Page 59 of Black Widow

Less certain now about his accusations, Gideon continued. “The damage was too great for a simple fall. I spoke to one of the witnesses who heard it happen. Martin’s body was found too far from the bottom of the stairs, too far unless he’d been hurled by someone very strong. This same someone left large and deep impressions in the carpet and traces of brown dust—probablyclay.”

His uncle reddened. “You’re lying! There was no dust. It was a simple accident. Trying to imply anything else is disgraceful, asham.”

Clarence slashed at the air, pointing an accusing finger at Gideon. “You’re just trying to deflect from your scandalous affair with your cousin’s widow.” He waited for a reaction before making a fist. “Oh, yes, I know all about it. Tongues are wagging all over town. I can’t even escape it here in my own club. If I didn’t know better, I’d say youhad…”

He stopped short and lapsed into a sullensilence.

“That I rid myself of Martin so I could be with Amelia? Why would that have even been necessary? It’s not like theirs was a true marriage,” he pointed out. “Additionally, you are well aware I was abroad at the time of hisdeath.”

Gideon crossed his arms and looked down his nose at the older man. “Fortunately, you don’t need to concern yourself with the rumors. The furor will die down once Amelia and I aremarried.”

Sir Clarence’s head snapped up. “But youcan’t!”

“I assure you I can. Furthermore, I wantto.”

“But you’re a bloody earl now. Think of your title. You can’t marry acit’sdaughter.”

“I can do whatever I damn well please. As it happens, I am marrying a lady. A loving and generousone.”

“Men in your position don’t marry for love! They marry unstained virgins fresh out of the schoolroom, well-dowered chits of goodbreeding.”

“My bride has enough natural grace and breeding for the bothus.”

And until he got his hands on her, she’d been as pure as the drivensnow.

“Pffaw. That hardly matters.” Sir Clarence said. “She’s a bloody widow and a tradesman’s get. It’s simply not the donething.”

Gideon was getting tired of the circuitous argument. “Nevertheless, Iammarrying Amelia, and soon. I just stopped by to give you fair warning—cease this pointless harassment. Stop trying to draw Amelia into your sordid arrangements. She is out of your reachnow.”

Sir Clarence’s eyes flicked away. “Told you. I don’t have an arrangement with Cannonburry. As for these other accusations‚ I know nothing aboutthem.”

Gideon should have expected the pugnacious reply, but it still irked him. He leaned close, forcing Sir Clarence to draw back until his shoulders touched the wall on the other side of thebed.

“Thrashing a drunkard is considered bad form, so I’ll take my leave of you now, but make no mistake. If you or your giant so much as sneezes in Amelia’s direction, I will call you out—blood relation orno.”

Checking the impulse to continue making threats he exited the room, nodding to the now ashen-faced porter he’d bribed for entry to the club’s innersanctum.

Gideon didn’t think the details could be made out through the thick doors and walls of the bedroom wing. Nevertheless, he tipped the porter an extra pound for his discretion on the way out. Truthfully, he didn’t mind if the entire ton knew what he thought of his uncle, except for the fact it would also drag Amelia’s name into the mud once more. And he knew society was only too quick to blame the woman, no matter how innocent shewas.

As Idid.

Gideon shook himself as he reached the street. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. From this moment on, he would give short shrift to those pernicious societal whispers the ton thrivedon.

Of course, some of those rumors were true now. He and Ameliawereengaged in a scandalous affair. Clarence wasn’t wrong about the scandal. Even the most staid gentlemen at his clubs were commenting about it, according to Clarke. Fortunately for them, no one dared to cut Amelia directly over it. As far as he could tell, she was oblivious to the situation. Her mind was fixed elsewhere these days. However, he could not count on his reprieve tolast.

Gideon sincerely hoped tonight’s visit would be the end of the harassment plaguing Amelia. Though he had no direct evidence, he knew in his bones Clarence was responsible.Except…

His unclehadbeen shaken when Gideon related what he’d learned in his investigation, especially the detail about the dust. Turning over Sir Clarence’s reaction in his mind, he dismissed hisdoubts.

I’m not wrong. It washim.

And marriage would silence the current gossip. These kind of scandals were forgotten the moment the couple in question said, ‘I do.’ Such was the way of theton.

With luck, Amelia would consent to marry him soon. In the meantime, he decided to go and find her at the Porter bash. His mind raced ahead, wondering where he would find the seclusion required to seduce her. Gideon didn’t really have a choice in thematter.

Despite his attempts to convince her otherwise, Amelia had put her dainty foot down about them sharing a bed at night. Convinced that her mysterious monster would return when they slept, she had taken the unprecedented step of giving up the master bedroom of her home. Alone in the house at night save for Adolfo—who refused to leave her—Amelia slept in a narrow cot in the servant’shall.

Her reasoning was faultless. Who would expect the lady of the house to be in a lowly chambermaid’squarters?

---