“She looks just like Adele,” Bentley said tohis wife.
Acker heard nothing else but continued towatch Juliette, as did the brothers. He had commented on thecoincidence to his mother but he hadn’t truly believed theballerina was the long lost sister of his friend, Julia.
What did this mean for Juliette? What did itmean for them?
“We need to make sure she doesn’t leave thetheatre before we have a chance to speak with her,” Jordan wassaying to his brother.
Did Juliette even know she had anotherfamily? Had her mother kept that from her? If not, then she hadlied to him in Milan when she said her father was dead. In his gut,Acker knew that Juliette had not lied. What would her reaction bewhen suddenly faced with four gentlemen and a lady claiming to beher half-siblings?
She wouldn’t be prepared. Nobody could beprepared for something so shocking. Acker knew he had to protectand prepare her for the inevitable. But how?
There were no words he could come up with tolessen the shock. But the one thing he did know for certain wasthat he had to get her away from the theatre before the Trentbrothers cornered her. They could be imposing when standing side byside, especially if there was information they wished. Theywouldn’t hurt Juliette, but they could certainly intimidate her andAcker would not allow it. Once he had her away from the theater hewould explain, or ask Juliette’s mother to explain and arrange ameeting with the family.
As much as he wished to keep Juliette tohimself, he knew Bentley and his brothers had the right to meether. They had been searching long enough.
He glanced at Bentley. Perhaps he shouldmention there were two other sisters as well.
Acker shook the thought away. The sisters mayhave another father entirely, though Acker suspected that was notthe case.
Most importantly, he needed to protectJuliette.
As much as he tried to concentrate on theballet and enjoy watching Juliette dance once again, he could not.Worry ate at him and as the ballet came to an end he slipped fromhis seat and into the corridor. The dancers had yet to take theirbow which gave him time to arrive back stage and whisk heraway.
Acker spotted Hélène by the curtains waitingand approached. “I need for you and Juliette to come with meimmediately,” he whispered in her ear.
Hélène turned to look at him. “Why should wego anywhere with you?”
The gentlemen I was sitting with are veryinterested in meeting your sister and I need to explain who theyare before she grants them an audience.
Her face paled. “What are their names?”
Acker took a step back. Did the sisters knowand had Juliette lied to him? “Lord Bentley and his threebrothers,” he answered.
Hélène swallowed and gave a quick nod. Shedid know the truth. Why hadn’t Juliette said anything to him? Werethey hiding? If so, why? He mentioned Bentley the other day yetJuliette had said nothing, though she became distracted.
His mind was reeling at the thought of hernot telling him the truth and wondering what else she had liedabout. Why hadn’t they contacted Bentley once they returned toLondon?
Then he remembered Madeline. If Adeleannounced herself, the scandal would be the largest London Societyhad seen in sometime. Was the woman protecting her daughters andher former step-sons and the youngest, born a few years after Adelehas supposedly died?
Juliette exited the stage, a bright smile onher face until she spotted Acker.
“We need to go now,” Hélène hissed andgrasped her arm.
“Why?” Juliette asked, pulling her armback.
“Bentley is here and he wants to speak withyou.”
The color drained from Juliette’s face. Whatwas she afraid of? Had Adele filled their minds with stories fitfor a horrid novel at the thought of meeting their brothers? “Letme get my cloak.”
“We don’t have time,” Acker insisted as thefirst of the patrons began filling the backstage area.
Hélène pulled on Juliette and Acker forcedhis way through the crowd toward the stage door.
“What of Genviève?” Juliette cried.
“Hopefully they won’t notice her,” Ackerresponded. “Besides, it is you they’re looking for.”
Juliette allowed Hélène to pull her throughthe back streets of Covent Garden toward their home. After they hadgone two blocks she stopped. “Why are we running? I am certain theyare not following. Besides, I would like to ask this Bentley a fewquestions.”
Hélène turned to her. “The only person wewere going to speak with was our half-brother but not before wewere ready to depart for Milan.”
“Why did you tell me that your sisters andmother were your only family? Why did you lie to me in Milan?”Acker demanded.
Juliette didn’t have time to explain.Besides, she didn’t know enough to adequately explain. “I did notlearn I had a brother until a fortnight ago.”
He arched a brow. “Brother? Juliette, youhave four brothers.”
She stumbled back at this news.
“And, they each commented on the resemblanceto your mother and will now search high and low until they locateyou.”
“Were they sitting with Bentley?” Hélèneasked.
Acker stared at her as if trying to clearsome confusion from his mind. “Yes, of course he was.”
“So five are looking for us,” Juliettegroaned. “Maman will be so upset.”
Acker rubbed his temples with the tips of hisfingers before he looked at her. “You don’t know who your brothersare, do you?”
The sisters shook their heads.
“Bentley is your oldest half-brother.”
Her heartbeat increased. Why had mother liedeven further to them? Why hadn’t she told them there were four andnot one? And why hadn’t she bothered to tell them that this LordBentley was one of them? She had let Juliette and her sistersbelieve they were a relation to their father, as if he were acousin. If the current Bentley was her half-brother that could onlymean that her father had been the former Bentley. She was thedaughter of an earl!
The pressure built inside her skull andJuliette couldn’t focus on one thought over another. It was notpossible to meet four half-brothers until her motheranswered a few more questions and this time Juliette would not lether brush it off with a promise of an explanation later.
“We must hurry,” Hélène insisted.
She was correct. Before meeting her brothersshe was going to have a very long discussion with mother.
Juliette
