Page 80 of A Stranger’s Gamble

Adam shifted in the darkness. “My wife and I will have plenty of time to conduct our…business. I came here to finish my business with you, Balfour. Perhaps we should get to it.”

“As you wish,” Mr. Balfour said. “Charles and I were on the way to the groundskeeper’s cottage. It’s just a little farther down this path. Why don’t you join us once you escort your wife back to the party?”

“I will only be a few moments,” Adam said.

The two men continued walking down the path. Adam faced Sophie, grasped her arm, and began walking back toward the house.

“That certainly made an impression,” Sophie said. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Can I trust you to do a single thing I ask?” he demanded.

Sophie yanked free of his grasp and halted. “Not when I know your life is at risk.” She didn’t wait for an answer but continued toward the mansion.

When they entered the crowded ballroom, Sophie faced Adam. “Be gone with you, sir. I can find my father and aunt.”

He glared at her, and if he intended to reply, but was interrupted by Lord Blair. “There you are, Adam.” His eyes shifted to Sophie. “And Lady Monthemer is with you.” Lord Blair bowed. “My lady, may I introduce my wife, Lady Blair?”

The petite woman at his side curtsied. “We have met before, my lady,” she said. “You may remember in Invergarry.”

Sophie didn’t remember but smiled.

“And this is Lord Cassilis and his wife, Lady Charlotte,” Lord Blair said.

Lord Cassilis bowed over Sophie’s hand, and Lady Charlotte curtsied.

“A pleasure to meet you all,” Sophie said.

Lady Blair met her gaze. “Perhaps you would like to go with Charlotte and me to the ladies’ retiring room, my lady?”

“The ladies’ retiring room?” Sophie repeated.

Lady Blair glanced meaningfully at her hair and Sophie recalled that Adam had mussed her hair.

“Oh, yes, I would.” She looked at Adam. “Please continue with your business, sir. I shall be fine.”

Adam blinked and Sophie resisted the urge to grin. She had him on the run.

His eyes narrowed. Well, perhaps not “on the run.”

“Sophie—”

She laid a hand on his arm. “Please, Adam, I will be fine.” She looked at the two men. “Will I not, sirs?”

They nodded. “You will, my lady,” Lord Blair said.

“Sophie,” she corrected, then turned to the women. “Shall we, ladies?”

The two women glanced at their husbands, then linked arms with Sophie and started through the crowd.

“Like I said, an intelligent woman gets a man into trouble every time,” Lord Cassilis said behind them.

Lady Blair leaned close to Sophie and said, “Very nicely done.”

Sophie snapped her head in the woman’s direction. “I beg your pardon?”

“The way you handled your husband. I knew you and Adam would deal well together.”

“You knew Adam and I would deal well together? You don’t mean that it was you who—”

“Well, Charlotte and I.” Lady Blair said.

“Oh, Adam, there you are,” Lady Ella said behind them. Sophie started to turn, but when Lady Ella said, “You will not believe what your wife did to Lady Fleming,” Sophie kept walking.