Page 30 of Scandalous: Family Ties and Spies

“Good morning, Val,” her mother said warmly, and Amalie stared at her in amazement. The Mistress of Crianlarich sounded almost delighted to see the man. Lady Patience squeezed Amalie’s hand and smiled. “We’ll leave the two of you to talk.”

“So, now, it’s all right for me tae be alone with the mon,” Amalie muttered with vicious sarcasm.

Lady Patience shook her head in silent rebuke before she followed her husband out of the salon, leaving her and Valeran alone. As the salon doors closed behind her parents, Amalie drew in a deep breath and slowly turned to face the man she was being forced to marry.

“Miss Rockwood.” Valeran bowed slightly in her direction. “I presume you know why I’m here.”

“Yes.” Her voice hoarse, she offered him a sharp bob of her head before she remembered the man most likely couldn’t see the movement.

“Then will you do me the honor of accepting my hand in marriage?”

The moment his disturbing blue-eyed gaze focused on her, she shivered. Dear Lord, she couldn’t do this. Heart pounding wildly in her chest, she took two steps toward the salon doors. Almost as if he could read her mind, Valeran swiftly moved to block her way. Amalie came to an abrupt halt, her mouth growing dry as she saw the mocking smile curving his sensual mouth.

“You weren’t in such a hurry to leave me last night, Amalie.”

The deep timbre of his voice made his words danced through the air and brush across her skin as if he’d actually touched her. Amalie drew in a quick breath as she remembered what had happened between them last night. The tips of her breasts suddenly hardened and peaked along the edge of her corset, while a wave of desire spiraled through her limbs.

Unlike the four or five men who’d taken an interest in her since her debut two years ago, Valeran aroused emotions in her that were alarming. The memory of his intimate caresses last night made her fight to swallow the lump suddenly forming in her throat. Whenever he came close to her, it was as if her body developed a mind of its own. A mind filled with nothing but wicked, lustful thoughts.

“Last night was a mistake.” Amalie tried to keep her voice steady and even, then glanced toward the heavens with a scowl the instant she heard the tremor in her reply.

“A mistake?” There was an odd note in his voice, and she couldn’t tell if it was one of anger or disbelief. Her eyes narrowed as she glared at him, wishing he could see her baleful look.

“Yes, a blunder I should have seen before it happened.”

Her reply was sharp and brittle as she remembered how Lady Mary had tricked her. The other woman had led her like a lamb to slaughter without any trouble at all. The knowledge sent bitter rage speeding through Amalie’s blood as she glared at the man in front of her. Valeran snorted with sarcastic amusement, and Amalie focused her fury on him.

“I ken ye think I arranged this scandal, but I am nae responsible,” she said with a hiss of outrage. “Ye are the last mon I would have chosen tae be compromised by.”

“Might I presume that’s because you believe me to be a philander who’s boorish, rude, overbearing, vain, cruel, and thoughtless, not to mention unprincipled?”

His voice echoed with harsh judgement as he rattled off the string of shortcomings she’d attributed to him yesterday on the cnoc beag, Amalie recoiled sharply to study him with disbelief. That he’d repeated her words verbatim said they’d stung him badly enough to memorize them. Amalie flinched and her fury evaporated in an instant. Valeran was far from unprincipled. Suddenly ashamed for accusing him of something he was not, Amalie released a small sound of self-disgust as she realized she owed him an apology.

“I was…was wrong to call you unprincipled. The offer you just made indicates you’re an honorable mon.”

“Thank you for acquitting me of at least one of the faults you so succinctly attributed to me yesterday afternoon.”

Valeran’s acceptance of her apology echoed with a distinct note of ironic amusement. But it was clear from his expression he was angered by her failure to express regret for the other attributes she’d flung at him with such rancor.

“You’re welcome,” she retorted with just the right amount of sweetness wrapped around her caustic remark. His handsome face darkened, and the moment she looked into his vivid blue eyes, she smiled with satisfaction. Valeran’s mouth thinned almost instantly.

“Since I was not your preferred seducer, tell me—”

“I told ye I am nae responsible for what happened last night.”

Amalie’s hands fisted as she glared at him, failing once again to keep her Highlander accent under control. It wouldn’t take him long to comprehend she always slipped into speaking her Scottish brogue when she was angry or flustered. Lord, she was a fool to think he’d not already reached that conclusion. Yesterday and last night had given him ample time to realize that.

Last night. If only she’d fled his room when she’d realized where she was. If only she’d not turned around. If only he’d not been so beautiful. Amalie’s chest tightened. She drew in a small breath and swallowed hard. Regrets were pointless now. As the silence stretched out between them, Valeran’s eyebrow shot upward in a silent demand.

Explanations. He wanted an explanation, but would he believe her? Would he help her find a way out of this mess? With deliberation, she took a deep breath to steady her nerves, then slowly exhaled it. Determined not to let him know how disturbed she was by his presence, she focused her attention on maintaining her composure and using the controlled aristocratic accent she’d been taught.

“Lady Mary tricked me into entering your room last night.”

“Lady Mary Calver?” A snort of disbelief escaped Valeran, but she heard the faint hint of surprise in his dark voice. “Why? I have no quarrel with the woman. What does she hope to gain?”

“My humiliation, which she achieved tenfold last night. You were simply a means to an end where the woman is concerned.” Amalie’s mouth went dry as she suddenly realized that not even marrying Valeran would stop the gossip for quite some time. Lady Mary would see to that.

“I assume that razor-sharp tongue of yours is to blame for the woman’s desire for revenge?” The mockery in Valeran’s question made her stiffen. About to lash out with a withering reply, she immediately clamped her lips closed. No. She needed to remain quiet and collected. If she detailed events leading up to last night in a calm, logical manner, the man was more likely to believe she was telling him the truth. Drawing in a deep breath, Amalie suppressed her anger.