Edwina approached her cousin and wrapped her arms around his waist. “It will be all right,” she said in a vain attempt to reassure him.
“How?” Bennett asked. “My father is hated by the villagers and now he has a whole other family.”
“You can fix this,” Edwina said, taking a step back. “I know you, and I know what you are capable of.”
“I don’t think I am capable of keeping our family together once the truth is revealed,” Bennett admitted.
Edwina smiled at Bennett. “You will find a way.”
Bennett sighed. “I think I preferred you when you were moping around the manor,” he said lightly. “You are far too optimistic now.”
“I am starting to see things differently now,” Edwina remarked as she glanced over at Miles. “It took a friend to help me realize what is truly important.”
Miles held her gaze. “You would have figured it out on your own soon enough.”
“You give me far too much credit,” Edwina said.
Bennett cleared his throat. “Can we discuss the matter at hand?” he asked. “I am of half a mind to go speak to the woman in the cottage.”
“That is a terrible idea,” Miles stated. “Then Lord Dallington will know you have discovered his secret.”
“Well, what am I to do?” Bennett asked as his shoulders slumped slightly. “Do I dare confront my father or continue on as if nothing is amiss?”
Miles knew that holding on to a secret such as this would gnaw at his friend until it began to rob him of his joy. “No, that wouldn’t be fair to you or your family.”
Edwina bobbed her head. “Lord Hilgrove is right. Your family has a right to know the truth.”
“But what is the truth?” Bennett asked. “We know nothing about that woman or her son. What if it was all perfectly innocent?”
Miles could see the turmoil in Bennett’s eyes as he struggled to come to terms with what he had just witnessed. But pretending everything was well would not benefit anyone, especially his friend. “Is that what you think in your heart?” he asked gently, knowing that this question was difficult for Bennett to answer truthfully.
Bennett let out a sigh. “No,” he responded.
“We can help you,” Edwina reassured him.
With a pained look on his face, Bennett responded, “Noone can help me. This is something that I need to do on my own.” He paused. “But it makes me wonder what else my father is hiding from me. From us.”
Bennett continued. “I cannot imagine the enormous pressure that my father has endured since taking over his title, but that doesn’t excuse his behavior.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Miles agreed.
“It is time that I take a more active role in the estate,” Bennett remarked firmly. “My father has brushed me aside for far too long.”
Edwina’s eyes held approval. “I believe in you.Webelieve in you.” She turned towards Miles. “Don’t we, my lord?”
Miles shrugged. “I am still on the fence,” he joked.
Bennett walked over to where the horses were secured. “We should be heading back. I don’t want Winston to start asking questions, questions that I do not want to answer.”
“We could always go to the village and select some ribbon for Elodie and Melody,” Edwina suggested.
“No, I do not want to risk having my father see us,” Bennett said with a shake of his head.
Miles retrieved his horse and held the reins loosely in his hand. “For what it is worth, I am sorry.”
Bennett offered him an appreciative smile. “You and Edwina tried to warn me. But I didn’t believe you. Quite frankly, I didn’twantto believe you. Now I am forced to question everything.”
“Well, I am willing to help in any way that I can,” Miles said.
