Page 59 of A Stranger’s Gamble

“Indeed, I do. I have found the proof I need to put a stop to my father’s ridiculous matchmaking. You will have to forgive me, Adam, but I am withdrawing my offer of marriage. You understand, do you not? After all—” Her eyes widened. “You—you introduced me as Miss Shaw. You know who I am?”

“Just now figuring that out, eh?” he said.

“What is going on?” she demanded.

“What’s going on, Miss Shaw, is that you have gotten yourself into trouble that I cannot get you out of.”

Her brow knit. “I do not need you to get me out of trouble.”

“Look around you. You are in trouble. You are correct on one point. Balfour is a pirate—and a nasty one at that. The smallest slip on our part and he will kill us.”

She glanced toward the door, then returned her gaze to him. “Why would he kill us?”

“As I said, he is a nasty pirate. There is no way out of this, Miss Shaw. You are about to be married to me.”

Panic widened her eyes. “There is no need.”

“That was before you left the safety of Mrs. Eldridge’s house party and followed me here. Christ, what possessed you? Have you no sense at all?” he muttered.

“What possessed me was the fear that my father was marrying me to—to someone like him.” She pointed at the door Balfour had disappeared through.

“Even if your fears were founded—” Adam broke off and raked a hand through his hair. “To say your actions were foolish does not begin to say how serious this is.”

“I know I offered you marriage, but I have changed my mind,” she said. “I will not marry you. He cannot make me. Neither can you.”

Adam snorted. “Balfour will force laudanum down your throat, if necessary. If that doesn’t work, he will shoot you—though he will likely shoot me first, as he will not risk that I will kill him first.”

“Not if I shoot him first,” she said.

Adam stared. “Madam, you are, indeed, mad.”

She rolled her eyes. “I have a pistol, you fool.”

“A pistol.” He narrowed his eyes. “Where on your person could you possibly have a pistol?”

She hesitated.

“Miss Shaw,” he growled.

“In my reticule, of course.”

“A muff pistol?” When she nodded, he extended a hand. “If you please.”

She gave a dark laugh. “I would advise you not attempt to take it from me. You can overcome him.” Her gaze sharpened. “I believe you are afraid of him. I had no idea you were a coward.”

“It is easy for you to speak of courage when you are not the one doing the fighting. Make no mistake, the odds will not be one to one, or even two to one. They will be one to ten.” When she frowned, Adam sighed. “Balfour always has men nearby to protect him. You saw those two large brutes in the hallway. They will not hesitate to kill you—after they have done things to you that you cannot imagine.”

“What part do you have in this?” she demanded.

He glanced at the door, then stepped close and whispered, “I am working with the Crown to recoup stolen gold.”

She drew a sharp breath.

Adam nodded. “And you very well may have brought the operation to a premature end. We have little time. Listen carefully. We will say the vows, then we will deal with our marriage later.”

She sat back onto the chair. “I cannot think. This is…too much.”

Adam dropped to one knee beside her. “My first priority is your safety. Once you are safely away from here, I must finish what I have started.”