She offered a brief history of howher father was a vicar and she had been raised in a small town butspent much of her time at the castle.
“A castle?” Juliettequestioned.
“Yes,” Elizabeth answeredbrightly. “It is where my grandfather lives.”
“The Duke of Danby, His Grace,”Acker explained and watched the color drain from Juliette’scheeks.
“Oh, don’t let the fact that mygrandfather is a duke bother you.” Elizabeth patted Juliette’shand. “He seems much tougher than he actually is.”
John smirked and Acker lifted aneyebrow. He had never heard such an understatement in his life. HisGrace may coddle his granddaughter but Acker had been forced todeal with the man on too many occasions, usually when he madedemands on Elizabeth’s whereabouts and safety. Acker was glad heresigned his post so that he did not have to encounter His Graceany longer.
“After two Seasons I could notbear the thought of another one,” Elizabeth continued.
“Is that when you married?”Juliette asked.
Elizabeth laughed. “No, I decidedto visit my uncle, in France.”
Shock registered on Juliette’sface. “Your father and grandfather let you travel to France whileNapoleon was still emperor?”
Elizabeth gave a sly smile. “Theydidn’t really have a choice. They didn’t learn of my plans until Iwas there.”
“You ran away?”
“At least the two of you have thatin common,” Acker muttered, growing more irritated at not havingJuliette to himself, or even having her attention.
“I have never run away,” Julietteargued.
“True, but you’ve disappearedoften enough.”
Juliette narrowed her eyes at him.“It wasn’t intentionally to avoid you, however—.”
“—Have you ever been to the southof France,” Elizabeth interrupted.
“No, other than when we traveledthrough Marseilles on the way to Milan.”
Elizabeth relaxed and Acker knewElizabeth could continue with the story she and John would haveSociety believe without being caught in the lie.
“I met my first husband in France,Jean Pierre,” she said with a sigh.
John coughed into his fist andAcker resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Was Juliette’s sister,Hélène, as good an actress as Elizabeth?
“We settled in Sainte-Maxime wherehis family owned a vineyard.”
“What happened?” Juliette askedcarefully.
“He died,” Elizabeth answeredmatter-of-factly. Acker really should caution Elizabeth to show abit more emotion over the death of her non-existent husband, butthen she would know that he knew the truth.
Juliette simply stared at her withconcern. No doubt because of the flippant way Elizabeth explainedaway her husband.
“I met John a year later.” Shesmiled over at her husband. “We returned to England and weremarried a year ago January.”
Juliette studied her brother. “Youwere in France as well? Were you a soldier?”
Acker turned toward John andlifted an eyebrow. Hopefully he possessed the same acting skills ashis wife. At least John didn’t have a fictitious former wife heneeded to lie about.
“No,” he chuckled. “If you ask myfamily I was leading the life of a wastrel.”
“In France? Wasn’t that a bitdangerous?”
He sobered. “Not when you considerFather was in England,” he answered bitterly.
At least the former Bentley leftone legacy: Anyone who knew him hated him, including hischildren.
Elizabeth turned toward Juliette.“Your turn. Tell me all about living in Paris, being a ballerinaand Milan.”
Juliette startled at the demandbut recovered quickly enough. “I recall little of the Revolutionbecause Maman shielded us. It was over by the time I saw my firstballet,” she sighed. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in mylife and when I asked, Maman agreed to allow me to attendlessons.”
Juliette glowed when she spoke ofher life as a ballerina and those she had studied under. They had apart of her heart no one could ever touch.
“I was upset when we had to moveto Italy, and now understand the purpose. Thankfully I couldcontinue to dance in Milan.”
Acker wished he could bring thesame loving smile to her lips. What would he need to do so Juliettehad the same enraptured expression when she thought ofhim?
“You must teach me,” Elizabethannounced.
“To dance?” Juliette asked inclarification?
“Yes. Though I am uncertain I havethe skill.” Eleanor leaned close to Juliette. “I am not verygraceful.”
Juliette smiled withencouragement, probably in the same manner she did with herstudents. “I would enjoy teaching you.” She turned to look atAcker. “I am certain you will not be the worst student I everencountered.”
Acker’s face warmed. That was onestory he was not going to allow her to share.
“I have one question,” John askedin a serious tone. “What are your loyalties?”
Acker stiffened. Surely Johnwasn’t going to interrogate her as he did those he captured in thename of the Crown. Acker simply wouldn’t allow it.
“I don’t understand,” she askedwith a frown.
“You’ve lived all but three yearsof your life in countries under French rule. England has been atwar with France most of that time.” He leaned forward and placedhis hands on his knees. “Tell me, do your loyalties lie with theFrench or the English.”
Juliette pulled back and stared athim. “My loyalties remain with my mother and sisters.”
“That does not answer myquestion.”
“I have no interest in politics orwar, if you must know.” Her face took on the flush of anger, muchas it had done when she argued with Bentley last night. “I thinkwar is a waste and wish everyone would get along with one another.”She leaned toward him, her eyes narrow. “And I do not appreciatebeing questioned in this manner. The only thing I wish to do isdance and I don’t care what country I happen to be in at thetime.”
John leaned back and smiled,apparently pleased with her answer.
Juliette didn’t calm as quicklyand turned her face to look out the window.
Acker watched the emotions playacross her lovely face. He would give anything to know what she wasthinking but didn’t dare ask, not with John and Elizabeth in thecoach. It was a shame John had questioned her loyalty because theyhad been having such a pleasant trip until that point and he waslearning more about Juliette each passing moment. And the longer hewas with her the more he wanted her.
The question remained; did shewant him as well?
Juliette had a fitful night ofsleep. Her mother coughed often, waking Juliette and her sisters.All she wanted to do was sleep but her mother was alert, feelingbetter and it was time to continue their journey.
