Page 22 of A Very Bellamy Christmas

Chapter 3

Andrew was just finishing dressing when there was a light knock on the door.

“Come in,” he called out, giving his cravat one last tweak.

The door opened and Sylvester strode into his room. “I am glad I caught you before you went down.”

“Are you doing reconnaissance for your wife?” Andrew teased, turning away from the looking glass and picking up his tailcoat.

Sylvester chuckled as he came up behind Andrew and helped him into the snugly tailored garment. “It is true that Hyacinth is very curious about how your conversation with Lady Shaftsbury went—so is Kathryn. So am I,” the duke added, and then flicked a piece of lint off Andrew’s shoulder before stepping back. “I do wish you would engage a valet, Drew. You know I will gladly pay.”

“While I appreciate your offer, I must yet again respectfully decline. I’m already so far in debt to you that I will never dig my way out,” Andrew said, slipping on his father’s signet ring before turning to his cousin. “Besides,” he added with a slight smile, “if I engage a valet then I won’t be able to crow that I have a duke waiting on me hand and foot.”

Sylvester rolled his eyes.

Andrew strode toward the door. “As for my meeting with Lady Shaftsbury, I am afraid you are precipitate,” he said, opening the door for the duke and then following him out of the room. “She gave me short shrift earlier, informing me that she was too busy to waste time on me. I am on my way to her and Shaftsbury’s chambers to have the momentous summit now.”

Sylvester nodded but said nothing as they strode down a magnificent corridor that boasted pointed transverse arches soaring overhead.

“This is spectacular,” Andrew said, his voice hushed, as though he were in a church.

“Hyacinth told me the entire south wing of the house had been a ruin the last time she saw it. Needham has evidently brought tradesmen from all over Europe to have the house ready by Christmas, sinking a fortune into the place.”

“From what I’ve heard the man has a fortune and more to spare.”

Sylvester’s mouth pulled down on the side that was not rendered too stiff by the huge scar, his expression pensive. “It is true he is wealthy. But he has already done more than his fair share for the family.”

Andrew groaned. “I know that look, Sylvester. Please tell me you aren’t planning to take on part of the Bellamy burden?”

“Needham has been bearing the burden of Papa and Mama Addiscombe for half a year. They have four married daughters now; it only seems fair that the rest of us should shoulder our share.”

“Four married daughters? But I thought the one working up in Scotland was unmarried?”

“Ah, you did not come for tea earlier, so you missed it.”

“Missed what?” Andrew had gone directly to his chambers rather than join the family reunion. The last thing the Bellamy siblings needed was their sister’s abductor taking tea with them.

“Lady Aurelia arrived.”

“She was not expected?”

“Her brother and sisters believed she was not coming. Only Needham and his wife knew.” Sylvester smiled slyly. “And she did not arrive alone, either.”

“I can see you are almost bursting with news.”

“She is now Lady Crewe and came with her husband, his daughter from his prior marriage, and two other guests.”

“Crewe?” Andrew repeated, frowning. “Lord!” he said as he matched a face to the name. “You don’t mean—”

“Yes, it is the same Crewe you are thinking of. Indeed, the only one I know of.”

“This has to be his third or fourth marriage. I thought he was half dead from being mauled by a tiger?”

“It is his third marriage, and it was a panther.” Sylvester reached up and stroked the savage scar on his own cheek, the gesture unconscious. “He is badly scarred, and not just on his face, but appears recovered.”

Andrew recalled Crewe from years gone by. The man had a reputation for raking that did not equal Andrew’s, of course, but he was a near rival. Or at least he had been. Andrew had not seen Crewe in ages.

He turned to his cousin, leaving aside the matter of the sudden marriage, and returning to the subject of Papa Bellamy and who should frank his expensive lifestyle. “You, Shaftsbury, and Crewe might be downy, but none of you can hold a candle to Needham’s wealth.”