Page 65 of Black Widow

Hayes glanced at her suspiciously. “You were also married on theeleventh.”

Amelia nodded, a hint of a smile on her face. Despite her reservations, she had loved the impromptu celebration Gideon and Crispin had thrown together. Every day since had only gotten better. “Yes, we were. It wasin—”

“That afternoon,” Gideon supplied smoothly, putting a hand on hershoulder.

Hayes noted the possessive gesture and Amelia nodded placidly in agreement with herhusband.

Sir Lennon, obviously concerned the young Inspector was going to offend the new Earl of Flint, threw him a censoriousglare.

But Hayes was undeterred. “I understood there was a disagreement at Sir Clarence’s club,” he said, his eyes narrowing on Gideon’s face. According to the club’s majordomo you and your uncle had some words, the evening of the eighth, and your bride, his former ward, was thesubject.”

“That is not precisely true,” Gideon said easily. “Yes, we did argue and my wife’s name was mentioned, butshewas not the true subject of the argument. Her inheritancewas.”

“Oh, I see.” Hayes’ eyes lit in understanding. He focused on Amelia. “As your guardian, he held your purse strings—at least until your marriage. Was Sir Clarence loath to give up control of yourfortune?”

Amelia shook her head. “While it’s true Sir Clarence was once my guardian, he was never the executor of my trust. I have always controlled that, even as a child, although it was managed by my father’s attorney Tolbert Callaghan until my first marriage. Callaghan still manages my affairs today but at mydirection.”

“My wife’s fortune is still under her control.” Gideon confirmed, “She manages it with great skill. I plan on consulting her on the Flint family holdings and investments. With her counsel, the estate can’t notprosper.”

Inspector Hayes blinked. “Oh. How forward thinking of you.” He leaned forward in his chair and made a quick note in hispad.

Even Sir Lennon was surprised. “An unusual arrangement,” he said with a bemused nod. Amelia raised her brow and he cleared his throat. “But a wise one on the part of your father,” he assured her. “Especially in light of your guardian’sgreed.”

“Well, I don’t like to speak ill of the dead…” Amelia trailed off with genuinediscomfort.

“Of course you don’t,” Sir Lennon said with a paternal little nod of approval for her delicatesensibilities.

“Perhaps you should apologize for offending my wife’s delicate sensibilities,” Gideon suggested softly, returning to stand next to her in a pointed show ofsupport.

Amelia flicked her eyes at him, giving him a half-hearted little smack on the chest as if to saystop it. Sir Lennon was pompous and a touch condescending, but he meantwell.

“Countess Flint, did you love your first husband, Martin Montgomery?” Inspector Hayesasked.

Sir Lennon reddened and coughed so violently Amelia was concerned he was having an apoplecticfit.

“Are you all right? Should I ring for tea?” she asked with a furrowedbrow.

Sir Lennon wheezed, tugging at his cravat. He waved away her concern. “You don’t have to answer that,” he said betweencoughs.

“It’s fine.” She turned to Hayes, meeting his mulish expression with equanimity. “I loved Martin with all my heart. He was my closest friend. I miss him everyday.”

Her words rang withsincerity.

Amelia looked up at Gideon, anxious to forestall his inevitable explosion, but he was watching her with a somber, sympathetic expression. For a moment, they simply stared at each other in a moment of shared grief. Then he took her hand and gripped ittightly.

When she looked back at Hayes, the martial light in his eyes disappeared. He looked down with a little nod to himself, seemingly convinced of the genuineness of their unintended display. He glanced at Gideon but wisely decided not to ask if he missed hiscousin.

“Well, I think we have all the information we need,” Sir Lennon announced, rising with an abruptlet-us-departgesture in Hayesdirection.

The young Inspector rose to his feet slowly, looking thoughtful. He turned back at the threshold. “Just one more thing. Are you familiar with Sir Clarence’s houseguest, his friend Mrs. Ellen Spencer?” he asked in a lowvoice.

“Only slightly,” Gideon said in a repressive tone reserved for discussing another man’smistress.

This time, Hayes appeared chastised. He shifted on the balls of his feet. “Yes, well, I just thought you should know she’s been…er…”

“Making accusations?” Gideon asked pointedly. “Because I stopped by to ask after him when he was away a few weeksago.”

The inspector paused, appearing to choose his words with care for a change. “It’s more like she is trying hard not to make them…strategically, if I might add,” Hayes said, one corner of his mouth pullingdown.

---