“It may or may not be a nightly endeavor,” Elodie replied with a slight shrug. “But you mustn’t tell Mother. I have dresses that I must fit in for the upcoming Season.”
Bennett chuckled. “You poor thing.”
“You laugh, but you could not handle the pressures of being a woman,” Elodie declared. “We are defined by our looks, not our minds. All of our training and education is for the sole purpose of finding a suitable match.”
He heard the pain in her voice and he reached out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You, dear sister, have nothing to worry about. You will have hordes of suitors flocking around you.”
Elodie grew quiet. “And if I don’t want that?”
“What do you want?” he prodded.
“That is the problem,” she replied. “I don’t know what I want, but I hope I can find it, when I need it.”
Bennett dropped his hand to his side. “This conversation would be much better if I had a biscuit in my hand.”
As they began walking down the corridor, Elodie broke the silence. “You were awfully quiet during dinner this evening. Is everything all right?”
“Everything is fine,” he assured her, though the truth was far from that. He didn’t feel like discussing it with his sister. He just wanted a biscuit. Not a reminder that Delphine was going to leave soon.
Elodie glanced at him as if sensing his thoughts. “You could ask her to stay. There would be no shame in that.”
“Elodie…” he started.
She stopped and turned to face him. “I may be many things, but being blind is not one of them. I know you care for Delphine.”
“It is complicated,” he admitted.
“Then you must strive to do everything in your power to ‘uncomplicate’ it,” Elodie said firmly.
Bennett knew his sister was only trying to help but that didn’t mean he needed- or wanted- her help. “If only it was that easy, Sister.”
Elodie gave him a knowing look. “What if I told you that Delphine was not entirely immune to your charms?”
“She told you this?”
“Not in so many words,” Elodie replied.
Bennett grew solemn. “Delphine is a countess and has her own responsibilities. Furthermore, she has been ratherforthright about how eager she is to return home to her own country estate.”
Elodie bobbed her head in agreement. “Yes, but people can change.”
“Not that much,” Bennett said, gesturing towards the servants’ entrance. “We should eat a biscuit before it grows too late.”
His sister appeared as though she wanted to inquire further, but thankfully she relented. “Very well,” she said. “The thought of a biscuit is much too appealing at the moment.”
Bennett walked over and opened the door that led to the servants’ stairs. “Biscuits make everything better,” he said before he followed his sister down the stairs.
Once they arrived in the kitchen, Elodie walked over to a plate that had a cloth covering it. “Mrs. Meek leaves me three biscuits and I will be happy to share one with you.”
“That is most gracious of you,” Bennett joked.
Elodie removed the cloth and extended a biscuit to her brother. “If you bring forth some stimulating conversation, I might give you another half.”
Bennett leaned against the counter. “This may come as a surprise, but many young women find me to be a delight.”
“You are an earl. They will say anything to snag you, including listening to your drivel,” Elodie said.
He smirked. “You make it nearly impossible to like you.”
