“Is something on your mind?”
A slight smile came to his lips. “We willdiscuss it later.”
With that he kissed her forehead and Juliettemade her way into the house.
Though it was late, her mother and sisterswere still awake. Hélène was sewing costumes for the nextproduction, pausing only long enough to read the script in front ofher. Her sister often worked on memorization while sewing. Juliettedidn’t understand how she managed to do both at once. Genviève wasbent over the household accounts because Juliette recognized thebooks open on the desk. Maman was reading the stack of posts thatmust have arrived after she left for the theatre. They were weeksold and Juliette couldn’t understand her mother’s fascination. Shecould not recall her mother being even remotely interested in theworld while they lived in Paris, but since they moved to Italy,somehow Maman arranged to have every London paper delivered toher.
“How was the ballet this evening?” her motherasked as she folded the paper she was currently reading.
For a moment Juliette thought to tell them ofCarlo’s mistake but changed her mind. Nobody could ever determinehow her mother would react to such an instance. One moment shewould shrug it off and the other, insist something be done andpossibly fly into a rage over Carlo touching her in such a matter.It was best to forget the incident even happened. “It went well,”she finally answered.
“You did not receive flowers this evening?”Hélène asked with an arched brow.
“He sent another bouquet. I left them in mydressing room.”
Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “Just make sureyou do not meet with that gentleman.”
Juliette did not look at her mother andwandered over to the sideboard and poured herself a small glass ofwine. “I know, Maman,” Juliette answered. Until she knew what Ackerintended she would keep their meetings to herself.
Acker practically pushed his way through thecrowd to get to Juliette’s dressing room. The door stood open andhe stepped inside. His bouquet sat on a small table and beside ither note, declining his invitation to supper. Disappointmentsettled in his belly. At least he would be with her tomorrowafternoon. He stepped back out into the throng of patrons, whichhad grown thicker while he was in Juliette’s dressing room. He hadtwo options, to try and make his way toward the entrance or use theback door as they had done last night. The back door was closer andAcker maneuvered his way around the groupings of people until hewas able to step out into the night air. His carriage would bewaiting out front and he was turning in that direction when he sawJuliette. Her arm was linked with that of the man she had justdanced with.
Is that why she had declined his invitationthis evening? Was she meeting with her lover? Had the man beenupset at Juliette having been with Acker the evening before?
Acker tried to remember if the man had beenin the caffè but the only people he had paid any attention to wereJuliette and her two sisters.
Where were they going? He needed to know ifthe two were lovers or simply friends and Acker decided to followthem. He remained back so as not to be noticed. He wasn’t about tofollow as closely as Juliette’s sister had followed them lastevening.
When the two paused and looked at each other,Acker flattened himself against a dark doorway, hoping the shadowsshielded him. The couple exchanged only a few words before theycontinued walking. He wished he was close enough to hear what wasbeing said but he didn’t want to risk being seen.
A short time later they stopped before a rowof houses? Did Juliette live here or the man? Once again he hid inthe shadows, waiting and watching what would happen. Relief shotthrough him when the man simply kissed Juliette on the forehead andwaited as she safely entered her home. Acker glanced around for aplace to hide in the event the man returned the way he came, butinstead, he continued on. Acker stared at the three storystructure, lights blazing in the lower floors. So, this was whereJuliette lived. Would he one day be invited inside?
Though he wished to approach the door, he didnot. He would see her tomorrow and besides, he did not wish toanger Juliette’s mother.
Why did the woman wish Juliette not acquaintherself with Englishmen? Was Juliette truly as innocent as sheseemed? She was already four and twenty, living in an all-femalehousehold. One was an actress and Juliette danced at night. Howcould the women possibly be sheltered and innocent?
He glanced at the row of houses. Thoughneatly kept, this was not a wealthy neighborhood. Was the mothersheltering her daughters to keep them from following in the samefootsteps of so many dancers, singers and actresses before them? Ifso, what did she hope to gain?
Did she want them to remain spinsters andgrow old without experiencing love and passion? Or, did she simplywish for them to remain virtuous until marriage?
The idea brought Acker up short. Yes, hedesired Juliette and wanted her, but marriage was not an option. Hewas an English Viscount. She was an Italian ballerina. Not that hecared about their differences in class. They were simply from twoseparate worlds. She would never fit into his because Society wouldnever accept her.
He shook the thoughts away and turned to walkback toward the theatre where his carriage waited. Why was he eventhinking on marriage? He did need to wed at some point in time. Hisstation required an heir. But he had always seen Eleanor Westin inthat role. She needed a husband and would be a good mother. She washis dearest friend and they would get on well. There was no passionbetween them, but was that truly necessary in a marriage? It wouldbe no hardship to make love to her, but they would never have agrand passion such as that spoken by the poets.
They wouldn’t be unhappy either. Besides,Eleanor needed him, as did her younger siblings, whether sherealized it or not. Hopefully, she would not be as stubborn in herrefusal once
