Bennett turned his head towards Delphine and asked, “Why are you not at breakfast?”
She took a step closer to him, but still maintained a proper distance. “I could ask you the same question.”
“I am not hungry,” he lied.
A look of uncertainty crossed her delicate features before she inquired, “Would you like me to go?”
No.
He wanted her to be with him forever.
Bennett forced a smile to his lips, hoping it was convincing enough. “You are welcome to stay, but you must be prepared for a stimulating conversation with Hercules.”
His words seemed to set Delphine at ease and her face softened. “Oh? And what does Hercules wish to talk about?”
“Right now, he is very interested in apples,” Bennett remarked.
Delphine reached into the bucket and pulled out an apple. “Well, I can help with that,” she said as she came to stand next to him. She held her hand out with the apple.
Hercules eagerly ate it out of her hand.
She smiled as she regarded the horse. “Hercules is a magnificent horse. I will miss him when I am gone.”
“What will you miss? His refusal to let anyone ride him or his stubborn streak?” he joked.
Turning to face him, she replied, “Hercules is a good horse. He will come around, but you must be patient.”
“I am the epitome of patience, my lady.”
Hercules nudged Delphine’s shoulder.
She giggled. “It would appear that Hercules wants more apples,” she said. “I do not fault him for that.”
Bennett gave the horse a look of mock sternness. “You have had enough for today.”
In response, Hercules tossed his head in complaint.
“You are better than me,” Delphine said. “I would have given him another apple just to appease him.”
“Then Hercules has trained you, and not the other way around.”
Delphine ran her fingers down Hercules’ neck. “Perhaps, but I just want Hercules to be happy.”
Bennett eyed her curiously. “Why is his happiness so important to you?”
“He suffered a great loss when your uncle died, and deserves to be happy,” Delphine replied.
He heard the anguish in her voice, prompting him to ask, “Are you happy, Delphie?”
She grew silent. “For so long, I thought I was, but it all changed when you saved me. I now know what true happiness is.”
“What prompted that realization?”
Delphine held his gaze before saying, “I met you.”
Bennett blinked, not knowing what he could say. He felt precisely the same way. His whole life had changed when Delphine had come into it. And it was for the better. How could he make her understand that he needed her in his life? This wasn’t just some passing whim for him. Delphine was his future, he was sure of that.
An adorable blush came to her cheeks and she ducked her head. “I should join your mother for breakfast.”
