Elodie held her biscuit up. “The truth hurts, dear brother, but there is one young woman that has no intention of snagging you. And I think you need her as much as she needs you.”
Bennett brushed the crumbs off his hands as he remarked, “I know you mean well, but…”
“I just have one question for you,” she said, speaking over him.
He gave her an expectant look. “I may come to regret this, but I find myself curious as to why you care so much.”
Elodie reached for the last remaining biscuit and broke it into two pieces. “What would you do for a chance at love?”
“Love?” Bennett repeated. “No one said anything about love.”
Extending him the half of a biscuit, Elodie replied, “You didn’t have to.”
Bennett stared at his sister, unsure of how to respond. He couldn’t possibly love Delphine. Could he? But the more he thought about it, the more he was forced to accept his feelings ran deeper than he realized.
And that thought both terrified and excited him at the same time.
Delphine sat at the dressing table in her bedchamber as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. The doctor should be arriving soon and all she felt was dread. No doubt he would inform her that she was ready to travel home. And isn’t that what she had wanted from the moment most of her memories had returned to her?
But it was different now.
Shewas different.
Despite not knowing how she had ended up in the woodlands in the first place, she felt perfectly well. Her headaches were gone, her stiff neck had eased and she no longer experienced any shortness of breath when walking.
This was ridiculous. It wasn’t as if she wouldn’t see Bennett again. She would see him- and his family- this Season. But it would be different. No matter how much she wanted to convince herself that it would be the same, she couldn’t deny the truth.
She would be forced to watch Bennett be surrounded by young women, all vying for his attention. Not that she would blame any of them. Bennett was the best of men and would make a fine husband.
A knock came at the door.
“Enter,” Delphine ordered.
The door opened, revealing a young maid. “Doctor Anderson has come to call, my lady. He is waiting for you in the drawing room.”
Rising, Delphine said, “Please inform him that I will be down shortly.”
“Very well,” the young maid responded with a slight curtsy.
Delphine ran a hand down her pale blue gown before she headed out the door. As she entered the corridor, she saw Bennett standing there, waiting for her, and her heart leapt at the sight of him. Just as it always did.
He smiled when his eyes landed on her. “Delphie,” he greeted. “Good morning.” Why did it seem like whenever he said her name she felt her soul take a breath?
“Good morning,” she responded.
“I have come to escort you down to breakfast,” Bennett said as he offered his arm.
She placed her hand on his as she replied, “Breakfast shall have to wait. Doctor Anderson has called upon me.”
“He is here- already?” Bennett asked in a voice that almost sounded panicked. But that was impossible. Why would Bennett not be pleased by that news?
“Apparently he is an early riser,” Delphine replied.
As Bennett started leading her down the hall, he remarked, “I do hope you still plan on attending the soiree, considering it is being held in your honor.”
Delphine bobbed her head. “I have no intention of leaving before then. I do not wish to insult your mother, especially since she has been most gracious to me.”
“Furthermore, there is much that I haven’t shown you at Brockhall Manor,” he said as he waggled his eyebrows.
