“I am,” she replied.
“There is no shame in not being all right with all of this,” he assured her.
She met his gaze. “For what purpose?” she asked. “I wish things had been different but I do not harbor any ill-will towards Charlotte. I am glad that she found love, and I hope she finds happiness with Mr. Simpkin.”
“You are truly extraordinary,” Bennett said, knowing he had spoken no truer words.
Delphine’s lips twitched. “You are being far too complimentary of me this evening.”
“I’m afraid I merely speak the truth.”
His mother cleared her throat. “Are you two quite done?” she asked. “I merely ask because we have a house full of guests and they are all waiting to meet Delphine.”
Knowing his mother made a valid point, he offered his arm to Delphine and said, “I hope you are ready for this.”
“It will be much easier now that Mr. Simpkin is not present,” Delphine stated. “He truly vexed me.”
Bennett chuckled. “You said it, not me.”
Stepping into the room, Melody announced, “I am here.”
“Good, and just in time to go to the ballroom,” Lady Dallington said.
Melody’s eyes roamed the room. “Should we not wait for everyone else?”
Elodie leaned closer to her sister and whispered something into her ear.
Melody seemed to nod her understanding before saying, “I agree. I never did particularly like Mr. Simpkin.”
“No one did, but he was a guest in our home,” his mother expressed, turning her head towards the corridor. “Ah, your father has just arrived. Let us go now.”
While Bennett led Delphine out of the room, he said, “I am glad that you are here… with me.”
“As am I,” she responded.
Delphine was tired of smiling. She had been standing in the receiving line for what felt like hours as Lady Dallington introduced her to her guests. If this was what the Season would be like, she wanted nothing to do with it.
Perhaps the reason why she felt such discomfort was because of how she had left things with Charlotte. She truly wasn’t angry at her friend, but why had she kept her feelings for Mr. Simpkin from her? And why had Charlotte pushed her to remain married to him, despite being in love with him? None of that made any sense.
But she truly didn’t wish to ruin Charlotte by petitioning for divorce on the grounds of adultery. She hoped that Mr. Simpkin wouldn’t fight the marriage being voided, knowing the dire consequences for Charlotte.
Delphine glanced down the line and saw Bennett. He was speaking to an older woman and a smile was on his face. She didn’t think she would ever tire of being in his presence. The way he made her feel was something she would never take for granted. She felt safe. Loved. But she didn’t presume that he loved her. Cared for her, maybe, but not loved.
But she loved him.
Before she had arrived, she had an unfavorable view onmarriage, but everything changed when Bennett had saved her.
He had saved her in more ways than one.
And now she wasn’t afraid of marriage, at least not to him.
She was rather saddened that she wouldn’t be dancing the first set with Bennett. But it would be entirely inappropriate for them to do so since she was still married to Mr. Simpkin.
Lady Dallington turned towards her and asked, “Shall we adjourn to the ballroom for the dancing?”
Delphine let out a sigh of relief that this was finally over. “Yes, I think that is a brilliant idea.”
“You did well, Dear,” Lady Dallington praised.
