Page 27 of Black Widow

“Would you all excuse me? I seem to have developed the headache.” He exited the room abruptly, heedless of the reaction of his host and the other assembledgentlemen.

Once he was alone he took a deep breath, but it did little to calm him. The slow burn kindling in his breast was building into a towering rage. He stalked off, intent on getting as far away from the other guests as possible. It was a move that guaranteed he meet the last person he should benear.

“Gideon.”

He spun on his heel to find Amelia standing alone in the dimly lithallway.

Unable to form a civil greeting, he stared down at her. She hesitated, her lips forming words she did not letfall.

“Yes?” he askedcoldly.

“I…err…Lord Westcliff has a fine conservatory. I thought you might enjoy taking a turn withme.”

His stomach was roiling. He swallowed heavily before straightening his spine. “I don’t think that would beappropriate.”

Amelia drew back, visibly stung by the coldness in hisvoice.

“Oh, Isee.”

Gideon fought to keep an even tone, but it was difficult with his composure in threads. “No, I don’t think you do. I regret I gave you the wrong impression today in the woods, but I don’t intend to share your bed tonight or any other night. It’s a little too crowded for mytaste.”

Amelia’s mouth parted, a shocked look on her face. She blinked rapidly before spinning on her heel and runningaway.

Muscles tensing, Gideon forced himself not to run after her.Would a cold-blooded killer be sosensitive?

Chapter 10

Amelia flew up the stairs.It felt like she had been struck, a body blow that was threatening to knock her to thefloor.

Reaching her room, she dismissed her maid. As soon as the door closed behind Carlotta, Amelia flung herself down on the bed. Hugging a pillow to her stomach, she let the violent storm of tears overtakeher.

How could Gideon say those things? What had happened between now and this afternoon to change his opinion of her soradically?

He had kissed her. Though she wasn’t overly familiar with it, she thought she had glimpsed sincere desire in his eyes. His embrace had been more fervent than that Italian count in Modena who had tried to lure her into an illicit liaison during herhoneymoon.

Amelia had told herself not to dream, but despite her stern lecture, she had managed to build an entire future around that one kiss. For one glittering moment, anything had seemed possible. The impossible fantasy she had spun since childhood, one of a future with Gideon, almost seemed within hergrasp.

But now her dream was a pile of glass shards at herfeet.

It’s your own fault.She had let herself hope, and despite her great wealth, that had been a luxury she had never been able toafford.

Amelia wiped away the tears with a rough hand. There were always plenty of members of society ready to spread lies and innuendo about her, but she had thought Gideon was above listening to them. Clearly some viper had been whispering in his ear tonight. It was only to be expected. She was deeply unpopular among the ton. There were several ladies present who would love to fix the earl’s attentions on themselves. The fact Gideon had believed whatever lie they had told meant she had overestimated both his intelligence and noblenature.

A little shudder passed through her, but she ignored it. Taking a deep breath, she sat up. She no longer had Martin, but she still had her pride. Gideon could choose to believe the lies about her, but he wasn’t going to get away with belittling her. In the morning, she would take him aside and give him a dressing down he would neverforget.

Hardened by her resolution, she began to undress and prepare for sleep. It was still early. With luck, none of the other guests had returned to their rooms in time to hear her cry. Whatever spiteful creature had been gossiping about her would only be too happy to spread the tale of her tears.From notorious to pitiful in oneevening.

It was unlikely anyone was about. Everyone was still downstairs playing cards and drinking. They would not have come back upstairs yet—not unless they had pre-arranged a tryst in theirbedroom.

The convenient access to bedrooms explained why country parties were so popular despite the largely insipid entertainments. Affairs and illicit rendezvous were much easier to conduct away from the watchful eyes intown.

Amelia put down the pillow she was holding on the empty bed with a snort. The only crowded thing about it was the abundance of cushions. Their hostess was very fond of tiny embroidered pillows and velvet bolsters. She felt the irony of her situation bitedeep.

With a little more energy than was strictly necessary, she tossed the many pillows aside and climbed into bed. She lay there staring at the canopy for some minutes. After a few more moments of feeling sorry for herself, she fell back on the trick her father had taught her to quiet hermind.

The yearly compound interest of fifty thousand pounds is two thousand. The interest on sixty thousand pounds is twenty-four hundredpounds.

Amelia continued calculating interest until she was numb, the pain of her confrontation with Gideon receding into the background. Hollowed out and empty, she fellasleep.

---