A Stranger's Gamble (Lords of Chance Book 3)

by Tarah Scott

  “What does that mean?”

  “You will find out soon enough.”

  “I shall have your belongings moved into the Blue bedchambers, Sophie,” Aunt Maddie said.

  “Whatever for?” Sophie demanded.

  “We cannot have you and Lord Monthemer sharing that small bedchamber.”

  “What?” Sophie blurted. “I have no intention of sharing my bedchambers with him.”

  “He is your husband, Sophie,” her father said. “We cannot have his lordship staying in a boarding house now that you two are married.”

  “Surely Sophie does not have to move,” Adam said. “I can stay in another room.”

  To Sophie’s surprise, her aunt shook her head. “Do you want the servants telling everyone that you are not sharing a room?”

  Adam rubbed the back of his neck. “I take your point, but we needn’t move Sophie. I can sleep in a chair in her room.”

  “No husband sleeps in a chair in his own bedchambers,” her father growled.

  “These are my bedchambers,” Sophie said. “Do you truly plan on leaving me with this man?”

  “I do,” her father replied. “You two will live as husband and wife.”

  “Then I wish for my finances to remain my own,” she said.

  “That is acceptable,” Adam said. “As I said earlier, I have no desire to spend your money.”

  “Even once you have squandered my dowry?” she demanded.

  “That will take some time to do, so you need not concern yourself.”

  She scoffed. “I have found that it is easy to spend money.”

  “Then perhaps I should inform you that once you have squandered your money, I will give you an allowance of fifty pounds a year.”

  “Me, squander my money?” She stared at him. “It is you who will squander my money.”

  “Your father’s money,” he corrected.

  “Did you hear that, Father? I shall be responsible for all my personal expenditures, and when my money is gone, I will be given a generous sum of fifty pounds a year.”

  “Then I suppose you had best be careful how you spend your money,” her father replied.

  “Oh, I will. In fact, I have already spoken with my man of affairs about investments.” This was a lie—she didn’t even have a man of affairs—but she would hire one before they knew otherwise.

  “What kind of investments?” Adam asked.

  She smiled sweetly. “None that need concerning you, sir.”

  “If those investments include gaming hells that does concern me.”

  “Gaming hells?” She grimaced. “Good God, no. Who in their right mind would invest in a gaming hall?”

  “No one,” he murmured.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Sophie said a quiet thanks when Adam had business that took him away directly after their meeting. Congratulations on their marriage poured in, so by teatime, Sophie hid away in her room until her father commanded her to come down to dinner. The family ate in silence, and afterward, Sophie adjourned to the parlor not wanting to be in her bedchambers when Adam returned.

  The clock struck nine, and Sophie still sat in the parlor pretending to read a book when the front door opened. Adam had returned. She remained seated and listened to his footsteps as he strode down the hallway. He had to be headed for the small study where her father had taken up residence.

  She wanted very badly to eavesdrop but didn’t know this house like she did her own. Plus, if a maid happened upon her while she was listening in on the men’s conversation, she couldn’t guarantee the maid would remain quiet.

  An hour ticked by when the study door opened and bootfalls approached the parlor. Sophie looked up when Adam entered the room. When he closed the doors behind him, her heart began to pound.

  He crossed the room and sat on the couch beside her. “You are looking well.”

  She closed the book of which she hadn’t read a single line. “There is no need to make small talk, sir.”

  “Sir?” He lifted a brow. “What happened to Adam?”

  “Adam is the man who accompanied me when I sneaked out to go to the oyster cellars.”

  “I am that same man,” he said. “Did you like me at all?”

  “I liked you a great deal. I simply had no idea you were lying to me.”

  “You were lying to me, as well, Sophie.”

  “I lied to protect myself—and I had no idea who you were. If I had known—” She took a deep breath to calm herself.

  “If you had known, would you have told me?” he asked gently.

  “Indeed, I would have,” she cried. “I meant to avoid you.”

