Page 79 of A Very Bellamy Christmas

Andrew did a doubletake at this unprecedented event.

“Benches in the chapel,” Kathryn explained, her grin genuine—not the world-weary expression he was accustomed to seeing on her face. She grabbed Miss Martin’s hand. “Come, let us hurry. This was an easy clue; the others will already have collected the next one.”

When they entered the ancient chapel a footman waited in the narthex, seated at a table with a silver bowl containing folded pieces of paper.

“Are we the last ones, Charles?” Kathryn demanded.

“No, my lady. I’ve got two left.”

She clucked her tongue and glared at Andrew. “Thanks to your foot dragging we are the second-to-last group.”

“Luckily for you, I am worth the wait, darling,” he shot back.

She gave a justifiably scornful laugh and unfolded the next clue. Not bockety but not steady. Home to many but not for people.

Miss Martin’s forehead furrowed. “Bockety?”

Andrew chuckled. “It is an Irish term and means unstable.”

“How did you know that?” she asked, her tone oddly accusatory.

“I had Irish soldiers under my command. Why? Where did you think I’d heard it?”

“I’m sure I don’t know,” she retorted.

“You thought I heard it somewhere naughty, didn’t you, Miss Martin?” Like a brothel.

She pursed her lips.

Andrew snorted and then turned to Kathryn, who was regarding them with an irritating smirk.

Andrew bared his teeth at the interfering minx. She just laughed.

“The stables.”

Andrew and Kathryn broke off their staring competition at the sound of Miss Martin’s words.

“The next clue is in the stables,” she explained. “Home to many but not people, so horses. And not, er, bockety, so—”

“Stable.” He smiled at her. “Well done, Miss Martin!”

She started to smile but caught her lower lip just in time.

Andrew decided he was beginning to enjoy himself.

***

Stacia decided to enjoy herself, regardless of Lord Shelton’s presence.

She would not be fooled by his attentiveness—not after skating with him. She would remind herself often that he was only flirting with her because there was nobody else other than Lady Kathryn available, and he squabbled with her as if she were his younger sibling.

She purposely fell behind Lady Kathryn and the handsome lord as they headed toward the stables. He looked as lovely from behind as he did from any other direction. Broad shoulders garbed in a caped great coat, a tall beaver hat, breeches and riding boots.

Stacia had dressed for the outdoors, as well, but even swathed in heavy wool with mittens and a bonnet she felt the bite of the icy rain.

“—Lady Kathryn!”

All three of them stopped and turned.