Page 7 of Black Widow

“Mrs.Spencer.”

“Ah yes, Ellie. Met her a few years ago.” Sir Clarence coughed, his florid round face growing a touch redder. He hesitated. “She’s a fine woman…and after a certain age, a man needscompanionship.”

Gideon leaned in. “There’s no need to explain. Aunt Carol has been gone for a long time now. Your new friend is quite charming. Very bright andvivacious.”

“Yes, she is, isn’t she?” Sir Clarence didn’t smile, however. “She mentioned meeting you…andAmelia.”

Gideon murmured noncommittally. Instinct told him to keepquiet.

“That girl never listens,” Sir Clarence hissed before taking a long sip. “Running all around town with that fop Worthing. What an embarrassment.” He polished off his glass in one swallow. “No matter. She won’t be a problem muchlonger.”

That last was said without much heat, but it didn’t seem to matter. Gideon’s whole body reacted as if he’d heard a trumpet’s call to arms. He stifled the inexplicable impulse to leap out of his chair and beat his uncle senseless, forcing himself to remain passive and distantly amused. The only thing that betrayed his true feelings was a twitching muscle in his cheek, the side effect of clenching his teeth toohard.

“Soon, she’ll be someone else’s problem.” Sir Clarence sighed and rolled hiseyes.

Gideon took a deep breath and forced himself to relax.Interesting. “Why do you saythat?”

His uncle poured himself another, substantially fuller glass. “She’ll remarry. I doubt her new husband will allow her to fritter and waste her time about town as she is doingnow.”

Gideon frowned. “Do you mean Lord Worthing? From all accounts, he seems to enjoytown.”

Clarence laughed shortly. “No, not thatsod.”

“Then who do youmean?”

His uncle squinted at him, his hand lifted halfway to his mouth. “Never mind, boy, never mind.” He looked around and spotted a pair of his cronies in the corner. “Oh, there theyare.”

Sir Clarence rose, putting down his glass. “Fine vintage, my boy, thank you. I must run along. Promised Southeby and old Tremaine I would luncheon withthem.”

“Of course, Uncle. And please send my regards to your friend Mrs. Spencer. I enjoyed meeting her lastnight.”

“Hmm. Oh good, good.” Sir Clarence wandered away without another word, weavingslightly.

Kyle Clarke slipped into his vacated chair, watching Sir Clarence stumble before joining his party in thecorner.

“Potent stuff, isn’t it?” he said quietly, lifting the bottle of port and examining thelabel.

“It’s his favorite,” Gideon muttered, weighing the distance to the nearest men in the room and deciding they were too far to be overheard provided they didn’t shout like his unclehad.

“Learn anythingnew?”

“One or two useful things. For one, he doesn’t share society’s impression of his former daughter-in-law. There’s more, but I believe that’s the most significant because Clarence has always been excessively conscious of popular opinion. He follows the crowds in that regard, but not thistime.”

“Do you suspect he knows more about Martin’s death than he’ssaying?”

Gideon considered that. “If he did, I think he’d be angrier. He was never one to prevaricate or hide his feelings. I suspect he believes it was an accident. He wrote as much in the letters we’ve exchangedsince.”

No, whatever Clarence was hiding had to do withAmelia…

If Amelia were to remarry, Worthing was the only possible candidate. Her name hadn’t been attached to anyone else—not publicly anyway. Gideon would have to get closer to her to besure.

Gideon was still mulling mystery suitors when Clarke waved a hand in his face. “Sorry. I wasthinking.”

Clarke huffed. “That much was obvious.” He paused and tilted his head to one side. “I don’t suppose you’ve reconsidered this quest now that you’ve met and spoken with thegirl.”

Gideon narrowed his eyes at his old friend. “And just why would I dothat?”

“I was watching the two of you last night, in case you’ve forgotten. You two and Worthing. I thought you were going to interrogate her, but from my vantage point, you were…gentle withher.”

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