Page 9 of Black Widow

Clarke’s mouth compressed. “Well, considering what we’re investigating—murder in your own family—I wouldn’t bet onthat.”

Chapter 4

Amelia hurrieddown the sun-dappled corridor formed by the high green walls with little thought to her surroundings. Crispin had told her the hedge maze on this Mayfair estate was famous. Lovely statues and fountains could be found tucked into all sorts of blind corners and dead ends. She wasn’t interested in any of them, however, nor was she concerned about getting lost. In addition to the note Gideon had sent, he also provided a littlemap.

Truthfully, she had little need for the map now. A few minutes of study and she had memorized the path she had to take. She had always been adept at that sort of thing. Puzzles and riddles were one of the few diversions in her life, in addition to her passion fornovels.

It was far easier to ignore the tedious loneliness of her life when she had her nose buried in abook.

Of course, the last thing she was feeling at this moment was bored. No, ever since she had received Gideon’s request to meet her in the maze, her heart had been working doubletime.

She had no idea what an earl was doing at this dreadful lawn party Viscount Worthing insisted she attend. But since Crispin had decided against joining her, he couldn’t prevent her from meeting Gideonnow.

I just have to be cautious.As long as she kept her guard up and didn’t reveal too much, everything would be well. Crispin had overreacted to the earl’s overture of friendship. It was only natural that Martin’s relation wanted to know more about him and their marriage. The two cousins had been quite close at onetime.

In a few more turns, she would be at the center of the maze. Amelia smiled and took a few moments to repair her coiffure and straighten her skirts. Martin would have teased her mercilessly for her mad dash to get toGideon.

“You would knock me over like a ninepin if he crooked his finger at you,” Martin had teased her once during one of Gideon’s visits. It had been true then. Unfortunately, it appeared it was true now. But she couldn’t help herreaction.

She could almost hear Martin laughing at her now. How she missed hislaugh.

Sighing, Amelia turned the last corner, expecting to see Gideon’s tall golden form in front of her. Her blood ran cold when she saw who was lying inwait.

“It’s about time you appeared,” Sir Clarence said crossly. “You’ve kept me waiting longenough.”

She stood frozen, a few steps from the refuge of the hedge. Her impulse was to turn and run back into the safety of the maze, but her mind threw up an image of her father, so she gathered herself and stood ramrodstraight.

She was not a little girl anymore. This man had no power over her. It was time she made thatclear.

“Well, quit dallying, girl. Ellie should have brought you round a full ten minutesago.”

I should have known. That duplicitous schemer was behind the note. And to think, Amelia had once wanted her former guardian to marry the woman so he would have something else to occupy histime.

Feeling like a French queen walking to her execution, Amelia marched forward. At the center of the maze were two semicircular benches situated under a trellis of ivy to shade them from the sun. It would have been a lovely spot to converse with aconfidante.

“Hello, sir,” she said dutifully, sitting across from her formerguardian.

Sir Clarence sneered. “Don’t hello me, you undisciplined chit. I know you’ve been avoiding me. I have summoned you several times in the last fewweeks.”

She inclined her head. “I was not at liberty to visit when you directed, but I did call on you twice last month when I arrived intown.”

He toyed with his cane. “Yes, and I was conveniently out bothtimes.”

Amelia hoped her shrug was as unaffected and casual as she intended. “I completely understand. You’re a very busy man,” she saidgenerously.

“Don’t try to fob me off with flattery, girl,” he said, narrowing his eyes at her. “I know you didn’taccidentallymiss me. But the time for your little games is over. We’re going to decide once and for all what to do withyou.”

Her spine stiffened, heat creeping up her neck. “We? Don’t you meanyou?”

Sir Clarence glared at her. “Obviously, I meanme. In the short time you have been in town, you have demonstrated you can’t be trusted to run your own affairs, so I have to do it foryou.”

“And just what do you mean by that?” she asked, fully aware of theanswer.

“You disgrace yourself and me by running around with that fop Worthing. You will cut all ties to himimmediately.”

Amelia was incensed. “I will do no such thing. Lord Worthing is my closest friend. He was Martin’s closest confidante. I consider himfamily.”

Sir Clarence flushed a deep purplish-red behind his beard. “Iam your only family. As I am your only male relation, you will do as I say!” He took several deep breaths until he was no longer near apoplexy. “I don’t care what that bastard Worthing is to you. You will stop associating with him now…and in a few months’ time, we will announce your engagement to LordCannonburry.”

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