Page 71 of A Very Bellamy Christmas

“How could you possibly know that?” Stacia demanded, her face yet again blazingly hot.

“Earlier this year I stayed with my aunt who lives just outside Norwich in a small village called Westwick.” She gave Stacia a curious look. “Have you heard of it?”

“No. Should I have?”

“One of my aunt’s neighbors was a woman named Mrs. Leary.”

Stacia gave an irritated shrug. “Should I know her?”

“Her maiden name was Creighton.”

“Oh.” Stacia could not think of anything else to say.

“Mrs. Leary is now happily—no, I would say very happily married—to a gentleman farmer.”

“Happily? I’d heard—”

“I know what you heard because everyone else heard it, too. Her husband is a delightful, handsome man who is very much in love with his wife.” Her expression turned sly. “He is of Irish descent and has that attractive combination of almost black hair and dark blue eyes. Interestingly, Sarah’s little boy is an exact miniature of his papa.” She hesitated and added, “With his jet-black hair and dark blue eyes.”

Sarah was fair—almost as fair as Shelton. Was Lady Kathryn saying the child was not Lord Shelton’s? And happily married? Was she claiming that Sarah had been in love with some obscure rural farmer and yet conducting an affair with another man? It made no sense.

“I still do not see what this has to—”

“I knew you were my mother’s companion from her letters to me.”

“Yes?” Stacia prodded yet again when Lady Kathryn paused.

“Your name came up in conversation—I forget how—and Mrs. Leary said she remembered you quite clearly. She said you’d not only gone to school together but had come out the same Season.” Lady Kathryn paused. “She mentioned how mad all the girls were for Lord Shelton. How you all hated her for attracting his attention.”

Stacia knew what she was driving at and did not bother to deny it. Instead, she shrugged and said, “That was the case for dozens of women, not just our group of wallflowers.”

“Perhaps. But dozens of young ladies are not here. You are here, Miss Martin.”

“I’m not sure why you are rubbing my nose in my unfortunate infatuation from four years ago. None of that makes any difference because he is not interested in me.” She scowled as Lady Kathryn just regarded her calmly. “And even if he were, it would likely be the same sort of interest that destroyed Sarah Creighton’s life.”

“Did it?”

Stacia gave an exasperated sigh. “Why don’t you tell me—plainly—what you are trying to say.”

Before Lady Kathryn could reply, Lucy Needham nudged up between them, her eyes sparkling. “Look what I bought for Papa,” she said, unwrapping a brown paper package to expose a wicked-looking blade with a hilt made out of an animal horn.

Stacia and Kathryn exchanged amused glances.

“I’m sure he will love it,” Kathryn said.

Lucy pulled her lips between her teeth, glanced around, and then unwrapped a second, smaller package. “I had this made for Doddy.”

Thiswas a tiny squirrel that looked remarkably like the little rodent Stacia had seen riding on the girl’s shoulder.

Lady Kathryn stared, chewing her lip.

“It is a beautiful fob,” Stacia said when Lady Kathryn remained quiet. “And very lifelike.”

“It is a seal, too,” Lucy said, turning the little animal over to demonstrate an exquisite carving of a tree.

“A wych elm,” Kathryn murmured, and then looked up from the distinctive Bellamy family device to the young girl and gave a slightly strained smile. “Doddy will love it, Lucy. Perhaps he will write more letters if he can use such a wonderful seal.”

Lucy’s grin was ear-to-ear. “Now I just need to find a gift for Phoebe, and I will be done with my shopping. But I don’t know what she would like. I made her two handkerchiefs with her initials and a butterfly on each.” She glanced at Kathryn. “But then I saw the ones you made for her. Phoebe said you did them when you were younger than I am now.” Lucy pulled a face. “They are perfect! Mine look like I embroidered them with my feet.”