Page 25 of Lady and the Gamble (The Colby Brothers 2)

“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.”

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