“But you said…” Delphine started.
Her friend spoke over her. “I know what I said, but that was to ensure you would leave the soiree to meet me.”
“Well, here I am. What do you truly want?” Delphine asked.
A smirk crept onto Charlotte’s face, her expression turning steely. “It is not about what I want, but what Mr. Simpkin desires.”
With trepidation in her voice, Delphine inquired, “Which is?”
In a swift movement, Mr. Simpkin retrieved a pistol from the waistband of his trousers and pointed it at Delphine. “I want you to die,” he sneered.
Chapter Twenty
As Delphine walked away, Bennett had the strangest urge to go after her but he needed to give her time to speak to Charlotte.
White approached Bennett with an air of urgency and said in a hushed voice, “The rider has returned from Gretna Green and he wishes to speak to you.”
Bennett’s eyes roamed over the crowded hall. “Can it not wait?”
The butler’s demeanor grew unusually stern. “I believe you will want to hear this at once, my lord.”
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Bennett relented. “Very well. Where is he?”
“In your study,” White informed him.
With any luck, his departure would go unnoticed amongst the guests and his family. He did not wish to upset his mother by disappearing during the middle of her soiree.
Bennett headed towards the rear of the manor, acknowledging the guests that he passed by with a slight nod. He arrived at the study and saw the short, stout footman standing in the center of the room.
“This had better be important,” Bennett said in a firm voice.
“It is, my lord,” the footman replied.
White had followed him into the room and closed the door. “Hugh is not one who is prone to exaggeration.”
Bennett turned his expectant gaze to Hugh. “What did you discover?”
Hugh took a deep breath before saying, “Per your order, I found the anvil priest that married Mr. Simpkin and Lady Dunrobin, but he didn’t truly marry them.”
“I beg your pardon?” Bennett asked, his voice rising. “What are you saying?”
The footman’s eyes grew determined. “When I spoke to the anvil priest, he told me that he clearly remembered the wedding since they had brought along a witness. Which is not very common when you are eloping.”
Drats. This was a waste of his time. “I know all about how Miss Eden accompanied them…” Bennett started.
“Miss Eden?” Hugh asked. “No, the witness was Mr. Paterson, who was supposedly the bride’s cousin.”
Furrowing his brow, Bennett pressed, “I don’t understand. Mr. Paterson is, in fact, Lady Dunrobin’s cousin.”
“Yes, but upon further questioning, the anvil priest shared that the bride’s blonde hair had been neatly coiffed, despite a long carriage ride,” Hugh shared. “He had found that odd since most couples who travel appear somewhat disheveled when standing in front of him.”
Bennett reared back at that startling revelation. “Are you sure? I need you to be sure.”
Hugh nodded. “Yes, my lord, and the anvil priest is willing to testify under oath to those facts,” he asserted.
Running a hand through his hair, Bennett couldn’t believe it. Mr. Simpkin hadn’t married Delphine since she had dark hair. So who had he married? Had it been Miss Eden? That would certainly make sense, but why the deceit?
With the anvil priest’s testimony, the judge would have no choice but to void the marriage since it was done through deception.
