Page 180 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"You asked me to train him to steal from specific people. He now only steals from people you dislike."

"That's everyone!"

"Not true. Watch. Thistle, family."

The dog immediately went to where Matilda was sleeping in her basket, lay down beside her, and gently placed his head protectively over her blanket.

"He knows family from enemies?" Cordelia asked, tears in her eyes.

"He knows who matters and who doesn't."

"That's remarkable."

"That's ten days of intensive training and approximately fifty pounds of beef."

"Fifty pounds?!"

"Bribery is expensive."

"But effective," Arabella observed. "Lucien?"

Lucien looked at Thistle.

"Fine," he said. "You can marry Cordelia."

"Really?" Cordelia squealed.

"Really. Anyone who can teach Thistle discrimination deserves rewarding."

"That's the strangest marriage blessing I've ever heard," Julian observed from his corner.

"That's the only one I'm giving."

"What about a dowry?" James asked hesitantly.

"What about it?"

"I don't need one. I have my own income."

"Good. Because Cordelia's dowry is entirely in investments."

"Investments?"

"Arabella's investment scheme. Currently worth three times what we put in."

"Four times," Arabella corrected. "I checked this morning."

"You're a financial genius," James said admiringly.

"I'm lucky."

"Lucky doesn't quadruple investments."

Matilda chose that moment to wake, not crying but observing with those dark eyes that seemed to see everything.

"She judges us again," Lucien said, picking her up.

"She's four months old."