Page 25 of Black Widow

“And prevented you from encountering a boar or something equally dangerous. You should have stayed in the house,” Gideon couldn’t help addingwaspishly.

“On that, we are in total agreement! A boar. Dear lord, what a narrow escape. So what brings you out to this corner of England, Lord Flint?” Worthing asked with a poor imitation of welcomingjoviality.

“Business with our host,” he said shortly, walking along with the pair until they reached the otherguests.

A waiter hurried over with a glass of champagne. He took it, wishing it were somethingstronger.

“Well, I’m pleased you were able to join us,” Amelia said with a soft smile as Worthing helped her settle on the blankets stretched onto the lawn. She spread out her skirts and accepted a plate from herneighbor.

With easy grace, Gideon settled down across from her, noting with satisfaction the flicker of irritation cross Worthing’s face. He ignored the man, focusing all his attention onAmelia.

The soft rosy flush on her cheeks extended all the way down to her décolletage. It was an unholy temptation, mocking him with the irresistible urge to find out how far down that blushwent.

Chapter 9

By the timethe picnic ended, Gideon had gotten ahold of his rampant lust. He berated himself for falling for Amelia’s charms like some lovestruckdandy.

What is wrong withme?

It wasn’t like him to fall under the spell of a woman. In the past, he was always the one who ended romantic liaisons, usually when it became clear that the woman involved desired more than he was willing tooffer.

His desire for Amelia was nothing like what he’d felt for his former lovers. The almost violent nature of his passions cast the entirety of his previous relationships in the shade. He found the fact that the focus of all this maelstrom of emotions was a woman of dubious character distinctlyunsettling.

He had yet to establish if Amelia was involved in his cousin’s death. Until he knew what had happened that day, he couldn’t allow himself to give in to his baser desires.And if she’s not guilty of any wrongdoing, I still have to stayaway.

She was Martin’s widow, for Pete’s sake. He had no business kissing her, let alone contemplating anaffair.

At least she was starting to trust him. Today he had learned one of her secrets—hers and SirClarence.

Elmer Cannonburry.What the devil was his uncle thinking? The idea of a young and vibrant woman like Amelia in the arms of that old fossil was disturbing on severallevels.

Gideon didn’t stop to ask himself why it bothered him so much. Very old men frequently married girls fresh out of the schoolroom. He didn’t approve of the practice, but such marriages were common in the ton. Only it was clear Amelia didn’t want thisone.

As a young girl, Amelia hadn’t had much of a choice who she married, but as a widow, she had the right to decide the course of her life. Whatever machinations his uncle had planned couldn’t possibly worknow.

At least he had an explanation for her most recent behavior. Worthing was right. Amelia was throwing herself into the social whirl to avoid Sir Clarence’s ill-conceived matchmaking. The poor girl had grown up criticized and belittled by his nearest relation. The fact she still lived in fear of him stirred hispity.

Rolling his shoulders, he slipped away from the other guests to confer with Manning, his valet. The former cockney errand boy had originally begun as his father’s valet when he was a young man. Though he was now getting on in years, his loyalty and discretion ensured Gideon kept him on despite his recent elevation to theearldom.

Manning had arrived late this afternoon with his travel carriage and a trunk packed for a week’s stay. Gideon had been grateful for the change of clothes, as well as the other invaluable services Manning provided. The grey-haired manservant had proven quite adept at gleaning information from other servants during his time on the continent. It was a skill he hoped had proved usefulnow.

“Did you learn anything?” he asked as soon as he reached the privacy of his room tochange.

Manning’s long face grew impossibly longer. “I’m afraid Viscount Worthing’s man, Simpson, proved to be a difficult nut to crack. He wasn’t in a particularly talkative mood earlier. Didn’t take kindly to the offer to gossip about his employer. Man’s a bit high in the instep for aservant.”

“Did he rebuff you?” Gideon frowned. Manning was usually subtle when it came to this sort ofthing.

“I let one of the new housemaids do the questioning,” Tom replied. “The staff was quite eager to gossip about Mrs. Montgomery, but her maid pretended not to speak English so they turned to his lordship’s valet withoutsuccess.”

Gideon scowled as Manning helped him with his waistcoat. “Blast. Loyalty is commendable in your own servants but decidedly inconvenient in anyoneelse’s.”

Manning nodded. “Don’t lose heart yet. I haven’t given up. I brought a bit of your least expensive brandy to share with the other servants and housekeeper this evening. I’m hoping it will loosen Simpson’stongue.”

“You’re welcome to the most expensive bottle I have if you can get the man to talk about his master’s reaction to Martin’s death. I would also like to know his exact whereabouts at the time of theaccident.”

“I thought you established Lord Worthing was out visiting his tenants when ithappened.”

“That’s what I was told by those servants who left Amelia’s household just after the accident, but I would like corroboration from someone in Worthing’s employ. Anything you learn about his relationship with my cousin would be of note. Amelia insists they were good friends, which I find hard tobelieve.”

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