"Mademoiselle!" Mercedes leans back, surprised by her reaction, and by how much she had misunderstood. "That is not what I meant, mademoiselle. I..." He shakes his head, trying to order his thoughts, I have never... spoken about this with anyone. Forgive me." He sets his glass down on the table, careful to avoid setting it on the maps. "I... I worry that he will meet a man that can give him more than I can. He might not have done yet, but... when he simply wants to talk with me... I worry." He explains, "I worry that he would not tell me, to avoid hurting me, but he has a man who he loves... loves more than he loves me."