“I wouldn’t go straight to sweet, but I would say he is misunderstood, especially by my father,” Elodie shared. “He wants to sell Hercules since no one can ride him.”
“That would be a shame,” Delphine said.
“What good is a horse that can’t be ridden?”
Delphine had to admit that Elodie had a point, but she still felt that someone should fight for Hercules. “I will speak to your father about purchasing Hercules, assuming he is in earnest about selling him.”
“Why would you want Hercules?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “Whyever not?” she asked. “I could always use him as a stud since he is such a magnificent horse.”
Elodie placed a napkin onto her lap. “I have many fond memories of my uncle riding Hercules. He adored that horse.”
“That is what Bennett shared, as well.”
“Oh, you saw Bennett this morning?” Elodie asked.
Delphine nodded. “I ran into him at the stables and he escorted me back to the manor,” she shared. “He should be joining us shortly.”
Elodie picked up her knife and held it up. “If that is thecase, I will need to protect my plate from Bennett since he likes to steal food.”
“Whatever for?”
“I don’t know,” Elodie replied. “I suppose he likes how I butter my toast with expert precision.”
Delphine grinned. “How does one butter toast with ‘expert precision’?”
Elodie lowered the knife to the table. “I perfected the method when I was at boarding school,” she replied. “I ensure that the butter reaches all the edges so every bite is equally rewarding.”
“That is odd,” Delphine couldn’t help but say.
“How do you butter your toast?”
Delphine shrugged. “I take a knife and spread a small amount of butter on my toast. It is not an overly complicated process.”
Elodie looked less than impressed by her admission. “But if you do not spread the butter to the edges, you are depriving yourself of deliciousness.”
“It is just toast,” Delphine remarked.
Picking up a piece of toast from her plate, Elodie said, “I would take offense, but you are from Scotland. You must not eat a lot of toast there.”
“We eat toast in Scotland.”
Elodie huffed. “Then I just feel bad for you.”
A deep chuckle came from the doorway, interrupting their conversation. “Only you love toast that much, Elodie,” Bennett said.
“Everyone should love toast,” Elodie stated with a tilt of her chin.
Bennett walked closer to the table and snatched a piece of toast from Elodie’s plate. After he took a bite, he said, “Your buttering technique is excellent, Sister.”
Elodie gave Delphine a knowing look. “I told you,” shesaid. “My brother is uncivilized and steals food from plates. You should guard your food with your life.”
“Don’t be so dramatic,” Bennett joked. “It is just a piece of toast. I shall get you another. Two, in fact.”
“I don’t want another piece of toast. I wantthatpiece of toast,” Elodie said.
Bennett finished the piece of toast and brushed his hands together to get rid of the crumbs. “You are being overdramatic.”
