Hélène’s eyes were so warm, caring andunderstanding and Juliette wanted to pour everything out to her,but she didn’t dare. At least they didn’t know the truth. ThatAcker wished to make her his whore.
The front door slammed and the sisters turnedto see who had entered. Their mother marched in the room, her armsloaded with more newssheets, which Juliette could only assume werefrom London.
“Who was that gentleman?” Maman demanded.
Juliette gaped at her. Oh dear, had she seenher walking with Lord Acker? This day had gone from bad toworse.
“Which gentleman?” Hélène asked.
Maman narrowed her eyes on Juliette. “Youknow very well which gentleman I speak of.” She strode further intothe room and set the newssheets on the table. “He walked you home.Was it Lord Acker?”
Juliette’s face grew cold. What would happenif she answered truthfully? She had never seen her mother so angrybefore.
Maman pulled off her gloves and tossed themin a chair. “Don’t answer. I know it was him.”
She quickly looked over at her sisters. Hadthey told Maman of the suppers and about Acker visiting her at thetheatre? Did Carlo mention the school?
“He looks just like his father at thatage.”
“What?” the three sisters cried inunison.
Her mother dismissed them with a wave of herhand. “It was long ago, when I lived in England.” She narrowed hereyes and looked at Juliette. “And precisely why I did not want youto meet that particular gentleman, yet you defied me anyway.”
“I am sorry Maman.” And she truly was. Ifonly she would have listened then she would not be hurting as shewas now.
Maria, one of the downstairs maids, enteredand placed the tea service in the center of the table.
“Pour me a cup of tea, Hélène,” her motherordered and Juliette sat still, waiting to see if her mother woulddemand answers, scold her or question the time she had spent withAcker. Silence reigned in the room while Hélène poured a cup of teafor each of them, adding in the right amount of sugar and milk theyeach preferred.
Her mother took a sip, staring at Julietteover the rim of her glass. “What are his intentions?”
Juliette shrugged. “I do not know. We barelyknow one another.”
“Yet you have met with him despite myinstructions.”
Anger began to build within. Maman may havebeen correct that Juliette should avoid Lord Acker, but her motherdid not allow her to see anyone. At four and twenty sheshould have been at least courted, but her mother refused when anygentleman showed a preference to her or one of her sisters. Did shewish for them to grow old as spinsters?
“He is kind and interesting.”
Her mother harrumphed. “I’ve warned youJuliette. Lord Acker wants only one thing from you. Once he hasgained that he will disappear. He has estates in England and thisis simply a holiday to him.” She leaned forward. “Don’t let himleave you ruined when he is gone, or worse.”
Before this afternoon Juliette would haveargued with her mother. He hadn’t behaved as if he only wanted tobed her, but the way he touched her this afternoon brought backmemories she wished to bury and she knew her mother spoke thetruth. “I won’t, Maman.”
Her mother set the cup in the saucer on thetable and picked up one of the many news sheets. Juliette lookedfrom one sister to the other. Was her mother going to say nothingfurther?
They drank in silence, none of them willingto encourage further conversation since Maman may return to thetopic of lecturing her about Acker.
Hélène refilled their cups, but nothingfurther was said. Juliette wished to leave and go to her room whereshe could think. She should not let the past influence her judgmentof Acker, but it was something she needed to muddle through, aloneand in silence, where she could think.
Her mother tossed the third paper on thefloor and picked up the fourth. It was the same each time theyarrived even though the news was now old. Once she had the newssheets, nothing else mattered until they were read. Their presenceis probably what saved Juliette from further questions from hermother.
Maman gasped and Juliette looked at her.Maman’s face had gone pale and she brought a jeweled hand to herthroat. Slowly the color returned and she smiled and folded thepaper. “Don’t worry, Juliette. All will work out for the best.”
She stood and fluffed out her skirts. “I havegrand plans for you.” Her smile grew broader. “All of you.”
A larger bouquet awaited her, but Juliettefound no joy in their aroma or color. Was it simply a gift ofapology, or one to soften her heart and open her thighs?
Tears sprang to her eyes but she brushed themaway. Acker wasn’t worth crying over and it was best she learnedthe truth of his character now, before she gave him the one thingshe could never get back.
“Juliette?”
She turned to find Carlo standing in thedoor. His face was grim. “It is time.”
Carlo wasn’t any happier than she wastonight, but they would still give a performance like no other.
He walked with her to the stage and theywaited to make their entrance. As the music reached the crescendo,she lifted her arms and sprang out onto the stage. Not once did shelook to find Acker. Juliette knew he was in the audience becauseshe could feel his gaze upon her, but she would not glance in hisdirection or she would not be able to hold back her tears. Instead,Juliette let the emotions engulf her as the music filled her souland she danced with more passion than she had ever accomplishedbefore and at the end she collapsed into Carlo’s arms, exhaustedand drained.
She would not dance this ballet again.Juliette closed her eyes and relaxed.
Carlo bent over her as he had done dozens oftimes before, but this time he kissed her lips. It was all shecould do not to react. What had come over him and why was he doingthis in front of an audience? Thank goodness it was the lastperformance or she would give him a piece of her mind. How dare healter the choreography and what possessed him to do such athing?
What was Acker thinking? He
