“And, did you continue in your profession?”Bentley asked.
Adele frowned at his disapproving tone. “No.It was no longer necessary and a chance to start anew.”
“Why return to England now?” Jordan asked.The anger was gone from his tone and eyes.
“Like I said, I found out he died.”
“Father had been alive all of this time?”Genviève asked in surprise.
“Yes,” Maman answered.
“So you thought to march back into London asif nothing had happened and you hadn’t been supposedly dead forover twenty years?” Jordan asked with irritation.
“I didn’t know I was supposed to be dead,”Maman argued as she used a cane to help her to her feet. “I did notknow he had remarried and had another daughter until we arrived inDover. It changed everything.”
Bentley arched an eyebrow as if he didn’tquite believe her.
“Even though I did not know his wife, ordaughter, I was certain they did not know the truth about me.”
Juliette glanced around at her siblings.Their expressions didn’t reveal anything. However, Madeline glanceddown at her hands, folded neatly on her lap. Had she known?Madeline must be her sister. Were there more siblings she had yetto learn about?
“I knew what my appearance could do to ayoung lady new to society. She would be ruined and I would not takethat away from her. I suspected her life had already been difficultenough so I made the decision to travel to Scotland and await thenews of her marriage.”
“Why didn’t you call on one of us when youarrived in London?” Jordan demanded. “The secret would have beenkept.”
“I had hoped to return to Milan without youever knowing we were here.”
“Yet, when you registered at an inn inOxford, you used the name Lady Bentley,” Jordan reminded her.
Juliette glanced at her mother. She hadn’tknown and rarely paid attention when mother requested rooms.
“I was ill and so tired. I wasn’t sure howserious my illness was and I didn’t want to die without mydaughters being protected. I regretted the decision the followingmorning and hoped no one would learn.”
Bentley nodded as if he accepted theexplanation.
Juliette stared at her mother, as didGenviève and Hélène. Her behavior became stranger and stranger.
“You had no intention of calling on me, anyof us?” Bentley demanded.
“No.” She answered frankly. “Why should I? Iwas supposed to be dead.” She glanced around the room. “The life Iknew here was gone and I doubted you would remember me, or that youwould care to have me back in your life.” She shrugged. “Then therewas your step-mother to consider. Once I learned the circumstancesof her marriage, at the age of fifteen, I could not present myselfbecause then all of society would realize her marriage was neverlegal. She was free for the first time in her adult life and whatright did I have to ruin everything for her?”
The brothers shared a look that bespoke theyagreed with her. Juliette assumed she would never be acknowledgedin public as being their sister and that their lives would continuemuch as it was up until now. In truth, she did not need them, eventhough it was nice to know her family was larger. Madeline wasyounger and of Society. If their secrets became known, it coulddestroy her.
Juliette sipped from the glass as thoughtschurned in her head. Madeline’s mother had married at fifteen. Whatkind of family would do that to their daughter? As she estimatedMadeline’s age to be no more than twenty then her mother may not beabove six and thirty, only eleven years older than Juliette. Was iffair to upset that woman’s life now? She had lived with father allthose years and if he was as cruel as mother described then shedeserved peace and Juliette did not really need any more familythan she had already known.
Maman crossed the room and stopped beforethe gentleman who had barely spoken. Her mother placed a handagainst his cheek. “John, you were so young when I left.”
He blushed slightly and nodded.
“Always getting into scrapes, climbingtrees. I was surprised you didn’t break more bones or require morestitches.”
“Not much has changed,” Matthewmuttered.
Maman then approached him. “And you,Matthew, did you become a vicar? It is what your fatherwanted.”
“Yes, though I am not any longer.”
The smile dropped from maman’s face andconfusion marred her brow.
“It was what father wanted, not I. When hedied, I was free to do as I wish.”
Her mother’s smile returned.
“And you, Jordan, what have you become? Iknow what your father wished and hoped you to be. I am almostafraid to ask if he succeeded.”
His faced turned a deep red and Juliettewondered what exactly father wanted him to do.
“He did as father expected, for a time,”Madeline giggled.
Bentley shot her a look.
“I secretly became a solicitor and nowopenly work as one.”
Maman smiled and nodded in approval beforeshe focused on Bentley. He was the only one who made Julietteuncomfortable. There was something unforgiving about him. “You arethe one I was concerned with most. You were so like your father. Iexpected you to turn out just like him.”
Bentley’s jaw tightened for a moment. “I amashamed to admit that for a time I was exactly like him.”
Maman’s shoulders slumped.
“Thankfully, I met my wife and everythingchanged.”
Her mother seemed to relax at these words.“I am very happy for that.”
She turned and looked at the brothers onceagain. Tears sparkled in maman’s eyes. “I am glad I got the chanceto see what fine gentlemen you have turned out to be, despite thecircumstances.” She sniffed and turned, slowing making her way backto the settee.
Her mother should have not been walkingaround. It tired her and maman needed to get her strength back. Shehad just settled when her body was racked with deep coughs.Juliette rushed forward and pushed a handkerchief into her hand.Please, don’t let them see the blood. Let them think maman is onlyolder, not weaker and in a position where they could take advantageof their situation.
As the coughs subsided, Juliette picked upher mother’s glass of
