In that moment, Acker knew what hemust do. He grabbed Bentley’s arm and dragged him out to the halland into a private room.
“What is it?” hedemanded.
“Say nothing toJuliette.”
“You’ve changed your mind?”Bentley asked in confusion.
Acker couldn’t help grinning. “No.I am more convinced than ever. But, I need to convinceher.”
“And how do you suppose to dothat?”
“I am not telling you, or anyoneelse. But, I need to be gone for a short while. There are somethings I need to attend to. When I am ready, I will send a note tohave Juliette brought to London.”
Bentley raised a skepticalbrow.
“Trust me.”
Juliette huffed and crossed her arms over herchest. She wished Jordan and Audrey would explain what they wereabout, but both remained mum. After a month of wandering around theBentley Manor they had insisted she come to London with them.
“I wasn’t moping,” she said as thecarriage rumbled along the streets of London. Well, she assumedthey were still in London. After leaving the townhouse, Audrey hadtied a dark scarf around her head so she couldn’t see, so as not toruin the surprise.
“Yes, you were,” Jordancountered.
Perhaps she had been. Acker hadleft after their argument without even saying goodbye. Of course,she had said as much when she stormed out of the maze. Had sheknown it was the last time she would see him she may have donethings a bit differently.
No she wouldn’t have. She had lether stubbornness get in the way once again and it never worked outwell when she let that happen.
“I am concerned about Maman,”Juliette insisted, as if that explained her melancholy state afterAcker had left.
“I am sure you are,” Jordanagreed. “However, I couldn’t help but notice a shift in yourtemperament after a certain gentleman had left themanor.”
Heat flooded into her cheeks butshe had said nothing.
“I am sure that after a few daysin London everything will seem brighter,” Audrey said cheerfullyfrom the other side of the carriage.
“They would be immensely brighterif you would remove this blindfold,” Juliette grumbled.
“But that would ruin all of thefun and we so want to cheer you up,” Audrey insisted.
Jordan chuckled and Juliette wasdying to know what they were about. “What about Maman? What if sheneeds me?” That had been her argument from the moment Audreyapproached her about returning to London for a few days. She andJordan were to check on their property and the house they werebuilding at the stud farm they owned outside of Oxford. The familyhad practically forced her into the carriage to get her to go toLondon.
“Your mother will be fine withoutyou for a sennight, but if something were to happen, Bentley knowswhere to find us.”
At least they weren’t going to begone much longer. They left the estate three days ago and only twodays remained before they would begin their journey back. Julietteprayed her mother’s health held during the time she wasaway.
The carriage slowed and rolled toa stop. Thank goodness. Juliette could only hope they reached theirdestination and not delayed in traffic.
There was shifting and thecarriage rocked. She assumed Jordan had rose from his seat andmoved toward the door.
“You stay right here and we willassist you out of the carriage,” Audrey advised her.
“Where are we?” Juliette demanded,though it sounded more like a whine, for which she hated herself.Had she really been moping about? Had she been whining as well? Nowonder her family had taken drastic measures to remove her from thecountry. She had never behaved like this before. What had gotteninto her?
Two hands clasped hers. “Nowfollow me out and Jordan will assist you to the ground.”
Juliette stood, though she had tobend to keep from striking her head on the roof of the carriage andlet Audrey slowly pull her toward the entrance. She slid her footforward and felt for the edge of the door so she would know whereto step. Before she could maneuver herself down to the step twostrong hands grasped her around the waist and plucked her from thecarriage, setting her on the walk.
“Jordan, I could have exited on myown,” she chastised.
Jordan didn’t speak but the handsthat had held her waist moved to her shoulders and gently turnedher to face the opposite direction. Behind her she heard thecarriage door click and by the sound of the hooves and wheels onthe cobblestones, the carriage moved away.
“Wait? Why is the carriageleaving?” Panic rose. They didn’t just leave her here, did they?And, why weren’t either Jordan or Audrey speaking.
The hands left her shoulders andnow fidgeted with the tie at the back of her head. Thank goodnessthe blindfold was going to be removed. At least then she could seewhere she was, and who was still with her.
“Close your eyes.”
Her heartbeat increased. “LordAcker?”
He kissed her cheek and Juliet’swarmed. Why would he do something in a public area? Or, she assumedthey were in public because sounds of people and carriagessurrounded her. And, where was Jordan and why hadn’t he objected tothe familiarity?
“Close your eyes and I will removethe blindfold.”
Juliette nodded and did as heasked. Excitement coursed through her veins.
The scarf fell away and eventhough her eyelids remained down some light penetrated proving shewas still outside.
“Now, very slowly open youreyes.”
She did so and viewed a door. Sheglanced up and realized she was standing in front of a building ofsorts. She looked around and recognized the area. She was in CoventGarden and not far from The Adelphi Theatre. “I don’t understand.”She had walked past this building many times, but it had beenabandoned and closed. She could never determine if it had been sometype of store or a warehouse, or sets of rooms where people oncelived. Why were they here now?
“Look closer.”
She could hear a grin in his voiceand studied the building once again. Her breath caught when sheread the large sign above the door “Mirabelle Scuola diDanza”.
“Come on.” Acker grasped her handand drew her to the door. “Let me show you the inside.”
Juliette was too stunned to sayanything and let him pull her along.
They took two
