Page 3 of Black Widow

“Hello, cousin,” he said in a soft tone, turning her slightly so their backs were toWorthing.

“Gideon,” shebreathed.

Her eyes, a deep blue, caught the candlelight and seemed to shine brighter as she looked up at him. If he didn’t know any better, he would have guessed she was pleased to see him. Something told him that wasn’t going tolast.

Chapter 2

Amelia’s heartwas racing as she stared into Gideon’s dark eyes. Pulse pounding in her ears, she bit her lip before taking the arm heoffered.

He was bigger than she remembered. It was strange because he was a giant as a child, an unusually tall youth who dwarfed even her guardian, Sir Clarence. But now, Gideon had the body of a man. He’d filled out, adding layers of muscles to his once-lanky frame. Combined with his height, it made him an imposing figure, even in a ballroom full of blue-bloodednobility.

His hair was also darker than she remembered. The vivid streaks of gold he had from spending so much time in the sun were gone now. His boyish handsomeness had matured into something harder anddarker.

He almost looked dangerous, but, if anything, his appeal was onlyheightened.

Every woman in the room is staring at him—including myself.Her face heated and she started to pull away, but Gideon forestalled her. He pressed his hand over hers, making sure she didn’t let go of his arm. The muscle underneath the fine cloth of his fitted waistcoat was like steel, and she wondered what sport he indulged in to become sofit.

The hair on the back of her neck lifted. Amelia didn’t know if it was because of the number of eyes trained their way, or because she was with Gideon again, the small touch of her hand on his arm a burningbrand.

Seemingly aware that most of the guests were watching, he led Amelia to the relative privacy of the balcony on the far side of the ballroom. Once on the other side of the doors, she let out a pent-up breath, one she hadn’t even been aware she’d been holding. She laughed self-consciously, about to thank him for rescuing her, when she checkedherself.

How much did he know? Did he blame her for Martin’s death as well? If he did, why was he being sosolicitous?

“I heard you were back in town,” Gideon said, not acknowledging her obvious relief at being away from the crowded ballroom. “I’m sorry I didn’t come to see you before. I was still traveling on the grand tour whenMartin…”

He coughed, his face tightening. For a moment, she imagined some of the weight of her grief had been transferred to him, pressing them both down into theearth.

Amelia ducked her head, her throat tight. “I know. He—he used to read me yourletters.”

The words were hoarse, revealing the effort she’d made to get them out. She cleared her throat. “It sounded exciting…so much that he decided he wanted to travel himself. Nothing as extensive as your explorations, of course, but we ended up spending most of our marriage abroad. I half expected to stumble upon you oneday.”

Gideon cocked his head to the side. “I did as well, but I was always on the move, trying to make the most of the opportunity before my cousin Matteo changed his mind and decided to stop fundingme.”

He smiled, but his face was still too hard for it to be a happyexpression.

“Oh, I see,” she said. Martin hadn’t mentioned that detail to her. “I like your cousin Matteo very much. We spent some time with him and Isobel our last few months abroad—right after their twin sons wereborn.”

Gideon leaned against the terrace balustrade and crossed his arms. “She was your governess, Ibelieve?”

She nodded, warming to the subject. “Only for a short while. Then Matteo visited. Before you could blink, they were married. But she wrote everymonth.”

Those letters had been one of the few bright spots in her bleak childhood. She had treasured every one of them. Isobel was one of her few confidantes, but there were some things Amelia hadn’t told her…notyet.

Perhaps I need to changethat.

“Amelia?”

She jerked her gaze up to find Gideon watching herexpectantly.

“Woolgathering?”

Her shoulders dropped, but she was suddenly too tired to be embarrassed. It wasn’t like she was in the company of some stranger. There was no need to fabricate a delicate excuse. “I’m sorry. I haven’t been sleeping much of late. I have trouble focusing on even simple tasks, conversations included. Please excuse mydistraction.”

His face softened. “There’s no need to apologize. Not on your part anyway. I am the one who needs to make amends. I should have come to see you after I returned from thecontinent.”

“I was traveling myself then,” she said, gripping her hands tightly together. After Martin’s death, she couldn’t stay in that house. “I decided the Lake District was more to myliking.”

Amelia glanced at the ornate glass doors of the terrace. In her imagination, the well-dressed horde was staring at her with their faces pressed against the glass. The reality was not far off. She turned back to Gideon. “I don’t expect I’ll stay in town verylong.”

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