“I do not want you here,” Delphine replied.
Mr. Simpkin’s eyebrows puckered. “Where do you want me to go?” he asked.
“I do not care, just not here.”
Taking a step back, Mr. Simpkin said, “I think it is for the best if I retire for the evening. I do hope you will be in a more agreeable mood tomorrow.”
Bennett watched as Mr. Simpkin spun on his heel and headed up the stairs. Once the man disappeared down the corridor, he addressed Delphine. “Are you all right?”
“No,” she replied. “Vincent is a terrible person and I want him nowhere near me.”
“I figured that out rather quickly,” Bennett said.
“Yet Mr. Simpkin invited him here and failed to warn me,” Delphine responded, her eyes sparking with anger. “He had no right.”
Bennett nodded. “I agree.”
“I have tried being nice to Vincent, and to put our past behind us, but I have learned I mustn’t let him interfere in my life,” Delphine said. “He is just looking for a reason to strip me of my title.”
He took a step towards her, but still maintained a proper distance between them. “What are you going to do tomorrow?”
“I am going to refuse to see Vincent,” Delphine replied.
“What of Mr. Simpkin?”
Delphine frowned. “Quite frankly, I do not know what to do with him, especially since I do not wish to be around him.”
Bennett knew that what he was about to say would change everything between them, but he was willing to risk it. “Then stay with me,” he paused before adding, “at least until we have voided your marriage.”
“I do not think that is wise.”
“Whyever not?” Bennett asked.
Her gaze grew downcast. “People would talk,” she said.
“Then let them talk.” Bennett was tired of other people dictating his actions. He wanted Delphine as his wife, more so than anything he had ever wanted before. But he wouldn’t force her to do anything that she was uncomfortable with.
Delphine brought her gaze up, holding him transfixed. “I need to return home and reinstate my household staff since Mr. Simpkin wrongly dismissed them.”
“I could go with you,” Bennett suggested.
She offered him a sad smile. “You are kind to offer, but I need to do it on my own. It is my responsibility and mine alone.”
Bennett fisted his hands into tight balls to resist the urge to touch Delphine. “I have no doubt that you can manage your own estate. I thought you might want me to accompany you for the journey.”
“What you are proposing is rather scandalous, my lord,” Delphine said.
“Good. I try to do at least one thing a day that is scandalous,” he joked. “It keeps me young.”
Delphine considered him for a long moment. “What if I came back after my affairs were in order?” she ventured.
Bennett smiled. “I would like that greatly.”
Her eyes sparkled with warmth as she returned his smile. “Good, because I have no doubt that I will greatly miss Elodie and Melody.”
“Only them?” he asked.
“Oh, yes, I shall miss Winston as well,” Delphine shared.