  He laughed. “If it helps, that night at the oyster cellars, I didn’t know your identity.”

  She didn’t want to admit that the knowledge did help. “But when you found out, you made a fool of me,” she said.

  “That was not my intention.”

  She pinned him with a stare.

  “All right,” he said. “I did want to teach you a lesson. But you must own that I had no way of knowing that you didn’t know who I was. I thought you were trying to trick me.”

  She wanted to argue just to be contrary, but he had a valid point.

  “You knew I didn’t want to marry you,” she said. “So why marry me?”

  He shrugged. “I believed you and I would get along well enough.”

  “Well enough,” she repeated. “That is a fine reason to marry.”

  “Would you rather marry for love?”

  She grunted. “I married for love the first time. There was no need to repeat that mistake.”

  “There you have it. We enjoy one another’s company.” He grasped her hand. “I do intend to live up to my vows. I will protect you with my life, if necessary. I will provide for you. If you are agreeable, with children, as well.”

  He would expect an heir.

  Adam stretched out a hand on the back of the sofa. “Balfour will host a party in our honor tomorrow evening.”

  She shook her head. “There is no need. He accomplished his goal. You saved me by pretending to marry me.”

  “I did not pretend to marry you. We are married.”

  Sophie inclined her head. “As you wish. You saved my life by marrying me.”

  “I likely save my own life, as well.” he murmured.

  “We had no intention of marrying one another,” she said.

  He lifted a brow. “I had every intention of marrying you.”

  “You did not—and you know it.”

  “I signed the marriage contract,” he said with far too much nonchalance.

  “You did that to bother me.”

  He laughed. “Forgive me, my dear, but a man does not sign a marriage contract to ‘bother’ a woman. Your father would have ruined me in court. I admit, I wanted to teach you a lesson—but not at my expense.”

  “You told me that Lord Monthemer didn’t want to marry Sophie Shaw,” she insisted.

  “What did you expect?” he asked. “I saw your companion Beatrice when she descended from your carriage, and she looked very displeased. Now that I know the story, I cannot say I blame her. How often did you have her pretend to be you?”

  “I deduced that you knew she wasn’t me in Lady Ella’s garden.” Sophie regarded him. “Did you tell my father I was pretending to be Beatrice?”

  “Of course not.”

  She had thought not. Her father hadn’t said anything to her.

  “Why?” she asked.

  “Because a husband doesn’t tattle to his wife’s father.”

  “He doesn’t?” she asked. Matthew hadn’t been above complaining to her father for some perceived wrongdoing. A strange nervousness rippled through her stomach. Oh, she recognized that feeling and she wasn’t falling for that again. Adam was no different than Matthew.

  “It’s stupid to marry for money,” she blurted.

  He chuckled. “Spoken like a woman who has always had money.”

  Sophie pinned him
with a glare. “Pray, do not play the pauper. You have been rich most of your life.”

  “And now I am not.”

  “There are plenty of rich heiresses. Why not marry one of them?”

  “I got to know and like you,” he replied.

  She blew out a frustrated breath. “You did not ‘get to know me.’ You danced with me once at Lady Seafield’s soiree.”

  “I also danced with you at the oyster cellars and accompanied when you bought oranges and medicine for you aunt. And lest you forget, I rode with you in the carriage with Lord Emerson,” he said.

  “You didn’t really think he intended to offer for me?” she asked.

  Adam shrugged. “Why not? You are a beautiful woman.”

  “And rich,” she said.

  “And rich.”

  “If you are concerned about the money after I annul the marriage, you need not fret,” she said.

  A corner of his mouth twitched in amusement. “Indeed?”

  Sophie shook her head. “Nae. I will make sure my father compensates you.”

  “Compensates me?” he repeated, and she had the feeling he was enjoying himself at her expense. “But that would deprive me of the pleasure of your company,” he said.

