“What of it?” she asked. “Love is not a contract. One can break their vows of love without just cause, leaving the other to be devastated by their actions. And as a woman, there is nothing I could do to stop it.”
Lady Dallington leaned forward and patted her hand. “Life has a way of unraveling our carefully constructed plans.”
“Not mine,” Delphine insisted. “I know what I want out of life, and I know precisely what I need to do to achieve it.”
A smile came to Lady Dallington’s lips. “My point being is that Bennett found you in the woodlands. Had he not done such a thing then our paths might not have crossed until we were in London for the Season.”
A soft knock came at the door before a maid stepped into the room with a jonquil dress draped over her arm. “I was told to come help Lady Dunrobin get dressed for the day,” she said.
Lady Dallington rose from her chair. “Thank you,” she replied. “I shall leave you to it, but I will go and inform Bennett you will be available to tour the library soon.”
“I do not wish to be a bother,” Delphine remarked.
Coming to a stop near the door, Lady Dallington just smiled. “You are no bother, Dear. I daresay that you have brought hope to our doorstep.”
Unsure of what Lady Dallington was referring to, Delphine went to ask her but she departed the room before she could speak up.
The maid approached the bed. “Shall we dress you, my lady?”
“If you don’t mind,” Delphine replied, placing her feet over the side of the bed. “Do you know what Lady Dallington was referring to about ‘bringing hope to their doorstep’?”
She shook her head. “I do not.”
Delphine retreated to her own thoughts as she got dressed. What an odd thing for Lady Dallington to say to her. It didn’t appear that anyone was lacking hope at Brockhall Manor. Everyone seemed rather content with their lots in life. Well, everyone but Elodie. She didn’t seem entirely happy, but that could just come from the expectations that had been placed on her to find a love match.
It was a short time later that she found herself dressed and her hair was pulled back into a loose chignon. She exited her bedchamber and saw Bennett was leaning his shoulder against the opposite wall.
He straightened when he saw her. “Delphine,” he greeted with a slight bow. “I have come to escort you to the library.”
“Have you been waiting for long?”
“Not long,” Bennett replied. “But I would wait until the end of time to be able to escort such a lovely lady to the library.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Please say that line has not worked before.”
“I don’t know. I have never tried it on a young woman before,” Bennett said with a cocky grin.
“I would retire that phrase,” she encouraged.
“Duly noted, my lady,” Bennett said as he offered his arm. “Just so you know, most women are flattered when offered such praises.”
Delphine placed her hand on his arm and replied, “But I am not like most women. I prefer when a man is genuine in his affection.”
“Who says I wasn’t genuine?” Bennett asked with a wink.
She laughed. “Are you ever serious?”
Bennett’s face grew solemn. “I can be,” he said in a deep voice. “I am serious Bennett now. I will only respond in a tone that proves how serious I can be.”
“You are a fool,” she joked.
His hand flew up to his chest, feigning outrage. “I am no fool and I find great insult in your accusing me of such. I am an earl and I demand respect.”
“My apologies, my lord,” she responded. “I meant no disrespect calling you a fool.”
“Good, because serious men- such as myself- do not like being teased,” Bennett said. “We prefer stimulating conversations about how clever and important we are.”
Delphine couldn’t help but smile at this ridiculous conversation. Why could Bennett make her smile like no one else ever could? It was nearly impossible to not be in a pleasant mood when speaking to him.
