Page 57 of A Stranger’s Gamble

Chapter Nineteen

Adam ravaged her mouth while his mind raced. Balfour would kill him and Miss Shaw. Bloody hell, but he wished that Daily hadn’t taken the carriage.

“What the hell is going on?” Balfour demanded.

Adam broke the kiss. Sophie blinked up at him.

With his gaze on her, Adam said, “You will have to forgive me, Balfour. My betrothed couldn’t wait to see me and followed me here.”

“Is that so?” Balfour drawled.

“Allow me to see her safely home then I will return,” Adam said.

“Nae, I think she will join us.”

Adam mentally cursed. He’d been right. He should have brought a pistol.

“Shall we?” Balfour stepped aside in invitation—more an order—for them to proceed him inside.

Adam started to shove Sophie behind him and charge Balfour, then stilled when a hulking man emerged from the mansion.

“Let me send her home, Balfour,” Adam said.

Balfour shook his head. “I am intrigued by a woman who would follow a man in a carriage. Where is your horse, my dear?”

“I tied her to a tree in the lawn.” Miss Shaw pointed to their right where large hedges lined the drive.

Balfour chuckled. “A resourceful woman. Let us go inside.” He began walking and

Adam pulled Sophie close, then followed. Thankfully, she had the good sense to remain quiet.

Once inside, Adam caught sight of another large man waiting outside the open door of the study where light spilled out into the hallway. They followed Balfour into the study, and Adam urged her to sit on a sofa near the hearth. He read fear in her eyes. She should be afraid.

Balfour crossed to a sideboard near the bookshelves. “Would you like a brandy?”

His tone was amiable, but Adam knew better. One wrong move, and the man would shoot them both, then have the bodies buried where no one would find them. For the first time in his adult life, Adam was at a complete loss. How should he proceed?

“Nothing for me.” Adam kept his gaze locked on Sophie.

Her eyes flashed, and he suddenly realized how beautiful she really was. Dread abruptly tightened his insides. Balfour had a penchant for beautiful women.

“I can see I will have to teach you yet another lesson,” Adam told her.

Balfour faced them, a glass of brandy in hand. “Another lesson?” he asked in a conversational tone.

Adam kept his gaze fixed on Sophie. “Aye. This time, I will make my point.”

“Has—” Balfour cleared his throat. “You haven’t introduced us.”

“Forgive me. Miss Shaw, meet Kenrich Balfour.” Adam tensed in readiness for a reaction from when she realized he knew her identity.

“Kenrich Balfour?” she blurted, and he could have kissed her.

“You have heard of me?” Balfour said,

She glanced at Adam, then said, “Forgive me, sir, but at Lady Seafield’s ball there was…talk of how you have debauched certain ladies.”

Adam tensed.