Page 81 of A Stranger’s Gamble

Chapter Twenty-Six

Adam scooped up the small lantern on a bench in the lawn as he strode toward the groundskeeper’s cottage. His wife had ejected Lena from their wedding celebration.

According to Ella, Sophie had told Lena she wasn’t welcome. Sophie was an innocent. He wouldn’t have thought she had the nerve to face an experienced woman like Lena. Though Sophie had defied him and come to the party because she thought his life was at risk. Pride washed over him. Sophie was a loyal woman—everything Lena wasn’t. He was, indeed, a fortunate man.

He continued on the path, past the tree where Balfour had caught him with Sophie, and, five minutes later, a cottage came into view. Light spilled out of a window into the darkness. Adam reached the cottage, knocked, then entered. Balfour sat at a table with one other man.

“Glad to see you could make it,” Balfour said. “I had begun to wonder if your wife was too much to resist again.”

“She is a distraction.” Adam crossed to the table and sat down. “Shall we get down to business?”

Balfour nodded. “I believe we should.” He lifted the hand hidden by the table and pointed a pistol at Adam. “I would like to have a talk about you and Lord Wilmingly.”

***

Sophie leaned against the chair back in the ladies’ retiring room as Lady Blair and Lady Cassilis continued to chat. Her head whirled. It was they who suggested to their husbands that she and Adam would make a good match. She wasn’t yet certain whether to curse them or thank them. The look in Adam’s eyes when he’d gotten her back to the ballroom had startled her. She’d known he would be angry, but she’d seen fear as well as frustration in his eyes. He’d been worried about her.

“I suppose we should return to the ballroom if we don’t want our husbands to storm the ladies’ retiring room,” Lady Blair said.

Sophie pictured Adam charging into the room and couldn’t help a smile.

“I do believe our newly married Sophie is thinking about her husband,” Lady Cassilis said.

Sophie’s cheeks warmed. “I was picturing him invading the ladies’ retiring room looking for me. I fear I have given him the impression that I am going to be trouble.”

Lady Blair laughed. “Good. It’s only proper you set precedence early on. You wouldn’t want him being surprised later.” She stood. “Come, our husbands owe us at least one dance.”

Lady Cassilis rose, and Sophie followed suit. They brushed past three ladies, who smiled at Sophie. She didn’t know them, but they seemed to know her. She and Lady Blair and Lady Cassilis filed out the door into the small hallway leading to the ballroom. The orchestra strings and flutes echoed in a lively waltz. They reached the ballroom and halted.

“We might not find them at all,” Lady Blair said. “Let us take a turn around the ballroom.”

“Please, go without me,” Sophie said. “I believe I will have a bite to eat in the refreshments room.” She hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and her stomach was making it known she had ignored it too long.

Lady Cassilis frowned. “Perhaps we should go together?”

Sophie shook her head. “Nae. My father and aunt are here. I will look for them. If you do not unearth your husband, you will find me in the refreshments room—unless I locate my family.” They hesitated, and Sophie laughed. “Surely, you are not going to act like my husband?”

Butterflies skittered across the inside of the stomach.

Husband.

She was well and truly married. Her heart fell. Nae. In the eyes of the world, she was married, but she wasn’t truly married. She wouldn’t be until they consummated the marriage in the marriage bed. When would that be?

“You are sure you will be all right?” Lady Blair asked.

Sophie smiled and hoped none of her thoughts shone on her face. “Quite sure.”

“All right, then,” Lady Cassilis said. “We will check in the refreshments room in a bit.”

“I hope you find your husbands,” Sophie said.

They smiled, then quickly disappeared into the throng. Sophie spotted a waiter with a tray of champagne and started toward him.

“Sophie, is that you?” a woman called.

Sophie turned and cried out at sight of Imogen. Sophie sidestepped two gentlemen to where Imogen stood and threw her arms about her old friend. Imogen hugged her back, and they separated.

“I had no idea you were here,” Sophie said.