Page 84 of Scandalous: Family Ties and Spies

“I agree,” he quickly admitted with penitence. “I was wrong to object so stridently, but I don’t enjoy watching you grow more and more uncomfortable after an hour or two at large gatherings.”

“Ye cannae see me, ye eejit.”

“I was speaking metaphorically, Amalie. My eyes don’t show me what you’re feeling, but my body can sense your discomfort, even from several feet away.”

“Ye seem tae be forgetting I come from a long line of Highlander warriors, Lord Sommerville. I can endure a little extra noise when it comes tae a wee dinner party.”

“I’ve not forgotten, sweet mouse, but even Angus Stewart had to have limits. We all do.”

“Nonetheless, we are having a dinner party.” The precise accent of a noblewoman returned to Amalie’s voice. Valeran grimaced at how easily her voice had reverted to the crisp notes. Worse, he’d gone from drowning to having arrived at hell’s gate. He was a bawbag as Amalie was so fond of calling him when she was angry with him.

“And furthermore, because you’re acting like an English tyrant trying to dictate to a Scotswoman what she can or cannae do, I intend tae double the guest list.”

“I yield.” The humble defeat in the two words made her draw in another breath, then release it with exasperation.

“Your concern is unwarranted,” she said softly. Her mouth brushed across his forehead, and Valeran tightened his arms around her.

“Amalie, are you happy?”

“Happy?”

Puzzlement wrapped around the word, but he heard something else that was nearly undetectable in her reply. Alarmed, Valeran suddenly wished he’d not asked the question. He should have left well enough alone. He swallowed.

“What I’m asking, my delectable country mouse, is whether you regret marrying me? Before we married, you’d made it blatantly clear how much you hated me, and God knows you fought tooth and nail to keep me out of your bed. I just wondered if you were happy?”

The sound of her breathing hitched, and any other man would have missed her slight quiver at his question. Instantly, his body tensed with alarm. Christ, was she going to tell him she was in love with him? The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt her. And deep inside him, Valeran was certain the happiness they’d experienced over these past two months could easily die if he confessed he could never love anyone, even her.

The last thing he would do was fall in love with his wife. But he treasured Amalie’s friendship and counsel. His wife was straight-forward, opinionated, and clever. Whether it was an estate problem at Durville Hall or a bill in Parliament, his wife had no qualms telling him exactly what she thought. She surprised him almost daily, while her dry humor often caught him off-guard.

Her laughter, when she succeeded in confounding him with her teasing, always made him smile. And God help him. When that siren voice of hers drifted past her sweet lips, it was sometimes all he could do not to pull her skirts up and slide into her heat wherever they were. The passion they’d found in each other’s arms had been everything he’d known it would be. Perhaps even more. He had the perfect marriage filled with passion, friendship, and mutual respect, completely free of the entanglement of love. When Amalie remained silent, he swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words.

“What I’m trying to say, Amalie, is that we’re always in sync with each other. Of all my most trusted and valued friends, you surpass them all. Your happiness and well-being are important to me. I’m happy when you’re near me, and I hope you feel the same way.”

A small shudder bounced off of her when his voice died away, but it ended quickly as she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. Something wet hit his hand, and he stiffened. She was crying. Christ, she was in love with him, and he’d hurt her.

“Amalie, are you crying?”

“Not really,” she whispered.

It was the same indistinguishable voice she’d used for two years when she’d hidden in the shadows. The thought of her retreating from him into the shadows again twisted Valeran’s gut. He’d destroyed everything between them with just a few misspoken words. He wanted to flay his back open with a whip at having broached a topic that might have hurt her. Valeran reached up, intent on exploring the sweet countenance his fingers knew so well. She immediately pulled backward and clasped his hand in her soft, smaller one.

“I’m just thinking how lucky we are. We have the perfect marriage. We’re friends who enjoy being in each other’s company. It’s…comfortable.” The tremor in her voice made him frown.

“Amalie, you do know I would never do anything to hurt you, don’t you, mouse?”

“If ye were tae do so, Lord Sommerville, do ye think I would nae stand up and rip ye tae shreds, before any of my family could do so?” The playful punch she inflicted to his shoulder seemed to land with more force than usual, but her feisty manner made him dismiss the thought. “But I do ken my father would help me dispose of your body with great pleasure.”

The amusement in her voice sent a bolt of relief barreling through him. As always, his wife understood him. He’d been worried for nothing. Amalie felt the same way he did. They were perfect for each other. Valeran had truly landed the prizes of all prizes when he’d married Amalie.

With another quick kiss and twist of her body, his wife deftly freed herself from his embrace. Valeran watched her walking away from him with an unexpected surge of emotion he couldn’t define. All he knew was how he ached to have her back in his arms again. He frowned at the thought before realizing her lips had tasted salty from tears.

“Amalie—”

“I promise to be more accommodating later this evening, Lord Sommerville.”

Her light-hearted words didn’t hide the faint tremor in her voice. Christ, she was crying. Valeran was certain of it. She’d prevented him from exploring her face a moment ago, which meant he would have discovered cheeks wet with tears.

About to go after her, she opened his study door, and his heart slammed into his chest. The afternoon light, from the windows above the front door, framed her gray shadow so vividly he could even see the light and gray contours of the face his fingers had embedded in his memory. She took his breath away.