Page 181 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"Still judging."

"Like her father."

"I don't judge."

"You judge constantly!"

"I observe with critical analysis."

"The wedding," Cordelia interrupted. "Can we discuss the wedding?"

"Small," Lucien said immediately.

"But..."

"Tiny."

"Lucien..."

"Minuscule."

"I want a real wedding!"

"You can have a real small wedding."

"That's not the same!"

"It's better. Less chance for chaos."

"With this family? There's always chaos regardless of size."

"Fair point."

"So a big wedding?"

"Medium."

"Large medium?"

"Small medium."

"Regular medium?"

"Fine."

"Really?"

"Really. But if Thistle causes an international incident, I'm blaming you."

"He won't! James has him trained now."

And really, Arabella thought as she watched them argue while Matilda gurgled, what more could they want?

They'd survived fires, literal and metaphorical. They'd faced down enemies, rescued family, created new life, and somehow they had come out stronger.

***

The manor would be fully restored within the month, or so the endlessly optimistic builders promised. Cordelia was already making plans for her spring wedding to James—plans that involved far too many flowers and, inevitably, Thistle as a ring bearer, though everyone knew that was a disaster waiting to happen. Matilda, meanwhile, would undoubtedly grow up to be every bit as chaotic, curious, and inconveniently clever as her parents. And Thistle, aging but undeterred, would continue his reign of selective terror across every hallway, salon, and unattended plate of food.