“I am sure Lady Acker’s presence will be acomfort to her,” Jordan said.
A moment later Juliette and her sistersappeared on the stoop. They made their way toward the gentlemen asa footman carried Adele out of the building and toward the Bentleycoach. His mother followed and waited as the footman settled Adeleinside.
“I will ride with Adele,” she announced.
Bentley glanced inside. “It will be a bitcrowded with all five of you.”
“I thought Juliette could share my coach,”Acker offered.
Jordan’s jaw tightened. Would that man nottrust him? Of course, given Jordan’s previous reputation, heprobably knew what was going on in Acker’s mind better than anyone.Not that he would seduce Juliette while they traveled. They weren’tin Milan any longer and she was a lady.
“I’ll ride with you,” Jordan said a momentlater and tied his horse to the back of the coach.
“That is not necessary.”
“But it is,” he grinned. “There are fewcoaches for all of us so everyone must share.”
Acker could only hope that Mrs. Jordan Trentjoined them as well because it would be deuced uncomfortable withJordan glaring at him the entire time.
When had this brother become the mostdisagreeable one? In the past Jordan had been the easiest to getalong with. Did it have anything to do with his recent marriage, orwas it because he suddenly found himself with sisters and felt theneed to protect them from gentlemen? Acker would have laughed givenwhat he knew of Jordan’s past, but refrained. The last thing hewanted was a black eye to match the fading bruise on his chin.
Juliette glanced from one gentleman to thenext. They both sat on the bench facing her and tension hung heavyin the air. They hadn’t even left the City of London and alreadyshe wished to scream. If the atmosphere didn’t calm soon she wasliable to insist one of them leave.
The coach slowed and came to a stop beforethe Bentley townhouse and she glanced out the window. Three coachessimilar to the one she traveled in waited before the mansion. Thedoors opened a moment later and the remaining Trent family exitedand they disbursed themselves among the traveling coaches. Not onlydid she recognize most of them from the evening before, but therewas also a young lady and three boys. Who did they belong to? Wasthere more family than she was aware of? One lady with golden blondhair and light brown eyes glanced about, a frown on her face.Jordan chuckled and stepped out of the carriage. “This way,darling.”
The woman, whom Juliette assumed was hiswife, smiled lovingly at Jordan and came toward him. Bentleystopped before Jordan. “The coach carrying Adele will be the lead.They will stop whenever she tires and we will travel at herschedule.”
Jordan nodded and assisted the blond womaninto the coach. She settled beside Juliette and smiled. “I amAudrey. There wasn’t a chance to be properly introduced last nightgiven the circumstance.”
“I am pleased to meet you,” Juliette offered,hoping it was the truth.
“I so enjoyed you not allowing Bentley todictate to you.” She clapped her hands.
Apparently nobody had defied his lordship.Well, at least they hadn’t until she arrived.
“I can’t wait to know you better and this isthe perfect opportunity.”
Audrey’s enthusiasm was a bit overwhelmingbut much preferable to the tension that had flowed between thegentlemen before they stopped.
The sound of horse’s hooves on thecobblestones drew Juliette’s attention and she glanced out thewindow as the coach her mother was riding in passed. Maman lookedtired, but she smiled at whatever Lady Acker was telling her.Juliette had thought she would travel with her mother to make sureshe was kept comfortable and did not become over tired, but it wasgood that she was with her friend. Lady Acker would watch out forher, as would her sisters.
The gentlemen did not say much while theytraveled but Audrey kept up a steady stream of conversation.
Juliette learned that Audrey was a bit horsemad and complained that ladies were not allowed at Tattersleys. “Asif a lady can’t judge horseflesh as well as a man.”
This comment earned a grin from Jordan. “Thatis because they don’t know you, dear.”
“And,” Audrey continued in a huff ofindignation. “If I wish for my horses to race, it is myhusband who must belong to the Jockey Club. Not I.”
“Jockey Club?” Juliette questioned Acker.
“I am the one who taught Jordan how to raceproperly in the first place,” Audrey finished as if she hadn’theard Juliette’s question.
“I think you have quite worn out yourarguments against the discrimination against ladies in the racingworld,” Jordan offered with a twinkle in his eyes. “And I do wishyou would quit telling people that you had to teach me torace.”
A blush stole over Audrey’s cheeks. “I amsorry.”
What had started as a simple discussion aboutAudrey’s upbringing and the horses her father raced had quicklyescalated into her angry complaints against the racing world ingeneral. Had she not been a woman, these matters would not be anissue. Did all of the ladies have something they were passionateabout? Audrey seemed as committed to racing as Juliette did to theballet and she suspected the two would get along well in the comingdays. At least Audrey would understand a need to be part of a worldforbidden to her, such as being a ballerina would be to Juliette ifBentley had his way. Or at least that is what Acker had indicated.She refused to give up the ballet for anyone and would fight todance if necessary.
“The Jockey Club is an institutionthat monitors racing. Gentlemen who own race horses are encouragedto join,” Acker began to explain. “They keep a stud book of all theracers and the stewards attend every race.”
“I’ve never even sat upon ahorse,” Juliette finally admitted.
“Yes you have,” Jordan saidquietly.
Juliette looked to him.
“With all the wisdom my sevenyears allowed I thought you were old enough to ride a pony.” Heshook his head. “I had you mounted and seated before me, riding inthe stable yard when Adele came out. It was the one time I fearedher more than father.” Jordan chuckled.
“You were squealing with pleasureand wouldn’t sit still,” he continued. “In truth, I am glad shecame out because I was afraid I couldn’t keep you from
