Lady Revealed (7 page)

Juliette shrugged. “I do not know. We barely know one another.”

“Yet you have met with him despite my instructions.”

Anger began to build within. Maman may have been correct that Juliette should avoid Lord Acker, but her mother did not allow her to see
anyone
. At four and twenty she should have been at least courted, but her mother refused when any gentleman showed a preference to her or one of her sisters. Did she wish for them to grow old as spinsters?

“He is kind and interesting.”

Her mother harrumphed. “I’ve warned you Juliette. Lord Acker wants only one thing from you. Once he has gained that he will disappear. He has estates in England and this is simply a holiday to him.” She leaned forward. “Don’t let him leave you ruined when he is gone, or worse.”

Before this afternoon Juliette would have argued with her mother. He hadn’t behaved as if he only wanted to bed her, but the way he touched her this afternoon brought back memories she wished to bury and she knew her mother spoke the truth. “I won’t, Maman.”

Her mother set the cup in the saucer on the table and picked up one of the many news sheets. Juliette looked from one sister to the other. Was her mother going to say nothing further?

They drank in silence, none of them willing to encourage further conversation since Maman may return to the topic of lecturing her about Acker.

Hélène refilled their cups, but nothing further was said. Juliette wished to leave and go to her room where she could think. She should not let the past influence her judgment of Acker, but it was something she needed to muddle through, alone and in silence, where she could think.

Her mother tossed the third paper on the floor and picked up the fourth. It was the same each time they arrived even though the news was now old. Once she had the news sheets, nothing else mattered until they were read. Their presence is probably what saved Juliette from further questions from her mother.

Maman gasped and Juliette looked at her. Maman’s face had gone pale and she brought a jeweled hand to her throat. Slowly the color returned and she smiled and folded the paper. “Don’t worry, Juliette. All will work out for the best.”

She stood and fluffed out her skirts. “I have grand plans for you.” Her smile grew broader. “All of you.”

A larger bouquet awaited her, but Juliette found no joy in their aroma or color. Was it simply a gift of apology, or one to soften her heart and open her thighs?

Tears sprang to her eyes but she brushed them away. Acker wasn’t worth crying over and it was best she learned the truth of his character now, before she gave him the one thing she could never get back.

“Juliette?”

She turned to find Carlo standing in the door. His face was grim. “It is time.”

Carlo wasn’t any happier than she was tonight, but they would still give a performance like no other.

He walked with her to the stage and they waited to make their entrance. As the music reached the crescendo, she lifted her arms and sprang out onto the stage. Not once did she look to find Acker. Juliette knew he was in the audience because she could feel his gaze upon her, but she would not glance in his direction or she would not be able to hold back her tears. Instead, Juliette let the emotions engulf her as the music filled her soul and she danced with more passion than she had ever accomplished before and at the end she collapsed into Carlo’s arms, exhausted and drained.

She would not dance this ballet again. Juliette closed her eyes and relaxed.

Carlo bent over her as he had done dozens of times before, but this time he kissed her lips. It was all she could do not to react. What had come over him and why was he doing this in front of an audience? Thank goodness it was the last performance or she would give him a piece of her mind. How dare he alter the choreography and what possessed him to do such a thing?

What was Acker thinking? He knew there was no kiss at the end of the ballet.

On the other hand, why should she care what he thought?

The music ended and Carlo straightened and helped Juliette to her feet so that they could take their bows. The applause was deafening and she smiled gratefully before leaving the stage and making her way back to the dressing room. She pushed the door shut behind her but it was stopped. She turned and recognized Carlo’s hand grasping the edge. He was the last person she wished to speak with at the moment.

He pushed it open and stepped inside.

“Please go.” Her emotions were too raw from being hurt by Acker and now angry with Carlo. She wanted to yell, scream and throw things. Never had she wanted to do this before but these two made her want to display all forms of irrational behavior. Perhaps that is why her mother kept them from being involved with men, who apparently were untrustworthy.

“I would have a word with you, Juliette.” The door clicked as he closed it behind him.

Juliette stiffened her spine and glared at him. Perhaps it was best to have this discussion now. “Why did you kiss me?”

He stepped further into the room, his eyes darkened to almost black. “Don’t you know how much I desire you?”

