Page 81 of The Beauty and the Boxer
“I have to go,” she said as she pulled onher slippers.
As she turned to leave, he reached for herarm and for the first time, Meredith felt a desperation in histouch. She couldn’t look at him. She knew she would tell himeverything if she did.
“Please,” he said, his tone a mixture ofdesperation and anger.
Shaking her head, Meredith pulled from him.Holding the check he had written her tightly in her palm, shehurried out of the foyer and the door. Within seconds the carriagewas driving away from Burnwall. She fought with herself for theremainder of the night whether or not she did the right thing,taking Jack’s money, but it almost didn’t matter. By this timetomorrow she would be a free woman, or at least, free fromClyde.
She’d have to deal with paying back Jack ata later time. The thought alone sent a thrill through her and shewondered if perhaps she wasn’t some sort of harlot.
Chapter Seventeen
Jack watched the carriage disappear out ofsight, unsure how to process what had just occurred between them.Meredith had been desperate for help and while he hadn’t wanted tomake it seem as if he was offering her money for anything, theentire encounter had been intoxicating. In fact, it was the singlemost powerful afternoon of his entire life.
He knew that Clyde had threatened Meredithand he wouldn’t let her suffer beneath his presence anymore.
“Braxton,” he said, calling to the headfootman.
“Yes, sir?”
“Ride to Canterbury club. Find a man namedBishop,” he said. “Tell him to meet me at the Swan on Stokes Pubimmediately.”
“Yes, sir,” he said, as he began saddling ahorse.
“And, Carlton,” he said, causing the boy tospin around. “Carlton, was it?”
“Yes, sir?” the young man asked, appearingrather surprised that Jack should know his name.
“I want you to follow Miss Taylor. I don’tthink she’ll go anywhere today, but on the off chance she does, Iwant you a step behind her. Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“Yes, sir,” Carlton said. “What should Itell Mr. Archer’s coachmen?”
“Tell them nothing. Simon won’t give themany grief and if they’re interested, tell them they can come talkto me directly.”
“Yes, sir,” Carlton said. “When shall Ireturn?”
“I’ll send word.”
The young man nodded as Jack returned to thehouse in a troubled state of deep thought. Their coupling had beenmore than he had ever expected, and he felt a deep concern down inhis bones. He wanted Meredith in every way. It had been damntorturous to let her go, but he knew on some level that she halfexpected him to bully his way into her affairs.
He couldn’t explain it, but he wantedMeredith to know that he believed she was capable of handlingherself. He truly had faith in her, but he simply couldn’t allowher vile husband to threaten her anymore. He would make sure herefforts to banish him were successful.
After bathing, Jack dressed and leftexplicit instructions to his staff that he should be notified athis offices should Carlton return with news—only Jack wouldn’t beat his offices.
He was going to the Swan on Stokes Pub.
Even if Meredith wouldn’t know what he haddone until it was too late, he simply refused to let her go back tothat pub. Without hesitating, Jack headed down his staircase andexited the house, and within moments, he was on Drachma, racingdown the drive towards the city.
Dodging carts and pedestrians as he went, hewasn’t sure why it was imperative for him to move at a break-neckpace, but he knew he needed to get to the pub as soon as possible.He only had a few hours to complete his task.
Upon arriving, Jack tied Drachma to a postand entered the pub, only to be met with a crowded, boisterousgroup of people. Bishop stood up from his table when he spottedJack, but at the shake of his head he sat back down, watching Jackwith bemused concern.
It seemed a sort of celebration was going onand a man in an ill-fitted suit was sitting on the bar, flanked bytwo barmaids as he cheered to the crowd.
“Another round!” he shouted as everyonecheered.
Jack made his way through the crush as theman came down off the bar, kissing one of the cheerful maids on thecheek to shouts and cheers of people around him. As Jack pushed hisway through, he found himself face to face with the smilingman.
“A drink, friends?” he asked cheerfully.“That scowl of yours could do with a drink.”
