Page 174 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"You're impossible."

"I'm protective."

James Ashby arrived for tea the next day, and to everyone's surprise, Thistle loved him immediately.

"This is suspicious," Lucien muttered.

"He's being friendly!" Cordelia protested.

"Thistle is never friendly without ulterior motive."

"Maybe he just recognises a fellow dog lover."

"Or a fellow criminal."

"James isn't a criminal!"

"We don't know that."

"Lucien..."

"I'm just saying, the dog's approval is alarming."

But even Lucien had to admit that James seemed genuinely nice. He was young, five and twenty, with an easy smile and obvious adoration of Cordelia. He also, surprisingly, knew how to handle Thistle.

"No," he said firmly when Thistle tried to steal his watch. "That's mine."

Thistle, shockingly, dropped the watch and sat.

"How did you do that?" Arabella asked, amazed.

"I train dogs, Lady Blackthorn. Even criminal ones."

"He's not trainable. We've tried."

"Have you tried bribing him with better crimes?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Give him acceptable things to steal. Make it a game with rules."

"That's... that's brilliant," Lucien admitted reluctantly.

"It's what I do with my spaniels. They're natural thieves too, just prettier about it."

"I take back everything I said about spaniels."

"Does that mean..." Cordelia began hopefully.

"It means Mr. Ashby can call again."

"Really?"

"Really. Anyone who can manage Thistle deserves a second chance," Cordelia said, her tone half teasing, half admiring as she brushed a stray curl back from her cheek.

"Third," James murmured, his voice low enough that only those nearest could hear.

Arabella tilted her head. "Third?"