Though the rest of Bentley’s children hadgrown into adulthood, Acker did not think Juliette wasexaggerating. Her emotions yesterday had been too raw and her facebordered on terror when she threw the willow switch across theroom.
“I have scars,” she said quietly. “On mybottom.” A blush stained her cheek but Acker didn’t comment. “I hadasked maman about them when I was younger and she said I had anaccident when I was younger.”
“Did you believe her?”
“At the time yes, but I did question them asI grew older. They are two perfectly straight lines and I couldn’timagine how I could have come by such an injury.”
Acker winced. Her father had struck her hardenough to scar her. The man was a beast.
“I am not sure I would have survived had weremained.”
Acker squeezed her hand, wishing to removethe haunted look in her eyes. “And, you probably would not haveexperienced Paris or Milan.”
A small smile appeared on her lips. “I missthem both.”
Those were words he had not wanted to hear.“Would you return if you had the chance?” He needed to know theanswer, but feared it as well.
Juliette turned to look at him and bit herbottom lip. “It is what I intend to do, after. . .”
Though she didn’t say the words, he knewJuliette meant to leave after her mother passed on.
“Why?”
Her forehead crinkled as she frowned. “Ican’t be who I am here.”
“How do you know you can’t be more?” Hecountered.
“You heard Bentley. He won’t allow me todance.”
It always came back to her being a ballerina.He turned and grasped both of her hands in his. He had to make herunderstand. “What of a world you have yet to experience.”
She eyed him suspiciously.
“Since you first began to dance that is allyou have known. Your father was an earl, and now your brother holdsthat title. You are a lady, with more options than youdreamed.”
Juliette pursed her lips and narrowed hereyes. “In other words, I have the option of dressing in the finestof clothing, relaxing in the country in the summer and wintermonths, and being paraded through balls and soirees in the spring.”She leaned in. “And, if I am very lucky, some gentleman will offerfor me and I will be blissfully happy because I will have wed andmy life will be complete once the heir and the spare havearrived.”
He wanted to blurt out yes, but knew shewouldn’t take the assurance well.
“There is more to London than balls. You haveyet to experience the museums, or sit in a private box for a playor opera. What of riding in Hyde Park, getting an ice at Günter’s,and shopping on Bond Street?”
“An existence such as you describe will driveme to Bedlam.”
“Perhaps not. Have you considered the righthusband could make all the difference?”
Juliette tilted her head and studied him.
“What if that husband were me?”
Acker knew he shouldn’t hold his breathwaiting for her response, but he couldn’t force himself to breath.Slowly she smiled. He let out a breath.
“I will make you happy, Juliette. It is all Iwish to do. From the moment I saw you, I knew you were all Iwanted.”
Tears glistened in her eyes.
Acker leaned forward and placed his lipsagainst hers. Juliette returned it. He couldn’t get as close as heliked in this position and Acker scooped her up and settled her onhis lap as Juliette’s arms wove around his neck.
Juliette blinked back her tears and allowedAcker to kiss and hold her. She would give him this. Withoutthinking about her actions, Juliette pushed her fingers through thehair at the back of his head as he deepened the kiss. As his tonguemated with her, her body heated. What would it be like to be lovedby Acker? Her only experience with passion were those moments shehad spent with him and she wanted to know so much more, but itwould not be.
But for now, she would take something forherself.
This time when he cupped her breast, moldingit in his hand and rubbing his thumb over the nipple she did notpanic. He no longer wished for her to be a mistress but a wife,simply because she was now a lady. Had he asked her in Milan, oreven in London before he knew who she was she would have happilyagreed to be his wife. But not now.
He pulled away first, both of them short ofbreath.
“Has no lady ever been a dancer or actressafter she married into Society?”
Acker sighed. “Not to my knowledge. I imaginethe scandal would have spread as quickly as a fire in a hayloft.”
Juliette slid from his lap. Her moment ofbliss with Acker was over, never to be visited again.
“It is just not done,” he added.
“Which is why I will not marry.”
Acker stood. “What? I thought you just agreedto be my wife.”
“I didn’t give you an answer,” she saidsimply. “I can’t marry you.”
“Because you would rather dance?”
“Because it is who I am,” she said as shecame to her feet. “It is unfair for anyone to ask me to change whoI am because my father and brother are titled men.”
“You haven’t even given your family a chance.You haven’t given me a chance. Have one Season and if you hate itso much then return to dancing.”
“I haven’t danced for a year, Lord Acker,with the exception of that one performance. I can’t wait that longto return or it will be too late.”
“So you intend to continue knocking on thedoors throughout Covent Garden until someone hires you?” He waspractically yelling at her, yet she held her ground. He didn’tunderstand. None of them understood.
“By then word will be out that you are notJuliette Mirabelle, as everyone believed, but Lady Julia Trent. Doyou think you will be hired to dance then?”
Juliette stumbled back. It never occurred toher she would be denied a chance to be a ballerina because of whoshe happened to be related to. “Bentley has so much power?”
“Bentley wouldn’t have to do anything. It issimply the way of