Juliette couldn’t keep her mouth from popping open. “Pardon?”

He slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her close. “I’ve longed for you for so long and I am tired of waiting to declare myself.”

He lowered his face toward hers and Juliette turned her head before his lips could touch their intended target. They landed on her cheek instead and she pushed against his chest. “Let me go. You do not know what you are speaking of.”

“Yes, I do.” He muttered, his lips grazing her neck.

His arms were like a steel band that she could not break from. “Let me go,” she yelled.

Carlo straightened. “Why, so you can be with your English lover?” He scowled at her.

“He is not my lover,” Juliette defended.

“I saw you with him, yesterday and today.”

“You saw us talking.”

A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I was in that room before you knew I was there. He had you laid out, his hand up your skirt.”

Heat infused her face.

“I retreated to save you the embarrassment and was louder in my return.”

“You are mistaken,” Juliette offered weakly but how could she deny the truth.

“He wasn’t wearing his jacket, waistcoat or boots. Most gentlemen remain fully clothed when calling on a woman, unless he has other intentions.”

“I was attempting to teach him ballet. His clothing was too confining.”

Carlo snorted and clearly didn’t believe her. “Today he had his hands on your breast while you sought shelter from the rain.”

Oh Lord, he had seen. “Are you following me?”

“It was not my intention to do so. I just happened to come across you.”

“It was a mistake,” Juliette admitted.

Carlo loosened his hold. “I knew he would use you for his pleasure.”

“It is not like that!”

“No?” he raged. “I’ve danced with you for months. My hands have caressed almost every inch of your body. I’ve ached for you and your mother denied me the opportunity to court you.”

The venom of his tone struck her. “My mother?” Juliette stepped back until her legs were pressed against the dressing table.

He prowled toward her. “I was not good enough.” Carlo yanked her to his body again. His hard length pressed against her stomach. She had never experienced such from him and never expected that Carlo wanted her.

“It appears only a lord is worthy enough. At least my intentions were honorable. I would have married you. He only wishes to turn you into his whore.”

Juliette got her hand free and slapped his face. How dare he call her such a vile name? She had done nothing to deserve this behavior.

He didn’t react but grasped her hand. “Let me love you, Juliette.” His tone softened and he let loose of her hand. “I’ve loved you for so long.”

Juliette pulled back and stared at him. She had never considered that Carlo felt anything more than friendship. Had she, would their relationship have deepened? Would she have even noticed Lord Acker?

As much as she tried, she could not see Carlo in the role of her lover or husband. Her feelings for him were not amorous. Besides his temper was volatile and she did not want to live a life where she feared doing or saying something that would bring about his anger. “I am sorry, Carlo.”

His eyes darkened and his grip tightened once again. The fear she experienced earlier returned. Certainly he would not harm her over a rejection, would he?

“Unhand her now.”

Juliette glanced over Carlo’s shoulder to find Acker standing in the doorway. She had not even heard him come in.

Carlo loosened his hold and slowly turned. “She does not want you, Viscount.”

Juliette took the opportunity to slip away from Carlo and edged to the side of the room, away from both men.

“Apparently she does not want you either,” Acker smirked.

“Both of you please, go.”

They turned in unison to look at her.

“I am not going to leave you alone with him,” Acker insisted.

Juliette wasn’t so certain she wanted to be alone with Carlo, ever again. She certainly would never share the stage with him after tonight. “Please go, Carlo.”

He lifted an eyebrow and smirked but did not move from his spot. “Are you so certain?”

A crowd of spectators had gathered outside of her door and were peering in. Oh, she wanted the lot of them gone. The day had been trying enough and now this. “Please go?” she asked again.

Carlo stepped toward the door. “We are not done, you and I.”

Juliette closed her eyes and sank down onto a chair. There was a soft click of the door. It was too much to hope that Lord Acker had left as well.

“He did not hurt you, did he?”

Juliette shook her head. “No.” She stood; ready to leave once she changed her clothing. “I had no idea…”

“You did not realize he wanted you?” Acker questioned as he settled into a seat beside the door.

Juliette wheeled on him, frowning. “Of course not. He said nothing and we have been partners for months.”

Acker chuckled. “Do you know so little about men?”

