His mother lowered herself down into a chair next to him. “What is it that you want?” she asked.
“I don’t rightly know,” he confessed.
“That is not the answer I was hoping for,” she said.
Bennett didn’t have time for this. He wanted nothing more than to be alone so he could wallow in his self-misery. “What is it that you want from me, Mother?”
His mother regarded him with a compassionate gaze. “As a mother, I want you to have everything your heart desires. I want to take away every pain, every heartache and only allow you to experience joy. But that is impossible. You must experience each if you want to appreciate the other.” She paused. “How you respond to your suffering is what will define you.”
“That is easier said than done,” Bennett remarked.
Rising, his mother said, “Right now, more than anything, Delphine needs a friend. Can you be that for her?”
“I want to, but I’m afraid that I won’t be able to set aside my feelings for her,” Bennett replied.
“If you can’t be with her during the bad times, what makes you think you deserve to be with her through the good?”
Bennett knew his mother made a very good point. He had been so consumed with his own thoughts and feelings that he hadn’t considered what Delphine was truly going through. And that ended now. He would be a friend to her- the greatest of all friends.
He jumped up from his seat. “I can be her friend.”
His mother gave him a knowing smile. “I know you can, my dear,” she said. “Now, go before I give you even more unsolicited advice.”
“Thank you,” Bennett said before he hurried out the door.He knew the odds were stacked against Delphine, but he refused to give up. Not on her. Or himself. They might not have a future together, but all he wanted was for her to be happy.
As he passed by the drawing room, he heard giggling coming from within. He came to a stop, wondering what was so amusing.
Bennett stepped into the room and saw Mr. Simpkin and Miss Eden sitting on the settee, engaged in a conversation. By the looks of it, they were both rather enjoying themselves.
He cleared his throat, wanting to make his presence known.
Miss Eden’s eyes went wide at the sight of him and she quickly rose. “Lord Dunsby,” she said as she moved to create more distance between herself and Mr. Simpkin.
Mr. Simpkin did not look the least bit ashamed and simply asked, “My lord, is there something we can help you with?” His words were curt, despite the awkward situation.
“No,” Bennett replied, his response blunt and to the point.
With a glance at Mr. Simpkin, Miss Eden said, “Excuse me. I think it would be best if I go rest before supper.”
Bennett stood to the side as Miss Eden departed from the drawing room.
Mr. Simpkin stood and regarded him with disdain. “Now that Miss Eden is gone, I was hoping we could speak for a moment.”
“What is it that you wish to speak about?” Bennett asked as he walked further into the room. He had a feeling that this conversation was meant to be private.
“I know what you are trying to do with my wife, and it ends now,” Mr. Simpkin asserted. “I refuse to go along with voiding our marriage. We are legally wed, and I will not lose her.”
Bennett could hear the determination in Mr. Simpkin’svoice but if he wanted to have a frank conversation, so be it. “Do you love her?”
Mr. Simpkin huffed. “Love?” he asked. “What does love have to do with marriage? Delphine and I agreed to wed in name only. It was a strategic move on both our parts.”
“What does Lady Dunrobin get out of the marriage?”
“She has the protection of my name,” Mr. Simpkin stated.
Bennett lifted his brow. “What kind of protection is that?” he asked. “You are only gentry and I doubt that you have made any mark in Society.”
Mr. Simpkin bristled. “With Delphine’s lands, I am one of the largest landowners in all of England.”
