Page 65 of Scandalous: Family Ties and Spies

Less than a moment after he’d introduced Amalie to Churchill, his wife engaged the man in a lively debate about Home Rule. Startled by his wife’s understanding of political matters few women were even aware of, let alone held an opinion on, Valeran listened with growing respect as his wife quietly, yet passionately, debated the politician. He’d known his wife was clever and sharp-witted, but Amalie’s ability to hold her own with Churchill filled him with pride.

Clearly enjoying his repartee with Amalie, the man paused for a moment to compliment Valeran on having married a woman as intelligent as his own wife, Clemmie. A second later, he returned to debating Amalie. Engrossed in defending her position, his wife’s tension seemed to ease during her debate with the First Lord of the Admiralty. Valeran was certain her conversation with Churchill made the noise around her fade into the background. When their hostess pulled Churchill away, Valeran smiled down at Amalie.

“You were enjoying yourself,” he murmured as he studied her relaxed posture.

“Yes, very much. It was nice not to be condescended to.”

“Do you think I’m condescending where you’re concerned, my sweet mouse?”

“Dinnae call me that,” she snapped, her posture immediately stiff and rigid. Valeran grimaced with regret, remembering why Amalie found it so objectionable. Two seconds later, her deliciously round curves relaxed, and she uttered a quiet sound of aggravation. “Nae, ye dinnae treat me like a simpleton, which I appreciate. But ye are still an arrogant, annoying mon.”

“Then it appears I’ve risen somewhat in your estimation, for which I’m grateful. As for my calling you mouse, it is not a term of derision. It is my way of teasing you, just as a friend would.”

The sincerity in his voice elicited a small noise from her, but Amalie didn’t object further. It was difficult to tell in the well-lit room as to how much her cheeks had darkened in a blush at his admission. But he suspected her skin would be warm to the touch. In the next moment, dinner was announced, and they were separated.

Valeran was seated between Lady Churchill and Lady Turnbridge, while Amalie sat across from him, in between Lord Merrimont and Count Ansbach, who was a distant cousin of the king. Unlike others on the king’s family tree who spent several months a year in London or the English countryside, the count was different. It had taken the man almost twenty years to return to British soil.

Despite Ansbach’s royal connections, it hadn’t deterred the foreign division of the Secret Intelligence Service from watching the Prussian since his arrival almost twelve months ago. The man’s relationship to the king didn’t make him incapable of subterfuge or espionage, given his Prussian sympathies.

But nothing Ansbach had done since his arrival had aroused anything suspicious. The man’s behavior was that of a typical, bored aristocrat, with numerous conquests and a penchant for gambling. Although the Prussian and his actions hadn’t revealed any behavior as suspicious, Valeran’s gut said not to trust Ansbach.

Beside him, Lady Turnbridge was babbling about the latest gossip, and Valeran simply murmured sounds of agreement to make the woman think he was listening to her. Instead, he focused more and more of his attention on Ansbach’s thick guttural accent and his wife’s soft replies.

While the man limited the conversation to trivial matters, he was openly flirtatious with Amalie. With every effusive compliment Ansbach spoke, Valeran’s antipathy for the Prussian grew. When the count inquired as to whether Amalie would be attending the Barrington’s ball next week, Valeran’s muscles grew taut with anger. The count would regret it if he even attempted to seduce Amalie.

In fact, he’d tear the Prussian apart limb by limb with slow precision if Ansbach did anything Valeran thought out of line where his wife was concerned. The strength of his territorial thoughts took him by surprise. Grappling with his visceral reaction, Valeran missed something Lady Turnbridge said, and she had to repeat herself to him. He gave the woman a vague response, and the woman huffed a small note of umbrage, then turned away from Valeran.

Free to resume listening to the exchange between his wife and Ansbach, he heard the count compliment Amalie profusely about her lovely voice. The man’s words only escalated Valeran’s growing dislike of the man. A quiet sound of amusement next to him jerked his attention away from his wife and the Prussian.

“You don’t like Count Ansbach?” Lady Churchill murmured mischievously as she leaned into him in a conspiratorial manner.

“Not particularly,” Valeran said tightly in a low voice.

“I see,” the woman said with a restrained laugh. Lady Churchill’s shoulder touched his as she leaned closer, her voice a barely audible sound. “What troubles you the most, my lord? The man’s lineage or his tenacious efforts to seek favor with your charming wife?”

Valeran jerked his head toward the woman’s dark profile with a sense of foreboding. The implication that he was jealous was ludicrous. His antipathy for the count was because he knew Ansbach was a womanizer, and he wasn’t about to let the Prussian humiliate Amalie or him. He shook his head. Unable to share his real reason for disliking the man, Valeran chose to reference the scandal as an explanation.

“Amalie and I haven’t been married long, and the gossip that accompanied our brief engagement was vicious. I don’t wish to see my wife embarrassed or hurt by new gossip.”

“Ah, I see, a knight protecting his lady,” Lady Churchill nodded. “It explains your fierce expression. It’s a look I sometimes see my pug wearing when he thinks someone is being less than charitable where I’m concerned.”

“Your pug?” Valeran frowned in puzzlement, and the woman seated next to him laughed.

“It’s my pet name for Winston,” she said. “My husband can be quite fierce in his protection of me.”

Ansbach’s guttural German accent drifted across the table and tugged Valeran’s attention back to the man. Once again, the unfamiliar territorial sensation tugged at him, but he buried it.

“Winston briefly mentioned how much he enjoyed debating Lady Sommerville a short time ago.”

“Amalie enjoyed herself as well,” Valeran said quietly as he remembered the note of pleasure in his wife’s voice after the First Lord of the Admiralty had been pulled away by their hostess.

“Winston is unaccustomed to having a woman debate him, other than when I do. He said Lady Sommerville was a breath of fresh air and quite intelligent,” Lady Churchill laughed. “It is a compliment my husband rarely hands out, and I think the two of us should conspire to put them together in the very near future. The two of us can listen to them argue from the sidelines.”

“I’m certain Amalie would like that very much,” he said with a smile.

“Excellent. I’ll find time on my calendar and send an invitation in a few days.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” With a pat on his arm, Lady Churchill resumed eating, before her attention was captured by the man seated on her left.