Page 77 of A Very Bellamy Christmas

Kathryn turned to her sister. “Lia, your husband is teamed up with Linny and Lord Jevington. Miss Gordon is with Mr. Dennehy and Mr. Dixon—”

“Wait,” Lady Crewe interrupted. “Dixon and Dennehy are on the same team? They are Needham’s secretaries. Surely that gives them an unfair advantage?”

“They have assured me that Needham invented the clues himself,” Kathryn said, and then turned back to her list. “Captain Walker is on a team with Doddy and—”

“Me!” Lucy chirped.

“That’s right,” Kathryn agreed. “So, Lia, why don’t you—”

“I agreed to partner with Mr. Leeland and Chatham last night,” Lady Crewe said.

Kathryn’s forehead puckered. “Mr. Leeland?”

“He is one of Papa’s friends,” Lucy explained.

“Good, then you are sorted.” Kathryn turned to Andrew. “What about you?”

Andrew frowned. “What about me?”

“Are you finished eating?” She looked at his plate, which was indeed empty of all but a few scraps.

“Er—”

“Good. You can be on my team.” She gave him a sweet smile that Andrew did not for a minute believe. “I will wait until you finish.” She dropped down into the chair across from him, laced her fingers together, set her chin on them, and stared at him.

Lady Crewe laughed.

Andrew sighed and tossed his napkin onto the table. “I guess I am finished. But first I must fetch my coat and hat.”

Kathryn sprang up from her chair. “Excellent! This will be fun, my lord.”

Andrew suspected it would be torture. “Who else is on our team?”

“It is a surprise!”

Why did her smile make Andrew feel like a fox with a pack of hounds on its trail?

***

“Her ladyship has asked not to be disturbed this morning,” Ackers said when Stacia showed up at her employer’s chambers after receiving no summons for a third morning in a row.

“She still suffers from her migraine?”

“Thankfully she is past that. But the pain took a great deal out of her and she is exhausted and sleeping.”

“I see.” Stacia chewed her lip, both elated to be free but worried that she was not doing what she was supposed to be doing. “Do you know when she might want me?”

“I have no idea.” The older woman cast a worried glance at the countess’s door.

“What is it?”

“This is a very unhappy family.”

“Did something happen?”

Ackers hesitated and then said, “The countess was sitting up this morning. She even took a little tea and toast. And then her youngest daughter paid her a visit.”

Stacia’s eyebrows rose. “It is unusual for her ladyship to invite company so early.”