Crossword Genius

Group found in bed by the lake (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

coterie

'group' is the definition.
(term for a group of associated people)

'bed by the lake' is the wordplay.
'bed' becomes 'cot' (cot is a type of bed).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'the lake' becomes 'erie' (Lake Erie is one of the Canadian/US 'Great Lakes').
'cot'+'erie'='COTERIE'

'found in' is the link.

(Other definitions for coterie that I've seen before include "Small exclusive group of people" , "Exclusive social circle" , "Exclusive group with shared interests" , "In-group" , "Small exclusive circle with a common purpose" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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