Page 50 of Scandalous: Family Ties and Spies

Lady Patience’s laughter floated across the room, and even the Crianlarich snorted with something Valeran thought might be amusement.

“Amalie has never enjoyed shopping for clothes, but she looks lovely this evening, Val. She’s wearing a warm peach gown that isn’t quite as light as a freshly picked peach.”

His future mother-in-law made a gesture in her daughter’s direction, as if silently explaining she was simply answering the question Amalie had refused to answer. Beside him, he heard the soft groan of embarrassment his bride-to-be tried to suppress.

“And her hair? She’s reluctant to tell me that or the color of her eyes.”

Amalie drew in a sharp breath of anger. They both knew he’d never asked or been refused an answer as to her appearance. Her reaction said she didn’t like the inference she’d obstinately refused to tell him. The soft oath she muttered beneath her breath at his blatant lie made him smile broadly. A second later, Amalie pinched the back of his arm in a gesture he assumed her parents wouldn’t see. Unrepentant, he turned his head toward her as Amalie’s mother began to describe his bride’s appearance.

“Amalie has dark brown hair. When the light is just right, it shines with faint, gold highlights. Her hair has often reminded me of a golden eagle’s feathers.”

“Complete with talons too, no doubt.”

Valeran barely moved his lips, but Amalie heard him. She administered another hard pinch to his arm. The moment he flinched, she sniffed with satisfaction. Unaware that he and Amalie were trading barbs, Lady Patience continued.

“The peach hues of her gown sets off the color of her hair quite nicely. As for her eyes, they’re a soft brown, not quite as dark as her hair. When she’s amused, they sparkle brightly. Although, the sparkle I see in her eyes now tells me she’s not amused at the moment.” Lady Patience laughed.

“Thank you, especially for the description of her hair and eyes. I was having difficulty trying to envision what she might look like in my head. Jamie said she was pretty, but he is her cousin after all,” he said with a satisfied bob of his head, not bothering to hide his amusement. Amalie rewarded him with another hard pinch to the back of his arm. “I’m sure my hands and fingers will allow me to memorize the contours of her face in more detail in the near future.”

Amalie drew in an angry hiss of air at his lie, and Valeran snorted softly as he fought not to laugh. His amusement earned him another hard pinch. This one made him grunt with discomfort.

“Ye ken damn well your fingers have already done that and more, ye Sassenach devil.”

Amalie’s anger vibrated against his body, and Valeran turned his head until he could see the varying shadows of her face. Her mouth was a thin line of white, and the gray and white lines of her eyes indicate they were narrowed in what he was certain was a fierce glare. His gaze still focused on Amalie, he replied to Lady Patience.

“While my vision is severely limited, I can still see outlines and shapes that are varying shades of black, white, and gray. I still remember colors from when I was a boy, although the variations you might see are unavailable to my perception of them. But from your description, it’s obvious my bride is quite pleasing to the eye.”

Valeran detected the darkening color in Amalie’s cheeks, as the thin line of her mouth relaxed and parted in what he was certain was an expression of surprise. The fury radiating off of her ceased almost instantly.

“Aye, that she is,” Crianlarich said quietly. “She reminds me of Patience when she was Amalie’s age.”

“You didn’t know me at that age, Julian MacTavish.”

“Ye were nae much older when I first saw ye. And ye cannae deny our daughter favors you. Besides, Amalie has the same appetite and gentle curves ye do, mo ghràdh.”

“Father.”

Horror rang out of Amalie in the single word protest. His gaze still focused on her face, Valeran noted the small jerk of her head as if she’d flinched. Tension held her stiff beside him, and the smallest of tremors vibrated out of her into his body. To others, her reaction to Crianlarich’s teasing would most likely be seen as embarrassment. But Valeran was certain she was experiencing something more than simple embarrassment.

“What, lass? I dinnae—”

“Stop teasing her before you regret it, Crianlarich.” There was a stern note of warning, perhaps even a plea in Lady Patience’s words.

“Aye, forgive me, lass.” The gruff apology was met with a short, icy acceptance.

The emotions emanating from Amalie reminded Valeran of the afternoon on the cnoc beag. She was irritated, but something stronger rode beneath her anger. Valeran stiffened in surprise. Pain. Whatever torment her father’s teasing had brought to the surface, Valeran could feel the deep anguish Amalie was trying to keep from spilling out of her.

The varying shades of gray color that defined her full, curvaceous body were sharply edged in the room’s light. She held herself stiff and rigid in a clear effort to avoid any sign of weakness. The emotional reaction she was trying hard to suppress was a tangible, powerful force pulsing against his skin. It was an agony that ran deep inside her. Instinctively, Valeran knew it was an emotion she hid from everyone, even her parents.

Her distress was so powerful, Valeran almost pulled her close, so he could hold her until she no longer hurt. Instead, he reached out to capture her hand and squeeze it gently. Electricity raced up his arm the instant his hand wrapped around hers. Amalie jerked at his touch, and her head tilted upward as she studied him.

Again, the memory of their first meeting shoved its way into his thoughts. Fire streaked through his body, and the strength of it grew stronger as an indistinguishable sound poured out of her. Instinct said she was debating whether or not to flee the room, and his fingers immediately tightened around hers in a silent signal he wouldn’t let her run.

“Perhaps we should be going,” he said quietly.

“You’re right, Val,” Lady Patience agreed. “Fashionably late would probably be quite uncomfortable for both of you.”

“I thought I might take Amalie with me in the event she wished to leave the party early.” Valeran kept his bride’s hand in his as he turned his head toward her parents?