“I don’t intend to be parted from you again,even for a fortnight. And, I want to be present each time you tellBentley to go hang,” he laughed.
“I thought he was your friend.”
“He is. A very good friend in fact, but thatdoesn’t mean I don’t enjoy him being brought down a peg ortwo.”
Juliette snuggled back against Acker. Facingher brothers in the country did not seem so daunting now that sheknew Acker would be there as well. She didn’t know why he wished tobe with her or what any of this meant.
“I know you don’t wish to go to the countrybut I think it is best for your mother.”
Juliette hadn’t considered this. She was toocaught up in being told what to do and the fear of beingsequestered away, out of sight of the ton.
“The air is better and may do her good,” headded.
She could only pray that it was so.
Juliette waited in the parlor with hersisters and Lord Bentley while the physician examined mother. Whatwas taking so long? He had been in there for an hour. Surely itdidn’t take that long to diagnose a condition and prescribe theproper medication.
Just as she was about to go into mother’sbedchamber and demand answers the man exited and closed the doorquietly behind him. He looked grave and Juliette sank into herchair as Bentley came to his feet.
“What is it?” Bentley asked.
The doctor glanced at the three women in theroom. “Is there a place we could talk?”
Genviève stood. “She is our mother.”
“What you say to me can be said to herdaughters,” Bentley advised the man.
The physician pursed his lips and sighed.“She has consumption.”
Genviève fell back into her chair. All earlyindignation gone. Juliette wished she could be surprised at thediagnosis but she was not. Once she had seen the blood stainedhandkerchiefs she knew, even if she hadn’t wanted to admit it toherself.
“Is she strong enough to travel to myestate?”
The man nodded. “The fresh air might do hergood. But. . .”
“What?” Hélène demanded when he said nothingfurther.
“The disease has progressed far. I don’texpect her to recover.”
“Maman is going to die?” Juliette foundherself asking in a quiet voice.
The physician nodded. “I can give youmedicine to make her comfortable but that is about all I cando.”
A weight settled on Juliette’s chest and itbecame difficult to breath. They could not loose maman. She was allthey had. “There is nothing that can be done?”
The man slowly shook his head. “The countryair may be a benefit and prolong the inevitable but I doubt shewill be with you at Christmas.”
Tears stung her eyes. He had to be wrong.They needed to move maman to the country where she could get betterand prove this physician wrong. It no longer mattered that shewould be away from the theater and dancing or that they would beexactly where Bentley wished to send them. The only thing thatmattered was that maman got better. She could not lose her.
“Thank you for coming, Dr. Phelps.”
“I just wish I had better news.”
Bentley escorted the man to the front doorand Juliette looked to her sisters. They both appeared as shockedas she. Hélène swiped a tear from her cheek and Genviève balled herhands into fists. None of them were used to feeling as helpless asthey did now.
Her brother returned to the room a momentlater. “I am sorry,” he said and Juliette believed the sincerity ofhis words. He too looked as if he were hurt by the news.
“When can we travel to your estate?” Julietteasked as she came to her feet. The sooner they had mother in thecountry the quicker she would recover.
“I will have one of my traveling coaches herein the morning.” He glanced about the room. “I will also sendservants to pack your things and see that the lease isterminated.”
Juliette nodded, thankful he was here to seeto the details because she could not at the moment, nor did shesuspect her sisters could either.
“We will be ready, Lord Bentley.”
A sad smile came to his face. “I wish youwouldn’t address me as such.”
“It is your name,” Juliette reminded him.
“No. It is Clayton,” he pointed out. “I amyour brother and whether you like it or not, I intend to take careof each of you.”
Juliette stared at him. Right now she didn’tmind the taking care of part. As long as he didn’t try to ruletheir lives she would allow him to watch over them and maman.
“Very well, Clay—” she stopped. She had nevercalled him anything but Clay.
A smile pulled at his lips. “Clay is fine aswell Julia. It is what you called me before Adele took youaway.”
The memories flashed in her mind, smallsnippets but nothing she could grasp. “Jodan.”
“Yes.” He chuckled. “R’s were difficult butMatthew and John were said easily enough.”
She remembered nothing else nor should sheexpect to. She had just turned or was about to turn three whenmother ran away. But, she remembered saying their names andsomething in the back of her mind gave her comfort. She had lovedthem then. Would she be able to feel the same in the future?
“I’ll take my leave. Eleanor will sendservants over shortly to help with the packing.”
With that he nodded and quit the room.Juliette sank into a chair beside her sisters. They looked at eachother and when the door clicked shut, they burst into tears, andhugged each other.
Acker pushed his breakfast plate away andtook a sip of tea. His mother was also just finishing her meal.Little had been said between them this morning and he suspectedeach were lost in their own thoughts over what had occurred lastevening.
“I plan on going to the country withJuliette.”
“Her brothers may have an objection.”
“I don’t really care,” he assured her.
“I wish to call on Adele this afternoon.”
“Do you think that is wise? She is very illfrom what I gathered when I was there last night.”
His mother laid her fork beside her plate.“But I’ve missed her so. We were so close once.”
Acker reached over and grasped her hand. “Iplanned on calling on Juliette this afternoon. If her mother is upfor visitors I will send the carriage for you.”
“Thank you.”
He rose from