  She reigned in her temper. “You will be compensated, then can find another heiress and get even more money.”

  “As I said, you and I will deal well together.” He stood. “You will not attend Balfour’s ball.” She opened her mouth to reply, but he shook his head. “It is too dangerous. You father has put the announcement in the papers. That will satisfy Balfour. I will tell him that you simply were not comfortable returning to his home. It’s the truth.”

  Sophie considered arguing, but really, she didn’t want to attend the party. She wanted to return home and forget she had met any of these people.

  “As you wish,” she said. “I will stay home.”

  “You will be off to my estate in Inverness, actually.”

  “What?”

  “In the morning,” he said. “That way, you will be out of harm’s way until I finish with him. Of course, you may take Beatrice with you if you wish, and she is amenable.”

  “So, you are sending me to the country,” she cried.

  “Inverness is hardly ‘the country’.” His expression hardened. “Never fear, you will be able to attend as many parties and be a part of Inverness’s society.

  She didn’t want to be a party of Society. She had wanted to marry a simple man like Adam MacAlister who at least liked her for who she was and might even come to care for her. Instead, she’d gotten another man who wanted a rich wife.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Adam had adjourned to the study with Liam and gave Sophie an hour’s head start before finally climbing the stairs to their room. The third door on the right where he now stood before the closed door. Adam knocked. No one replied. He eased the door open and stepped inside. A low fired burned in the hearth on the wall directly ahead, illuminating the form buried beneath the covers of a four-poster bed that sat to the right. That must be his bride. He closed the door, then crossed to the fireplace. He removed his coat and waistcoat, then laid them over the bench at the foot of the bed. He sat in the large leather chair in front of the fireplace and removed his boots.

  He’d had two large glasses of brandy and should have no trouble sleeping even in a chair. He stretched his legs out in front of him and contemplated the fire. Balfour had stolen gold owned by an Englishman, the Duke of Bransbury. The theft wasn’t massive like the one Balfour intended to steal from the king, but it would add nicely to Balfour’s coffers. What he needed from Adam was a way to cut and sell the diamond necklace that had been in the chest with the gold. The necklace had been a nice addition to the theft, and the diamonds would bring an extra ten thousand pounds.

  By now, Adam figured the duke had already taken the case of his being robbed before the king. The loss of gold and the necklace was likely a hard blow. The Crown could now convict Balfour of theft and threatening a nobleman with a gun. The fool had waylaid the coach like a common highwayman. The threat alone was enough to send Balfour to the gallows. But Adam suspected the Crown cared nothing for an English duke’s losses and wanted only the gold that Balfour had filched while in His Majesty’s employ in the navy. Adam hoped to get a clue to the whereabouts of the hidden gold tomorrow night at the party Balfour was hosting.

  Sophie would be safely away by then, and he could deal with Balfour as he deserved. Sophie sighed in her sleep, and Adam twisted and looked past the chair at her. He’d wondered if she truly were asleep, but she seemed to be, at least now. What would she do if he climbed into bed with her? His cock began to rise in anticipation. He grimaced and faced the fire. His wife had a long day of travel ahead of her tomorrow.

  His wife.

  After Lena, he hadn’t anticipated having a wife. His chest tightened. He liked the way the words sounded. Would Sophie be willing to work alongside him while he built a life for them? He chuckled. That question would begin to be answered to tomorrow. Sophie’s father had agreed to allow them the use of his carriage for her trip to Brewhold. Adam didn’t envy her that ride.

  Adam recalled that first day when she’d been wearing men’s breeches and had ridden her mare like the wind. He frowned. He would have to have a talk with her about that. There would be no more wearing breeches and riding without an escort. She was sure to balk, but he would make sure someone was always at her disposal to ride with her. He would go himself, sometimes. Perhaps he might be able to talk her into allowing her mare to breed with Merlyn. They would produce magnificent offspring. Just as he and Sophie would produce beautiful children.

