Page 62 of A Stranger’s Gamble

“Mr. Balfour, Sophie and I are married,” Adam said. “My wife is now under my protection. She will not do anything to fall out of grace with me.”

Fall out of grace with him?

He looked at her. “In fact, I believe I will send her to the country. She does not care for city life.”

Sophie stared.

“Is that true, my lady?” Mr. Balfour asked.

She wanted to scream that Adam knew nothing about what she cared for, but she nodded and said, “I do prefer a quiet life.”

“How very interesting,” he said. “Will you go right away?”

“Tomorrow, I imagine,” Adam said before she could reply. “I see no reason to delay.”

“Surely you will want to throw at least one party in celebration of your marriage?” Mr. Balfour asked.

“A party?” Sophie could barely believe the man.

He laughed. “I thought all women loved parties.”

“There is no need for a party,” she said stiffly.

How she wanted to break free of Adam’s iron grip around her waist.

Mr. Balfour gave a slow nod. “I must insist. A party here at my home two days hence. That will give your husband time to get the announcement of your marriage into the papers.”

“You want to have a party…here?” Sophie said. “That is too much.”

Mr. Balfour smiled. “Not at all. I feel certain your husband would do the same for me. Now, Phillip will show you to your room.”

Sophie looked at Adam. “Sir, really, I prefer to be home. After all, it is our wedding night.”

To her shock, he thinned his mouth in disapproval. “Mr. Balfour has been kind enough to prepare a room for us. It would be rude to refuse.” He released her and winged his arm, but she knew the gesture wasn’t a request.

Sophie slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, and they followed the large man named Phillip from the room. They climbed one flight of stairs and twisted through the hallways until they reached the room Phillip said was theirs. They entered the bedchambers to find two maids waiting in front of a four-poster canopy bed with dark gold silk curtains.

The maids curtsied. “My lady,” the dark-haired girl said. “Mr. Balfour instructed us to help you with your toilet.”

“I assume that door leads to a sitting room?” Adam angled his head toward a door to their left.

“Aye, sir,” the maid replied.” A fire burns in the hearth and there is French brandy waiting for you.”

His angled his head. “Then I will leave you ladies to your business.”

Sophie shot him a narrow-eyed glare as he passed, but he made no comment. When the door clicked shut behind him the maids started toward her.

***

Adam entered the sitting room to find a lad waiting beside the chair located before the hearth. As the maid had said, a decanter sat on the table beside the chair alongside a full brandy glass.

A gentleman’s robe lay across the back of the chair, and a basin, pitcher, and cloth sat on the table near the window. Balfour was taking no chances that the marriage might be declared invalid. He no doubt intended for everyone in the household to testify that Adam and Sophie had consummated the marriage.

“If you sit down, sir, I will remove your boots,” the lad said.

Adam gave a slight nod and sat in the chair. He sipped brandy while the boy removed his boots. When finished, the boy placed the boots outside the door, then returned and stood at attention before Adam.

“They will be cleaned and ready for you by tomorrow morning, sir. Along with your clothes.” He waited.