“Pity,” Elodie replied before taking a bite.
Bennett couldn’t resist goading his sister. “What purpose do you have in being here?” he joked.
Elodie held her hand out towards the biscuits. “I ensured there were refreshments available during our discussion.”
A door opened and their portly cook stuck her head in. “May we come in now?”
“Yes, please,” Elodie encouraged.
Mrs. Meek stepped into the kitchen. “I need to start preparing supper for this evening. I understand that we are to be having more guests.”
Elodie nodded. “Unfortunately, yes. With any luck, we can scare them off before dinner.”
Bennett gave his sister a pointed look. “We don’t want to scare Mr. Simpkin off or he might insist that Delphine accompany him.”
“You make a good point,” Elodie remarked. “Although, I was planning on wearing a sheet over my head and pretending that I was a ghost.”
“What purpose would that serve?” Bennett asked.
Elodie looked at him like he was a simpleton. “Everyone is afraid of ghosts. One look at me and Mr. Simpkin would be racing out the door.”
Bennett chuckled. “You would have the same effect without the sheet.”
His sister playfully narrowed her eyes at him. “I thought you were a gentleman,” she said. “Besides, I’d think you would be nicer to me since I am helping you with your Delphine situation.”
With a smile, Bennett responded, “I am sorry if I insinuated that your face scares people.”
“There. Was that so hard to admit?” Elodie asked with a tilt of her chin.
Winston reached for a biscuit as he said, “If you will excuse me, I need to brush up on my Scottish law.”
Turning towards his brother, Bennett expressed his gratitude, his tone carrying the weight of sincerity. “Thank you, Winston.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Winston said. “It is rather difficult to void a marriage, but not impossible.”
“If anyone can do it, it is you,” Bennett stated.
A pained look came to Winston’s eyes before he blinked itaway, making Bennett wonder if he had imagined it in the first place. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
As he went to respond, Winston walked off, not bothering to spare him a glance.
Elodie’s eyes remained on Winston’s retreating figure. “Winston seems more troubled than usual.”
“That he does,” Bennett agreed.
“Do you know why that is?” Elodie asked as she met his gaze.
Bennett shook his head. “I was hoping you knew. After all, you do like to eavesdrop on private conversations.”
His mother’s voice came from the direction of the stairs. “There you two are. I have been looking everywhere for you,” she said. “Why are you down in the kitchen?”
“For the food,” Elodie replied, holding up a biscuit.
Not looking convinced, his mother responded, “The truth, please.”
Bennett glanced around the kitchen as the servants were milling around. “We were discussing a way to help Delphine,” he admitted.
Approval shone in his mother’s eyes. “Wonderful!” she exclaimed. “I assume that Winston was involved in the conversation.”
