Page 135 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"At whose suggestion?"

"Does it matter?"

"Everything matters," Julian said, still watching Harrington. "Especially when it comes to money."

"Money?" Harrington said too quickly. "What does money have to do with anything?"

"That's what I'm wondering. Cassandra, darling, you're practically dripping in jewels. New, if I'm not mistaken."

"A lady's jewelry is hardly..."

"And Mr. Harrington, those are expensive boots for a man who was reportedly in debt just weeks ago."

"My finances are none of your concern."

"They are when they involve my friends."

"How could they possibly..."

"Blackmail," Arabella said suddenly. "You're blackmailing her."

The room went silent. Cassandra's face drained of color while Harrington's expression hardened.

"That's absurd," he said.

"Is it? You know she caused the fire. That's worth quite a bit to keep quiet."

"Even if that were true..."

"It is true," Julian said with satisfaction. "It's written all over both your faces."

"You can't prove anything."

"I don't need to. Cassandra just confessed to causing the fire. With witnesses."

"Accidentally!" Cassandra protested.

"Still caused it. Still hid it. That's enough for serious consequences."

"You wouldn't dare..."

"Wouldn't I?" Lucien spoke for the first time in minutes. "You let me suffer for two years. You watched me blame myself, isolate myself, nearly destroy myself with guilt. And now I find you're being blackmailed about it?"

"It's not my fault he's greedy!"

"Everything about this is your fault."

"I was trying to help!"

"You were trying to get me back. There's a difference."

"Same thing."

"Not even close."

"Lucien," Arabella said gently, seeing him trembling with rage. "Let's go. We have what we came for."

"The truth?"