She placed her tea cup into thesaucer and glanced around the private dining room. Most of themwere here and even though they carried on conversation in normaltones, the noise was deafening. She had been in crowded placesbefore, such as the theater and the caffès they used to sup inafter the ballet, but this private dining room filled with herfamily members seemed twice as loud as either of those places hadever been.
Perhaps it was because she wastired and not used to them. And, she hadn’t had a moment’s peacesince her discovery at the ballet. That is what she needed. Amoment to herself, and quiet without anyone talking to her, askingquestions or making demands.
Standing, she excused herself andcrossed through to the public room and out the main entrance. Onceoutside she turned toward the side of the building, away fromtravelers ready to depart. She spied a bench beneath a grouping oftrees and made her way to sit in the shade. Though she could stillhear the noise from the stable yard, it was distant and not nearlyas disturbing of her newest family members.
A sigh escaped and she wonderedhow much longer the journey would take. Or, which brother woulddecide to ride with them this morning? Was it too much to hope thather sisters could join her and Acker in the coach? Or better yet,that she could share a coach with her sisters and mother with nogentlemen present. At least then she would be able to fully relax,and sleep.
“How is your mother thismorning?”
Juliette glanced up to find Ackerstanding not far away.
“She coughed most of the night butdoesn’t seem to be worse for the traveling,”
He nodded as he walked forward andtook a seat beside her. As much as she had wanted to be alone a fewmoments ago she did not mind his presence. She was comforted whenhe was near and Juliette couldn’t explain why.
He picked up her hand and placed akiss on its back. “How are you doing?”
She simply shrugged. What couldshe say that didn’t sound as if she were complaining? She shouldn’tcomplain about anything because this move was more for her mother’sbenefit than hiding from Society. At least that was the case inJuliette’s mind.
“Your family can be a bitoverwhelming.”
An unintended chuckle bubbled upfrom within. She must be losing her mind.
“Just remember, I am here foryou.” He squeezed her hand. “Not anyone else. Just you.”
Tears sprang to her eyes and shequickly blinked them away. It was silly of course and only provedhow tired she had become. But, nobody had ever been there just forher. She hadn’t realized how much she wanted that very thing untilit was offered. “Thank you.”
“I hope to always be there foryou, Juliette.”
She wanted that as well. To Ackershe was Juliette. To everyone else she was Julia. But she wasn’tthat person. Julia was foreign to her. Even her sisters had calledher Julia last evening. Acker knew who she was. Why didn’t theothers.
Oh, she was too tired to think.Perhaps she could sleep in the coach and get some much needed rest.Then she wouldn’t be so maudlin. It would be even nicer if shecould curl herself around Acker and sleep until they arrived atBentley Manor but she knew it was impossible.
“How much longer before wearrive?” She asked.
Acker snaked an arm around hershoulder and pulled her close. “This evening or perhaps tomorrowmorning, depending on how often we stop.”
Though they shouldn’t push toohard because of Maman, Juliette couldn’t help thinking that gettingmaman to a warm home and soft bed wouldn’t be the best forher.
“Juliette, if only I could haveyou to myself,” Acker whispered before placing a kiss against herbrow.
His tenderness made her want toweep. “Why are you being so kind?”
He chuckled. “I care about you.Surely you know that by now.”
She did, but how much and to whatpurpose she wished to ask, but didn’t have the strength to havesuch a serious conversation with him at the moment. Besides, shehad to remember that when she was just a ballerina she was only fitto be his mistress. As she was now Lady Julia Trent, Acker’sattention could only mean one of two things. He wanted herfriendship or he wanted her as his wife. She would be his friendand needed him for that, but she could never marry him. Had he beenwilling to marry the simple ballerina it would bedifferent.
She straightened and pulled away.It was not right to lean on him when she had no certainty of hisintentions.
“Once everyone is settled, I wouldlike to speak with you?”
“Why not now?” she asked eventhough she wasn’t prepared for whatever he planned tosay.
“We don’t have enough time and Iexpect one of your brothers to come look for us at anymoment.”
As if Acker’s words had conjuredhim from thin air, Matthew walked around the side of the building.“There you are. Everyone is ready to leave.”
Acker groaned as Juliette stoodand walked away from him and toward yet another brother. Hisappearance could only mean that he would be sharing the carriagewith them this morning.
Acker settled into the same seathe had occupied yesterday and kept a close eye on Juliette. He hadnever seen her so tired, almost beaten down. It was all he could donot to wrap her in his arms and make all her troubles go away, buthe didn’t have the power. She faced difficult times ahead becauseAdele was not going to get better no matter how much Juliettewished her to. All Acker could do was be there for her to lean onin time of need.
At least it was Matthew and Gracewho were joining them this morning. Of the four brothers, he wasthe most reasonable, though he used to think that of JordanTrent.
Juliette watched himsuspiciously.
“Is something on your mind?”Matthew asked slowly.
“Are you going to glare at Ackerall morning?” she asked.
His forehead furrowed inconfusion. “No. Do I have a reason to?”
“Are you going to question