His question struck a chord within her. “Apparently,” she snapped and turned to get her dress and stopped. Her dressing room was empty. All of her personal items and clothing were gone. The only things that remained were her boots, cloak and newest flower arrangement from Lord Acker. Hélène said she was going to clean the dressing room now that the production was at an end, but Juliette assumed her sister would at least leave her a dress.

With a sigh she sat to remove her dancing slippers and pull on her boots. At least the cloak would hide her costume while she walked home.

A chill ran up her spine. Would Carlo be waiting for her and was it even safe to walk alone? She had no wish to encounter him again tonight. At least it would be a few days before they began rehearsing for the next production, though Juliette never wanted to share a stage with him again.

Acker lifted her cloak from the hook by the door. “I will take you home in my carriage.”

Were his concerns the same or did he simply wish to be alone to try and seduce her again?

She shook the thoughts away. It didn’t matter. At least Acker understood when his advances were rejected.

*

Acker escorted Juliette to his waiting carriage and helped her inside. He seethed over Carlo’s treatment of her. Had he not come back to her dressing room would the man have overpowered her? He certainly wouldn’t have forced her, would he? If Juliette had screamed, would anyone have heard her? There was so much noise backstage this evening with all of the guests, performers and the workers beginning to dismantle the set and take down the background hanging from the beams that Juliette’s yells could have easily gone unheard. Thank goodness he had pressed his ear to the door and was able to learn what was happening inside the dressing room.

It sickened him to think of what could have happened. Though he shouldn’t jump to conclusions, Acker knew in his gut that Carlo would not take rejection easily, if at all. If Acker didn’t feel the need to protect Juliette and keep her safe, he would find Carlo and warn him away from her.

But what of when he was gone? Juliette would have no one to watch out for her. It was all the more reason she should travel to London with him.

Juliette shivered inside her cloak and Acker placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

At first she tried to pull away but eventually relaxed against his chest. The encounter with Carlo must have frightened her more than he realized. “It appears Carlo is a very jealous man.”

“He has no reason to be,” Juliette mumbled into his coat.

“He doesn’t like the attention I have given you, or the time we have spent together if I understood him correctly.”

“It is none of his concern who I spend my time with.”

Frustration grew within Acker. He wanted to know if there was a reason Carlo flew into a fit of jealousy other than simply wanting her.

“I haven’t seen a man act that way unless his former lover took up with another.”

Juliette stiffened and pulled away. She stared at him, a frown on her face. “He has never been my lover.”

Relief shot through him, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t had others. He needed to know if there were other men ready to take back what they viewed as theirs. Juliette was a beautiful, sensual woman and he could not imagine any man letting her go easily.

“I’ve had no lovers, Lord Acker.”

He blinked down at her. She answered the question without him asking. He had not anticipated that she was completely innocent, as in being a virgin. This changed everything. Of course, it didn’t lessen his need for her, but did he have the right to take her innocence?

No, Juliette deserved to be married, but could he marry her?

He didn’t know her well enough, and what of Eleanor?

He could still help Eleanor, if she would accept his assistance without marriage. She hadn’t as of yet, but there was always the chance she might need him and Acker would be there for anything his friend needed. But, could he marry Juliette having known her for such a short time?

Acker let his head fall back. If Society knew she was a ballerina, they would never accept her as his wife. Did that really matter?

Yes, because if he married Juliette they would have children and he needed an heir. What were the chances of his heirs not being accepted because of what their mother had been? Would Society treat them differently because not all of their blood was aristocratic? Would their children grow to be ashamed or embarrassed that their mother had once been a dancer?

Was he willing to take the risk?

He sighed and looked at Juliette. “I must leave in less than a fortnight for Prussia,” he announced.

Juliette pulled back and frowned. “Why so soon?”

“I have been here longer than intended.” He grasped her hand and held it tight. “I stayed because I could not leave without meeting you and now I cannot bear the thought of leaving as we are just now coming to know one another.”

“Why must you go to Prussia?”

Acker studied her. He could not tell her the truth. She was raised in France and even though she now lived in Milan, it was also ruled by Napoleon. What if her allegiance was to the dictator? If Acker confessed the real reasons for his travels, would she tell someone? Such a situation would see him dead.