Page 130 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"Like your dog's charm?"

"Exactly."

A crash from below followed by shouting in French suggested the raid had been successful.

"I should probably handle that," Lucien sighed.

"Let Julian do it. He speaks better French." Arabella replied mentioning their friend who had also insisted on going with them.

"I speak perfect French," Lucien protested.

"You speak French like an English schoolboy who learned from books," Julian corrected. "I speak French like someone who's actually been to France for reasons other than tragedy."

"That's unfair."

"That's accurate."

"Go save Thistle," Arabella urged. "Before he causes an international incident."

Julian sauntered off, with Cordelia going along to help him, leaving Lucien and Arabella alone at the rail. The French coast was visible now, a gray line that grew more distinct with each wave.

"Are you ready for this?" Arabella asked quietly.

"No."

"Good. Neither am I."

"You could have stayed home."

"We've discussed this. Where you go, I go."

"Even into potential danger?"

"Especially then."

"That's illogical."

"That's love."

He pulled her closer, mindful of her queasy stomach. "What if what we discover is worse than what I believed?"

"Then we'll face it together."

"You keep saying that."

"Because you keep needing to hear it."

"I don't deserve you."

"Probably not," she agreed cheerfully."

Julian returned, looking amused. "Your dog has organized the ship's cats into a criminal enterprise. They've stolen an entire wheel of cheese."

"Of course he has."

"The captain wants him confined."

"Good luck with that."