Page 14 of Black Widow

Instead, she let her pleasure in his company warm her expression, leaning closer to him. “Gideon, I really must thank you for dancing with meagain.”

“Again?” Hefrowned.

She beamed at him. “Don’t you remember? We danced a few times that summer Martin was studying with Fontaine, the French dancingmaster.”

The memory must have surfaced because his expression lightened. “Oh,yes.”

His eyes narrowed, a devilish twinkle in his eye. “Although I seem to recall you hid when the man would comearound.”

“Well…you and Martin were taking turns crushing my toes. I hid to preserve my ability to walk. I’m pleased to see your skill has considerably improved sincethen.”

His lips twitched. “Hmm, yes. I forget exactly when it was, but there came a point when I decided dancing was a useful skill tohave.”

Amelia laughed. “It was probably when you realized all those village girls expected you to partner with them at those localassemblies…”

Though he smiled in response, his expression was distant. “Actually, I believe it was muchlater.”

“In any case, I am grateful,” she rasped, looking down to avoid his too-perceptivegaze.

“It’s just a waltz,cousin.”

It was much more…and he knew it. By coming to her rescue and sharing a dance with her, he was publicly declaring his belief in her innocence. As one of Martin’s closest relations, the gesture could not be disregarded orignored.

Though Gideon was new to his title, he was a powerful man. Not only was he a major landholder, but if what Crispin said was true, Gideon also possessed a dangerous reputation. Few in the ton would dare cross him. From what she’d just witnessed, the anger so quickly and efficiently hidden—it was starting to dawn on her he might have earned thatreputation.

“Amelia, you know you can tell me anything. I will keep yourconfidence.”

Her lips parted, the temptation to do that overwhelming. But the weight of all her secrets was too much. She closed hermouth.

Gideon reluctantly released her as the song ended. “Perhaps in time,” he murmured, surprising her with a surfeit of patience he hadn’t possessed as ayouth.

He bowed and offered his arm, walking her off the dance floor. “Incidentally, Martin did mention Mapleton to me once. It was while he was still atschool.”

She looked at him, raising aneyebrow.

He bent to whisper conspiratorially. “Martin said he was a self-satisfied prig that secretly picked his nose when he thought no one waslooking.”

Her levity returning, Amelia giggled, watching Crispin out of the corner of her eye as he rushed to jointhem.

“Regrettably, we must leave,” the viscount announced breathlessly as he reached their side. “I promised to make an appearance at the Duquesne ball,” he added with a reasonable facsimile of regret and a charminggrin.

“Of course.” Gideon inclined his head, his inflection as correct and unconcerned as Crispin’s. “Don’t let me keepyou.”

Still marveling over Gideon’s new air of self-mastery, Amelia waved goodbye, allowing herself to be ushered away. But once they were inside Crispin’s carriage, she pleaded exhaustion and asked to be taken homeinstead.

“It has been an eventful night,” Crispin agreed with bright eyes, directing his driver to changecourse.

For the remainder of the drive, he marveled at Gideon’s chivalrous behavior, prattling on about how she now had the upper hand in the ton thanks to the earl. His gratitude was not enough, however, to stop the admonishments about taking the man into herconfidence.

“Don’t worry. I haven’t forsaken all caution, my friend,” she assured him before bidding him goodnight.

Amelia walked to her door slowly, feigning fatigue. In truth, she felt energized, her heart and mind fully occupied. She opened her door and dismissed herbutler.

“Will you want the fire in your room, ma’am?” he asked beforeretiring.

“No, thank you, Adolfo. Go on to bed,” she said, sending him on hisway.

He bowed and headed for the servants’quarters.

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