Page 47 of Black Widow

“Viscount Worthing is doing well enough under the circumstance, but his convalescence may be long if he’s not cared for properly. He’s determined to return to London, to the care of his personal physician. Normally I’d advise against moving him, but given the distance to the nearest neighbors and the relative isolation here, I think it would be prudent to accede to hiswishes…”

Amelia’s eyes had darkened as he explained. “Of course, we’ll depart for town as soon as he’s ready,” she said, rising from herseat.

“After breakfast is soon enough,” Gideon murmured, urging her back down. He waited for her to finish before fetching herpelisse.

Then he took her out to the space under the trees. He didn’t say anything, watching silently as Amelia’s lips parted. Her creamy skin paled, the horror in her eyes growing until he pulled her into his arms, trying to envelop her with hisstrength.

“You’ve seen these before, haven’t you?” he askedquietly.

Her chin rubbed his chest as she nodded. The noise of the carriage stirred her. Clarke was helping Worthing into hiscarriage.

“No, put him in Amelia’s coach,” he called out. “It’s bigger and he’ll be able to stretch out more comfortably.” He turned back to her. “Clarke will ride with him. We’ll take Worthing’s coach back alone so we can talk. You are going to confide in me now, aren’tyou?”

“I…yes. It’s time.” She inhaled audibly and pulled away, but was checked by the hold he kept on her arm. Reluctantly, he released her so she could speak to the servants. Once her trunk was loaded, theydeparted.

Miles passed in silence. “It’s not a demon,” hebegan.

Her blue gaze searched his face in shock, confirming she’d been asleep and had no memory of what she’dsaid.

“That is what you said last night. I went out to investigate our trespasser last night and you asked if it was the demon that killedMartin.”

Amelia averted her gaze, her hands fisting in her lap. He waited and she laughed to keep from crying. “I’ve seen things…things that cannot possibly exist in a sane world. I thought I was goingmad.”

“You’re not mad, but I think someone is trying to convince you that you are. You need to tell me everything. Start when Martindied.”

She nodded, but her gaze was fixed on her lap, her expression remote. “It was the worst day of my entire life. I had paid a few calls and then attended a tea. We were new to the area, but Crispin had introduced us to all the major landowners—he’d thrown a ball in our honor. He made certain the local gentry embraced us, so I was always being invited to some event or another.” She paused, a trace of a smile on her face. It fadedquickly.

“Everything was going well. Crispin and Martin were happy, and I had met some like-minded females who devoted themselves to charitable causes. I was with the ladies’ auxiliary discussing ways to raise funds to expand the local school…and then I came home and foundhim.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and he fought the impulse to yank her back into his arms. He needed her to tell him everything, even if it meant letting her face the agony of her memories alone. The most he could do was take her hand, which he grippedtightly.

“His head had struck the marble floor. There was blood everywhere,” she continued in a whisper. “I didn’t know what to do so I took him in my arms. The servants tried to make me let go, but I refused…The creature was watching from the top of the stairs. By the time I noticed it, the sun had set and it was dark. All I saw was its eyes—they glowed like the fires of hell. And then I blinked and it was gone. Afterward, I was convinced the shock had momentarily unhinged me. Nothing happened while I was in mourning. But then Crispin convinced me I needed to go up totown…”

She stopped speaking, her eyes growing bleak anddistant.

“You’ve seen it since then,” he prompted when she remained silent. “Was it atWestcliff’s?”

Amelia shook her head. “No, it was at the Duke of Marlboro’s ball. The demon was watching from the musician’sbalcony.”

That explains it. “It was why you fainted,” he murmured, marveling at the arrogance of the villain, to attempt such a thing in full view of half the ton. “Did you get a good look atit?”

“No, again, I only caught a glimpse of theeyes.”

“Where else have you seenit?”

“That was the only other time I saw it physically, but I also found similar marks in the soil of my garden in town. And there have been other…disturbances.”

“What kind ofdisturbances?”

Her blue eyes clouded with uncertainty. “It’s not the same. You’ll say it’s myimagination.”

“No, I won’t.” Gideon stroked her palm with his thumb. “What I saw last night looked demonic. I’m not so much of a braggart that I’d deny it nearly made me pissmyself.”

Amelia scoffed, wiping a tear from the corner of hereye.

“It’s true,” he assured her. “But I think the force behind this monstrous vision is a person. One who is trying to frighten you—and they’re doing a fine damn job of it. If this villain is willing to taunt and intimidate you at a major ball, then it stands to reason they’ve made other attempts. This bastard is without morals or scruples and they’re devilishlyinventive.”

Amelia failed to repress a shudder. “I’ve heard voices coming from empty rooms, and have seen shadows cast by nothing at all. Thrice now I’ve been walking in the hallway and caught movement out of the corner of my eye, but when I turn the corner, there’s nothingthere.”

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