Lady Revealed
Copyright © 2013 by Jane Charles
Smashwords Edition
Cover Design by Lily Smith
Cover Photo by HotDamn
Night Shift Publishing
This book is a work of fiction. Names,characters, locations and events are either a product of theauthor’s imagination, fictitious or used fictitiously. Anyresemblance to any event, locale or person, living or dead, ispurely coincidental.
This e-book is licensed for your personalenjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away toother people. If you would like to share this book with anotherperson, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Ifyou’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was notpurchased for your use only, then please return it and purchaseyour own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of thisauthor.
For Erin, Jeff, Trevor and Steve.
Thank you for your friendship. But most ofall, thank you for daring me to use the words
"loin salad" in this book. What would I dowithout you?
Jane
For those who have read the previousTenacious Trent stories: Compromised for Christmas, A MisguidedLord, A Perfect Gentleman, A Lass for Christmas and AReluctant Rake, please note that Chapter One of Julia’s storybegins during the same time A Misguided Lord began. I feltit was important to show Lord Acker and Julie’s love story from thebeginning, not simply when they encounter each other once again inLondon, where Reluctant Rake ended. I provide thisinformation to clarify and not confuse as some references to peopleand events have not yet occurred when Julia and Lord Acker firstmeet.
I hope you enjoy and thank you forreading.
Jane
October, 1793
Juliette stood at the window looking out atthe dark night. Maman had put her to bed a long time ago but shecouldn’t sleep. She had heard the servants whispering that thequeen was dead. They had taken her to the guillotine and they cutoff her head.
What horrible thing had the queen done? Nowher children were without a mère or a père. At least she had hermère and arrière grand-mère.
Juliette frowned and leaned her foreheadagainst the cool glass. She didn’t have a papa though. Mère said hewas dead. Just like the queen. Had his head been cut off too?
A shiver ran down her spine and Juliettegrabbed the small blanket that had been with her for as long as shecould remember. It was soft and warm and she always felt safer whenit was with her. Her fingers ran over the embroidery,“Julia”. Maman had wanted to cut the name out when she askedwho Julia was but arrière grand-mère said no one would notice. Hadthe blanket been made for another little girl but given to Julietteinstead? Or had the person sewn the wrong name on the blanket?Maman didn’t want to answer the questions and told her not to worryabout the name, but Juliette was still curious. If she had someoneelse’s blanket, shouldn’t she return it?
Two sharp sounds from below caused Julietteto jump and she turned toward the open nursery entrance. Who wasbanging on the front door and why would someone call this late atnight?
She made her way out of the nursery and downthe hall, pausing at the top of the stairs. Arrière grand-mère, herwhite hair braided down her back as if ready for bed, leaned heavyon her cane in the center of the foyer. A maid stood by the opendoor as a tall gentleman in uniform marched inside. Why was hehere? Soldiers only arrested people. Had her arrière grand-mère ormère done something wrong?
Her mother hurried down the hall; her lightnightgown floated behind her and Juliette sank down to the floorand watched through the openings along the railing. Maman stoppedhalf way down the stairs. She must have already been in bed becauseher beautiful red hair fell in curls down her back. “Gaspar, whatare you doing here?”
The man turned toward maman, his brown eyesstudied her and a slight smile curved on his lips. “There is talkof more arrests.”
Both arrière grand-mère and maman broughttheir hands to their throats.
“Are we on a list?” Maman asked.
“Not as of yet.” The man walked toward mamanand up the stairs until he stood before her. “There are those inRobespierre’s committee who still have a fondness for yourgrand-mère.” He acknowledged the older woman with a quick inclineof his head before turning back to maman. “You are an Englishwoman,however.” He tilted his head as if to study maman. “If you were tobe as welcoming as she once was, I am certain you and your familywill remain safe.”
Maman grasped the railing so tightly thebacks of her fingers turned white. “Is there one in particular thathas an interest?”
The man named Gaspar stared at her. “Thereare a few and they are willing to share your affections.”
Maman’s face became very white.
“Not at the same time of course.” The manchuckled. “You are a very beautiful woman, Adele. Most men wouldgive anything to share a night of pleasure with you.”
Juliette glanced from her maman to arrièregrand-mère who frowned but nodded.
Maman straightened her spine and lifted herchin. “Send him to me, or them. I don’t care. I will do whatever isnecessary to keep my family safe.”
Gaspar reached out a hand and touched maman’scheek. Her mother flinched as if she really didn’t like it. “I knewyou would make the wise decision.”
“Who shall I expect to visit?”
Gaspar lowered his hand and cupped it aroundthe part maman once used to feed her sisters when they were babes.“I am one.”
They stood facing each other for a moment andthe man ran his thumb back and forth and back and forth over thetip of maman’s bosom. Juliette didn’t think that was at all properyet neither maman nor arrière grand-mère made any objections. Aftera moment, maman turned and held out her hand. “Come with me.”
They continued up the stairs and down thehall until they reached her mother’s chambers. The two entered andclosed the door. Juliette stood and waited. Why would maman takethe man in there? She and arrière grand-mère always entertainedguests in the gold parlor.
She turned at the sound of arrière grand-mèrecoming up the stairs.
“Juliette,” she scolded in a whisper. “Whatare you doing out of
