Page 16 of Scandalized by My Prince
Aubriella glared at her. “I can feel every emotion you’re throwing my way.” She gritted her teeth. It could be quite painful to be around Serenity and made their personal relationship even more difficult then it should’ve been. “Can you roll some of it back before Ipunchyou?”
“I dare you to,” Serenity taunted her. “It’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to hit someone.” Her stepsister was driving her mad, and Aubriella had no way to tone it down. Serenity’s eyes almost sparkled with energy, daring her to give into the emotions rolling through her. “I’m not the only one throwing heat. You’re a bright red, and it’s glowing so bright its pouring into me. Calm thefuckdown.”
Aubriella blew out a breath, and Serenity mirrored it. Their gifts tended to feed off each other. It was one of the reasons they’d not gotten along growing up. Every emotion was amplified tenfold. Now that Serenity was calming down, Aubriella could breatheeasier.
“I’m sorry,” Aubriella said. “I’moverreacting.”
“You think?” Serenity spat out. “It’s not like Iintended...”
“To do?” a strange maleasked.
Aubriella tensed when she saw who followed behind him. How much had Killian overheard? How would she talk herself out of this mess?Damn it.She’d been so careful until she’d run into Serenity. If Killian had discovered anything, it would be all her fault. She shouldn’t have torn into Serenity like she had. There had to be a ready excuse she could use, and then she remembered how she’d bumped into Serenity. She blurted the first thing that came to her mind. “She spilled her darned tea alloverme.”
When she turned to find her stepsister behind her, Serenity had fumbled the cup and spilled the darn tea down the front of her dress. Her light blue skirt was stained from it. The tea stain was a good enough excuse. Hopefully the two men bought it as an excuse for their argument. She had nothing else to use in a defense. Finding Serenity at the inn had ruined hercomposure.
“I didn’t mean to,” Serenity said. “She startled me. I didn’t realize anyone wasbehindme.”
The man she’d addressed frowned. Killian’s scowl matched the other man’s as he stared at Aubriella. Serenity seemed to have found a gentleman of her own. He was almost as sinfully handsome as Killian, but in her mind, no one would ever truly compare to him. Killian was her dream guy, after all. After a moment, the other man let out a breath and sighed. “The dress can be replaced. There is no reason to argueaboutit.”
“Easy enough for you to say,” Aubriella scoffed. “I don’t have many dresses as it is. How am I going to find the means to replacethisone?”
Several ladies and a few men on the other side of the room had stopped to stare at them. Aubriella felt a wash of emotions from the onlookers, but mostly they were curious. They were also hoping for a spot of entertainment. Lucky for the crowd, Aubriella and Serenity had given themashow.
“Lass,” Killian said with irritation. “Stop making a bloody scene. I will buy you a newdress.”
This wasn’t about the damn dress, but she couldn’t tell him that. She could care less if the damn thing was stained, but she’d made her bed and now she had to find a way to live with it. This was her cover story, and she wouldn’t back down from it for anything. Serenity had willingly leaped with her into it, and for that she wasgrateful.
“No,” Aubriella said defiantly. “I’m already a burden to you. Something you remind me ofeveryday.”
Aubriella was starting to think Killian saw through her façade. She wouldn’t give it up until he called her on it though. Not many could slip past the veneer her gift allowed. Killian was showing signs of discovering the truth. A part of her was glad for that. His taunts about her being helpless were one of his ways of making her admit the truth. She was too stubborn togivein.
Serenity unlatched her locket and handed it to Aubriella. “Here, sell this and buy a fewdresses.”
“Oh, I couldn’t,” Aubriella said bringing her hand to her chest. “It must be dear to you.” The necklace had come from Serenity’s mother, and Aubriella had no desire to take it. She was reluctant to put her hands on anything she had a part in—even a gift to herdaughter.
“I insist,” Serenity said. “It will go to a good cause. I don’t need it, andyoudo.”
Aubriella took it grudgingly and closed her hand around it. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I apologize for losing my temper with you.” She was truly sorry, but not for what the men believed. She wanted Serenity to know that her earlier outburst had been impetuous and was begging for forgiveness. Aubriella then turned toward Killian and asked, “Were you able to secure a room, LordThornbury?”
He nodded. “Aye,” he replied. “A serving wench was supposed to show you to your room already.” Killian frowned and searched the room. “Where did shedisappearto?”
“I wouldn’t know, my lord,” Aubriella saiddemurely.
Serenity covered her mouth in an attempt to hide her amusement. Aubriella kept up her innocent act and threw Serenity a warning glance when the men weren’t payingattention.
The man with Serenity leaned down and whispered something to her. Aubriella wished she could hear what he’d said. Maybe she’d ask Serenity later if she found heralone.
“Nothing,” Serenity told him. “Perhaps it’s time to retire for theevening.”
Killian glanced in their direction at her statement. “Please don’t let us keep you,” he said. “Miss Byrne, give Her Grace the necklace back. I will provide whatyouneed.”
Aubriella glance at her and lifted a brow. Her Grace? When had Serenity become a duchess? Was the man with her a duke? Well, good for her. She definitely planned on having a longer conversation with her stepsister at a later date. There was much she had toaskher.
“That’s not necessary,” Serenity told Killian. “She needs it more than I do. I gave it to her, and I refuse to takeitback.”
“You’re too kind,” Aubriella said evenly. “Perhaps his lordship is correct though and I shouldreturnit.”
She hadn’t wanted the damn necklace to begin with. Nora Byrne had given it to Serenity, and Aubriella loathed that woman. Her stepmomster had made her life miserable. She hated the idea of touching anything the woman had deemed a gift. She’d not see any way out of taking it from Serenity though. This was a way to undo that travesty and give Serenity her necklace back. She hoped her stepsister took it, but was afraid shewouldn’t.
Aubriella’s stepsister glared at her and blurted out, “I don’t have the patience for this. Keep the damn necklace, Miss Byrne.” Then she turned toward Killian, and said earnestly, “I wish you luck, my lord. I fear you’llneedit.”
Then Serenity spun on her heels and left Aubriella to her fate. The way Killian was staring at her, Aubriella feared it might not be a good one. The little interaction with Serenity had him even more wary than before. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat and prepared herself for the onslaught of questions he’dsurelyhave.
