“Relentlessly handsome?” Bennett asked.
“Good heavens, you must be drunk.” Delphine tsked. “And at such an early hour, my lord.”
“Only drunk on you,” Bennett bantered with a flirtatious smile.
Delphine made a face. “That was awful. Truly awful,” she declared. “I think I would rather tour the library on my own.”
Bennett straightened and took a step back. “Very well,” he said. “But I need to set our plans in motion.”
“What plans?”
“You are about to be transported back into Scotland,” Bennett said with an exaggerated bow. “And I assure you that it will be spectacular.”
Delphine held her hand up. “Wait,” she said. “What if we start small? Perhaps invite a bagpiper to join us over dinner first.”
Bennett bobbed his head. “Good idea. I will see what I can do.”
As Bennett departed from the library, he wasn’t quite sure what ideas he wanted to implement but he hoped his plan would goad Elodie. He could see her peeking out of a closet at him, and he didn’t bother to acknowledge her.
The sun streamed in through the windows of the library as Delphine read her book on the religions of the world. It was fascinating to learn about other people’s beliefs.
Elodie entered the room and Delphine promptly closed the book, finding herself feeling embarrassed at being caught reading such a book.
With a curious look, Elodie asked, “Dare I ask what you were reading?”
“Nothing of note,” Delphine replied hastily.
Elodie approached her, looking unconcerned. “If you were reading a naughty book, I promise I won’t tell.”
“What is a ‘naughty book’?” Delphine asked.
As she sat down on a chair, Elodie lowered her voice and replied, “Anything where kissing or other things are discussed.”
Delphine lifted her brow. “What do you know about ‘other things’?”
“Not much, considering no one speaks about such things, but I have read a book or two on anatomy,” Elodie replied. “I do believe I got the gist of it.”
“I’m afraid I know nothing about such things,” Delphine admitted.
Elodie glanced down at the book in her hand. “Then, pray tell, what were you reading that caused you to act so squeamish?”
Delphine decided to just tell her the truth and be done with it. She held up the book. “It is a book on the various religions of the world.”
“Is that all?” Elodie asked. “I have read that book before and it is not the least bit scandalous.”
“Your father lets you read these books?”
Elodie grinned. “No, but my father doesn’t always know what I am up to.”
Delphine turned her head towards the bookshelves that were filled with books. “I find that I am rather envious of all the books that your family has acquired over the years. I daresay that my library is lacking at home.”
“Why have you not acquired more books?”
“I suppose it hasn’t been a priority since I have been so busy tending to my other tasks,” Delphine admitted.
“Is there anything more important than reading?” Elodie asked. “It transports me to another place, another time, where I am not so odd.”
Delphine could hear the sadness in her voice, prompting her to say, “You are not odd.”
