“Why?”
“It is time that I paid more attention to myestates and my future,” he advised her.
“Do you plan on marrying Julia?”
He was not used to Juliette being referred toas Julia but knew he would need to become accustomed to it. To him,however, she would always be Juliette. “I am not sure. I know Iwish to take care of her, but I have never been given the chance toknow if we would suit for life. All I know is that for the moment,I hate every moment I am away from her.”
His mother smiled her approval.
“However, don’t you dare tell anyone. I wouldlike to keep my feelings private for the moment.”
“Of course, dear,” she said with amischievous grin as she lifted her cup to her lips.
The meeting did not take long and Acker wasglad to be done with the position and responsibility. He wouldn’thave been free to travel to Bentley manor, or his own estate forthat matter, had he remained with the Home Office. It wasn’t as ifthey needed him. Any number of gentlemen could fill his positionand he had more important matters to attend to such as courtingJuliette.
Though it was early to call by Societystandards, Acker could not wait any longer to see Juliette. Thedoor was opened by a young maid who had not been there the eveningbefore. No doubt Bentley had sent servants to attend to thehousehold. She stood back so he could enter and he took in thescene. Boxes were stacked and there was a flurry of activity. Shewas leaving so soon? Hopefully it was in preparation for thecountry and not that her mother had decided to move somewhereagain.
Juliette breezed into the small entry. “Goodmorning, Lord Acker.”
He gestured to the trunks beside the door.“You were going to disappear on me again?”
She chuckled softly. “I was going to send amessage but I did not have your direction.”
Her words pacified him somewhat.
“When are you leaving?”
“Tomorrow morning. Bentley will send atraveling coach for us.”
It was quicker than he had anticipated. Hewould have to rush home, after he visited with Juliette of course,and see that his belongings were packed.
“How is your mother? Did the physicianvisit?”
What smile she held earlier disappeared andtears sprang to her eyes. Acker resisted the urge to pull herclose. “What is it?”
Juliette glanced about the area overrun withservants. “Come with me.” She grasped his hand and led him out oftheir set of rooms, down the stairs and out of the building. Onceshe reached outside she took a deep breath and glanced around.Several people were out walking and if Juliette wished to speak inprivate it could not be done here. “Walk with me?”
Acker offered his arm and let her take thelead. She sighed a few times, sniffed and blinked, as if trying tomaintain control of her composure. Adele’s health could not be sobad, could it?
They came to a small park and Juliette ledhim to a bench. He sat after she did. “Tell me.”
“Maman has consumption.”
He did not know much about the condition butknew it was usually fatal. “How bad?”
Juliette blinked and a loan tear slid downher delicate cheek and she told him what the doctor had said. “Ihope that once we are in the country she will recover.”
Acker wanted to warn her to not hope but howcould he? Adele was her mother and he knew he would be devastatedhad he received the same news about his own.
“That is why the move is happening soquickly.”
“Yes, Bentley has seen to all of thearrangements and sent some of his servants to help us prepare.”
“I am glad I will be with you.”
She smiled weakly at him. “As am I.”
Acker wanted to pull Juliette into his arms,protect and comfort her but they were in a public park with severalpeople about. If only he could take her burdens from her but it wasimpossible. There was nothing he could do to ease the pain of hermother’s illness and it frustrated him to no end.
Acker searched his mind for topics to takeJuliette’s mind off her troubles and then he remembered. He had nottold her in Milan his true purpose for being there, but now hecould. “I lied to you in Milan.”
She frowned at him. “About what?”
“I was not on my grand tour.”
Juliette’s brow knitted with confusion. “Thenwhy travel there at all?”
“First, I must swear you to secrecy.”
She nodded and he took a deep breath. “I wasthere at the request of the Home Office.”
“What is the Home Office?”
Acker searched for the right words toexplain. “They are a department interested in war, and the downfallof our enemies.”
“Such as Napoleon?”
“He was our main concern until late.”
Juliette sighed. “I am glad he is no longerin control.”
“You understand why I could not tell you inMilan.” Acker wanted to make sure she was not angry for deceivingher. “My purpose was to meet with those in the government whowished the removal of Napoleon from power.”
She chuckled and shook her head. “Of course Iunderstand. You couldn’t very well have announced to me that youwere there to spy.”
“I wasn’t exactly spying.” There were othersbetter suited for that work. “I was on a diplomatic mission.”
She nodded. “You still couldn’t haveannounced your purpose for fear of being arrested.”
“It isn’t that I didn’t trust you.” Hestopped. “No, that isn’t correct.”
She lifted an eyebrow as if affronted. “Youdidn’t trust me?”
“I did.” He thrust his fingers through hishair. How did he explain? “I didn’t know your loyalties. You hadbeen raised in France, during the Revolution and Milan was alsogoverned by Napoleon.”
She placed a hand on his cheek. “Lord Acker,I understand.”
Relief flowed through him. He and Juliettehad argued before and he didn’t want this to be one more thing thatstood between them.
“You should know, at one time I was gladNapoleon was in charge of France.”
Her confession startled him. He knew of veryfew who thought the
