“Why what?”

“Why any of this?”

And right then, Maddie saw it. Through all of Felicity’s bluster and dramatics, a look of pain, devastation, and confusion. She looked as though there weren’t enough jungle cheese balls and fancy booze in the world to make up for her feeling elbowed out of the way by some blow-in, clueless, fashionless upstart like Maddie.

Felicity had hero-worshipped Elena for years. Had been loyal for years. Maybe even loved her for years. And it was Maddie who got to go with Felicity’s icon as a plus one to a VIP ball. Well, four of them to be exact. Felicity probably hadn’t even been told about the other three events.

“Why?” Maddie said, her tone kind. “Because I negotiated a deal. It’s good business. If Elena wanted Véronique and my exclusive, she got stuck helping me network at a few balls. Elena’s a woman of her word. She agreed to help me meet some important publishing names. That means looking good, too. Hence her interest in what I will wear. That’s all there is to it.”

Relief seemed to swamp Felicity’s features. It was almost palpable. “Okay,” she said in a voice so prim it was as though sheer bravado alone could hide the jealousy she was leaking all over the place. “Yes, that sounds…of course.”

She shot Maddie an unguarded, grateful look that told Maddie she was much shrewder than she pretended. Felicity didn’t look all that convinced by her explanation, but it was palatable enough and she’d take it.

“It’s business,” Felicity repeated. “It makes sense,” she said, as if trying the idea on for size. “Because Elena is a great businesswoman.” She nodded.

“Yep.” Maddie glanced around for the woman in question. She didn’t see Elena, but she did spot the Duchamps, alone at last. Mother and daughter hugged for a moment. Maddie grinned, proud she’d had a tiny hand in bringing them closer together through her interview.

“I have to give my congrats to the Duchamps.”

“Go.” Felicity shooed her away, looking more like her old self. “It’s not like I care. I mean really!”

Maddie laughed, shook her head, and pushed her way through the masses. As she neared them, Natalii rushed over, with her mother not far behind, and gave her a quick hug.

Brimming with enthusiasm, Natalii filled her in about Adèle’s arrival. “She said she missed me too much.” She was almost bouncing. “And she rushed on the first plane after her last show so that she could see me.”

Maddie gave her a kiss on each cheek—which seemed to be the appropriate response to French exuberance—and grinned. “So pleased for you.”

“I’ll bet.” Natalii laughed. “Now your sullied honour, it is restored!”

“Hey, that’s not why! But, yeah, doesn’t hurt. I’m just really happy you have found the one you’re meant to be with.”

Véronique, who had been quietly listening, leaned in. “On this topic, Madeleine, I think the one you wish you were with is not as without the interest as you like to believe,” she said with a cryptic look. “I would say she is captivée by you.”

Natalii seemed suddenly intrigued.

Maddie’s gaze darted between the two women, seeing if they were joking. Neither laughed. “She’s married, she’s straight. Okay, she’s kind of surprisingly tactile at times, but still, she’s…”

“A woman,” Véronique said. “And when I told her the emotion I had when I designed my signature dress was amour—amour for the beautiful female body, she looked right to you.”

“That doesn’t mean anything. Come on, eyes roam!”

Véronique laughed and gave her cheek an affectionate pat. “Oui, dear girl, they do. They roam all over you.”

Maddie bit her lip, trying not to feel hopeful. She couldn’t…wouldn’t dare to hope. If she was wrong, it would be crushing. And maybe Elena just really liked the dress? She wasn’t entirely sure what Elena was up to. The woman followed her own set of rules on everything.

Denial definitely seemed the safest course of action around a pair of far-too-curious, teasing Frenchwomen. Well, at least until Maddie figured the confusing woman out for herself.

As if on cue, she looked up to see Elena making a beeline for them. “Oh God,” she whispered. She so wasn’t ready for this.

Natalii and Véronique shared amused glances.

“Ladies,” Elena intoned as she reached them.

Maddie swallowed. And right then, the sneaky, evil Duchamps made their excuses and exited. She glared after them.

“Madeleine,” Elena said, drawing back her attention.

“Elena.” Maddie gripped her orange juice glass hard and sucked through her straw for something to do. It hit an air pocket between ice cubes and a loud slurping sound erupted.

Elena snorted softly. “Thirsty?”

Maddie gave her a sheepish look. She glanced around. “Enjoying the monkeys?”

“I’m actually strongly opposed to keeping animals in captivity for humans’ pleasure. I know some might enjoy this, but at what cost?”

“They do breeding programs, don’t they? Zoos like this help keep them alive.”

“Yes. But they can be kept alive outside zoos as well,” Elena said with a firm voice. “How would you enjoy being kept in a cage? Even one where you can roam a little but never be free?”

Maddie didn’t know how to answer that. She wanted to say she was as pro animal rights as the next liberal arts student and had been donating to the World Wildlife Foundation for years. Pandas for the Win had been her first bumper sticker on her beat-up, blue VW. Instead she said, “I wouldn’t like it, no.”

“I’m glad we agree.” Elena touched Maddie’s arm.

Maddie was so surprised, she twitched.

Elena withdrew her fingers. “What were you and the Duchamps discussing?” she asked after a beat.

“Natalii’s engagement.”

“Ah. Yes, a good thing for you.”

“Why does everyone keep saying that?” Maddie’s head shot up. “I am happy for them! That’s all there is!”

“And you somehow don’t feel you can be both relieved and happy?”

“I guess I can,” Maddie said, hating how defensive she sounded.

“You’re in a very odd mood, Madeleine. By the way, the first ball we’re attending together, have you had any further thoughts on what you’re going to wear?”

It sounded so casual, Maddie almost laughed. As if she hadn’t given Perry a detailed list on how she wanted him to make her over. “I thought I’d see Perry.”

“Excellent idea. He will be sure to have something acceptable.” Her eyes gleamed at the prospect.

“Did you have any thoughts?” Maddie asked, feeling cheeky. “About what I should wear?”

Elena froze. Her gaze was long and assessing.

Maddie waited for the lie to come, the flippant brush off, and then remembered it wasn’t going to come. Not tonight, not when this was the last night of their bet.