He opened his mouth and spread his arms. “It’s never been done before.”
“Never?” Ethan folded his arms over his chest, muscles bulging.
“Never. Not for lack of trying,” Mr. Purnell said. “Several ladies have applied for divorce in the past decade, but their claims have always been rejected. No one cares if a lord has a mistress as long as there’s one rightful heir. I’m sorry.”
“Naturally.” She huffed. Brussels then. It was her only hope.
Somehow, she would find a way to give Ethan something back. As much as she cared for and respected him, she didn’twant to depend entirely on a man’s generosity. Things out of her control might happen. She’d been at the mercy of a man before, and even though Ethan wasn’t Jacob, she preferred independence. She wanted to live a life without having debts with anyone.
“There’s more, my lady.” Mr. Purnell lowered his voice, rubbing his knee. “In the extraordinary case you manage to get a divorce, you must consider that Lord Roxbury will maintain David’s custody.”
Her next breath was punched out of her. “No. Never.”
“If Lord Roxbury, after the accident, decides to file for divorce, the judge will likely let him keep David,” he said. “He’s his heir. The judge wouldn’t let him stay with you.”
“No.” Ethan’s sharp voice could cut glass. “David’s safety is paramount. He doesn’t want to live with his father.”
“I’m ready to sacrifice anything to stay with David.” She kept her voice steady in case David might hear her.
Ethan exchanged a glance with her. “If a divorce isn’t an option, what’s left?”
“I must leave England.” Her voice broke. “That’s the only solution.”
“My lady.” Mr. Purnell scratched his short beard. “If you leave and get caught, since I believe Lord Roxbury will do his level best to find you, you’ll lose everything, not simply your status but David as well. No judge will allow you to see your son.”
She clenched her fists. “Then I must be careful and don’t get caught. If I move now when Jacob is unwell, I’ll make it.”
“There’s another possibility.” Mr. Purnell took a moment to answer, drumming his fingers on the armrest. “Perhaps something better than a divorce. An annulment.”
“The wedding was perfectly valid,” she said. “I wasn’t forced into marriage and I was of age. We had a one-year engagement with the banners and all that.” One year. And she hadn’tunderstood what a monster Jacob was. The more she thought about that, the angrier she became.
“Yes, but if you prove Lord Roxbury treated you and David with cruelty, shot you, and neglected his duty as husband and father, his behaviour will be grounds for an annulment.” Mr. Purnell paused and tilted his head as if to say more or less. “It’ll be grounds for an annulment with the right judge. Many judges would just take Lord Roxbury’s side, but abuse, cruelty, and neglect will grant you an annulment.”
Ethan shifted his position, moving halfway towards her. “What will happen to David if Cora obtains an annulment?”
“If the cause of the annulment is cruelty and neglect, David will stay with his mother as Roxbury will be deemed unfit to be a parent.”
Cora didn’t allow herself to feel relieved because Mr. Purnell frowned with concern. “What worries you, Mr. Purnell?”
He hesitated. “Getting an annulment is only the first step. My lady, you must think of the consequences after such a drastic act.”
“What consequences?” Anger crept into Ethan’s tone. “Cora will be free from that monster.”
Mr. Purnell held up a hand. “How will the lady sustain herself and her son? And before you say that you can provide for them, think about the consequences in your life. I beg your pardon, my lady, but I must speak freely.”
Cora nodded. Better to understand the whole situation.
“Unfortunately, a lady who’s divorced or received an annulment isn’t held in high esteem in society, and whoever helps her will find himself in a delicate position and become an outcast. Specifically, Ethan, you won’t enjoy the support of your peers any longer. You’re a celebrated war hero, but your status or title won’t protect you from public scorn. Not to mention that some lords are already displeased with you and yourunconventional methods. Your centre will be closed as those who sustain you will disappear. Lord Roxbury could take his revenge on the Royal Veterans’ Society. The shared ownership is a problem for him, but after being publicly shamed, he’ll unleash his wrath on you. And let’s not forget that after an annulment, David won’t have the chance to inherit Lord Roxbury’s money or title. He’ll become a… you know what I mean.”
A bastard.
Cora focused on her cup of tea. Every way she turned, there was an obstacle. “I don’t know what to do.”
“An annulment seems a good idea anyway,” Ethan said. “Scandals come and go. Your case will be forgotten as soon as a new royal wedding is announced or a duchess is with child. All we have to do is stay quiet, avoid the public eye, and wait.” He made it sound so simple, and if it’d been only her own reputation at stake, she would have agreed. But David? She could take society’s scorn. He shouldn’t. She wouldn’t allow it.
“I just want Jacob out of my life.”
“But think about this.” He sat next to her. There was no escaping his magnetic stare or intense presence. “If we only need the support of our peers, then we can obtain it. It’s a matter of publicity and how we present ourselves. We can win this battle.”
