Page 24 of Black Widow

He snorted derisively. “I’m sure that’s all he wants,” he said, before a flash of guilt passed through him. He was the one who’d been about to ravage Amelia here in the woods where anyone could have come upon them, not just ananimal.

Swallowing his frustration, he slowed down so she wouldn’t be obliged to run beside him. “I need to apologize for what just happened. I’m notmyself…”

It was the lamest excuse he’d ever given a woman, but he couldn’t think of better one. And it was his fault. Ameliadidsomething to him. Every time she was near, his mind turned to soup, laying waste to his carefully detailed plans andquestions.

I’m becoming a bloody milksop, he thought as the house appearedahead.

“You never told me what you were doing here,” she said tremulously, peeking at him with a sideways glance that did nothing to cool the ardor still burning under the surface of hisskin.

“I have recently begun to do business with Westcliff. I came to discuss some issues I have with a recent joint venture,” he said, using the excuse he had foisted on his surprised host when he’d shown up unexpectedly on his doorstep thismorning.

Westcliff had been caught off guard when he arrived, but when Gideon launched into a detailed list of questions and concerns regarding their most recent enterprise, the questions in the other man’s eyes faded. He assumed, as Gideon wanted him to, that the new Earl of Flint was poorly versed in business affairs and had come to be reassured by a more knowledgeable investor. Meanwhile, Gideon pretended surprise at finding himself at a countryparty.

“Lady Westcliff invited me to join in the festivities,” he added, searching her face for a reaction to their kiss, but Amelia’s face was carefullyblank.

“Is Sir Clarence the threat Worthing is trying to protect youfrom?’

“Did you hear that?” Amelia sounded alarmed by the prospect he had eavesdropped on herconversation.

“I just caught his name,” he assured her. “Lady Westcliff came down the hallway haranguing a maid. I decided not to interrupt you or embarrass our kind hostess by letting her know I witnessed her reprimanding a member of her staff…so is it true? Has Sir Clarence been harassing you in someway?”

She looked down, her face wastroubled.

“Amelia, it’s time to tell me what is goingon.”

She paused, but his patience was rewarded. “He wants me toremarry.”

“Sir Clarence?” heclarified.

“Yes, that is why Crispin proposed just now. He promised Martin he would take care of me, and he believes that is the most effective way to doit.”

“Who does Sir Clarence want you tomarry?”

“LordCannonburry.”

“Elmer Cannonburry?” he asked in disbelief. “The man is older than Methuselah. And he suffers from chronically poor health. Cannonburry may not live another year, two at the most. Why in the world would Clarence want you to marry a man with one foot in thegrave?”

Not to mention the rumors ofimpotence.

“That’s a slight exaggeration,” she chided. “And I’m not certain why. My guess is Sir Clarence believes he’s found some legal maneuver to transfer some of my inheritance tohimself.”

“Yourdowry?”

“No, he has that already. I’m talking about my personal fortune—the one only Icontrol.”

“Hmm…I suppose that makes sense. Sir Clarence let slip something about the arrangements your father made long ago. He was…irritated,” he said, softening the amount of ire his uncle had displayed. “And now my uncle has found an ally who is willing to turn over some of those funds tohim.”

Gideon should have been surprised that his nearest relation was trying some underhanded trickery to manipulate Amelia, but he wasn’t. Money and position had always been the most important things to his uncle. Sir Clarence had never believed in a woman’s right to direct her ownfortune.

Marriage should have transferred control of those funds to her husband, but Amelia’s canny parent had been prepared for such apossibility.

“Your father must have loved you very much,” he saidsuddenly.

She stopped short and blinked. “Yes, hedid.”

She was still staring at him when Worthing hurried up. “Amelia, dear, we were starting to worry. You were supposed to join us half an hour ago.” He nodded in the direction of the other guests, who were enjoying a picnic near the entrance of the estate’s famous hedgemaze.

“I was lost in thought and didn’t realize how far I wandered in the woods. Lord Flint found me and kindly offered to escort meback.”

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