Page 155 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

“Because we’re honestly happy,” he clarified, sitting on the edge of the bed and looking at her as though the very idea still amazed him. “No pretence, no propriety, just… us.”

“Chaos and all?” she jested, turning toward him, one eyebrow raised.

“Especially the chaos,” he said, his grin widening.

“She would have liked the chaos.”

“According to Margaret,” he said, beginning to unbutton his shirt with exaggerated care, “she loved it.”

“Then we’re honouring her memory.”

“With chaos?”

“With life,” Arabella corrected softly, climbing into bed and drawing the covers around her. “Real, messy, complicated life.”

“She’d approve,” he murmured, sliding in beside her.

“I think so too.”

There was a quiet moment, filled only by the soft crackle of the dying fire. Then she said, “Should we name the baby after her?”

Lucien tilted his head. “If it’s a girl?”

“Matilda Arabella?”

“Arabella Matilda?”

“Matilda Margaret Arabella?”

He gave a mock groan. “That’s too many names.”

“That’s the perfect amount of names,” she replied, unable to hide her grin.

“For a future chaos collector?”

“Exactly.”

He chuckled. “And if it’s a boy?”

“Lucien Junior.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Thistle Junior?”

Arabella shot him a look sharp enough to cut glass. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.”

“Julian Junior?”

“He’d be insufferable.”

“More insufferable.”

“Impossibly insufferable.”

“So what do we name a boy?” she asked, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes soft in the candlelight.

“Something strong,” Lucien said after a thoughtful pause.