Page 53 of Black Widow

“Fine, fine,” he said. “Um, about what you justsaw…”

Amelia squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry, my friend. There is no need to explain. Martin wouldn’t have wanted you to spend the rest of your days aloneeither.”

The viscount looked down at his hands and sniffed, his chin dimpling as he fought not to cry. “I will never stop loving Martin. Quite frankly, I am surprised to be feeling this way—and this may not be mutual. I find Mr. Clarke a bit difficult toread.”

She did not share Crispin’s opinion. Clarke’s behavior just now had been telling, but perhaps it was easier for an outside observer to understand it.Plus, I’ve seen someone fall in love with Crispinbefore…

“I have no doubts,” she assured him. “There is somethingthere.”

Crispin leaned closer. “Do you really thinkso?”

She nodded. “I do…And I hope you forgive my selfishness, but I will be trading on your recent attachment to achieve theimpossible.”

“Hmm.” Crispin leaned back on the pillows. “Does this impossible task involve a certain determinedearl?”

“It does, and I will explain every detail once I’ve secured Mr. Clarke’sassistance.”

“Ah, I think I understand,” he said with a sage nod. “Then I suggest you go down and find him straightaway because I want my curiosity satisfied as quickly aspossible.”

Amelia hadn’t thought herself capable of a genuine smile this morning, but it came anyway. She excused herself from her friend, buoyed by his manner and unquestionedsupport.

If Mr. Clarke was surprised by her request for a private conference, he did not betray it in any way. It wasn’t until she’d sat him down in the library that she truly shockedhim.

“I received Gideon’s note,” he began, reaching out to pat her gloved hand. “I want you to rest assured that you are well looked after. No harm will come to you while you’re in mycare.”

“Thank you, but my life is not in danger. It’s Gideon who will die if you don’t helpme.”

Clarke frowned. “Mrs. Montgomery, Amelia, you’ve been through an ordeal. I assureyou—”

“Crispin will also die,” she interrupted. “And most likely you as well if you don’t listen to menow.”

She took both his hands in hers and began toexplain.

Chapter 21

Gideon was furious.Since waking to a bloodstained mess in Amelia’s bedroom this morning, nothing had goneright.

He had lied to her, of course. A visit to Bow Street had been low on his list of priorities that morning. His chief purpose in leaving her that day had been to find Sir Clarence and wring his bloodyneck.

He had stormed to his uncle’s townhouse, ready to tear him apart. But his plans to exact a painful retribution had been put on hold when he was told his relative was out oftown.

Gideon had been so put out the housekeeper had shown him in, fetching his mistress to confirm that Sir Clarence was indeed away onbusiness.

Only Mrs. Spencer’s genuine surprise had convinced him to quit Clarence’s house. Spoiling for a fight, he had gone back to Amelia’s to interview her staff. He was certain Clarence had bribed one of them to terrorize Amelia. Unfortunately, he had failed to materialize a singlesuspect.

Perhaps it had been the language barrier, or the fact there were so many of them, but when no one had broken down with a confession or come forward with a helpful clue, he had lost his temper. He’d stormed out of the house to Bow Street, where he’d hired not one but two runners to watch over the house. He also resolved to ask Amelia to send some of the staff away to one of his country estates—preferably all ofthem.

Gideon was no fool. There was no way Amelia would dismiss any of them outright, but he needed smaller numbers to deal with right now. Besides, they’d be combining households once they weremarried.

All those plans and suggestions he was about to make were fornaught.

He’d returned to Amelia’s house after a few hours absence. His steward had sent an urgent message, relaying a minor kerfuffle between tenants on his country estate. Believing Amelia to be securely ensconced under Clarke’s watchful eye, he had taken the time to write detailed instructions to his man on how he wished the problemhandled.

Then he’d taken himself off to Doctors Commons to secure a special license. Gideon wanted to be married rightaway.

When he’d gone to collect Amelia at Worthing’s, he was told she had already gone home. Gideon swore under his breath the entire way, hoping Adolfo had faithfully executed his order to replace the carpet in the bedroom. But he didn’t find out if the butler obeyedhim.

Amelia had barred him from the house. No one answered his knock. When he tried to open them, he found she had added bars to the exterior doors and extra locks to the windows. To the outside observer, the house appearedempty.

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