that it had bothered Ryan, for he knew he could never love Erika or any other woman the way a man does a wife. The way Jay loved Erika.
“Who’s to say we’ll even get along? I don’t even know the woman.”
Seeing Ryan beginning to bend, Clive offered. “I’ll give you a month to get to know one another. If at the end, you decide you want nothing to do with her, you are free to back out of our wager. However, if you grow to love her, then the Lady Evelina is yours on your wedding day. Both the boat and my daughter.”
When he seemed doubtful, Clive continued. “Evelina is the kindest, sweetest creature you’ll ever have meet. Everyone falls in love with her upon meeting her. You will too.”
Ryan thought of the beautiful woman waiting in the other room and didn’t doubt that was partially true. However, he had no interest in forming any sort of bond. He had one goal and one goal only. There was no likelihood of him falling in love as far as he was concerned. A thought suddenly occurred to him.
“I’d like to speak to her alone if you don’t mind.”
Clive looked slightly alarmed then quickly fixed a smile on his face. “Of course. Wait here, I’ll fetch her.”
As he waited, Ryan thought over the conversation. It wasn’t such a bad offer. True, it was wrong on Clive’s part to manipulate him and Ryan would have been much happier to claim the Lady Evelina and be on his way. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t have surprised him that the boat would have been released to him so easily. Of course, there would have been stipulations. Ryan wasn’t sure he could fulfill those stipulations but he had a month to find out. Being married to a woman he did not love wouldn’t be all that difficult, he conceded. Particularly if he spent most of his days out at sea and apart from his new bride.
“Hello.” A small voice behind him drew him out of his musings.
He turned to find her standing tentatively in the entrance watching him cautiously. Her blue eyes drew him in for a split second once again before he thought to speak.
“Please come in and shut the door.”
She did as commanded but hardly moved, choosing to stay rooted in front of the door. In case she needed to flee? Ryan frowned, wondering what type of man she thought he was. Indeed, what type of man betted on the hand of a woman in marriage he did not even know. Though in Ryan’s case, he had no idea he was making that wager.
“My name is Ryan, by the way.” He stepped forward with his hand outstretched. “I don’t believe our introductions were fully finished before I, uh–well, how do you do, miss?”
She took his hand very gently and hardly put any strength into the handshake. Her hand felt very small and frail mirroring her entire persona.
