Lord Dunsby rose and turned towards Marie. “Which books did my mother select from the library?”
Marie read off the titles. “Colonel JackandTales of Fashionable Life.”
His blue eyes gleamed with curiosity as he inquired, “Do either of those titles suit your fancy?”
Delphine considered the options before her. “I have yet to readColonel Jack,” she admitted.
A look of approval crossed Lord Dunsby’s face. “Ah, a wise choice. That particular book was written by Daniel Defoeand I think it rivals his other books. It does a decent job of tackling the subjects of money and crime.”
“You make it sound rather intriguing,” Delphine said.
His expression softened as he gazed at her. “You are in good hands, my lady. I hope to see you this evening for dinner.”
“I hope to be there, assuming I have something more suitable to wear,” Delphine responded as she glanced down at her white wrapper.
With a graceful bow, Lord Dunsby assured her, “That should not be an issue. I shall go speak to my mother at once.”
As he made his way towards the door, Delphine wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye. “Lord Dunsby,” she called out.
He stopped and turned back around to face her. “Yes, my lady?”
Her heart fluttered nervously as she searched for the right words. “Thank you. For everything,” she managed to say, hoping that her gratitude shone through. If it wasn’t for him, she wasn’t sure if she would still be alive. Which was a morbid and terrifying thought.
A warm smile spread across his face. “You are welcome.”
And with those parting words, he left the room, leaving Delphine with the sudden urge to follow him.
Chapter Three
As Bennett made his way down to the drawing room, he realized that he was smiling. He rather enjoyed conversing with Lady Dunrobin, and not just because he helped her regain her memories, but because she had been vulnerable with him. Unlike many women he knew, who hid behind carefully constructed facades, she had shown him glimpses of her true self. It was a refreshing change from the tiresome game of pretense he had grown weary of.
In his youth, he had relished playing the game. It was fun. Exciting, even. Until it wasn’t. He had lost the game when he had fallen for a young woman that didn’t return his affection. Now, he harbored a deep aversion to the charade.
Entering the drawing room, he found his mother and sisters sitting on the settees, engaging in conversation.
His mother acknowledged him as he walked further into the room. “How did your visit with Miss Delphine go?” she asked, lowering her needlework to her lap.
“It went well,” he admitted, a hint of pride evident as he straightened in his posture. “I, Bennett Lockwood, the Earl of Dunsby, helped her regain most of her memories.”
“You did?” his mother asked. “How did you accomplish such a feat?”
“I suppose I charmed her into remembering,” Bennett replied with a cocky grin.
Elodie rolled her eyes. “Oh, dear. You are delusional, Brother.”
“Then how else can you explain what happened?” Bennett inquired.
“Maybe your conversation was so dull that her mind wandered, bringing her memories back with it,” Elodie proposed.
Bennett’s grin widened. “No lady has ever complained about my conversational skills before.”
“Or are they too busy trying to snag an earl?” Elodie retorted.
Leaning forward, his mother looked less than amused as she placed her needlework onto the table. “Can we focus on what is truly important here?” she asked.
“Yes, Mother,” Bennett and Elodie said in unison.
His mother gave him an expectant look. “What can you tell us about this mysterious Miss Delphine?”
