Read Online Undaunted Love (PART ONE): Banished Saga, Book 3 by Ramona Flightner - Free Book Online Page B

After a long silence, he said, “I wonder if I should have listened to Richard’s advice in the beginning.”
    I stifled a gasp as my mind raced to the moment Richard had confronted Gabriel about his interest in me at his workshop in Boston. It will only lead to pain. For pity’s sake … find another one, more suitable, more of our class.
    “Colin, will you see Clarissa home?” Gabriel ran a hand through his ebony hair. “I need …”
    “Gabriel, you haven’t eaten any of your anniversary cake,” Amelia said.
    “Cake won’t make this better, Amelia,” Gabriel said before he marched toward the kitchen and exited the rear door.
    I looked out the side window to see his long, loping gait striding down the boardwalk toward the center of town.
    “That was poorly done, Rissa,” Colin said. He had risen and seen me standing in the living room.
    “I know, Col,” I said. I fell into an overstuffed armchair, curling my legs up under me, holding onto my knees as I rocked to and fro. My mind raced at the disastrous evening. “I’ll apologize to Nicholas.”
    Colin glanced over his shoulder and saw that Amelia, carrying Nicholas, moved with Sebastian and Ronan into the kitchen. “It’s not just Nicholas, Rissa. Can’t you tell me what’s wrong? Why are you acting like this?”
    “It’s nothing, Col.”
    “Don’t treat me like a fool. It’s obviously something. Do you regret marrying Gabe?”
    “That’s not the question, Colin. It never will be.” I let out another stuttering sigh as I leaned my head against my knees, a terrible weariness filling me.
    “Then what it is? Are you ill? Is that why Amelia saw you visiting the doctor recently?”
    “Is that all you do? Gossip about me?”
    “It’s what people do who care about each other. Especially when one of them refuses to share anything and acts like a wounded badger.”
    Colin glared at me, daring me to contradict him.
    “I’m of sound health, Colin. Nothing to fear.” I closed my eyes in resignation.
    “Then why are you acting like this?” Colin asked again as he gripped my hand. “I’ve never seen you with such little spirit. Not even last spring in Boston. Now you act as though all the fight has left you. That’s not who you are, Rissa.”
    “You’d never understand, Col. And I fear Gabriel never will either.”
    “Whatever it is, you must tell him.”
    “No, Colin. The last thing I should do is tell Gabriel. Because once I do, he will despise me.”
    ***
    AMELIA MOVED FROM THE KITCHEN to the dining room. She held a teal-blue cast-iron coffeepot in her left hand while four mugs swung from the fingers of her right hand.
    “Here, let me help you, Mrs. Egan.” Sebastian reached for the coffeepot.
    “No, take the mugs. I have the towel to protect my hand.” She nodded to the table, smiling her thanks as he set down the mugs with loud clunks. She filled them before returning to the kitchen for sugar and milk, leaving the coffeepot warming on the stove.
    She joined Colin, Ronan and Sebastian as she stared at the carved anniversary cake. “Is there anything we can do?” She blew on her mug of steaming coffee a few times before taking a tentative sip.
    “I doubt it. Clarissa won’t admit to what’s wrong, and that’s unlike her,” Colin said, as he added milk to his coffee.
    “Could be she’s unsatisfied with her life with Gabe,” Sebastian said. He drummed his fingers on the tabletop, a distant look in his eyes.
    “Or she’s still running from her past. Can’t be easy to have that man here, taunting her every time she sees him,” Ronan said. “She’s strong, but that kind of thing can wear a person down.”
    “How could she be unhappy with her life with Gabriel? They have a good home. She works with Mr. Pickens. She could want for no better man,” Amelia said.
    Sebastian met her earnest gaze with marked intensity, causing her to lower her eyes.
    “This ain’t Boston. I imagine she misses her life there,” Sebastian