Page 38 of A Stranger’s Gamble

Adam silently cursed. Leave it to a woman to back a man into a corner.

“I am considering the possibility.”

Was he really considering the possibility? Shaw was right, all the money in the world wasn’t worth a man tying himself to the wrong woman. He thought of Lena and his narrow miss. Was Miss Shaw really the innocent she appeared? She had pretended to be Beatrice Frasier—and quite convincingly. He hadn’t for a moment thought her to be anyone else but a lady’s companion. She wanted freedom, did she? Perhaps he would marry her then send her on her merry way.

“You’re considering the possibility?” Madeline asked. “That is a fair start. After all, you have yet to meet her. She is very beautiful.”

“Indeed?” Adam said.

Madeline nodded. “Yes, and she is quite the horsewoman.”

“She will have to give up riding when she marries,” Shaw said.

Madeline frowned. “Why? A married woman cannot ride?”

“Of course, she can,” he replied in an impatient voice. “But she will be too busy running the household and raising children to galivant about the country.”

Children. That was right. Shaw was going to give an extra ten thousand pounds per child. Adam felt half like a stud stallion and wondered how Miss Shaw would feel about knowing her father put such a premium on her popping out babies.

“Lady Seafield’s ball is in a week’s time. You will meet her then and decide?” Madeline asked.

Shaw studied him. This meeting hadn’t gone at all like Adam had envisioned. He’d thought he would catch Sophie off guard by showing up on her aunt’s doorstep but had, instead, been cornered by the aunt and father.