“As soon as we have the funds, the girls andI will return to Milan.” Her shoulders slumped as if defeated. “Weshould not have come here. Nobody else knows we are here and thereis no reason they should.”
Bentley came forward and placed his hands onmaman’s shoulder. “It is probably for the best.”
She nodded but said nothing.
“I can support you. There is no reason forthe girls to work. Find a home you wish to live in and I will seethat you have everything you need. ”
“Thank you.”
Genviève stood. “We do not need yourhelp.”
Hélène looked at her in shock.
Juliette understood. They had taken care ofthemselves for this long there was no need to rely on Bentley’ssupport now. Nor did she want to feel as if she owed themanything.
“I will arrange for passage on the nextship,” he said as he pulled away.
Maman turned. “We will be ready.”
Juliette focused on her mother. “Was Fatherthe reason we moved so often?”
She nodded. “He was always looking, wantingto know where we lived. I took great pains so he never learned. Icouldn’t risk him finding out about the twins.”
“Then how did he support us?” Hélèneasked.
“By regular deposits. His solicitor took careof everything. He did not need to know where we lived to depositthe funds.”
The brothers and Madeline stood. That was it.They were leaving and Juliette and her family would return toMilan.
“I’ll send a message when your passage hasbeen booked.”
They filed out of the room with Juliette andher sister watching after them. Though she only knew of theirexistence a short time, Juliette already experienced the loss.
Acker anxiously waited with Eleanor, theother wives and Madeline’s husband for Bentley and his siblings toreturn. He had not mentioned two additional sisters and would leavethat to Bentley, but did explain the light bruise already formingon his jaw. He didn’t relish the idea of facing Jordan on the fieldof honor in the morning. Hell, he couldn’t even think of someone tocall on to act as his second. Under normal circumstances it wouldhave been Bentley. Perhaps Stanwick, Bridges or Ainsely would standfor him.
He thrust his fingers through his hair.Bloody hell this was a mess.
Every occupant in the room turned when theyheard voices on the stairs. One by one the brother’s entered alongwith Madeline.
“They will be taking a ship back to Italy assoon as I arrange passage,” Bentley announced.
“What?” Acker demanded. He couldn’t loseJuliette now. He just found her.
Jordan narrowed his eyes and approached. “Mysister is none of your concern.”
“Apparently she is none of yours either sinceyou are exiling them as your father had done.”
“Shouldn’t you be contacting your second?”Jordan demanded.
“Enough,” a voice cried from the doorway.They turned to find the Dowager Countess Bentley standing in thedoorway. Or at least Society believed her to be the dowager. Besideher stood Acker’s mother.
“Rose,” Eleanor began. “I thought you andLady Acker were going to continue on to the Sinclair ball withLords Filbright and Carrington.”
The woman sighed and came into the room. “Wecanceled our plans and ask them to return us to Lady Acker’s home.We wished to discuss this situation away from the rest of you.”
Acker looked around the room. The rest of thegathering appeared as confused as he.
“What? You did not think I would recognizeJulia?” Rose asked.
Shock registered on the brother’s face.
“Adele’s portrait is in the gallery at home.She looks exactly like her.” She glanced back at Acker’s mother.“Lady Acker confirmed my suspicions.
“You don’t need to worry, Rose,” Bentley saidas he came forward. “They are returning to Italy as soon as it canbe arranged.”
Rose turned to Acker’s mother. “We knew theywould do something this idiotic.”
“It isn’t,” Bentley defended.
Rose sighed. “To what purpose and is it fairto Julia and her mother?”
“And sisters,” Lady Acker added.
Bentley narrowed his eyes on Lady Acker. “Howdo you know she has sisters?”
“Because Acker met Juliette in Milan. He wasquite taken with her.”
Every person in the room turned to Acker andheat crept into his cheeks.
“Explain,” Jordan demanded.
So he did, leaving out the part of wanting tobring Juliette back to London as his mistress. One fist in the facethis evening was quite enough.
“Why didn’t you marry her?” Jordan asked whenhe was finished.
“I didn’t know her well enough to trust inwhat I was feeling,” Acker admitted. “And, I still thought Eleanorand I would marry.”
Bentley frowned and Eleanor rolled hereyes.
“Besides,” Acker continued. “She was aballerina. Gentlemen do not marry dancers.”
Rose walked to the sideboard and pouredherself a glass of wine and turned to face those in the room. “Theyare not leaving, Bentley.”
“Rose, I am only asking them to so that youand Madeline can be protected.”
“What if we don’t wish to be?”
“You don’t know what you are saying?” Bentleyargued. “Think of the scandal.”
“Are you thinking of us or what theton will think of the family?”
Bentley stood silent for a moment before heanswered. “Both.”
“Honestly, I don’t care if they know,” Roseadmitted.
“Neither do I,” said Madeline.
“Your husband may,” John countered.
“I donna,” Brachton confirmed.
Bentley turned in the room, looking at eachperson. “Does everyone agree they should remain? Are you willing totake the risk of our family being fodder for gossip for months andpossibly years?”
The spouses were quick to nod, the siblingsslowly followed suit after realizing their wives were willing totake the risk.”
“Then what do we tell Society?” Bentleyasked.
The dowager smiled. “The truth.” She took asip of her wine. “If my daughter was not married I may feeldifferently. But she is and her husband and his title will protecther. And frankly, I do not care what Society thinks of me. I spenthalf of my life worrying about how one person would react at anygiven moment. I am not about to spend the rest of my life worryingabout what anyone else thinks of me.”
Maman glanced about the room and sighed afterBentley and his brothers had left. “I am too tired to think at themoment. I will see about our belongings in the morning.”
Under normal circumstances, maman would be onher way to packing up a good deal of their possessions and not letanything stop her, not even
