Elodie reached for her teacup and said, “I will go visit Miss Delphine after breakfast.”
Bennett winced, wondering if that was the best idea. “Perhaps I shall go speak to her first.”
“Why?” Elodie asked. “I am a delight. Many people have told me so.”
“Yes, but you also say outlandish things that might frighten the poor girl,” Bennett remarked.
After Elodie returned the teacup to her saucer, she suggested, “Maybe if we all shout at Miss Delphine at the precise same time, it will jar her memories.”
Bennett looked heavenward. “Do you even hear yourself speak?”
“I do, and I think my plan is ingenious,” Elodie replied with a smirk. “Being startled every so often keeps one alert.”
His mother gave Elodie a pointed look. “No one is going to shout at Miss Delphine,” she said firmly. “We must strive to be patient.”
Doctor Anderson turned towards Bennett’s mother. “I will return tomorrow to look in on Miss Delphine, but until then, I will be visiting a few of my patients in the next village over.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” she responded.
Once the doctor departed from the dining room, Elodie asked, “Has anyone considered that Miss Delphine is lying about losing her memories?”
Bennett uncrossed his arms, wondering what outlandish thing his sister was going to say next. “Why, pray tell, would she do that?”
Elodie’s eyes held amusement as she asked, “What if she is hiding out from an evil stepmother that is intent on marrying her off to a prince in a faraway land?”
“You have been reading far too many fairy tales, Sister,” Bennett declared as he straightened up from the chair. “And to prove it to you, I will go speak to Miss Delphine now.”
“But you haven’t had breakfast yet,” Elodie said.
Bennett reached for a piece of toast on Elodie’s plate. “Now I have,” he said before taking a bite.
Elodie held up a fork. “Next time, I shall defend my plate with the necessary force.”
Melody picked up a piece of toast off her plate and placed it on Elodie’s plate. “You can have my toast.”
“Thank you, but I was rather fond of the toast that Bennett is eating. It was buttered precisely the way I like it,” Elodie joked, lowering the fork to the table.
Bennett chuckled. “You should have eaten faster.”
“Why should I?” Elodie asked. “No one else has dared to steal food off my plate before.”
“Consider it a tithe,” Bennett said.
His mother went to sit at the head of the table. “I would be remiss if I did not inform you that stealing food off another’s plate is considered uncouth.”
Bennett took a step back. “And on that note, I shall go speak to Miss Delphine.”
With a stern look, his mother advised, “Be mindful to have maids present when you visit Miss Delphine since it is rather inappropriate to visit a young woman in her bedchamber. If not for the unusual circumstances, I would never permit such a thing.”
“I am not completely uncivilized, Mother,” Bennett said. “I do know the rules of Polite Society.”
His mother didn’t look convinced. “Very well, but do not upset Miss Delphine. She has been through enough.”
Bennett brought a hand to his chest in a dramatic fashion. “Why would you even suggest such a thing? I am above all else a gentleman.”
“A gentleman does not steal food off plates,” Elodie interjected.
“Well, I promise I will not steal food off Miss Delphine’s plate,” Bennett said. “Now, if you will excuse me, I am off to charm yet another lady.”
