Page 127 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"We're bringing the dog, aren't we?" Lucien sighed.

"Obviously."

"I'm going to regret this."

"Probably."

"International incident?"

"Almost certainly."

"Perfect."

They made their way downstairs where Cordelia was supervising the loading of trunks with military efficiency. Thistle sat beside her, looking angelic, which immediately made Lucien suspicious.

"What has he done?"

"Nothing," Cordelia said innocently.

"He's never done nothing."

"First time for everything."

"Cordelia..."

"He may have helped me pack a few extra items."

"What items?"

"Just some things that might be useful."

"Cordelia..."

"Extra blankets for Arabella, those biscuits she can actually keep down, that tonic that helps with travel sickness..."

"Oh," Lucien said, deflating. "That's actually thoughtful."

"Thistle is very thoughtful."

"Thistle is a criminal."

"A thoughtful criminal."

As if to prove the point, Thistle trotted over with Morrison's travel gloves in his mouth, depositing them at the butler's feet.

"See?" Cordelia said. "Helpful."

"Those aren't my travel gloves," Morrison said slowly. "Those are my best evening gloves."

"Ah," Cordelia said. "Less helpful."

"Still criminal," Lucien muttered.

The journey to Dover was relatively uneventful, if one didn't count Arabella being sick twice, Thistle escaping the carriage at a posting inn and causing a scene with the local chickens, and Cordelia accidentally revealing she'd been teaching him new tricks.

"New tricks?" Lucien asked suspiciously.

"Just a few."