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you and Lady Jennette were becoming close. We both know she is not the woman for you, Matthew.” She leaned back with a satisfied look on her face.
“What did you ask him to do, Vanessa?”
She shrugged. “I only suggested that if he were to seduce Lady Jennette, I might take him as my protector.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes. Lady Jennette would only make your life worse than it already is,” she answered.
Matthew clenched his fists. “And how exactly would she make my life so horrible?”
“Well, think of the dreadful gossip if you decided to marry her. You both would be outcasts among Society. You might even have to go into seclusion at one of your deteriorating estates.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes and continued her diatribe against Jennette. “Lady Jennette would despise you for making her into such a disgrace. The ensuing scandal would ruin her family’s name, too.”
“So you took it upon yourself to ruin Lady Jennette’s life by having Huntley almost rape her.”
“Almost?” she mumbled in a hushed tone.
“Yes, almost. He didn’t succeed. Her brother and I stopped him before anything of consequence happened.”
“I see.” She pretended to straighten her skirts. “Still, Matthew, she wouldn’t want to be made a fool of by marrying you.”
“I believe that decision should be up to her, not you.” Matthew could not believe the woman seemed to have no remorse for her actions against Jennette. How could he have misjudged Vanessa so significantly?
Vanessa swallowed visibly and sat up straight in her seat. “Do you love her?” she whispered.
“Yes.”
“But you weren’t supposed to fall in love with her. Or anyone,” she sobbed.
“Vanessa, you were my mistress. My lover but not my love. I’m sorry.”
“You never intended on returning to me, did you?” she asked, then wiped away a tear.
“I am sorry for deceiving you. I had hoped to spare your feelings,” he said softly.
“Spare my feelings?”
“Yes. I knew you loved me but I didn’t have the same feelings for you. I had hoped you would find another protector before I married,” he admitted.
“I see.” She pulled at the folds of her skirt, stretching the muslin then crinkling it into clumps in her fists. “I think you had best leave, Matthew.”
“Of course. As long as we are both clear that I will not be coming back to you.”
“I understand perfectly,” she replied harshly.
Matthew yanked on his greatcoat. “I certainly hope you do.”
“Oh, trust me, Matthew. I understand.”
The ominous tone of her voice made him turn and stare at her once more before he left the house.
Vanessa stared at the door after Matthew left. If he thought for one minute this was over, he was wrong. How dare he say he didn’t love her! She’d given him her heart and her body.
The sound of heavy footsteps turned her head toward the staircase.
“Did I not tell you he was in love with the chit?” Huntley said, straightening his cravat as he walked.
