Page 8 of The Beauty and the Boxer
Simon brought his hands together in acontemplative way, his fingertips resting lightly on theircounterparts.
“What about Mountebank?”
“What about him?”
“He’s family. And you refused yourinvitation to his wedding last month, which wasn’t good form onyour part.”
Jack squinted.
“Thatdukeis your kin, not mine,” hesaid with agitation. “I had no wish to be a part of that parade ofa day.”
It was true. Simon and the Duke ofMountebank shared a father, and the former duke who had passed awayof a wasting disease some six months prior. Simon hadn’t knownabout the identity of his father until Sarah had discovered thetruth, but while his brother had formed something of a relationshipwith the duke, Jack wasn’t required to do so and hating the upperclass as he did, he saw no reason to bother.
“Still. Mountebank has never treated youpoorly—”
“And so, I should thank him? Kiss his ringand make myself available to his every beck and call?”
Simon glowered at him.
“You’re acting like a jackass,” he said. “Hewas just trying to be polite.”
“I don’t need any favors from him, or anyduke for that matter. Besides, why does your wife want me at adinner party anyway? I’m a marked man, or have you forgotten?” hesaid, as he trailed his middle finger against the deep scar thatstretched out from the corner of his mouth. “Beasts don’t dine withpolite company.”
“Don’t try to make me pity you. Sarah ishosting a small, intimate dinner and she wants you there. As aunited front.”
Jack squinted at the terminology.
“Is she launching an attack?”
“Something like that,” Simon conceded.“We’re sponsoring her younger sister, Beatrice, next season,finally after fighting with her mama for several months.”
“Yes,finally,” Jack saidsarcastically.
“And the more Sarah thought about it,” Simonsaid loudly, ignoring his brother. “The more she felt Meredithwould benefit from something similar. It wouldn’t be a properseason, but what with Meredith’s wish to become more financiallyindependent, Sarah thought it would be a grand idea to, well,introduce her to some quality gentlemen, should she wantcompanionship at some point in the future.”
Jack glanced at his brother. So, they weretrying to marry Meredith off, were they? Did she know? He doubtedit and while Jack didn’t care either way, a small, unfamiliarfeeling began to simmer in his chest. It was an odd sensation, onehe hadn’t experienced in a long time, not since before he waswealthy. It was the pestering feeling of not being able to havesomething out of his reach. It reminded him of when he was poor andliterally fighting for his next meal. He didn’t like it. But then,he didn’t want Meredith.
Did he?
He shook his head, trying to shake thefeeling from him.
“And my presence will do what? Scare somebastard into offering for her?” he asked, trying to keep his tonefrom sounding interested.
“No, but Sarah says you’re family, She wantsyou there. And I would like it as well.”
Well, that was unfair. Jack and Simon’srelationship had always been close, but they had always kept theirdeeper feelings silent. It had worked for their whole lives, asthey had often been able to read each other. There was obviouslylove between the brothers, but it was an unspoken sort of love. Tobe told out loud by the other that he was wanted somewhere, well,he might as well have tried to hug him.
“Very well,” Jack said, hoping the agitationin his voice was evident. “I’ll be there.”
“Good,” Simon said standing up to leave.“Now I have to go see a man about a horse.”
Jack gave him a speculative look.
“Seriously?”
“Yes. Well, see a woman about a horse,actually. Sarah has finally agreed to getting Daniel a horse, aslong as she’s involved and I suggested the baroness breeder I gotmy team from last year.”
Sarah had been wary about letting her sonbegin riding lessons as her first husband had been thrown andsuffered a broken leg, which had led to a fever that had killedhim. Simon had been at her for months to let him teach his step-sonDaniel how to ride and it seemed she finally relented.
