Page 83 of A Stranger’s Gamble

They neared the ballroom. Sophie halted and grasped Imogen’s hands. “I am so sorry I knew nothing of your troubles all these years. I thought you were off living a grand life in France. Once this is over, we shall make up for lost time. For now, I need you to find my father or aunt and tell them what you have told me.” She took a breath. “Then tell them I have gone to the groundskeeper’s cottage to help Adam.”

“I do not know your aunt, and t has been so long. Will I know your father?” Imogen asked.

Sophie laughed. “Ask anyone who Madeline Forsyth is. Everyone knows her. Can you do that?”

Imogen nodded. “I will find them right away.”

Sophie hugged her, then they hurried to the ballroom and parted ways.

***

Adam glanced at the other man sitting to Balfour’s left, then returned his attention to Balfour. “Lord Wilmingly? What about him?”

“How he engaged you to find the gold I am accused of stealing from the king,” Balfour replied.

“You did steal gold from the king.” There was no use in pretending they didn’t know why they were here. “As for Wilmingly,” Adam continued, “I have nothing to do with him.”

Balfour shook his head. “I am deeply disappointed. We would have made excellent partners. It’s my fault, I suppose. I should have known a man who paid his father’s debts was simply too honest.”

“You’re a fool if you believe that.” Adam had known the fact he’d paid his father’s debts would be his undoing.

“Brigands do not pay their father’s debts.” Balfour said.

“Not that.” Adam paused for effect, then said, “I didn’t pay my father’s debts. Well, at least not most of them.”

Balfour lifted a brow. “Everyone knows you paid his debts and made yourself a pauper in the bargain.”

“Everyone thinks that because I paid just enough to set the rumor into motion.”

“Why would you do that?” Balfour demanded.

“Because I wanted to obtain a sizeable loan from the bank, and I knew they wouldn’t extend the loan if they thought creditors were waiting in the wings to seize the funds once I had them in hand.”

Balfour’s eyes narrowed. “If you hadn’t paid those creditors, they would be shouting their demands from the rooftop.”

Adam met his gaze squarely. “They are keeping quiet for the very reason you approached me: I am a skilled businessman. I negotiated with them for their silence. As things are now, they stand to gain nothing by making demands. My father lost all our property, except the entailed estate, which cannot be sold. I told them I was in the middle of a business deal, and if they remained quiet about my father’s debts, I would pay them once I received funds. Of course, I expected to obtain a loan—of which they would have received nothing. Then fortune smiled on me, and I married Miss Shaw.

“Granted, my marriage has pulled me from the brink of ruin, but my wife’s dowry will ensure I keep the creditors quiet until I have obtained the loan. Then…” He shrugged. “They are welcome to take me to court.”

“That would be a clever trick, indeed.”

Adam shrugged again. “The creditors have nothing to lose by remaining silent for a short time.”

“I think he’s too slick,” the other man said.

“Oh, Lord Monthemer is, indeed, slick,” Balfour said. “Sadly, I believe our king has made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”

Adam laughed. “There is no offer the king could possibly make that would benefit me more than the agreement I made with you.” He pinned Balfour with a hard look. “Unless, that is, you do not know when our king is transporting his gold.”

“Oh, I do, indeed, know,” Balfour said. “But I want to be certain you aren’t telling him what I have told you.”

“I have not spoken with Wilmingly or the king or anyone else associated with him.”

That much was true. He had yet to report anything Balfour had told him. Though Adam hadn’t detected anyone following him, he knew Balfour for the suspicious sort he was, and Adam felt certain Balfour had people watching him. If the king knew Adam hadn’t reported that Balfour intended to rob the king’s shipment, they would likely toss him into prison—which was why Adam counted on finding the gold Balfour had stolen.

Balfour sighed. “A pity. You would have made a good partner.” He lifted the gun.

Adam tensed in readiness to shove the table up and at the two men. A knock sounded on the door. Balfour jerked his head in that direction. Adam shoved the table onto the men as he dived for the door. The pistol roared. The door flew open, and Adam rolled and came up in a squat. He glimpsed Sophie, muff pistol gripped in one hand as she leveled the weapon on something beyond him and fired.