Page 56 of A Stranger’s Gamble

“What the devil?” Adam strode to her and seized her arm. “What the bloody hell are you doing here?”

Her heart thundered. “I wanted to speak with you.” She hated the tremble in her voice.

“Speak with me? Have you any idea of the danger you’re in by being here?”

“I-I have a proposition for you.”

He glanced back at the departing carriage, then faced her. “What are you doing here?”

“Marry me,” she blurted. A heartbeat of silence passed, and she plunged into an explanation. “I know this is sudden. I hadn’t planned on telling you this way.”

“You are mad,” he growled.

“I had thought you might be at the house party,” she babbled. “But you left before I could talk to you.”

He shook her arm. “How did you get here?” Before she could reply, he said, “You followed me? By God, you followed me from Mrs. Eldridge’s home. It’s bad enough you galivant about Edinburgh with men in carriages, now you are following them at night? Have you no shame?”

“I beg your pardon.” She really did fear she would cry. “I only wanted to—”

“What is going on?” a man called.

Adam snapped his head in the direction of the mansion, then he turned back to her. “Have you any idea what you’ve done?” His grip on her arm tightened.

“Release me,” Sophie ordered.

“Hush,” he hissed.

Boots crunched on gravel, and she glimpsed a man approaching.

“Do as I say, and you might live through this night,” Adam hissed. “Don’t, and he will kill us both.”

Sophie blinked, then Adam yanked her against him and crushed his mouth against hers.