With a sigh she sat to remove her dancingslippers and pull on her boots. At least the cloak would hide hercostume while she walked home.
A chill ran up her spine. Would Carlo bewaiting for her and was it even safe to walk alone? She had no wishto encounter him again tonight. At least it would be a few daysbefore they began rehearsing for the next production, thoughJuliette never wanted to share a stage with him again.
Acker lifted her cloak from the hook by thedoor. “I will take you home in my carriage.”
Were his concerns the same or did he simplywish to be alone to try and seduce her again?
She shook the thoughts away. It didn’tmatter. At least Acker understood when his advances wererejected.
Acker escorted Juliette to his waitingcarriage and helped her inside. He seethed over Carlo’s treatmentof her. Had he not come back to her dressing room would the manhave overpowered her? He certainly wouldn’t have forced her, wouldhe? If Juliette had screamed, would anyone have heard her? Therewas so much noise backstage this evening with all of the guests,performers and the workers beginning to dismantle the set and takedown the background hanging from the beams that Juliette’s yellscould have easily gone unheard. Thank goodness he had pressed hisear to the door and was able to learn what was happening inside thedressing room.
It sickened him to think of what could havehappened. Though he shouldn’t jump to conclusions, Acker knew inhis gut that Carlo would not take rejection easily, if at all. IfAcker didn’t feel the need to protect Juliette and keep her safe,he would find Carlo and warn him away from her.
But what of when he was gone? Juliette wouldhave no one to watch out for her. It was all the more reason sheshould travel to London with him.
Juliette shivered inside her cloak and Ackerplaced an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
At first she tried to pull away buteventually relaxed against his chest. The encounter with Carlo musthave frightened her more than he realized. “It appears Carlo is avery jealous man.”
“He has no reason to be,” Juliette mumbledinto his coat.
“He doesn’t like the attention I have givenyou, or the time we have spent together if I understood himcorrectly.”
“It is none of his concern who I spend mytime with.”
Frustration grew within Acker. He wanted toknow if there was a reason Carlo flew into a fit of jealousy otherthan simply wanting her.
“I haven’t seen a man act that way unless hisformer lover took up with another.”
Juliette stiffened and pulled away. Shestared at him, a frown on her face. “He has never been mylover.”
Relief shot through him, but that didn’t meanshe hadn’t had others. He needed to know if there were other menready to take back what they viewed as theirs. Juliette was abeautiful, sensual woman and he could not imagine any man lettingher go easily.
“I’ve had no lovers, Lord Acker.”
He blinked down at her. She answered thequestion without him asking. He had not anticipated that she wascompletely innocent, as in being a virgin. This changed everything.Of course, it didn’t lessen his need for her, but did he have theright to take her innocence?
No, Juliette deserved to be married, butcould he marry her?
He didn’t know her well enough, and what ofEleanor?
He could still help Eleanor, if she wouldaccept his assistance without marriage. She hadn’t as of yet, butthere was always the chance she might need him and Acker would bethere for anything his friend needed. But, could he marry Juliettehaving known her for such a short time?
Acker let his head fall back. If Society knewshe was a ballerina, they would never accept her as his wife. Didthat really matter?
Yes, because if he married Juliette theywould have children and he needed an heir. What were the chances ofhis heirs not being accepted because of what their mother had been?Would Society treat them differently because not all of their bloodwas aristocratic? Would their children grow to be ashamed orembarrassed that their mother had once been a dancer?
Was he willing to take the risk?
He sighed and looked at Juliette. “I mustleave in less than a fortnight for Prussia,” he announced.
Juliette pulled back and frowned. “Why sosoon?”
“I have been here longer than intended.” Hegrasped her hand and held it tight. “I stayed because I could notleave without meeting you and now I cannot bear the thought ofleaving as we are just now coming to know one another.”
“Why must you go to Prussia?”
Acker studied her. He could not tell her thetruth. She was raised in France and even though she now lived inMilan, it was also ruled by Napoleon. What if her allegiance was tothe dictator? If Acker confessed the real reasons for his travels,would she tell someone? Such a situation would see him dead.
No. Not until they were back in England. Thenhe would tell her the truth of why he was here.
“There is someone I planned on visitingbefore I returned home.” It wasn’t a lie because he did need tomeet with others.
“You intend to go back to England?” she askedquietly.
“I must. I have been gone too long as it is.”Acker shifted to cradle her face in his hands and kissed her.
Juliette melted against him. When he moved todeepen the kiss she pulled away.
“Why kiss me if you are leaving?”
“I wish you to go with me?”
Her spine straightened, which Acker wascoming to learn Juliette often did this when going on thedefensive. “As what?”
He didn’t have the answer any more than shedid.
“Your lover? A mistress?” she demanded.
Why did it sound degrading when she actuallyvoiced what he had yearned for all along?
“Yes,” he answered honestly. “But I want moreas well and I wish I had the time to remain in Milan to know youbetter to determine what future we might have.” If only he had timeto discover where exactly Juliette belonged in his life
