Page 164 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"He's never too late."

"He was for Matilda."

"Matilda was already dead when he reached her. I'm still alive."

"For now."

The door burst open, but it wasn't Lucien—it was Thistle, launching himself at Harrington with all the fury of a dog who'd sensed his human in danger. Harrington went down, cursing and flailing, the lamp flying from his hand to shatter against the wall.

"Good boy!" Arabella gasped, then cried out as another contraction hit, this one bringing her to her knees.

"Arabella!" Lucien's voice, and then he was there, pulling her against him, his hands running over her checking for injury. "Are you hurt? Did he..."

"The baby," she gasped. "It's coming."

"Now? Here?"

"Now! Here! The stress..."

"We need to get out."

"I can't move. It hurts too much."

"Then I'll carry you."

"Lucien, the fire..."

"I don't care about the fire. I care about you."

He lifted her despite her protests, despite the smoke that made every breath agony, despite the flames that were now visible through the doorway.

"Very touching," Harrington snarled, having managed to dislodge Thistle. Blood ran from multiple bite wounds, but he'd found the lamp. "But you can't save everyone. Cordelia's trapped in the east wing."

"Julian's getting her," Lucien said with grim satisfaction. "And Morrison's organized the servants out of the west wing. Your plan failed."

"Did it?" Harrington pulled something from his pocket—a gun, old and probably unreliable, but deadly enough at this range. "I can still make you suffer."

"By killing us? That just makes you a murderer."

"I already am one. What's three more deaths?"

"Four," Arabella corrected through gritted teeth. "You're forgetting the baby."

"The baby that won't exist if you die here."

"The baby that's coming whether we die or not."

Another contraction, stronger than before. She couldn't help crying out, the sound echoing off the walls.

"Arabella..." Lucien started, his arms tightening around her.

"Shut up," Harrington commanded, the gun shaking in his hand. "Both of you. I need to think."

"Think about what? You've lost. Everyone's safe except us."

"Exactly. Except you. Matilda died alone and afraid. Now you will too."

"Matilda died reaching for freedom," Lucien said quietly, his voice steady despite everything. "We'll die protecting each other. There's a difference."