Page 83 of A Very Bellamy Christmas

Boisterous voices and the clattering of feet on stairs made them both jolt.

“We had better collect the clue,” Miss Martin said, hurrying over to the bowl. She took out a piece of paper just as a small crowd of people poured into the room.

Andrew sighed. Thank God the others had come along when they did. What on earth could he have been thinking?

Chapter 16

Stacia hurried up the stairs, her heart still pounding. Had Shelton been about to kiss her? He had! She just knew he had.

“Miss Martin—where are you going?” Lord Shelton called out when they reached the top of the stairs and Stacia began hurrying down the corridor.

She stopped and reluctantly turned back to him.

“Where is the clue?” he asked.

She opened her fist and wordlessly revealed the crumpled paper.

He took it, smoothed it out, and read the words aloud. “The only place where today comes before yesterday.”

“The only place where today comes before yesterday,” she repeated, the intriguing clue pulling her thoughts from what had almost happened.

“Any ideas?” he asked after a moment.

They looked up at the same time and Stacia hastily lowered her eyes. “I don’t know.” Beneath her breath, she murmured, “Today comes before yesterday. Today comes before yesterday. Today comes—” she broke off and her head whipped up. Again, she met his gaze, but this time she gave him a triumphant smile. “I have it.” She glanced around at the corridor and frowned. “I am disoriented. Which way to the library?

“Just a moment,” he said, “I can hear them all coming up the stairs.” He strode over to the secret panel and shut it with a firm click and then grinned at her. “There, that will buy us a few extra minutes while they bumble and search for the latch.”

“Isn’t that rather…dirty?”

He set a hand lightly on her shoulder. “You know what they say?”

“No, what do they say?” she asked, trying not to think about the feel of his big, warm hand.

“All is fair in love and treasure hunting, Miss Martin.”

“Funny, I’ve never heard that,” she said wryly.

The others had obviously reached the small landing and were thumping on the door. Muffled voices barely penetrated the wooden panel. “Hello? Let us out!”

“Are you sure about this?” she asked, glancing dubiously at the panel, which was now vibrating with the fury of their pounding.

Lord Shelton laughed. “Don’t worry about them; they will figure it out soon enough.”

Stacia bit back her disappointment when he removed his hand and strode down the corridor.

When they reached the library a few minutes later it was to find it already occupied. But instead of another team, it was the maid from earlier, Dora.

She gave them a startled look. “Oh! I beg your pardon. I was just leaving.”

“Were you looking for me?” Stacia asked. “Does Lady Addiscombe need me?”

“No, no, not at all, Miss. Er, I’m sorry, I was looking for somebody else.” She dropped a curtsey and hurried toward the door.

Lord Shelton lifted an eyebrow. “That was…”

“Odd,” she said. “I wonder if I should go—”

“Lady Addiscombe would send for you if she wanted you. Besides, the woman cannot deprive me of both my partners.”