Page 112 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"I'm not feeling well enough for the full week," Arabella said. "And Lucien is looking for any excuse to escape."

"Both true," Lucien confirmed.

"I... yes. Yes, I'd love to come."

"Excellent." Arabella hugged her, surprising the girl. "We'll speak to your mother tonight."

***

Lady Agatha, when cornered, was predictably furious.

"Absolutely not."

"It's not a request," Lucien said calmly.

"She's my daughter."

"And she's over twenty. She can make her own choices."

"Not while she lives under my roof."

"Then she'll live under ours."

"I'll cut her off."

"We don't need your money."

"She'll be ruined."

"She'll be sponsored by the Earl and Countess of Blackthorn. That's hardly ruin."

"It's kidnapping."

"It's rescue," Arabella corrected. "And if you fight us, I'll make sure everyone knows what happened to Mary."

Lady Agatha went white. "You wouldn't dare."

"Try me."

"That's blackmail."

"That's negotiation. Cordelia comes with us, lives her own life, makes her own choices. Or everyone learns that you forced your daughter to give up a child."

"It was for the best."

"For whose best? Mary's? She's miserable. The baby? Who knows where it is. You? Definitely. Your reputation remained intact."

"You don't understand."

"I understand perfectly. You value appearance over your daughters' happiness. But Cordelia deserves better."

"And you think you can give her better?"

"I think we can give her choices."

Lady Agatha looked between them, her face twisted with rage and something else—fear, perhaps, that her carefully constructed world was crumbling.

"Fine," she spat. "Take her. But don't come crying to me when she disappoints you."