Page 6 of Scandalous: Family Ties and Spies

“What are you laughing at, Val?” Miriam huffed with annoyance.

“I’m beginning to think you want to go with me.”

“Would that be such a bad thing?”

The question whipped tension through his body until his muscles were taut. Bless Aunt Matilda and the rest of the Rockwood women. According to Jamie, the abbey would be bursting at the seams with houseguests. The last thing Valeran wanted was to take Miriam with him. He needed time away from the woman simply to get some rest. A voice in the back of his mind argued Miriam wasn’t the sole reason he was tired. Valeran shook his head.

“Unfortunately, there isn’t any room. Jamie indicated the abbey would be so full, his aunt is now resorting to two or three guests sharing a room.”

“Are you certain you couldn’t ask?”

“As I said, the abbey will be full, Miriam.” His amusement died a quick death as he narrowed his gaze at her with annoyance.

“Perhaps I should call on Westbury’s aunt, I might—”

“No,” Valeran said in a quiet voice that for those who knew him well, indicated he was ready to bite someone’s head off. “I’ll not have you embarrassing me or yourself by attempting to secure an invitation to the house party.”

“Oh, all right,” Miriam said with petulant disappointment before she shook her head fiercely. “Well, I’m warning you to take care. I wouldn’t be surprised if you have to fend Miss Rockwood off at this house party you insist on attending.”

“While I seriously doubt Amalie Rockwood will be eager to capture my attention next week,” Valeran said with a shrug. “I confess to being intrigued as to why she appears to find my company so intolerable.”

Again, Valeran heard a small sound, and he looked over his shoulder to see how many shadowy figures were seated behind him. There was only one, and he was certain it was a man. Perhaps he was imagining things.

“Whatever are you doing?” Miriam exclaimed in her usual, nettlesome manner whenever she lost his attention.

“I thought I heard something.”

“I know your hearing is exceptional, Val, but we’re practically the only ones here in Rules.”

“Probably just my imagination,” he murmured with a frown.

It wasn’t like him to hear things that weren’t there, but he was tired of listening to Miriam’s persistent disparagement of Amalie Rockwood. What he wanted to hear was Lady Chattfield giving him information to confirm or deny whether she was working with the Prussians.

“I’m certain it is. Perhaps it was something outside the restaurant,” the woman said with a genuine sympathy that surprised him. “But you must trust me when it comes the Miss Rockwood, my darling. A man as handsome as you should have a beautiful woman on his arm. Certainly not a plump, dowdy, sharp-tongued viper such as Amalie Rockwood.”

“Are you trying to convince me to seek Miss Rockwood out, Miriam?” Valeran mocked the woman’s blistering insult with one of scorn hidden beneath a small laugh. He wasn’t just weary of the woman’s fixation with Jamie’s cousin, he was ready to walk out of Rules simply to distance himself from the woman.

“No, I am most certainly not,” she huffed with distinct irritation. Unable to help himself, Valeran leaned back in his chair and looked upward as if concentrating.

“Hmm, perhaps I should do just that and confirm her infatuation with me.”

“Don’t tease me like that,” the woman snapped. “You know I can’t stand it when you make me think you’re interested in another woman.”

“If she’s as plump, mousey, and boring as you say, then you have nothing to fear,” Valeran said with a sardonic laugh. The ironic thing about this entire conversation was that he preferred lush curves to the skin and bone figures women like Miriam possessed.

“You are a devil, Val.” The woman’s laugh was a shrill bell ringing in his ears as she lightly touched the back of his hand. “I’m certain the woman would swoon if you flirted with her.”

“Don’t all women?” he chuckled.

“I cannot talk to you when you’re like this. You’re apt to try and seduce the woman on purpose, simply to make me jealous.”

“Are you suggesting I’d fail?” he mocked, beginning to enjoy Miriam’s irritation.

It wasn’t the wisest thing to do, but he needed some form of outlet for his anger. Openly defending Amalie Rockwood meant eviscerating Miriam, which would jeopardize his assignment.

“Of course not,” Miriam said with a laugh. “But it might be an amusing tale if you tried to do so. My only concern is that you might find yourself in a situation that would lead to the marriage bed.”

“Since I believe the lady in question has been avoiding me, I find it highly unlikely she’ll come anywhere near me while I’m at the abbey.”