people of London seemed to prefer operas and plays.
“There are only a few.”
Disappointment settled upon her like a heavy cloak. She had hoped her information was wrong.
Lord Acker studied her for a moment, his eyebrows drawn together as if he was trying to unravel a puzzle. “Where did you go?”
“Maman decided it was time to move again. We have now settled here and I need to work.” She wasn’t about to share with him all of her travels. A year ago she may have, but she needed to keep her distance from Acker. She certainly didn’t want to give him the impression that she was willing to be his lover now.
He nodded. “King’s Theatre has plans of performing Adolfo E Chiara in May.”
Hope surged.
“I am not sure if each part has been cast.”
She would beg, plead and do almost anything for a chance to dance. “Thank you,” she cried.
“ The Adelphi Theatre has also been known to produce ballets each Season.”
“I will go to King’s Theatre right this moment.” Juliette turned and started to hurry away.
“Wait!”
She turned.
He seemed studied her again. “Why are you running away? I’ve searched for you.”
There was a painful squeeze to her heart. If only she could trust he wanted more from her, but she knew it was not so. Especially now that they were in London. They were of different worlds. His being a lord was more important here than it had been in Milan. She was simply a ballerina and not of his class.
“I must find work, Lord Acker.” She narrowed her eyes so he understood her meaning. “Honest, respectable work.” She turned and called over her shoulder. “Good day.”
*
Acker watched Juliette hurry toward the street. His heart still had not returned to its normal rhythm and he found himself grinning. Juliette Mirabelle was in London and she wished to dance.
Her emerald green eyes had held him transfixed for a moment. She was all that he had thought about for nearly a year and suddenly she was before him.
What brought her to London and why had he just let her get away from him?
Clearly she was still angry with him and he could not blame her. In retrospect the offer had been insulting. He didn’t know his own mind or his heart then. And, he no longer gave a bloody damn for the tons opinion. He wanted Juliette and he was going to get her.
He should go after her. Acker took a step toward the direction of King’s Theatre but his carriage pulled up at the curb. Blast, he had a meeting at the Home Office this afternoon. If it were any other administrative meeting, Acker would forego it and go after Juliette, but such was not the case. Napoleon may have abdicated and agreed to exile in Elba, but nobody would rest easy until he was settled there, under heavy guard, and no longer in a position to gather troops and wage war. Even though the former emperor would be confined to the island, England would take no risks and plans were underway for the Royal Navy to patrol Elba should Napoleon decide he wished to rule a large piece of land again.
With one last look at the retreating back of Juliette, her pale green skirt swishing as she hurried down the street, Acker entered his carriage. He would find her again. If he had to scour the entire city, he would find her.
THIRTEEN
Juliette didn’t have far to travel as all the theatres in London were fairly close to one another. Her hands still shook after coming so close to Lord Acker. He was far more handsome than she remembered. If only she could forget him altogether then she wouldn’t be plagued by the dreams and ache with longing. But why should she long for him, he only wanted her to warm his bed. Why was she the only one who had partially fallen in love?
She blew out a breath, angry with herself. What did she know of love? He was simply a gentleman who showed her a great deal of attention, more than she had received from any man previously. She had been foolish enough to fall for his charm, thinking he cared for her too.
“There are only a few.”
Disappointment settled upon her like a heavy cloak. She had hoped her information was wrong.
Lord Acker studied her for a moment, his eyebrows drawn together as if he was trying to unravel a puzzle. “Where did you go?”
“Maman decided it was time to move again. We have now settled here and I need to work.” She wasn’t about to share with him all of her travels. A year ago she may have, but she needed to keep her distance from Acker. She certainly didn’t want to give him the impression that she was willing to be his lover now.
He nodded. “King’s Theatre has plans of performing Adolfo E Chiara in May.”
Hope surged.
“I am not sure if each part has been cast.”
She would beg, plead and do almost anything for a chance to dance. “Thank you,” she cried.
“ The Adelphi Theatre has also been known to produce ballets each Season.”
“I will go to King’s Theatre right this moment.” Juliette turned and started to hurry away.
“Wait!”
She turned.
He seemed studied her again. “Why are you running away? I’ve searched for you.”
There was a painful squeeze to her heart. If only she could trust he wanted more from her, but she knew it was not so. Especially now that they were in London. They were of different worlds. His being a lord was more important here than it had been in Milan. She was simply a ballerina and not of his class.
“I must find work, Lord Acker.” She narrowed her eyes so he understood her meaning. “Honest, respectable work.” She turned and called over her shoulder. “Good day.”
*
Acker watched Juliette hurry toward the street. His heart still had not returned to its normal rhythm and he found himself grinning. Juliette Mirabelle was in London and she wished to dance.
Her emerald green eyes had held him transfixed for a moment. She was all that he had thought about for nearly a year and suddenly she was before him.
What brought her to London and why had he just let her get away from him?
Clearly she was still angry with him and he could not blame her. In retrospect the offer had been insulting. He didn’t know his own mind or his heart then. And, he no longer gave a bloody damn for the tons opinion. He wanted Juliette and he was going to get her.
He should go after her. Acker took a step toward the direction of King’s Theatre but his carriage pulled up at the curb. Blast, he had a meeting at the Home Office this afternoon. If it were any other administrative meeting, Acker would forego it and go after Juliette, but such was not the case. Napoleon may have abdicated and agreed to exile in Elba, but nobody would rest easy until he was settled there, under heavy guard, and no longer in a position to gather troops and wage war. Even though the former emperor would be confined to the island, England would take no risks and plans were underway for the Royal Navy to patrol Elba should Napoleon decide he wished to rule a large piece of land again.
With one last look at the retreating back of Juliette, her pale green skirt swishing as she hurried down the street, Acker entered his carriage. He would find her again. If he had to scour the entire city, he would find her.
THIRTEEN
Juliette didn’t have far to travel as all the theatres in London were fairly close to one another. Her hands still shook after coming so close to Lord Acker. He was far more handsome than she remembered. If only she could forget him altogether then she wouldn’t be plagued by the dreams and ache with longing. But why should she long for him, he only wanted her to warm his bed. Why was she the only one who had partially fallen in love?
She blew out a breath, angry with herself. What did she know of love? He was simply a gentleman who showed her a great deal of attention, more than she had received from any man previously. She had been foolish enough to fall for his charm, thinking he cared for her too.
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