Page 78 of A Very Bellamy Christmas

“Lady Kathryn wasn’t invited.”

“I see.” The countess did not care for unexpected guests.

“They argued. It became…heated.”

Stacia was ashamed to be so eager to gossip about her employer, but could not help herself from saying, “Oh?”

Ackers inched closer. “My lady wants her daughter to return to Bath after the holiday is over. Lady Kathryn refused—loudly. She said something to the effect that the last time she’d obeyed her mother she had lived to regret it. Her ladyship…wept.”

Stacia’s eyes almost rolled out of her head at the image of the countess actually crying.

“It sounded as though something happened to Lady Kathyrn when she was staying with the countess’s sister this past summer.”

“Something? What do you mean?”

Ackers shrugged. “I couldn’t hear that part. They stopped shouting at that point.” After a moment, the maid shook herself. “In any case, the countess has returned to her bed and will not need you today. You should look upon it as an extended holiday.” The older woman gave Stacia a conspiratorial smile. “I heard talk at breakfast this morning that there is to be a treasure hunt. Evidently Lord Needham has supplied a valuable prize for the winner. Why don’t you play?”

Mr. Dixon had told her about the treasure hunt last night when he’d escorted her home from the village dance.

Stacia had taken a liking to the handsome, kindly man. She appreciated that he seemed to be going out of his way to make her feel welcome at Wych House. She suspected that at least part of his kindness had to do with the way the countess treated her, but there was no denying the fact that he had danced twice with her last night and only one other time, with one of the Lowery twins.

Not only that, but he had been attentive during their dance, not flitting off to dance attendance on anyone else—no matter how attractive—like Lord Shelton had done at the skating pond.

Why are you thinking about him?

Stacia gritted her teeth. Dixon, like Captain Walker, was exceedingly attractive, attentive, and eligible. Why could she never enjoy a man’s company without Lord Shelton weaseling his way into her head?

“Go and play, Miss Martin,” Ackers said, pulling Stacia from her thoughts.

Stacia smiled. “I will.”

***

When Andrew arrived in the foyer twenty minutes later, it was to find only Kathryn and Miss Martin waiting.

Andrew gave Kathryn a hard look, but she merely smiled.

“Where is everyone else?” he asked, glancing around the cavernous, chilly entry hall.

“Everyone else has already collected their clues and begun playing. Our team is you, me, and Miss Martin,” Kathryn said, smiling from Andrew to Miss Martin.

Why was he not surprised?

Miss Martin, however, was surprised. And it wasn’t a pleasant one, if her faint scowl was anything to go by.

Andrew had hoped they’d got past her hatred of him yesterday. Now he wondered if they’d really had that conversation on the ice, or if he had merely dreamed it.

“So,” Kathryn said, either not noticing the other woman’s sour expression, or not caring. “Here is our first clue.” She unfolded a piece of parchment. Andrew stepped closer to read it and, after a moment, so did Miss Martin.

We possess four legs, but no feet. When you are weary, we can offer your body, and your soul, relief.

He looked up. “Chairs? Benches?”

“That could be anywhere,” Miss Martin said, giving him a scornful look. “And neither of those things do anything for one’s soul.”

Andrew couldn’t help grinning at her scathing answer. “Good point.” He winked at her and was amused when her face darkened, and her scowl deepened.

“I agree with Shelton,” Kathryn said.