“You refused?” she breathed. “For me?”
He’d never seen her look vulnerable before. Not Clementine, whose confidence exceeded that of anyone else he knew. She seemed almost confused.
“Of course.” He shook his head. “You are my confidant, my friend. My business partner. How could I cut you from my life? Being in love shouldn’t make me do what is not right.”
The look of wonder dropped from Clementine’s face. “You still love her.”
“I do.” He wished he could qualify that agreement. Put it in the past tense. Yet, he could not. Although her ultimatum and her attack on Clementine angered him, his love wouldn’t dim. He balled his hands. He’d rather it would.
Clementine watched him through wary eyes. She moistened her lips. “I suppose it’s only reasonable for a young woman not to wish her betrothed to associate with his mistress.”
“Former mistress,” he corrected. “I told her as much. I wish she would believe me.”
“You know, you don’t really want a woman who won’t believe you. What sort of life would you have?”
Jasper shrugged, aware Clementine couldn’t know her comment held as true for Madelina as him. Why would she want a husband who wouldn’t believe her? But how could he? He’d known Clementine for years. She worked with him to save young women.
A keen mixture of anger and despair swirled through him. He wished he didn’t want Madelina. He wished he’d never seen her. His mother was wrong. Loving someone with all your being didn’t bring great happiness. It brought pain. Of all people, his mother should know that.
Clementine stroked his cheek. “I don’t like to see you so unsettled, dearest. Perhaps you could convince her that you and I are no longer lovers.”
He twitched his shoulders, the motion sharp with frustration. “That was not the extent of her complaints.”
A dull ache settled in his gut. The sensation threatened to work up his throat to cut off air. He couldn’t go through life without Madelina, could he? There had to be a way to convince her that he and Clementine would never be lovers again, and that Clementine wasn’t Madam Dequenne. The second ought to be simple. Obviously, Madelina had only made the accusation out of jealousy. She must have.
“Oh dear.” Clementine’s brow knit. “Have I done something to offend her?” Clementine offered an exaggerated frown. “I did pull you away from your dance with her. I am sorry for that. I’d no idea I interrupted something so important.”
Jasper shook his head. “No, it’s not the dance, although I daresay that stung her.” Could he tell Clementine of Madelina’s accusation? Surely, Clementine would laugh. Maybe her amusement would pull Jasper up from the despair threatening him. Then she could help him plan how to win back Madelina.
But what if…. No. He would not believe that of Clementine. He drew in a deep breath, focused on Clementine’s face and said, “She feels she cannot marry me until I accept that you are Madam Dequenne.”
Clementine froze, something akin to fear dulling her gaze. “What?” she gasped.
Jasper flung up his arms. “You see? The girl is unhinged. How could I accept that as a reason to cut you? We both know the accusation was made out of misplaced jealousy.”
Clementine licked her lips. “Yes. She must be very jealous.”
Jasper paced away, then back, and away again. “She refused to listen to reason, or even admit she’s jealous.”
Auburn locks swept back and forth as Clementine shook her head. “How would she even come across such an idea?” she breathed. “Madam Dequenne is hardly a topic for genteel parlors.”
Jasper stilled, his back to Clementine. Could he share Madelina’s secret with a woman she despised? His side twinged. He rubbed at the tightly wound bandages. Telling seemed like a betrayal, and yet, he always told Clementine everything.
Jasper drew in a deep breath. “Lady Madelina is Little Hook.” The stillness in the room alarmed him. He turned.
The hard look on Clementine’s face shifted immediately to incredulousness. “Jasper, that’s ridiculous. She’s a slip of a girl.”
“And yet, it’s true.”
Clementine searched his face. “You’re certain about this?”
“I am.”
She pointed to his side. “Then, she stabbed you.”
He nodded. A thread of appreciation sliced through his misery. She’d easily held her own against him during both of their encounters. Cut him. Tossed him like a sack. What an amazing woman.
“Are you sure you want to love a madwoman, Jasper?” Clementine pursed her lips. “Or one underhanded enough to try to make you believe I am Madam Dequenne?”
