Page 22 of A Widow for the Beastly Duke

She turned to see Sidney approaching, dressed in hunting attire that, while stylish, gave off the vibe of a man pretending to enjoy country life rather than someone who truly did. Emma couldn’t help but notice his gloves—spotless and untouched by any real interaction with horses or dogs.

As usual, he was just playing the part of a caring uncle, even though everyone in high society was well aware of his less-than-stellar reputation.

Emma often wondered why he bothered with this charade. But then again, for someone as self-absorbed as he was, perhaps the attention was all that mattered. He strutted around as if he were the head of the family, when in reality, he was merely holding the fort for her son—therightfulheir.

“My Lord,” she greeted with a curtsey that met the bare minimum of propriety. Already, her mood had soured by just having to look upon him. How wretchedly unlucky. “I hope the morning is to your liking?”

“Absolutely, especially now that I have the pleasure of your company,” he replied, his practiced smile betraying no real warmth. His gaze drifted back to where the Dowager Viscountess and Lord Griggs were still deep in conversation. “Though I must say, it’s curious that the Dowager Viscountess feels the need to arrange for Tristan’s supervision when I, his uncle and guardian, am right here.”

Emma resisted the strong urge to arch an eyebrow at him. She really ought to give him a piece of her mind one of these days.

As if she could sense they were talking about her, the Dowager Viscountess turned, her face morphing into an exaggerated look of surprise.

“Ah, Lord Sidney! How delightful to see you here today. I must admit, your presence had slipped my mind for a moment. Age really does play tricks on our memories, doesn’t it?” She lightly tapped her temple with a gloved finger. “Sometimes, it’s a struggle to remember even the simplest things—like how to properly care for one’s ward, for example.”

The jab, delivered with graceful precision, hit home.

Sidney’s smile tightened at the edges, though he managed to keep his cool.

“Your concern for my nephew’s well-being is truly touching, Lady Oakley. Almost as touching as your impressive memory when it comes to ancient scandals and long-forgotten grievances.”

“Indeed,” Lady Oakley replied with a calm amusement. “How fortunate that the skills necessary for navigating Society remain sharp, even as others begin to fade.”

With a final nod that conveyed both dismissal and a sense of victory, the Dowager Viscountess turned back to her conversation with Lord Griggs, who seemed to be struggling to keep a serious face during this exchange.

Feeling outmaneuvered in this brief social duel, Sidney shifted his focus back to Emma.

“Your son appears quite eager for the hunt,” he noted, his tone suggesting he found this enthusiasm a bit beneath the dignity of an earl. “Does he have any experience with firearms?”

“Very little,” Emma confessed, trying to mask her anxiety about this. “That’s why I’m thankful for Lord Griggs’ supervision.”

“As his uncle, I should have been consulted on this matter,” he said, a hint of irritation creeping into his otherwise charming demeanor. “After all, I am responsible for his education in the ways of a gentleman.”

Emma felt that familiar tension building behind her temples—the kind that only this man’s presence always seemed to provoke.

“You have made your interest in Tristan’s upbringing quite clear, My Lord. However, as his mother, the day-to-day decisions about his activities are mine to make.”

Sidney stepped a little closer, just enough for her to catch a whiff of his cologne—way too strong for the fresh country air, more like something one would expect in a fancy London parlor.

“Will Louisa be joining us at the house soon?” she asked, intentionally bringing up his wife to create some distance.

For a moment, annoyance flickered across her brother-in-law’s face at the mention of his wife, before it melted into a mask of indifference.

“Unfortunately, no. She is off visiting relatives in France. You know how her health benefits from the warmer climate over there.” He waved his hand dismissively, as if his wife’s absence was hardly worth mentioning.

“How unfortunate,” Emma said, her voice carefully balancing sympathy with a hint of disinterest. “I imagine you must miss her company quite a bit.”

Sidney’s laugh was devoid of any real joy. “You know, marriages like ours often thrive on a little distance. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder.” His gaze lingered on her, making her acutely aware of the simple cut of her riding habit. “Though I must admit, some absences are harder to bear than others.”

Just as Emma was about to respond to the impropriety of his thinly veiled suggestion, Lord Griggs’ booming voice called for the hunting party to gather.

The gentlemen started to assemble, with servants bringing forward horses while excited dogs darted between their legs, barking and whining in anticipation.

Sidney gave a nod that was a mix of politeness and arrogance. “We’ll continue our chat when I return, Lady Cuthbert.” His tone was confident, as if he was used to getting his way, no matter how the other person felt.

As he walked away to join the hunting party, Emma allowed herself to imagine blasting off part of his skull with a pistol. Just a little bit.

And it was at that moment, as she allowed herself to fantasize about murder, that she caught sight ofhimfor the first time that morning.

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