Page 66 of The Beauty and the Boxer
“I know what you mean.”
“I don’t think you do. I’m not free, Jack.I’m still technically married.”
“To a bastard who abandoned you,” he said,taking a step forward.
“Be that as it may, I don’t control thecourts. My marriage is still valid.”
“You could sue for divorce. You have thegrounds to do so. Hell, I could provide you with the lawyer,” hesaid, coming towards her. They were inches away from one anotherand Meredith had to actively fight off the urge to touch him. Whenshe didn’t answer right away, his eyes narrowed. “But that’s notit, is it?”
Arrogant fool. Who did he think hewas to assume what she wanted?
“It is,” she said. “Partly.”
In truth, Meredith didn’t know if she couldtrust her own convictions when it came to her feelings. She hadwanted a man before and while Jack was the exact opposite of Clydein every way, it had still come crumbling down. As much as sheliked to believe she had gotten past it, she was frightened thatshe would make the same mistake. But she didn’t trust herself.
“Tell me this then. If I wasn’t me. If I wassomebody else, Sir Kent, perhaps. Would you want me then?”
Meredith’s brow instantly furrowed. What washe talking about?
“Sir Kent?” she repeated, confused. “Whywould you mention him?”
“Would you?”
“It’s a ridiculous question.”
“So no?”
“Jack Archer, you are infuriating,” she saidas she spun away. “I do want you, only you, except…”
“Except what?”
“Except I’m not in a position to be makingthese kinds of choices. I’m still married and before you gosuggesting some sort of affair, we can’t. As clever as you thinkyou are, we would be caught and I will not suffer through anotherscandal,” she said. “I refuse to.”
Jack reached for her and turned her aroundcompletely so that she faced him.
“But you won’t seek a divorce?”
Meredith’s eyes dropped, unwilling toexplain it. As much as she loathed her marriage, it was the onlything keeping her from making another mistake.
“I don’t think he would give me a divorce,”she started. “Even if I could find him.”
“Why not?”
“Because he would want something from me andI don’t have anything to give,” she said, looking into his eyes.“Don’t you understand? I belong to him.”
He shook his head, refusing to accept herwords.
“You belong to me.”
His words were fire-filled and sent herheart pounding and as much as she wanted to believe them, she knewthey weren’t true. She had never been his nor could she be whileshe was still legally bound to Clyde.
“I don’t, Jack,” she whispered. “Even if Iwanted to.”
“Then what is all this for, Meredith?” heasked, his dark, angry eyes boring into hers. “Your sister has gonethrough a world of trouble setting up dinners and balls and huntsall so you could find someone, but to what end?”
“My sister doesn’t believe that my marriagewas legitimate,” Meredith began. “She thinks it wouldn’t hold in acourt of law in England.”
“Even so, you refuse to petition fordivorce,” he said, his tone incredulous. “Why?”
