Page 56 of A Very Bellamy Christmas

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“Thank you for agreeing to assist me in my time of need, Miss Martin,” Captain Walker said.

Stacia smiled. “I am more than happy to help you with your gift selection, although I am sure you would do quite well on your own.”

He pulled a face. “I might have, but it is nice to have another artist to consult about a gift for Lady Crewe.”

Stacia had seen Aurelia Crewe’s work when she had come upon the other woman sketching in an especially lovely and sunny window seat—which had been Stacia’s destination.

Lady Crewe had noticed the sketchbook in Stacia’s hand and the two had chatted for a full quarter of an hour, sharing their work with each other. Stacia had been awed by the other woman’s skill.

“How does one get into reproducing illuminated manuscripts?” Captain Walker asked after they had ordered from the waiter.

“I don’t actually do that,” she said. “When my father was still alive, he had a large collection.” Which her cousin had stolen, but she did not bring that up. “I sometimes made small repairs to his manuscripts.”

“He must have trusted you a great deal to do so.”

“He is the one who trained me, so he had to.”

He chuckled. “Yes, I can see that.”

“He stopped doing his own work when he developed a palsy in his dominant hand,” she explained. “What I do now is paint for my own pleasure.” She hesitated, and then decided to tell the truth. “I also paint fans which I sell.”

“Ah, an entrepreneurial soul like me.” He leaned across the table, his handsome face creasing in a smile. “Should we keep our grubby trade a secret lest we be tossed out of Wych House, Miss Martin?”

“Considering that Lord Needham is one of the wealthiest businessmen in Britain, I think you and I should be safe.”

He chuckled. “You are probably right.”

Stacia caught sight of a familiar figure standing outside the women’s clothing shop. It was Lord Shelton, and he appeared to be staring right at the tea shop window, although he did nothing to acknowledge them.

“You are friends with the Marquess of Shelton?” Captain Walker asked.

“No.” That sounded too abrupt, so she said, “We are merely acquainted.”

The owner of the dress shop came out on her front step and Shelton turned to her. Even from a distance Stacia could see the feline smile that curved the pretty shopkeeper’s face.

She must have said something that made Shelton laugh. He took her hand, bowed extravagantly over it, and then turned and strode away.

Mrs. Johnson watched him until he was out of sight and then her shoulders slumped with dejection and she disappeared back into her shop.

What was that all about? Why had he been in a women’s dress shop?

You know why…

The waiter arrived with their tea and Stacia tore her thoughts away from Shelton and the voluptuous shopkeeper and turned them back to her attractive companion.

Stacia enjoyed her tea and the shopping expedition with the captain. He was charming, witty, and she did not think she was flattering herself that he had some interest in her.

And yet all she could think about was Shelton and his interaction with Mrs. Johnson.

The thought of him taking a lover depressed her.

He had spent time skating with her because he had felt guilty. There was no more to it than that.

Doubtless he had forgotten her name all over again.

And yet, when Stacia returned to Wych House a few hours later she found a handkerchief with the initials A.W.D. sitting outside her door. Carefully wrapped up inside the fine white linen were two oranges.