Page 2 of Black Widow

Now he wasdead.

His friend shifted his weight, lifting a glass to hide his lips. “She’s there in that cluster straight ahead, in the cerulean gown. Worthing is the tall blond man on herright.”

Gideon narrowed his eyes, turning to behold hisquarry.

The sight of her hit him like a physical blow. He shouldn’t have been surprised—a peacock like Worthing wouldn’t be involved with a homely woman. Nevertheless, he hadn’t expected this singularly beautifulcreature.

Though passably pretty as a child, Amelia had grown into a diamond of the first water, one who easily eclipsed every other woman in the room. Amelia’s complexion was pure, with rose-tinted cheeks. Her lips were a darker shade of pink, lush and full. A dark crown of jet curls gleamed in the candlelight. He was too far to see the color of her eyes, but her lashes were a thick fringe against her ivory and roseskin.

Though her birth was low, Amelia Montgomery was captivating, a true siren whose looks and grace could lead a man to his doom. That fact, combined with her immense fortune, and he no longer wondered at the interest society had taken in the youngwidow.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Clarke muttered in an aside. “I know you feel you need a purpose now that your title prevents you from helping the war office, but is this how you want to spend your time? Chasing after a notorious widow? She’s been barred from the best houses. It’s only Lady Anderson’s interest in salacious gossip that won them entry heretonight.”

Gideon scowled at his friend. Clarke was exaggerating, and he knew it. A few houses might be snubbing Worthing and his “friend,” but society loved a scandal. Having the season’s most disreputable couple attend one’s ball or soirée would be a feather in the cap of most of the ton’shostesses.

“I won’t let this go. Martin was an innocent, too trusting. He deserved better thanthis.”

Clarke frowned. “Sending a young woman to the gallows is not the same thing as disarming an enemy agent or intercepting a spy’s intelligence. I know you are restless now, but I don’t believe this will satisfy your craving to serve yourcountry.”

Gideon took exception at the implication that he was trading one mission for another. “This has nothing to do with being recalled home,” he muttered, his eyes following Amelia’s movement across the room. “My new lands and tenants are my chief concern, which is why I spent the last few months buried with estate agents and stewards, untangling the messes my predecessors have made. But I also have a duty to my family—what’s left of it. I will have justice for mycousin.”

Clarke sighed. “I just don’t think this is what Phineus had in mind when he asked you to comehome.”

Gideon snorted. “Phineus didn’task.It was an order—one I couldn’tdisregard.”

He’d tried to reason with his superior at the war office, but Phineus had been adamant. The Earl of Flint’s holdings were in chaos. Contradictory efforts at improving the lands, combined with the sheer number of times the title had changed hands in so few years, had rendered the old but valuable estates unproductive. Despite how much Phineus valued Gideon’s efforts on behalf of the crown, he had recalled him home to care for his unexpected inheritance. His reasoning had been that a strong economy at home was just as important as one spy’s efforts abroad, even when the country was on the brink ofwar.

Deep down, Gideon knew the decision had been the right one, but…Clarke may have been right about the reality of coming home. Gideon now had wealth and position, but also responsibilities he had never expected. Though his work for the war office had played a small but pivotal role in ensuring the safety of the nation, being a landholder meant people depended on him far more directly. His obligation had been transformed from a strong but formless concept of duty to king and country to a tangible demand in the form of his tenants. His burden now had a face, or rather, manyfaces.

In some ways, it was true he was chafing under the restraints of his new position, but proving Martin was murdered wasn’t a distraction. He’d worked himself ragged the last few months to get his properties and other holdings back on sound financial footing. Though he hadn’t had time to implement all the agricultural improvements he wanted, he’d at least ensured his tenants wouldn’t starve thiswinter.

Now that Amelia was out in society, he had a much better chance of getting close to her than when she was cloistered in the requisite year of mourning society demanded ofwidows.

And I’m not the only one who wants to getcloser.

A fop named Binton was bending over Amelia’s hand, presumably asking for a dance. With a charming tilt of her head, she agreed, pairing with him for a Scottish reel while Lord Worthing observed with approving, but watchful,eyes.

Viscount Worthing’s view of the dance floor must have been obscured momentarily by some other guests. Without appearing too obvious, he stepped a few paces to one side, drawing the woman he was speaking to with him. From his new vantage point, he could see Binton and his partner once more, never breaking off hisconversation.

“He rarely allows her out of his sight,” Clarkeobserved.

“So it would seem,” Gideon muttered inagreement.

“It may be difficult to speak to her alone under thesecircumstances.”

Gideon narrowed his eyes at the dancing couple, dismissing Worthing entirely. “Her lover won’t be aproblem.”

“And just how do you plan on speaking to heralone?”

“The same way I got the French officer’s wife to follow me into the garden that night in Rouen,” he said, signaling for a waiter to bring him somewine.

Clarke smiled sardonically and appeared ready to say something else, but Gideon forestalled him with a heavy glance. He recognized the last strains of the reel. Moving into position, he got ready to intercept Amelia at the end of the dance before Worthing could reclaimher.

His plan was to sweep her into the next dance without missing a beat. It was a maneuver that had worked very well with the French officer’s wife, but, in this case, the musicians didn’t oblige him by launching into the nextsong.

The music ceased just as Amelia saw him. Her lips parted in surprise as she recognized him. Gideon smiled and inclined his head in her direction. Her answering smile was hesitant. She stepped toward him, pausing as Worthing hurried towardher.

But Gideon reached her first. With a warm welcoming expression, he took her hand andbowed.

---