“I was in the drawing room with my friend, Charlotte, and we were discussing the upcoming Season,” Delphine replied. “And I was husband-less. I am sure of that.”
Bennett gave her a pointed look. “Then you must go speak to this man that is claiming to be your husband. It is the only way to find the answers that you seek.”
Delphine knew that Bennett was right. She couldn’t ignore this problem and hope that it would go away. But deep down, she only felt dread. Something was not right.
“Would you like me to accompany you to the drawing room?” Bennett asked.
“Yes, please.”
Bennett gestured towards the manor. “Shall we?”
Delphine noticed that he didn’t offer his arm as he usually did, and her heart ached because of it. If she were truly married, it would be entirely inappropriate for him to escort her into the manor. But she needed his touch now more than ever.
“It will be all right,” Bennett encouraged.
She frowned, feeling herself growing increasingly upset by his encouraging words. Though she knew he meant to help, she couldn’t bear to entertain hope at the moment. “How?” she asked, her voice tinged with frustration. “There is a manclaiming to be my husband and I have not the faintest idea of who he could be.”
Bennett’s response was gentle but firm. “The first step is to speak to him.”
“And if I don’t like what he says?” Delphine asked, her apprehension palpable.
His gaze softened with understanding. “You won’t know that unless you speak to him,” he assured her. “I promise you that we will figure this out.”
Delphine’s legs felt heavy. She no more wanted to go speak to this man than have a thorn in her boot.
“Come along, Delphie,” Bennett said. “You can do this. I know you can.”
She found comfort in Bennett’s reassuring words, his belief in her lending her strength. Drawing upon reserves deep within her, she squared her shoulders, ready to face whatever lay ahead. “You are right,” she said.
“I usually am,” he teased.
She resisted the urge to smile. Now was not the time. There was nothing amusing about this situation that she found herself in. “You will stay with me?”
Bennett nodded. “Always.”
“Then let us go,” she said before she started walking towards the manor. The worst part was that she believed Bennett’s words. He would stay with her… unless she did truly have a husband.
Then he would leave her.
Delphine dismissed that thought. She didn’t have a husband so this was a moot point. It must be a misunderstanding. It had to be.
As they walked next to one another, she snuck a glance at Bennett and saw his jaw was clenched. She suspected that he held some affection for her, just as she did for him, but had she been wrong to fall for him?
No.
She loved him.
A footman held open the back door as they stepped inside. As they grew closer to the drawing room, Delphine’s steps grew more determined. She didn’t know who she would find in there but she didn’t want to lose Bennett over this.
Bennett came to a stop in front of the drawing room and gave her an encouraging look. But his eyes held a pain that she hadn’t seen before. A pain that she was sure she had caused.
Delphine entered the drawing room and she saw her neighbor, Mr. Simpkin, standing by the window. His dark hair glistened in the sun and his long sideburns highlighted his long, thin face.
As she opened her mouth to ask him what was going on, a familiar voice came from the settee. “Delphine!” Charlotte shouted, jumping up from her seat.
She had barely turned towards her dear friend when she found herself wrapped up in Charlotte’s arms.
“I can’t believe you are alive,” Charlotte said, leaning back to look at her. “I was so worried about you.”
