“At first I thought he was good for thecountry. France was coming out of a terrible time and it looked asif the country would once again thrive and life was getting betterfor many.”
“When did you stop liking him?”
“When he decided France was not enough andwished to conquer every country he could.”
Perhaps Napoleon may have been a good leader,had he remained within the borders of France and not named himselfemperor. They would never know. “Well, I never liked him.”
Juliette laughed. “Of course not. He isFrench and you are English.”
It wasn’t as simple as that but he would notargue with her. Juliette had just laughed and her mood was lighterand he had Napoleon to thank for it. Not that he would ever tellanyone such a thing.
The smile dimmed from her lips and she lookeddown at her lap. Acker had hoped to make her forget her burdens fora bit longer.
“Juliette? What is it?”
“There is something you should know about meand my family as well,” she said quietly.
“That Napoleon also happens to be a distantcousin?” He teased, hoping to bring her smile back.
She offered a light chuckle but shook herhead before looking up at him. “We are friends, are we not?”
“Yes,” he automatically responded though hehoped for more.
“Despite the past and what we have shared, Ihope that you will remain my friend.” She searched his eyes as ifshe were truly concerned.
“Of course,” he insisted. Why was she soserious all of a sudden? Acker reached out and grasped her hand inhis. “What is bothering you?”
“You should know everything about my family,my mother’s family, before you decide if you wish to continue to bemy friend.”
“Nothing can be so dire that I would turnfrom you,” Acker assured her.
“My great grandmother, who lived in Paris,was a courtesan in her younger years.”
Acker lifted his eyebrows. He had not knownthis, but why should he?
“I don’t know who my great grandfather was,and I am not sure she does either.”
“Your mother was born in England though.”
“Yes,” Juliette confirmed. “When mygrandmother was eighteen she met a gentleman who was on hisgrand tour,” she said with a teasing smile. “They fell in love andhe took her back to England.”
He was braver than Acker had been. Had hefollowed his heart, he and Juliette would have been married a yearby now.
“He knew what my great grandmother’sprofession was, and that my grandmother was a bastard, but he didnot care. Besides, they would be in England and it was unlikelyanyone would learn.”
“That is the family secret?” Acker asked,wondering how this could affect Juliette, or them. That was thedistant past.
She took a deep breath and let it out. “Mamanbecame a courtesan in France, to survive.”
This he was not expecting to hear. “DoesBentley know?”
“Yes, she told my brothers last night.”
Acker nodded for her to continue.
“Maman continued as such until we moved toMilan and then she started her life over, being a mother andnothing else.”
“Being from England and knowing how actressesand dancers were viewed, that is why she wanted you to havingnothing to do with gentlemen. She did not want you to follow in herfootsteps.”
“Yes, however, she was more adamant when itcame to you.” She shook her head. “I didn’t know at the time, butmaman was afraid that you would recognize her, or note theresemblance I have to her.”
“I never suspected until I came home andBentley told me that Adele and Julie had not died.”
She looked up at him.
“You both left England around the same age tolive with a grandmother in Paris. You moved to Milan at the sameage Julia disappeared. The more I thought on it the more I wasconvinced it was simply a coincidence until the night in thetheatre.”
“When Bentley recognized me.”
He nodded.
Juliette squeezed his hand. “Thank you fortaking me from the theatre before they could find me. It would havebeen too much to face the four of them there.”
“It was my pleasure.” He picked her hand upand kissed her knuckles. What he wouldn’t give to pull Julietteinto his arms at this moment, to shield and comfort her. She spokeof friendship, but he wanted so much more.
The breeze kicked up and Juliette shivered.Clouds moved above and Acker suspected that if they didn’t get outof the elements they would soon be rained on. It was Juliette whostood first. “We should get back.”
Acker offered his arm and they turned towardher home. “Your great grandmother never divulged the name of yourgreat grandfather?”
“No,” Juliette answered.
“So, it is possible that you could be relatedto Napoleon after all.”
Juliette chuckled. “I highly doubt so. But ifI were, I certainly would not advertise the fact.”
“Does Bentley know you plan on joining us?”she asked a moment later.
“No, I thought to leave it as asurprise.”
“What the bloody blazes are you doing here?”Bentley demanded when he and Jordan rode up to Juliette’s home thefollowing morning. Acker was standing in front of the building, hisown traveling coach waiting behind the one Bentley had providedwhile the servants loaded the traveling trunks.
“I plan on accompanying Juliette.”
“I don’t recall you being invited,” Jordanreminded him.
Acker had expected some opposition becausethis was a family matter and they all liked to keep their livesprivate. “Juliette asked it of me.”
The brothers shared a look. “If you wish tocarry on with my sister,” Jordan warned.
Did the gentlemen think he had no redeemingqualities? “In truth, she nor her sisters trust you entirely,”Acker began. “They trust me, and I am a friend of the family.”
Bentley nodded. “It is probably for the best.Julia needs all the support she can gather around her right now, asdo her sisters.”
Jordan looked grim but he nodded inagreement.
“Mother is joining us as well,” Ackerannounced. “She visited with Adele late yesterday afternoon. Adeleis very aware of her condition and what little time she hasleft.”
“I hadn’t considered that possibility,”Bentley said after a moment. “Perhaps it will prolong the illnessso my sisters don’t lose the only parent they have ever known toosoon, or before they are comfortable enough to accept us as theirfamily.”
“Mother said they visited for a very longtime and still hadn’t caught up before Adele tired. It was Adelewho asked her to come
