Page 101 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"This argument again?" Cassandra interrupted. "How tedious."

"Then leave," Lucien suggested. "No one invited you, no one wants you here, and no one will miss you when you go."

"The Duchess..."

"The Duchess," Her Grace interrupted, "is wondering why you thought it appropriate to crash my house gathering to harass my invited guests."

"I was invited!"

"Mr. Harrington was invited. Before I knew of his... circumstances. You were not."

"You can't throw me out."

"I can, actually. It's my house."

"The scandal..."

"Will be yours. The woman so desperate for revenge she crashed a duchess's house gathering." The Duchess smiled, and it wasn't pleasant. "Leave, Lady Velott. Today. Or I'll have you removed."

Cassandra went white, then red. "This isn't over."

"Yes," Lucien said firmly, "it is."

She wheeled her horse around and galloped back toward the house, Harrington following after a moment's hesitation.

"Well," the Duchess said brightly, "that was invigorating. Shall we continue?"

The rest of the ride was pleasant, with the other guests carefully avoiding any mention of the confrontation. But Arabella grew progressively quieter, and Lucien noticed her grip on the reins becoming white-knuckled.

"Are you well?" he asked quietly.

"Fine."

"You're pale."

"It's the air."

"The air is making you pale?"

"It's very... airy."

"Arabella..."

She swayed suddenly, and he barely caught her before she could fall from her mount. The riding party erupted in concern as he lifted her from her saddle to his, cradling her against his chest.

"I'm fine," she protested weakly.

"You fainted."

"I swooned. It's more romantic."

"This isn't funny."

"It's a little funny."

"We're going back. Now."

For once, she didn't argue, which worried him more than the fainting. He rode back carefully, her body limp against his, her face buried in his neck.