Page 77 of Scandalous: Family Ties and Spies

“Well, I would hope it was more than just enjoyable.” Valeran bit back a smile as he waited for the explosion he knew was coming.

“If ye expect me tae tell ye that it was heavenly, then I’ll nae be doing that. I will nae watch ye preen around like a prized cock. So, aye, it was just enjoyable.”

“A prized cock?” he grinned. “Do you mean the one you just enjoyed so passionately a moment ago?”

“And there it is, Lord Sommerville’s preening vanity. Although, I will concede it is a prized cock indeed.” She laughed as he gave a start of surprise. “What? Did ye think your wife would be too embarrassed tae reply?”

“Actually…no, not when she wasn’t afraid to serve me stones for dinner.” Valeran snorted with laughter and rolled onto his side, pulling her toward him to tuck her close against his chest. Amalie’s fingers pressed gently into his chest.

“Valeran, I’m so sorry about…about the offal. I ken I dinnae seem eager for ye…for us…” she drew in a breath of frustration. “I did want ye tae come tae me that night, I was just…I didn’t say it well.”

“No, you didn’t,” he said with amused irony.

“I ken ye were angry, and I was tae proud tae come tae ye that night. But then everything changed, and ye were so bland—”

“Bland?” Valeran frowned in confusion.

“Aye, I sometimes thought it would be more entertaining to speak tae one of the cows at Crianlarich Castle.”

“So, that’s what prompted you to serve me a bull’s stones for dinner? I’m as bland and boring as a cow?” he teased.

“That is nae what I mean,” she objected contritely. “After the Darlington party, we went back tae being strangers again. Ye stopped teasing me, ye didn’t laugh or get angry. Nae even when Comet ate one of your slippers. All ye did was shrug and turn away. I ken I had tae do something drastic tae make ye sit up and notice me. I truly am sorry.”

“It’s impossible not to notice you, Amalie. I don’t know how I didn’t notice you were hiding from me after the first night we met. But I can assure you, I’ve not stopped noticing you since that day on the cnoc beag,” he said softly, then chuckled. “But stones, mouse? Was that the only thing you could think of?”

Valeran’s lips brushed across her temple as he remembered the moment Amalie had told him he was eating the balls of a bull. Valeran chuckled again at the memory. He’d not known whether to choke his wife or laugh with her.

“I picked stones because I like them.”

There wasn’t the slightest hint of innuendo in her voice, and Valeran’s mouth went dry at the thought of another pair of stones he wouldn’t mind her choosing to take into her mouth.

“Will ye forgive me, Valeran?”

“Yes, but the only time stones are ever to be served at Sommerville House again is when I will not be home for dinner.”

“Thank ye,” she whispered as she stretched her neck to kiss his cheek before snuggling into his side.

He bent his head to kiss her brow again, his hand slowly stroking her shoulder and arm. Even though his body was satisfied for the moment, Valeran didn’t want to stop touching her. Shifting his body slightly so they were facing each other, his hand grazed its way along the side of her round breast, then down her side and over her hip to a delightfully lush thigh.

“Do you have any idea how exquisite you are against my fingers, Amalie?” His breath stirred her loose hair, and her exotic scent filled his nose.

“I am?” she murmured.

Guilt slid its way through him at the soft disbelief and uncertainty in her voice. On the outside, his wife’s fiery manner and indomitable spirit projected a woman impervious to what others thought, but Valeran knew beneath her fiery exterior was a vulnerable woman.

A woman he’d hurt by not defending her from the cruel things Miriam had said. He needed to apologize, but he wasn’t sure how or when. If he chose to do it now, she might easily rebuild the wall he’d only just been able to bring down. Valeran needed to tread cautiously with his wife’s feelings.

“If you’ll remember, the night of the Turnbridge party I told your parents I can see shapes of varying shades, depending on the light.”

“Oh.”

Doubt had been replaced by embarrassment, possibly even pain as Amalie shifted her position. Remorse sprinted through him as he watched her head move, and the light shadows that were her eyes against the darker gray of her cheeks vanished as she turned her head away from him. Quickly rolling her onto her back, Valeran caught her chin in his fingers and forced her to look up at him. While he couldn’t see her expression, the contours and different shades of gray told him more than she might realize.

The darkness of her full lips had thinned, signaling her mouth had tightened, either in anger or discomfort. He watched the light shadow of her eyes fade slightly as she closed her eyes rather than look at him, and the thinnest of dark gray lines wrinkled her forehead. No, she wasn’t angry. She was hurting, almost to the point of anguish. A wave of anger crashed down on him as he remembered the pain in her voice as she’d indicated she’d not found anyone suitable to be her lady's maid.

Valeran wanted to crush everyone who’d ever made her doubt how lovely she was. She was the perfect wife for him. She didn’t fear his touch, in fact, she was the most passionate woman he’d ever had in his bed. Amalie was made of fire and steel, and she would constantly surprise him. Life would never be boring with her at his side. Tonight’s dinner was a perfect example.

In return, she deserved a husband who stood up for her, ensured she was safe from all physical and emotional harm and cruelty. His chest tightened. That afternoon in Rules, he’d failed to do that. He’d not protected her from Miriam’s vicious words. Words that had inflicted nothing but pain and humiliation on his wife.