Page 89 of The Unfortunate Debutante
“My brother was murdered by the same man who abducted Martha,” Benedict shared. “He also nearly killed Eliza. But I chose not to dwell on it. Choosing despair or hate will eventually destroy you.”
Simeon blinked back the tears in his eyes. “My whole world was turned upside down after Martha vanished. I lost everything. My friends, my family, and my betrothed. And when I finally found Martha, I lost her all over again. How can I not lose hope?”
“Love is tangible, as is hope,” Benedict replied.
He sighed. “But what if I am not destined to have a love match? What if the problem isme?”
“It’s abundantly clear that you care for Emma,” Benedict said, watching him closely. “I’m sure even more than you’re letting on. So, I must pose the question, what are your intentions towards Emma?”
“I have deep feelings for her.”
“I see,” Benedict muttered. “True love is rare, and people can search their entire lives to find it. But you have been blessed to have found it twice.”
“No, Martha didn’t choose me. She chose Emmett.”
“If Martha hadn’t been sold into slavery, do you believe that you two would have married?”
“Without a doubt,” he rushed to answer.
“I believe fate intervened, because you weren’t supposed to marry Martha,” Benedict said.
“And I’m supposed to marry Emma?”
Benedict shrugged. “You tell me.”
Simeon looked up at the ceiling. “Why would Emma agree to a courtship with me? She is the opposite of me in so many ways.”
Chuckling, Benedict said, “My wife can speak multiple languages, best me in weapons training, and could kill me before I even blink. But she took a chance on me.”
“And I’ve never regretted that choice,” Eliza stated from the doorway.
Simeon and Benedict rose from their seats and turned to face her.
“If you two are finished being chatterboxes, Jonathon has returned, and he has a lead on Lockhart,” Eliza shared.
Benedict gave him a pointed look. “Let’s go save Emma, becausewewill save her.”
“Allow me to go change,” Eliza said, turning to leave the room.
“Absolutely not!” Benedict roared.
Eliza turned back to face him with a determined brow. “I cannot sit back and do nothing while you go rescue Emma.”
“Yes, you can, and you will,” Jonathon declared from behind her.
“No, I won’t,” Eliza challenged, turning to face him. “I am more than capable of wielding a bow in my condition.”
Adrien chuckled as he approached Jonathon. “I don’t know which Beckett sister is more stubborn.”
“Eliza, dear…” Benedict started.
“I’ll stay back in the shadows…”
Eliza’s words were stilled as Benedict approached her and cupped her right cheek. “Please think of our unborn babe. Besides, I cannot risk losing you.”
“I’m more than capable of protecting myself and our unborn babe,” she contended.
“You are,” he agreed, placing his other hand on her belly. “But you must trust that we will bring Emma back safely.”
