Page 89 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"You married me after fishing me out of a lake."

"That's not chaos. That's... decisive action."

"That's chaotic decision making."

"It's worked out well."

"It has," she agreed, taking his hand. "But it was still chaotic."

Lady Potts received them in a drawing room that was exactly what one would expect; pale pink walls, delicate furniture, and enough china to populate a small village. She was a plump, cheerful woman who looked nothing like her dour husband.

"Lord and Lady Blackthorn! How wonderful!" She paused, noticing Thistle. "And you've brought your famous dog!"

"Infamous," Lucien corrected.

"Oh no, definitely famous. He's all anyone talks about. The dog who started the romance of the season!"

"He didn't exactly start it," Arabella said.

"Didn't he? Without him stealing my friend's slipper, you'd never have met."

"That's... actually true."

"So really, we should all be grateful to him."

Thistle, recognizing praise when he heard it, wagged his tail so enthusiastically that he knocked over a small table. A vase met an untimely end.

"Oh!" Lady Potts exclaimed.

"I'm so sorry..." Arabella began.

"Oh, don't be! I've hated that vase for years. My mother-in-law gave it to me. Now I can honestly say it met with an accident."

"You're not upset?"

"My dear, I have six children. Destruction is a daily occurrence. At least your dog is charming about it."

Thistle, apparently taking this as permission, settled himself on the best chair with the air of visiting royalty.

"He has excellent taste," Lady Potts observed. "That's my husband's chair. He'll be devastated."

"We can move him."

"Don't you dare. I haven't seen my husband that animated about anything in years. The fountain incident was the best thing that's happened to our marriage in a decade."

"The fountain incident?" Lucien asked carefully.

"Oh yes. He came home soaking wet, full of righteous indignation, then realized he'd entirely deserved it and laughed for an hour. We haven't laughed together like that since our honeymoon."

"That's... unexpectedly positive."

"Marriage is full of unexpected positives, isn't it?" Lady Potts’ eyes twinkled. "Though I suspect yours has been more unexpected than most."

"You could say that," Arabella agreed.

"Five days from meeting to marriage. It must be a record."

"Four days, technically," Lucien corrected. "We met on a Thursday, married on Monday."