Page 48 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"Oh yes. You should have seen him with Matilda. Absolutely besotted. Of course, that ended tragically." She paused delicately. "But I'm sure you know all about that."

"Cassandra," Lucien said in a warning tone.

"What? Surely your wife knows about your past? It would be rather odd if she didn't, wouldn't it?"

"What would be odd," Arabella said, moving to stand beside Lucien in a show of unity, "is discussing my husband's past with someone who wasn't invited to be part of his present."

Cassandra's perfect composure cracked slightly. "I see marriage has given you claws."

"I've always had them. I simply choose when to use them."

"How fierce. Lucien, darling, wherever did you find her?"

"In a lake," Lucien said flatly. "Now, was there a purpose to your visit, or did you simply come to be unpleasant?"

"I came to offer my congratulations, of course. And to see for myself the woman who finally caught the elusive Earl of Blackthorn."

"Well, now you've seen her."

"Yes." Cassandra's gaze swept over Arabella again. "She's not quite what I expected."

"What did you expect?" Arabella asked.

"Someone more... I don't know. More everything, I suppose. After all, to capture Lucien after he swore never to marry again... I assumed you must be extraordinary."

"She is," Lucien said firmly.

"If you say so." Cassandra gathered her gloves and reticule. "Well, I shouldn't keep you. I'm sure you have much to... discuss. New marriages require so much adjustment, don't they? All those little disappointments to navigate."

She moved toward the door, then paused, looking back. "Oh, I nearly forgot. The Desclaires are hosting a ball next week. You simply must come. Everyone is eager to meet the new Countess." Her smile was pure venom. "I'll make sure you receive an invitation."

And then she was gone, leaving behind only the cloying scent of her French perfume and an atmosphere that could have been cut with a knife.

"Well," Arabella said after a moment. "She's delightful."

"I'm sorry," Lucien said immediately. "I should have refused to see her."

"No, it's better this way. Now I know what we're dealing with."

"What we're dealing with is a vindictive harpy who can't accept that I chose someone else. Twice."

"She was that upset about Matilda?"

"She was that upset about being rejected. Cassandra doesn't love me; I doubt she's capable of love. But she can't bear losing."

"And now she sees me as competition."

"Unfortunately, yes."

Arabella moved to the window, looking out at the gardens where the storm had left everything fresh and sparkling. "We should go to the ball."

"Absolutely not."

"If we don't, she wins. Everyone will think we're afraid."

"I don't care what everyone thinks."

"Maybe you should." She turned to face him. "You've hidden here for years, Lucien. Maybe it's time to stop."