Page 45 of Scandalous: Family Ties and Spies

A news article about Helen had prompted him to write to her, and they’d begun a pleasant exchange of correspondence. Her letters always came in Braille, so he needed no assistance reading them himself. Valeran chuckled softly at Helen chiding him for not seeing the value of a rug that had made him stumble while at a recent dinner affair.

The woman was a true optimist who saw the good in everything. He’d just slid the letter back into its envelope, when he heard the front doorbell jangle. A moment later, Boswell entered his study to say Jamie and Lady Patience had come to call.

At the mention of Amalie’s mother, Valeran's heart sank. Had Amalie convinced her parents to call off their engagement? Uncertain why the thought filled him with such disappointment, even pain, Valeran ordered Boswell to show the two into the salon.

Steeling himself to receive bad news, Valeran strode across the hall into the salon to greet his guests. It had been almost a week since he’d seen Jamie. They’d not talked since seeing each other at Chattfield House. Remembering his friend’s judgemental tone of voice when Miriam had accused Valeran of intentionally planning to seduce Amalie, he schooled his features into a stoic look.

“Westbury.” He nodded at his friend’s shadow and saw the man start before Valeran turned to Lady Patience. “My lady. Might I offer the two of you tea?”

“No thank you, Val,” Amalie’s mother shook her head in response to his polite offer. “This is not so much of a social call as it is a family business matter.”

The woman’s words instantly made his gut twist with an unexpected emotion he refused to acknowledge. So Amalie had decided not to go through with their marriage. Valeran waved his hand toward the couch.

“I see,” he said politely. “Then perhaps we should be seated for the discussion.”

“Thank you,” Lady Patience said quietly before she stepped forward and patted Valeran’s hand, then moved to take a seat on the couch. Jamie took two strides forward and clapped him on the shoulder.

“Remind me to thank you for introducing me to Miriam. I’m surprised you lasted as long as you did with the woman,” he murmured dryly. “And just wait until you hear what my aunt has to say.”

Jamie’s brotherly slap on the shoulder said his friend had obviously been in character when they’d both been at Chattfield House, and Valeran breathed a sigh of relief. But it was Lady Patience’s affectionate gesture that puzzled him. He’d compromised her daughter, and yet the woman didn’t seem angry with him as the Rockwood men had been. When he was seated opposite her, the Mistress of Crianlarich released a sigh.

“Val, I know Amalie has told you that Lady Mary is responsible for what happened at Callendar Abbey.” It had taken less than a minute for the Rockwood family’s straight-forward manner to reveal itself as Lady Patience spoke.

“She has…and does the rest of the Rockwood clan know this?” Valeran didn’t bother to hide his bitterness, and Lady Patience’s shadowed form immediately straightened in her seat.

“They do, and I can safely say every male member of the Rockwood family humbly regrets doubting you in the matter of Amalie’s damaged reputation.”

“How convenient.” His sarcasm made the woman stiffen again.

“It is the truth. Every single man in your rooms that night will call on you at your earliest convenience to apologize for daring to doubt your honor,” Lady Patience said fiercely. “For the past two years, you have been a part of the Rockwood family, which is why their behavior is all the more reprehensible. Family never doubts a Rockwood’s behavior or actions without an explanation or rationale.”

“You forget, I am not a Rockwood,” he said in an icy voice. Lady Patience leaned toward him in her seat. There was an intensity to her pose that startled him.

“You are most definitely a Rockwood, perhaps not by birth, but you have always had our love and esteem practically from the first moment Jamie brought you to Melton House for dinner.” His future mother-in-law’s voice was as steely with conviction, and he flinched in the face of her umbrage.

“You honor me with your words, Lady Patience.” The moment he expressed his regret, the woman bobbed her head sharply.

“You are never to think you are not a Rockwood ever again,” she snapped. “Your marriage to Amalie simply makes it official.”

“I see where my bride has acquired her backbone.” Valeran’s attempt to ease the tension in the room made the woman laugh merrily. Was that what Amalie’s laughter would sound like? It was an appealing sound.

“Why am I not surprised that even though my daughter kept her distance from you for two years, you’ve already learned a great deal about her in relatively short order?”

Valeran almost smiled at her remark, but it died as he suddenly realized the woman hadn’t apologized for doubting him the night Amalie had been found in his room. With a frown, he recalled the first few minutes after the Laird and Mistress of Crianlarich entered his rooms. Lady Patience hadn’t sounded the least bit shocked or upset at finding Amalie with him that night.

In fact, the woman had acted as if nothing momentous had occurred at all. Lady Patience had taken it all in stride, almost as if she'd been expecting something would happen. Puzzled, Valeran remembered how Lady Patience had greeted him with a genuine warmth when he’d entered the abbey’s salon to propose to Amalie. Cocking his head to one side, Valeran centered his gaze on the shadow of the woman seated across from him.

“And what about you, Lady Patience? Did you have doubts about me that night?” he asked quietly. She turned toward Jamie before looking back at Valeran.

“Not for one minute. Nor did my sisters. We already knew…not knew, really. We simply sensed something would happen, but we didn’t know what.”

“Am I to assume you’re referring to the an dara sealladh?” At his question, Lady Patience uttered a small gasp. He shrugged. “I have known for a long time that Jamie and other Rockwoods possess the gift, but not who. However, the conviction in your voice as to my innocence tells me you and your sisters have the gift of sight as well.”

“We do, although the an dara sealladh is far from reliable, which is why Jamie and I didn’t…” Lady Patience paused for a moment, and Valeran saw her head turn toward his friend once more before she returned her attention to him with a roll of her shoulders.

“That doesn’t matter now. What’s important is how to minimize the damage to Amalie’s reputation and the rumors that have been circulating in town for the past week. Constance and I have already had visits from several notorious gossips, which is why we’ve implemented our plan of action.”

“Plan?” Valeran arched his eyebrows, and Jamie snorted.