  He recalled how she had left him and Emerson standing on the road while she made off with Emerson’s carriage. That was when he realized he wanted her to be the mother of his children. Money or no.

  ***

  Sophie awoke the following morning and tentatively scanned the room. She was alone. A sliver of disappointment dampened her spirits. She had half expected Adam to demand his husbandly rights. Maybe all men were like Matthew. They gave doled out passionate kisses to entice a woman, then ignored her once they had her.

  She relaxed back against her pillow. Today, she and Beatrice were being sent to Inverness. Maybe that was for the best. She had no idea how long Adam might remain in Edinburgh. Perhaps she would return to Invergarry, instead. She might be happier spending time at home before being forced to take up residence in Inverness.

  Sophie rose and had washed her face when Beatrice arrived with coffee and pastries. She wondered if she would see Adam before she left. She and Beatrice spent the morning packing then had an early lunch with her aunt. Maddie informed Sophie that Adam was in the study with her father, but the men likely wouldn’t join them for lunch. Sophie simply couldn’t stand not knowing what they were talking about. She excused herself from the table with the pretext that she wanted to take a last look at the packed trunks but went, instead, to the study. To her relief, the hallway was empty. She pressed her ear to the door and distinguished her father’s voice.

  “I don’t like it one bit,” he said. “I suggest you forget the matter.”

  “I cannot do that,” Adam replied.

  “You do not need the money the king is offering,” her father said. “You have ample funds from Sophie’s dowry. Plenty more will follow when you have children.”

  Sophie started. Adam would receive more money when she gave him children? How much more? Her heart twisted. She really was nothing but one big fat chest of money to her new husband.

  “If you need more, I can always extend you a loan,” her father said.

  A heartbeat of silence passed, and Sophie envisioned Adam calculating how much money he could bilk her father for.

  “It may interest you to know, Liam, that I did not marry your daughter for your money,” Adam said.

  Sophie’s mind froze. Had she heard correctly?

  “That is good to hear,” re
plied her father. “She is a fine girl and deserves to be valued.”

  “You may rest assured she is,” Adam said.

  “That being the case, perhaps it really is best you forget Balfour,” her father said. “Let someone else risk their life.”

  Risk their life?

  “I can handle Balfour,” Adam said, and Sophie recalled that she had called him a coward.

  Guilt washed over her. She had tried to egg him into fighting Mr. Balfour.

  “I will be there tonight,” her father said. “It is not unusual for me to carry a pistol.”

  Adam laughed. “That will not be necessary, Liam. I would prefer to know that everyone is safe. That way, I can deal with Balfour as I need to without worry.”

  “I am a navy man myself, you know,” her father said. “I know how to take care of myself.”

  “You fought in the Peninsular War, if I recall.”

  “That’s right,” he replied, and Sophie detected a note of pride in her father’s voice. “As Sophie will not be there tonight, Balfour will expect her aunt and me.”

  “Madeline?” Adam said.

  “You needn’t worry about her. I will watch after her. We will make an appearance, then I will take Madeline home.”

  “Just an appearance?” Adam said.

  “It would be too suspicious if we didn’t come at all,” her father replied.

  Seconds of silence passed, then Adam said, “Agreed. I had better see Sophie off.”

  Sophie jerked away from the door, then spun and raced down the hallway. She hurried up the stairs and reached her room to find Beatrice directing two footmen to carry out the last of their trunks. Beatrice frowned in question as Sophie hurried across the room and flopped down on the chair in front of the window. Sophie shook her head in warning, and Beatrice remained silent.

  Two minutes later, bootfalls approached. Beatrice swung her gaze to Sophie. Sophie gave a slight nod, jumped to her feet, then hurried to the table where a teapot and cups sat on a tray. She poured tea into two cups and looked up when Adam and her father entered the room.

  “Are you ready?” her father asked.

  “The footmen have taken down the last of the trunks,” Sophie said. “We were just having a final cup of tea.”