A moment later Juliette stepped into thedrawing room. She looked from one person to the next and her eyesgrew larger. She clearly wasn’t expecting so many people to bepresent.
“Julia,” his mother said as she came forwardand reached out to grasp both of Juliette’s hands. “I thought neverto see you again.”
Juliette blinked at her and cast a quickglance to Acker, the only person she truly knew in the room.
Acker stepped forward. “Juliette, allow me tointroduce my mother, Lady Acker. She and your mother were closefriends before she moved.”
Juliette offered a hesitant smile. “I ampleased to meet you.”
“Come in,” Lady Acker linked her arm withJuliette’s. “I want to hear about your mother, your life,everything.”
Though Juliette allowed his mother to pullher across the room, she sent a panicked look to Acker.
“I am glad you have come to call,” Bentleysaid after clearing his throat. “We’ve been discussing thesituation and have come to the conclusion that you, your mother andsisters should remain in England.”
Juliette pulled away from Acker’s mother andfrowned at Bentley.
“That is why you came here, is it not. To askme to let you stay.”
A look of humor danced across her features.“Lord Bentley, despite what we were told, when and if we leaveEngland is up to us. Nobody is going to treat my sisters and I asyour father treated mother. We will do as we please.”
Bentley stiffened and Acker fought back agrin. The four wives of the Bentley brothers brought hands up totheir faces and Acker suspected they were hiding grins whereasMadeline openly smiled. Few stood up to Bentley and even lessdefied him.
Bentley frowned at her. “Then why did youcall?”
“To ask you to talk some sense into Jordan.His challenge to Lord Acker is uncalled for and unnecessary.”
“He did not insult you?” Bentleyquestioned.
Juliette huffed and shook her head. “Mymother, sisters and I have taken care of ourselves without thebenefit of brothers our entire lives. I can handle a gentleman whomay step outside the bounds of propriety and need no assistancefrom anyone.”
“So he did make unwanted advances,” Jordanclarified and glared at Acker again.
Juliette shook her head again and Ackerguessed that she was quickly losing patience with her overbearingbrothers. “No. But if he had, it is none of your business.”
“I beg to disagree,” Bentley insisted.
“Then you will have to settle for just thatbecause you will not dictate to me.”
Bentley narrowed his eyes at her. If Julietteand her sisters remained in England, and even close to Bentley itwould make for some interesting moments.
She turned to Jordan. “Call off the duel,”she ordered.
“Why?” he asked.
“Because it is stupid. I will not have twogentlemen, who appear to have little sense, getting shot oversomething that involves me.”
Jordan lifted a brow. “You don’t wish for meto shoot him.”
“Of course not,” Juliette cried.
“Ah, then you do care for me,” Acker saidwith a grin.
Juliette smirked. “Only so much as I don’twish to see you wounded or killed.”
John snickered, leaned back in his chair andgrinned.
It wasn’t exactly a declaration of love butAcker would settle for it at the moment.
“Very well, I will not meet with Acker atdawn on one condition.”
Juliette sighed and crossed her arms acrossher breasts. “What?”
“That he apologizes to you.”
She looked at him as if he had gone mad andtapped her finger against her upper arm. “He has nothing toapologize for.”
Jordan looked to Acker. “Is she correct?”
They both knew she was not. Jordan knew himwell enough that Acker had been contemplating bedding Juliettewithout the benefits of marriage because she was a ballerina.Juliette knew she was owed an apology as well, though he doubtedshe would admit it to a room full of strangers.
Acker crossed the room and bowed before her.“Juliette, I apologize for any insult I may have delivered in Milanor London.”
She searched his eyes. Did she not think hewas sincere?
A moment later she spoke. “I accept yourapology, Lord Acker.”
“Thank goodness,” John announced. “I loathedawn appointments.
Juliette turned, ignoring everyone else inthe room and approached Bentley. “Might I have a word withyou?”
“You can discuss what is on your mindhere.”
She bit her upper lip and glanced about theroom. “Very well.” She sighed. “I don’t know if you noticed butmaman is ill.”
He nodded.
“We don’t have the funds for a doctor yet andI was wondering if I could prevail upon you to borrow the fee for aphysician.”
He arched an eyebrow.
“I promise to repay the funds as soon as wecan. Hélène works for a modiste and I am dancing again so itshouldn’t take long.”
Bentley’s lips twitched with humor. PoorJuliette had no idea how much her life had been altered this night,Acker thought to himself.
“I will have my physician see her first thingin the morning.”
Juliette seemed to relax at his words. “Thankyou, Lord Bentley.”
“We will depart for the country as soon asshe is well enough to travel.”
She blinked up at him. “Country?”
“Yes,” he answered. “I thought it best wedecide how to deal with the situation out of sight of Society andaway from the ears of London servants, not that I believe minewould say a word, but one never knows who is listening andwatching.”
“So, instead of shipping us back to Milan,you wish to hide us in the country.” Her voice was rising withirritation and Acker would need to remember in the future that itis best not to tell Juliette what she would be doing. How had hemissed this stubborn part of her in Milan? She was very agreeablethen.
He frowned. Juliette hadn’t always easilygone along with his plans. She had taken great issue when hesuggested she return to England without the benefits of marriage.If anything, she stood strong in her convictions. Few would faceBentley the way she was now. It was quite admirable.
“Not necessarily,” Bentley began toexplain.
“Let me advise you, Lord Bentley, before youmake any more plans for my family. We have survived all of thistime without you and we will continue to do so. I will not be keptin the country as if I were someone to be ashamed of. I am aballerina and I will continue to dance and I can’t do that awayfrom London. Send us back to Milan if you don’t wish for anyone tolearn your
