“Bennett,” he corrected. “If I am to call you by your given name, it is only fair if you call me by mine as well.”
Bringing her gaze back up, Delphine said, “I would like that.”
As they held each other’s gaze, something passed between them. Something he didn’t quite understand. They were two strangers, yet in her eyes, he saw himself. In her future.
That was impossible.
He broke his gaze and turned away, embarrassed by his own thoughts. Delphine was a guest in their home, and she would leave as soon as she was able. So why was he acting like a love-craved fool? He had been around beautiful women before but none of them had ever affected him like Delphine had.
He needed a drink.
Bennett walked over to the drink cart and poured himself a drink. He took a sip and hoped to calm his wandering thoughts. For that is just what they were. His thoughts. He had no intention of acting on them.
But his mother had other ideas.
“Dear,” his mother said, addressing Bennett, “would you mind showing Delphine the library after dinner?”
Botheration.
He wanted to say no, but propriety won out.
Bennett mustered up a smile to his face. “I would be honored,” he said, hoping his words sounded genuine enough.
Delphine smiled, and he had to force himself to look away, as if he had encountered that smile before in his dreams. What was wrong with him?
Fortunately, before he could delve much deeper into that question, his sisters stepped into the room.
Elodie gasped when her eyes landed on Delphine. “You look radiant,” she announced.
Melody nodded her agreement. “I must agree with Elodie, and that pink dress suits you rather nicely.”
Delphine held out the folds of her gown. “I do appreciate Elodie letting me borrow one of her gowns. It is nice not being in my wrapper.”
“I shall have my lady’s maid bring more gowns to your bedchamber,” Elodie said. “It is the least we could do.”
“That is most kind of you, but I am hoping to leave tomorrow once I speak to the doctor,” Delphine responded.
Lady Dallington interjected, “Let’s not get ahead ofourselves. You are still recovering from a brain injury, and we do not want you to be jostled about in the coach on your journey home.”
Delphine reached up and touched her bruised forehead. “With every moment, every step, I feel my strength returning to me.”
“That is good, but before we make any plans, let us confer with the doctor,” his mother advised.
Winston stepped forward and bowed in Delphine’s direction. “Forgive my family’s manners, my lady, but they have failed to introduce us. I am Winston, the younger son, the spare.” He paused, a mischievous grin spreading across his lips. “Or, as some would say, the more handsome son.”
Delphine went to drop into a curtsy but stopped herself. “It is a pleasure to meet you,” she said. “I understand that you are a barrister.”
“I am,” Winston responded.
“Bennett told me a bit about your family when I first woke up and was trying to remember my memories,” Delphine shared.
A faint smirk played at the corners of Winston’s lips. “I shudder to think what Bennett told you about us.”
Delphine returned his smile with one of her own. “It was all good… well, mostly good,” she joked.
Bennett did not like the way that Winston was watching Delphine. An unfamiliar, and unwelcome, pang of jealousy surged through him. Clearing his throat, he redirected everyone’s attention. “Is Father joining us for dinner?” He already knew the answer to that question, but he asked it anyways.
“He is,” his mother confirmed. “He is in the study, finishing up working on the accounts.”
