Page 173 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"What?!"

"He's very nice. And his dogs are well-behaved."

"Unlike ours," Julian observed.

"Focus," Cordelia interrupted. "James wants to meet you properly."

"No," Lucien said.

"Lucien," Arabella said in a warning tone.

"What? We agreed. No suitors."

"We agreed no unsuitable suitors."

"All suitors are unsuitable."

"You were a suitor once."

"I was never a suitor. I was a rescuer who got trapped into marriage."

"Trapped?"

"Strategically maneuvered into marriage."

"Better."

"Still accurate."

"Still romantic."

"Romance had nothing to do with it."

"Romance had everything to do with it."

"Now, about James…" Cordelia insisted.

"Fine," Lucien said, surprising everyone. "He can call. Once. For tea. With chaperones."

"Really?"

"Really. But if Thistle doesn't like him, he's out."

"That's not fair! Thistle doesn't like anyone except criminals!"

"Then Mr. Ashby better have a criminal side."

"He breeds spaniels!"

"Suspicious already."

"Lucien!"

"What kind of person breeds spaniels? They're basically decorative."

"They're hunting dogs!"

"They're fluffy accessories."