Page 31 of Black Widow

Ignoring the lingering sense of betrayal she felt at the accusation he’d flung at her last night, Amelia swept down the stairs in high dudgeon, preparing herself forbattle.

The door was standing open, so he didn’t hear her approach. For a moment, she watched him. Gideon was pacing, making the parlor appear much smaller than it really was. He filled the room, seeming to take up all the space and most the air with littleeffort.

He was like the caged tiger she had seen on the estate of an Italian duke. Like that beast, he prowled restlessly, giving the impression that iron bars would be no barrier to being pounced on andmauled.

Trepidation made her hesitate.Crispin was right. Gideon was no longer the young man she knew. She didn’t know him at all. There was too much masculine strength and fury trapped in his powerful form. It had only been a matter of time before that power lashed out ather.

It was the way of most men. She had let herself forgetthat.

A shudder passed through her when he turned and saw her. The intensity in his expression took her breath away. It was one thing to imagine all the clever insults she would use against him. It was another to say them to hisface.

She was silent toolong.

“Are you well?” heasked.

That wasn’t what she had been expecting, but his tone was not one of concern. It was charged with too many emotions for her to define a singleone.

Martin is no longer here to slay your dragons.She had to do thisherself.

Amelia swallowed hard, but when she finally found her tongue, it was sufficiently sharp. “Am I to believe you burst into my home at this hour of the night to ask after myhealth?”

“No.”

He faced her, standing straighter. It made him seem even larger. “I came here to learn the truth about the day Martin died. No more lies. No moresecrets.”

She had known the question was coming, but her skin prickled and grew colderanyway.

“You’re no different from all those societal parasites who whisper their lies about me behind my back. You think I killedhim.”

Gideon’s mouth tightened. “I didn’t saythat.”

“You didn’t have to! Your actions speak foryou.”

His brow creased. “Myactions?”

Amelia took a steadying breath, but her hand trembled as she pointed at him. “You have a lot of nerve to confront me like this after what you did last night,” sheaccused.

Gideon stopped short, confusion flickering on his face—and sympathy. “I realize you had a fright at Westcliff’s, but you don’t honestly believe I was the one knocking on yourdoor?”

“You denyit?”

“Of course I bloody deny it! I admit I was angry with you, but I would never behave in such a disgraceful manner no matter how deep I was in my cups.” His words rang with self-righteousindignation.

Amelia ran her eyes over his face, trying to decide if he was telling thetruth.

“Do you doubt my word?” heasked.

She wanted to say yes. Somehow, she knew that it would hurt him. But she couldn’t bring herself to lie, so she saidnothing.

His eyes widened. “It was not me. I swear it on Martin’slife.”

Tears flooded her eyes, and she wrapped her hands tightly around herself. “I hate you for what yousaid.”

“Then tell me how Martin died. I promise you will never have to see meagain.”

She ignored the stabbing pain somewhere near her heart. “He fell down thestairs.”

His breath was ragged. “Did someone help him down the stairs? Worthing,perhaps?”

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