Page 37 of Scandalous: Family Ties and Spies

“We only need a few people to believe, my mo nighean luachmhor.” Her mother’s voice held a gentle plea as the Mistress of Crianlarich leaned forward slightly in her chair. “We’ll tell everyone you sent Isabel to tell Lucien and Constance her puppy was missing.”

“Since Val’s room was at the opposite end of the hall from where Imogene and Fanny were staying, we’ll say you mistook Val’s room for the one your cousins were in.”

“And how do you intend to explain away the fact I was only in my nightdress, or for that matter, Valeran’s state of undress? And don’t try to brush aside the fact that he was naked beneath his robe, the gossip is certain to include that scandalous tidbit,” she snapped as she sneered at the elaborate tale her mother and aunts had concocted.

The looks of surprise and dismay on everyone’s face made Amalie tremble with fury. How could they even think this plan of theirs would stifle the gossip? It wouldn’t. Her gaze swung to her mother’s pale features. It was as if she was frightened of something, and Amalie was certain her mother was wondering if Valeran had done more than just compromise her. A bitter smile curving her mouth, Amalie eyed her mother with outrage.

“Dinnae ye worry, Mother. Valeran dinnae bed me.”

But he came close, didn’t he, Amalie. In fact, you were pleading with him to bed you, and you wouldn’t have protested one bit if he had.

“We know that, mo luaidh. Unlike the Rockwood men, your aunts and I knew Val would never do anything so reprehensible,” Lady Patience said quietly, but with a note of steel in her voice that said she was angry about something.

“And how do you expect to account for Father’s outrage?” Amalie’s gaze slowly swung about the room to glare icily at each of her aunts, before she looked at her mother.

“Julian’s reaction is nae different from any mon who’s just found his unmarried daughter in a mon’s room, lass,” Matilda Stewart said before the Mistress of Crianlarich could answer. Any other time, the deep affection in her great aunt’s voice would have warmed and comforted Amalie. But at the moment, it was the last thing she cared about.

“All anyone needs tae know is your father dinnae know about the puppy,” Lady Patience’s speech thickened with brogue. It was a sign she was upset, but Amalie didn’t give it a second thought. “We’ll simply say one of the servants saw ye enter Val’s room and woke your parents.”

“A servant? Nae Lady Mary?” Amalie exclaimed furiously in disbelief. “Does the rest of the family think I deliberately entered Valeran’s room? Is there nae one in the family willing tae publicly denounce Lady Mary for this sordid mess?”

“There isn’t a single member of this family who doesn’t believe you. Your cousins are ready to draw and quarter the woman, but they’ve been ordered not to call Lady Mary out in public,” Lady Patience said sharply.

“You told them nae tae call Lady Mary out on her lie?”

Amalie stared at her mother in open-mouth disbelief. Had her mother actually just said her cousins were forbidden to publicly denounce Lady Mary? She drew in a sharp breath of horror. In a single sentence, her mother had destroyed Amalie’s plans for vengeance. The knowledge sent fury sailing through her.

Not only was she being forced to marry, her family was taking away the one thing that would have given her a small amount of vindication and satisfaction. Amalie eyed her mother with an icy glare. It was a futile gesture as this time her mother didn’t flinch, and Amalie recognized the familiar Rockwood stubbornness on Lady Patience’s face.

“That’s precisely what we’ve done, and they all know they’ll feel the wrath of their parents if they disobey that command,” her mother replied in a firm voice, her usual aristocratic inflections once more solidly in place. Suddenly, Lady Patience’s features softened as she looked pleadingly at Amalie. “It’s not that we don’t want to call the woman out, mo nighean luachmhor, but any attempt to lay blame at Lady Mary’s feet will make what happen last night look far from innocent.”

“And it certainly wouldn’t help with our explanation about why the engagement announcement was pushed forward.”

“Louisa,” her older sisters loudly exclaimed in harmony. The youngest Rockwood sibling cringed with regret.

Puzzled by her aunt’s words, Amalie’s gaze swept around the room to see guilty expressions on all their faces. What did Aunt Louisa mean by her engagement to Valeran being pushed forward. In one quick breath, Amalie’s confusion became horror as she understood the meaning of the Countess of Argaty’s words.

“Dear God. Ye intend tae try and make people think it’s a love match.”

Amalie was barely able to choke out the words as she stared at her aunts and mother in shock. When they didn’t deny it, she rose from her chair, a blaze of fury cresting inside her until she was ready to scream more than one of the oaths her father muttered occasionally.

“Ye cannae possibly think people will believe he…I…that we’re…marrying for love. We’ve nae been seen in public together, and the mon is involved with Lady Chattfield.”

Ruefully, Amalie winced the instant Lady Patience raised an eyebrow and speculation filled her warm brown gaze. God, what a fool she was for mentioning Lady Chattfield. Twice now, Amalie had admitted she was aware of Valeran’s activities.

But if her aunts and mother thought they could protect her from gossip by telling others she and Valeran were in love, they were delusional. Everyone would know the truth when Valeran continued his liaison with Lady Chattfield.

“This is a nightmare,” she mumbled as she met her mother’s sympathetic gaze. Amalie’s eyes watered, and she blinked back tears. While her eyes were red and swollen from crying all day yesterday, she refused to cry in front of anyone.

“All will be well, mo luaidh. I promise you that.”

The warm reassurance in her mother’s voice made Amalie shake her head. Nothing would ever be right again. In less than three weeks, she would be married. The memory of Valeran’s demand that she give him an heir made her stomach tighten, but she didn’t know whether it was with trepidation or anticipation. Closing her eyes for a brief moment, she reached a decision. She might have to marry Valeran, but she didn’t have to do anything other than show up.

“I will nae help ye plan what I know will be a disastrous marriage, which all of ye will regret forcing me into,” she said with quiet bitterness. The gasps filling the air only strengthened her determination.

“Do what ye wish, but I will nae have anything more tae do with this travesty. Plan and organize whatever ye think appropriate. Hold your damn parties. Place the banns. I nae longer care. I’ll go wherever ye tell me tae go, except Madame DuBois’s shop. But I will nae have anything else tae do with any of this.”

“Surely you want to choose your own wedding gown, Amalie,” Lady Patience exclaimed softly.