Page 50 of A Stranger’s Gamble

It wasn’t a question.

“I mind,” Lord Emerson muttered. “I wished to speak with the lady alone.”

Before Sophie could reply, Adam shook his head. “Why would she want to be alone with a pup like you?”

Lord Emerson scowled. “You are but five years older than my five and twenty.”

“Five more years to learn what a woman wants,” he replied without rancor.

Sophie’s mouth fell open.

Lord Emerson looked at her. “We are old friends, are we not?”

“Old friends?” she repeated. “We have not seen one another since I was sixteen.”

“I was a mere boy then,” he replied in a low voice.

“What?” she blurted.

Adam laughed. “Is that the best you can do, Vance?”

Lord Emerson’s expression darkened, and Sophie half expected him to draw a pistol and shoot Adam.

Lord Emerson moved from the opposite seat to sit beside her. He traced her cheek with a finger.” What of me now? Am I a mere boy?”

She swatted his hand away. “You are being ridiculous.”

Adam banged on the carriage ceiling. “You are walking home, Vance.”

The carriage came to a halt.

Lord Emerson gave a harsh laugh. “This is my hired carriage.”

“This is now my hired carriage. Get out,” Adam said in a voice that seemed to be made of steel.

“The lady promised the ride home to me,” Lord Emerson said with equal grit. “Make an appointment with her for another time.”

Adam held his gaze. “Perhaps I should play a game of cards with her? As you did?”

Lord Emerson’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Adam threw open the door. “Either get out or I will drag you out.”

Lord Emerson leaned back against the cushion. “Let us take the lady home then resolve this problem.”

“There is no problem to resolve,” Sophie cried. “You are both being ridiculous.”

Adam seized Lord Emerson by the lapel and shoved him out the door. Sophie yanked up a slippered foot and shoved Adam’s backside as hard as she could. He tumbled out the door nearly on top of Lord Emerson.

“Drive on, Driver! Quickly!” she shouted.

Adam caught himself and stumbled three paces. He spun, and in the dim lamplight, she glimpsed the startled look on his face in the instant before she yanked the door closed. The carriage lurched into motion at a quick pace. A shout went up outside, which she thought came from Lord Emerson.

Sophie yanked back the curtain. Lord Emerson had taken several steps in the direction of the moving carriage. Adam, however, stood just within the small circle of light cast by the streetlight. She couldn’t see his expression, but he’d crossed his arms over his chest. Lord Emerson spun to face him and shouted something she couldn’t discern. Adam turned and began walking down the sidewalk.

Sophie arrived home and went straight to her room. She was thankful to find her family and Beatrice hadn’t yet returned. Sophie stripped off her dress. She had no idea what had gotten into Adam—or Lord Emerson, for that matter. She understood the two men were vying for her attention, but they’d acted like children. She would never have believed Adam capable of being so…so silly. He hadn’t been silly when he’d kissed her. She shivered. Oh, she had gotten herself into a mess this time. If only Adam weren’t in Lord Monthemer’s employ. Her heart sank. Nae, that was not the only problem. She could never use him to force Lord Monthemer to decide against marrying her. She liked Adam, and he seemed to like her. To use him would be cruel.

She added two logs to the low burning fire in the hearth, then crawled beneath the cool sheets. Memory rose of Adam’s warm sure hand on the small of her back as he’d expertly guided her around the dancefloor. The warmth of his mouth on hers, the taste of him.… How long had it been since a man had touched her with such surety? Never.