What were his intentions now? Hadshe misjudged him? Even before he knew she was a Trent he wished toexplain. Was there more he wanted to tell her? Should she havegiven him the chance instead of assuming?
“Your life could have been easierif your grandfather would have loosened the purse strings,” Bentleygrumbled.
Eleanor narrowed her eyes at himand frowned. “I would have had to give up my family,remember.”
“It still wasn’t right,” herbrother countered.
Eleanor turned to Juliette. “It isan odd history. My mother married the younger son of the Earl ofStanhope. The family never accepted her because of her commonbirth. When my father died, mama returned home with me. There shemet and married James Culver and they produced my sister and fourbrothers.”
“The earl did not help yourmother?” How could a man turn his back on his daughter-in-law andgranddaughter?
Juliette shook the thoughts away.Knowing what little she did about her own father, she shouldn’t besurprised by the actions of the gentry.
“He would help me, but not myfamily. I could have anything I wished if I went to live with themand leave my brothers and sisters to make do with what Uncle Adamcould provide.”
“It seems awfully unfair,”Juliette muttered.
“It was,” Acker agreed.
Juliette found herself amendingher thoughts. Despite her poor situation, Eleanor was still born alady which made her worthy of Acker’s affection.
She had to stop this line ofthinking and turned toward Bentley. “When do you think we willarrive?”
“Early this evening if the weatherholds,” was Bentley’s response.
Thank goodness. She wanted to bedone with this coach and away from the newest members of herfamily. She was more comfortable with them now, but her true familywas her sisters and mother.
She glanced across the carriage tofind Acker watching her. She needed to put distance between them aswell.
Couldn’t she be at least a littlejealous, Acker thought? Juliette was sitting next to the woman hethought to marry when he met her in Milan. They talked of the pastas if it happened to someone else and was of noconsequence.
Would she even consider him whenhe did have a chance to make an offer?
He glanced at his former schoolchum. Would Bentley grant that permission? Now that Juliette wasback in the folds of her family he should do this right. ApproachBentley and gain permission and then set about courting Juliette.Hopefully it would not take long because he wasn’t sure how long hecould last not having her with him. These past two days in thecarriage proved that well enough. They had been each other’sconstant companion and got on well. It showed promise of theirfuture.
“You danced beautifully,” Eleanorsaid to Juliette a moment later.
A blush stole over her cheeks.“Thank you.”
“Elizabeth asked Juliette to teachher,” Acker commented.
A smile bloomed on Eleanor’s face.“Would you teach me as well? It is such a beautifulart.”
“If you wish,” Juliettechuckled.
“As long as that is the onlydancing you do,” Bentley said with seriousness.
Acker looked at him as didJuliette.
She hitched a brow. Acker knewthat look. “Pardon?” she said a moment later, her shouldersstiffened.
Bentley shifted in his seat.“Julia, you are a lady, a Trent. There is no need for you to be aballerina any longer. I have the wealth to support your entirefamily.”
“He wishes to bring you out in thespring, if all goes well and the potential scandal is dealt withproperly,” Eleanor added.
Acker watched Juliette’s eyesdarken and her mouth pinched. This was not going to be a pleasantconversation.
“Brought out?” Her voicerose an octave in disbelief, or perhaps displeasure. “I am five andtwenty. Far too old to be broughtout as if I have just left theschoolroom.”
“Introduced perhaps is the moreappropriate term,” Acker offered, hoping to ease some of thebuilding tension.
“I don’t need to be introducedeither,” she insisted.
Bentley leaned forward, elbows onhis knees and looked into her eyes. “You are my sister, Lady JuliaTrent. Had Adele not run off you would have made your entranceseven years ago.”
“But she did,” Juliette remindedhim.
“And I plan to rectify thesituation,” he argued.
Acker wished to warn Bentley thatit was best not to try and tell Juliette what she could do or notdo because she will act in opposition of his wishes regardless ofwhat is best for her. But to do so within earshot of her wouldbring her anger down on him and that was the last thing Ackerwanted at the moment. Besides, Bentley would have to learn soonenough that his sisters had a mind of their own. One would think hewould have noticed this aspect of Juliette’s personality fromearlier encounters but apparently, Bentley had not.
“What if I don’t wish to bepresented?” Juliette practically spit.
“You were born to that world,”Bentley countered.
“But I am not of that world, LordBentley. I am a ballerina and that is how I plan tocontinue.”
Acker stifled a groan. For most ofhis adult life Bentley had been unyielding and judgmental, avoidedscandal and expected everyone to behave as their status dictated.His marriage to Eleanor changed much of how Bentley viewed theworld, others and himself. However, Acker didn’t believe Bentleychanged enough to accept that his sister would continue to danceand be part of the theatre.
“A lady does not perform in atheatre setting,” Bentley bit out.
“This lady intends to,” Juliettecountered through clenched teeth.
Bentley turned toAcker.
“Don’t bring me into this.” Hewanted Juliette’s anger directed at Bentley and nothimself.
His friend ignored his request.“Tell her. A lady of Society is not a performer.”
Acker sighed. As much as he didnot want to incur the wrath of Juliette, he had to answer honestly.“It is not done.” He sighed. “In fact, it isscandalous.”
Juliette looked from Acker toBentley and back to Acker. “So, I am to assume neither one of youwill support my wish to continue to dance.”
“No,” Bentley answeredhonestly.
Acker wasn’t sure how he felt. Heknew Juliette was a ballerina from the top of her head to the
