“That wasn’t what I meant,” Bentley argued,his jaw tightening in anger.
“I think enough has been said for one night,”the dowager stood and came forward. “We should discuss it tomorrow,after we have rested and had time to think about thesituation.”
Bentley sighed and relaxed. “You are correct,Rose.”
Juliette seemed to calm as well. “Thank youfor sending your physician. I promise to pay the debt as soon aspossible.”
The others in the room stood, prepared totake their leave. Acker rushed to Juliette’s side. “How did youarrive here this evening?”
“A hackney.”
“Let me drive you home. It is too late for alady to be out alone or traveling in a common hackney.”
“Thank you,” she answered.
“Should I send a maid to chaperone?” Jordanasked.
Juliette glared at him before taking Acker’soffered arm. “Of all the people in this room, it is Lord Acker whoI trust the most at this moment.
Juliette settled back against the squabs ofAcker’s carriage. Her mind was still trying to come to terms witheverything she learned tonight. Though exhausted she knew she wouldnot be able to sleep once she arrived home. It was almost too muchto take in.
Acker settled in beside her and placed an armaround her shoulder and pulled her close. It was almost Juliette’sundoing. She had stood up to Bentley, assuring him that she and hersisters did not need their assistance when in truth she was tiredof worrying.
Maman had been ill for so long and did notseem to be getting any better. She suspected what the illness wasbut refused to give it a name. To do so would mean her mother wouldnot be with them much longer.
Tears sprang to her eyes and Juliette blinkedthem away. The pressure of needing to work so she could helpprovide for the family and add funds to the family’s dwindlingcoffers was enough without maman being ill as well. Now she had afamily, twice as large as what she was used to and they planned todictate her life. It was all too much.
Acker squeezed her shoulder and it was allshe could do not to burst into tears. It would be so nice to letsomeone else shoulder the responsibility for once, but to do sowould mean giving up control of her own life.
“Your brothers aren’t so horrible, youknow.”
Juliette shrugged. It was a determination shecould not yet make.
“I’ve known them all my life and though theyappear a bit domineering, they are not so bad.”
“They wish to send us to the country and hideus away.”
“No,” Acker insisted. “Bentley would likeeveryone to go to the country, get to know each other and determinehow to face society together without it damaging Madeline orRose.”
“Who is Rose? Another sister?”
Acker laughed. “She is young enough to be,but no. Rose was your father’s third wife and mother ofMadeline.”
Oh yes, she was the one who married at theage of fifteen. If father was as cruel as everyone says then Rose’slife would have been a nightmare.
Though she hated being told what to do byanyone, Juliette had to remember that she and her sisters were notthe only ones who would be affected if Society learned of theirexistence.
“I don’t see why we cannot go along asbefore,” she said after a moment. “Nobody else has to know who weare and they can pretend we don’t exist.”
Acker chuckled. “Bentley will never allowthat. He and his brothers have been looking for you and your mothersince he learned you never died.”
Juliette pulled back and looked at him. “Towhat purpose?”
He cringed and she already knew theanswer.
“They wanted to make sure we never stepped afoot in England and ruin their lives.” Tears formed again. Theydidn’t want their sisters even before they had met.
Acker pulled Juliette close again. “At first,yes. Madeline had not yet married and they didn’t want her brandedas a bastard before she was settled.”
Juliette let out a sigh. She understood thosereasons. Even in the world she was from, the ballet and theatre,bastards were looked down on, as if the child had any say in thematter.
“Now that she is married, everything isdifferent,” Acker explained.
“I just want everything to go back to the wayit used to be. I want to teach students in the day and dance atnight. It is the world I know and where I am comfortable.
“I am sorry, Juliette.” He kissed her brow.“You are now a lady and I am afraid you may not ever be able todance again. It is simply not done.”
She stiffened. Nobody was going to tell herif she could dance or not. They were not going to take the onething she loved away from her. “We shall see,” she said a momentlater. “I need to dance. It is everything that I am.”
“Not everything,” Acker insisted.
“It is all I’ve ever known. I don’t know howto be anything else and certainly not a lady.”
“That I can assure you is not true.” Heturned so that they were facing one another. “You are a beautiful,talented woman. But you are also a lady with standards and morals.”He clutched her hands in his. “If you weren’t you would have becomemy lover and made me the happiest man on earth.”
Juliette fought the urge to break eyecontact. It was embarrassing discussing being intimate. Did he haveany idea how close she came to being that very thing? Had they notbeen interrupted in the school room she would have lost her headand allowed Acker to do anything he wished. She would have beenruined.
“I am also grateful Bentley found you.”
“Why?” Juliette didn’t see how this situationcould possibly benefit Acker. If anything, her brother’s alonewould stop him from making her his mistress.
“You can’t disappear on me again,” he smiled.“Bentley will move heaven and earth to find you should you gomissing.”
Juliette seriously doubted Bentley would dosuch a thing, yet she didn’t know him all that well.
“They are taking me to the country, or haveyou forgotten.”
“No, but I will be there as well.”
His announcement surprised and pleased her.It would be nice to have someone she trusted. She wasn’t sure shecould trust the newest members of her family. “Is your estateclose?”
He chuckled. “No. I will be with you becauseyou are going to invite me.”
She stared
