Page 31 of Scandalous: Family Ties and Spies

“I know my inability to control my tongue often makes me sound cruel and unfeeling, but—”

“Cruel and unfeeling?” he snorted with irritation. “You have a talent for going straight for the jugular, Amalie.”

Uncertainty spiraled through her. Valeran wasn’t the kind of man who allowed the words of others to trouble him deeply, but something in his voice said her insults yesterday had struck deep. She didn’t enjoy the way it made her feel.

“My sharp tongue is my greatest flaw and weakness, my lord. I never intend my words to be cruel or thoughtless.”

“I see. So, I’m to understand you said something to Lady Mary that was cruel and thoughtless, even though you didn’t mean to be.” His sardonic words made her flinch. Was this a small taste of what it felt like to be on the receiving end of her sharp words? It wasn’t a pleasant sensation.

“No, my words were spoken in a private conversation. They were not intended to be shared.” Amalie inhaled, then exhaled a breath of disgust. “Last year, I made several unflattering comments about Lady Mary for my cousin Rufus’s ears alone. One of Lady Mary’s rejected suitors eavesdropped and made my words public.”

“And the woman was so embarrassed by your comments that she chose to retaliate by ensuring we were found together in my bedchamber last night?” Valeran’s mouth twisted in a scornful smile that emphasized he was skeptical of her explanation. Amalie winced.

“I tried to repute the gossip whenever I heard it, and I even attempted to apologize, but Lady Mary refused to listen to me.”

The memory of the bitter words Lady Mary had spewed at Amalie with each attempt she’d made to repent made Amalie’s jaw clench. Rage spurted through her at how the other woman’s actions had thrown her and Valeran into such an untenable situation. Her words had been unflattering to the woman, but Lady Mary’s reputation hadn’t suffered. Fury made Amalie tremble as she fought to push her desire for revenge into the corner. Now wasn’t the time to plan for Lady Mary’s demise. She could do that later.

Right now, she needed to convince Valeran their situation wasn’t her doing. Then the two of them might find a way to avoid the ultimate outcome her parents and society insisted upon. She might even be able to convince Valeran to become engaged until the gossip abated, then part ways. A wild cackle of laughter filled her head, but she pushed forward nonetheless.

“Lady Mary and I have never been friends, and her antipathy for me runs deep because of what happened last year. I’ve already admitted that my bluntness can be withering. My remarks about Lady Mary’s shortcomings were not malicious. They were shared in a private conversation, and someone else used my words to hurt the woman. I would never deliberately spread gossip about anyone, not even Lady Mary.”

The skepticism on Valeran’s face made her heart sink. Clearly, he still found it difficult to believe she was tricked into entering his room. Could she blame him?

“And exactly how did Lady Mary convince you to enter my rooms?”

This time Valeran mocked her, not only with his words but with a disbelieving twist of his lips. Despite his smile being one of condescension, she found her gaze pinned to his beautiful mouth. Firm, masculine lips that had teased and tempted her last night to whimper and plead for more of his caresses.

The memory made her stomach somersaulted, while a frisson of pleasure and anticipation streaked across her skin. It was such a powerful sensation, it threatened to steal her breath from her lungs. Dear God, what was wrong with her? She was on a cliff, and if she tumbled over the edge, her heart would never be the same.

Chapter 10

Well, Amalie?”

Valeran arched his eyebrows as he studied the gray outline of Amalie’s Rubenesque shadow. The abrupt pause in her explanation had been accentuated by her body growing rigid and unmoving in front of him. Already he’d learned that whenever Amalie was silent, it meant she was thinking. But what?

Rather than prompting her again to continue, he took advantage of her silence to study her full, lushly sculpted body. Voluptuous curves detailed by the varied hues of gray and white shadows that emphasized each swell or indentation in her Junoesque figure. The woman had a body Botticelli would have paid money to paint.

Suddenly, Amalie raised her hand and pressed it against the valley of her breasts. Her movement made Valeran’s body tighten as he struggled with the wave of desire pounding into every one of his muscles. Last night, his mouth had explored the sweet skin beneath her hand. Immediately, his mouth went dry at the memory of cupping her beautiful bosom while he sucked and nipped at her hard nipples.

“Lady Mary came to my room last night, insisting Lady Daisy was terribly distraught and needed my advice. Like a fool, I allowed the woman to convince me Daisy would listen only to me. I didn’t realize it was your room until I…when I—”

As she stammered to a halt, Valeran folded his arms across his chest as satisfaction slid through him. He’d been right. Amalie hadn’t been embarrassed at the sight of him naked. The woman who’d hidden in the shadows like a mouse had been aroused at the sight of him last night. Amalie was breathing just as ragged now as she had been when he’d stood in the doorway of his bathroom. Biting back a smile of pleasure, Valeran cocked his head to one side and quirked his eyebrow.

“Yes?” His lips twitched slightly, and he saw her sweetly curvaceous shadow stiffen.

“You are an arrogant bastard, my lord.”

“Yes, I am, but it doesn’t change the fact that you were found in my rooms, and I’m now obligated to offer you my name.”

The statement sent fury crashing through him. He wasn’t sure if it was directed at Lady Mary or himself. Amalie’s convincing explanation as to Lady Mary’s guilt in staging her ruination had made him accept he’d been wrong about her. But which one of them was to blame for ensuring they’d been caught?

She’d asked to be freed. Twice. But she’d not protested his caresses. He bit down on the inside of his cheek. It didn’t matter that she’d not refused his advances. She’d said no, and he’d acted dishonorably by disregarding her protests, no matter how weak they’d been.

His jaw tightened at his behavior before he remembered the passionate way she’d responded to him. The powerful strength of Amalie’s passion had been incendiary. Not only had it fired his blood, it had affected him unlike any other woman he’d ever held before. It would make their nights together memorable ones. A bolt of anticipation shot through him.

“At least I know I’ll find pleasure in my marital bed,” Valeran said with a smile as he saw Amalie jump in surprise before she leaned forward slightly in a defiant stance.

“Nae,” she snapped angrily.