Page 72 of Scandalous: Family Ties and Spies

“Valeran…I was…I wanted…” she stammered, hoping to stop him from tasting the dish.

She failed as the offal on his fork disappeared, and a few seconds later, he swallowed the bite. Bile rose in her throat as she saw him slice into the savory for a second bite. On the verge of retching, Amalie pressed her napkin to her mouth. With a growing sense of helplessness, she watched her husband eat. Valeran had enthusiastically eaten halfway through the dish when he looked up and smiled.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had this dish before. Is this a new recipe Mrs. Stubbins is using? It has an unusual flavor.”

Valeran looked at her in curiosity, delight on his face. The bitterness of bile slid over her tongue, and she took a quick drink of wine to eliminate the taste. Unable to speak, she stared down at her plate with its untouched savory.

“Amalie?”

Slowly lifting her head, her cheeks grew cold as she felt the blood drain from her face. Still incapable of answering him, she saw his curiosity slowly change to puzzlement.

“I asked you a question, Amalie.”

“I…it’s offal.”

“Offal?” he asked quietly. Valeran laid his fork down in a slow, precise movement, then narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

“Aye…I thought ye…I…”

“You were worried I wouldn’t like it?” Valeran’s features relaxed slightly as he smiled. “It’s quite delicious. Exactly what’s in it?”

The miniscule change of tone as he asked his question made Amalie realize his smile was feral. Until now, she’d missed the tight corners of his mouth, and her heart pounded with trepidation as fear spread and slithered its way through her.

“Well, Amalie?”

“I…I thought it would…”

“Would what?” The question was devoid of emotion, which made it even more terrifying.

“Ye are of Stewart blood, gel. Ye ken the mon will nae be happy. Dinnae ye dither about answering him. Take yer punishment like a true Stewart would.”

“I dinnae think things through,” she rushed her words, hoping to make him understand she regretted her actions. “I tried tae stop ye from…from eating it.”

“I take that to mean you believed I’d find it objectionable.”

“Aye, I only wanted…I ken I can…”

“Has my mouse suddenly unsheathed her claws?”

The grim tone of his question made her grab the edge of the table to hold her steady as she swayed in her chair. As always, she trembled beneath that disturbing gaze of his, and goosebumps appeared on her flesh.

"Exactly what have I been eating, Amalie," Valeran asked quietly. She hesitated for a moment, uncertain and terrified what her reply would bring.

“Stones.”

“Stones?” Her husband’s expression didn’t show a single emotion, and Amalie wasn’t sure if his choked reply indicated he was on the verge of laughter or an explosive fury. The odds were fifty-fifty between laughter and fury where Valeran was concerned. She might be able to salvage the meal if she convinced him it had been her effort to tug a reaction from him. Amalie cast the dice on Valeran’s sense of humor. A voice in the back of her head cackled at her sudden rush of bravado

“There have been numerous times I’ve wanted tae serve yours up on a silver platter,” she said breathlessly, praying her words sounded as if she were teasing him. “So I thought ye would…would see the humor in it.”

When he remained silent, she threw caution to the wind. Amalie laughed, but the effect sounded forced and hesitant, even to her ears.

“I dinnae want tae insult ye, so I made sure the stones came from the biggest bull the butcher had tae offer. I just wanted…I thought...”

Amalie’s voice trailed to a halt. She’d calculated the odds wrong. Valeran wasn’t even mildly amused. In fact, she was certain the man was seething with fury. Biting down on her lower lip, Amalie debated her next move. Should she apologize now or retreat until his anger had cooled and apologize then?

Uncertain, she studied Valeran with growing unease. Her husband could have been one of the statues in the British Museum for all the lack of movement. The only thing proving he was alive was the small tic in his cheek, and whenever he blinked.

“I truly dinnae mean tae insult ye, Valeran. I—”