He chose a table along the wall, away fromothers. It was early but Juliette suspected the establishment wouldfill soon. Acker ordered two cups of coffee and crumpets whileJuliette waited for him to explain. The door was not far away andif she did not like what he had to say she would simply get up andleave.
“You’ve grown lovelier in the year since Ihave seen you.”
Juliette hitched a brow. She would notsuccumb to his charm. As far as she knew, he still wanted amistress, or perhaps he had married. Any number of changes couldhave taken place in the near year since she had seen him.
The cups of coffee were put before them,along with a small pot and plate of crumpets. Usually breakfastheld more substance but she had already eaten at home and suspectedAcker had as well. Not that she was able to partake of much foodgiven her throat was tight and her stomach in knots with nervesabout meeting Acker.
“Juliette,” he began. “I meant no insult inMilan.”
She tilted her head. “You assumed because Iam a dancer that—.”
“—No,” he interrupted. “I thought I was tomarry someone else.”
Her heart seized for a moment. He neverindicated that he was engaged. In fact, he denied it when asked byher sister the last night they dined together. This was even worsethan she imagined. He knew all along he was to marry yet pursuedher.
“Why haven’t you?”
Acker smiled and chuckled. “She fell in lovewith someone else, a friend actually.”
There was a pang of sympathy for him but itwas quickly extinguished. He deserved to lose this young womansince he had no qualms about kissing and touching her whileseparated from his betrothed. “I am assuming she broke it off afteryou returned, or did she marry while you were away.”
The left side of his mouth turned up inhumor. “We were never betrothed. I had simply assumed that one daywe would marry because we are great friends and I thought sheneeded me.”
“Perhaps you should have asked instead ofassuming.”
This time he chuckled. “I did, many times.She always rejected my offer.”
Juliette frowned. “Then why did you assumeshe and you would marry?”
“I thought it would come about eventually,but Elle knew better.”
“Elle?”
“Eleanor, now Lady Bentley.”
Her breath lodged in her throat and for amoment Juliette could not breathe. Of course, Acker, being aviscount probably new many titled families, but his dearest friendhad married Bentley. The lord who had the power to send maman fromEngland.
“Is something wrong?”
Juliette stared at him, breathing now. “No,”she answered. “Go on; tell me about your Eleanor.” Even if Ackersomehow managed to gain her forgiveness for the past insult, theycould never see each other again. What if he told Bentley abouther, or maman?
Stop, Juliette. Acker never met your motherand doesn’t know her name.
“She is, was a neighbor and a dear friend.She still is. I thought we would do well with one another but sheknew better. We were meant to be only friends.”
“You were not in love? Your heart wasn’tbroken.”
Acker shook his head. “No. At least not thekind of love she deserved from a husband.”
The fact that he wasn’t in love and itappeared as he saw the marriage more of one of convenience helpedsooth the hurt that he was to have married another. Yet it clearlybespoke of what his intentions had been for her in Milan, andprobably now.
She would not see Lord Acker after today. Shedid not wish to relive the hurt she suffered in Milan. Besides, shewas not of his world and never would be and she could never riskhim meeting maman and mentioning it to Lord Bentley.
Juliette no longer wished for Acker toexplain his intentions as she suspected they had not changed. Asshe opened her mouth to tell him goodbye, Genviève rushed into thecoffee house, her arms loaded with fresh flowers, and facepale.
She stopped at the table. “We must go.”
Juliette stared up at her. Of the threesisters, Genviève was the most calm and levelheaded. Right now shewas panicked. The buds in the arms vibrated from the shaking of herhands.
“Has something happened?” Lord Ackerasked.
Genviève did not even look at Acker. “I justmet someone.”
“Who?”
“He asked about maman…” Her sister looked atAcker as she trailed off. “He was one of them.”
Juliette abruptly stood. “I must go.” Shestarted to dart out of the coffee house after Genviève.
“Wait,” Acker called after them. “When can Imeet you again?”
Juliette paused and turned, heart lodged inher throat. “Never.” Tears formed in her eyes but she would not lethim see her cry. “We can never see one another again.”
The two sisters barged into the house andraced into the parlor where their mother reclined on a settee. Ablanket covered her lap and she seemed to be staring out the windowat nothing of importance. In addition to her illness, Juliette wasbecoming concerned with the melancholy that seemed to have settledaround maman. Perhaps they should say nothing to her aboutGenviève’s encounter. Unfortunately her sister spoke beforeJuliette could stop her.
“Who is Julia?” Genviève demanded.
Her mother turned in their direction. Hereyes widened with what Juliette interpreted as fear. “Why do youask?”
“A gentleman approached me in the market thismorning. He asked me to help him choose a bouquet for hissoon-to-be betrothed.
“I don’t understand.” Her mother glanced toJuliette with questioning eyes.
“When we were finished, he asked my name,”Genviève continued.
“Did you give it to him?” maman askedcarefully. Juliette watched the exchange. Even if Genviève had,there was no possible way he could have known her, or any ofthem.
“Yes.” She frowned. “Actually, I told him myname was Genevieve. I did not wish for him to know the truth.”
“As if there is much difference,” Julietterolled her eyes.
“Tell me what this gentleman said,” hermother asked calmly though her hands clutched the blanket sotightly her knuckles grew white.
“He thought I was the daughter of someone whohad been important to him at one time.”
A sad smile came to maman’s face.
“He said her name was Adele,” Genvièvecontinued. “And that she had a daughter, his half-sister, namedJulia.”
Maman closed her eyes for a moment. The colorwas gone
