“I think that is wise,” Bennett said. “Now if you will excuse me, I am needed elsewhere.”
Not bothering to wait for a response, Bennett walked purposefully out of the drawing room and ran right into Elodie.
His hands went out to steady her as she fell backwards. “You are terrible at eavesdropping,” he remarked.
Elodie looked up at him with wide eyes. “Is it true?” she asked. “Is Delphine married?”
“Apparently so,” he replied, his jaw clenched.
“What are we to do?”
Bennett shrugged. “I don’t know, but I am going to speak to Winston. He might have an idea or two on what to do.”
“I’ll come with you.”
With a shake of his head, Bennett said, “No, I do not need your help on this.”
Elodie placed a hand on her hip. “What am I to do then?”
Bennett placed his hands on her shoulders. “You are a clever young woman. I am sure you will find something to occupy your time.”
“If you don’t allow me to come with you, I will just eavesdrop outside of the door,” Elodie said.
“Fine,” Bennett said, dropping his hands to his sides. “I am not in the mood to continue to debate this with you.”
Elodie smiled triumphantly. “If it helps, I have confirmed that Winston is in his bedchamber.”
“That does help,” Bennett said before he started heading towards the grand staircase. He couldn’t quite believe that Delphine was married, a fact she seemed neither eager about nor able to recall.
He could just accept the fact that Delphine was married and move on, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so. He had to find a way to assist her, and that is where Winston came in. With his extensive knowledge of the law, he was their best hope.
Bennett reached Winston’s door and knocked.
“Enter,” Winston ordered.
Opening the door, Bennett gestured for Elodie to enter first before following her into the room. His gaze fell upon an empty whiskey bottle on the desk, and he raised a questioning eyebrow at his brother.
Winston leaned forward in his seat, disposing of the bottle in the dustbin. “What is it that you want?” he asked.
“I need your help,” Bennett said.
“With what, exactly?” Winston asked.
Running a hand through his hair, Bennett attempted to quiet the flurry of thoughts racing through his mind. He needed to keep his wits about him, especially in this moment. Delphine needed him more now than ever.
In the calmest voice that he could muster up, Bennett revealed, “Delphine is married and her husband just showed up.”
Winston kept his face expressionless as he asked, “What do you want me to do about that?”
Bennett walked across the room and sat on the edge of the bed. “Delphine doesn’t remember getting married and is rather distressed at the moment.”
“Did she want the marriage?” Winston asked.
Elodie spoke up. “It does not appear so,” she replied.
Winston leaned back in his seat. “Tell me everything that you know,” he said.
“Mr. Simpkin claims they were married in Gretna Green and they suffered a carriage accident when they were returning home, which is how she ended up in the woodlands on our property,” Bennett said.
