Page 94 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"That's ridiculous."

"That's accurate."

"Lucien, you've clearly taken leave of your senses."

"On the contrary. I've finally found them."

Lady Agatha stood, gathering her dignity like armor. "I came here to see what sort of disaster you'd married."

"And?"

"And I find myself... surprised."

"Pleasantly?" Arabella asked hopefully.

"That remains to be seen. We'll dine with you tomorrow."

"We will?" the vicious daughter asked.

"We will. Someone needs to ensure this household isn't completely chaotic."

"Oh, it definitely is," Arabella assured her. "Completely and utterly chaotic. You'll hate it."

"I probably will," Lady Agatha agreed. "Seven o'clock. Don't be late."

She swept out, her daughters trailing behind. Cordelia paused at the door to wave at Thistle, who wagged back enthusiastically.

"Well," Arabella said after they left. "That was..."

"Terrible?"

"I was going to say interesting."

"Interesting is one word for it."

"She's coming to dinner."

"Heaven help us."

"It might be nice."

"It will be awful."

"The vapid daughter liked Thistle."

"Cordelia isn't actually vapid. She just pretends to be because it's easier than fighting with her mother."

"That's sad."

"That's survival."

"Well, she's welcome here. Vapid or not."

"You're going to adopt my cousin?"

"Someone should. She clearly needs rescuing."

"Like a dog in a lake?"