Delphine’s laughter filled the room, a joyous sound that warmed his heart. “That is only if you save a genie,” she said.
“My mistake,” Bennett responded, dropping his hand. “But I do have something I want you to do for me.”
“What is it?”
Bennett glanced at the open door. “I think I would like to play a joke on Elodie, assuming you have no objections.”
Delphine turned to face him. “What do you have in mind?”
In a low voice, Bennett replied, “You have certain traditions in Scotland, do you not?”
“We do,” Delphine replied. “My father was insistent that I grew up knowing our heritage.”
“What if we played into those traditions?” Bennett asked.
A line between Delphine’s brow appeared. “Meaning?”
Bennett leaned forward and replied, “What if I brought in a bagpiper to regale us with music every morning? Perhaps just outside of Elodie’s window- say at dawn?”
Delphine looked unsure. “Would she not get angry with us?”
“Not if we said it was to help you recover your memories,” Bennett replied. “Besides, Elodie has been relentless infollowing us around. She is even outside in the corridor as we speak.”
Shifting her gaze towards the door, Delphine asked, “How do you know?”
“I saw her peeking in just a moment ago,” Bennett replied. “I think it is time to teach her a lesson.”
“I do not wish to upset Elodie since she has been so kind to me,” Delphine said.
“Trust me. My sister is many things, but she does have an excellent sense of humor. Like me. I am constantly being told how amusing I am.”
Delphine grinned. “Who are these people?” she asked. “I only wonder because it sounds as if they are imaginary.”
Bennett chuckled. “I do not have imaginary friends. At least, not anymore.”
“But you had them?”
“Not exactly, but I wanted one,” Bennett replied. “My nursemaid once told me a story about how our ancestors roamed the halls of our home, and I was adamant about wanting to see them. I set up a fort in the corridor where all the family’s portraits are hung and waited for one of them to appear. But they never came. Night after night went by and I didn’t see one ghost.”
“I take it that you gave up.”
“Only because my parents refused to let me keep the fort in the corridor and gave my nursemaid a stern reprimand,” Bennett said. “I was disappointed, though. I have never seen a ghost, but I do believe they exist.”
Delphine shuddered. “I have no desire to see a ghost.”
“Not even if it was a family member?” Bennett asked. “What of your mother?”
She grew silent. “It would be nice to see my mother again.”
Bennett’s lips twitched. “What if we built a fort and wait to see if your mother appears?” he suggested.
“Why would she appear at your country estate?”
“Why not?” Bennett asked. “She might want to meet me.”
Delphine gave him an amused look. “If ghosts are real- and I’m not saying they are- why would my mother want to meet you when she could meet anyone from the beginning of time?”
Bennett smirked. “Because, my dear, I saved your life. And that makes me the most important person in your life.”
