Page 109 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"I'm fine."

"You're exhausted."

"I'm with child."

"Same thing, apparently."

"I need to talk to Cordelia."

"Why?"

"I am shocked from what you mentioned about your cousin Mary. And Cordelia knows about her sister and about what your aunt did."

"That's not our business."

"It could be Cordelia next."

"Again, not our business."

"Lucien."

He sighed. "You're going to make it our business, aren't you?"

"Obviously."

"Even though you should be resting?"

"Especially because I should be resting. If I don't do it now, you'll prevent me later."

"I'm preventing you now."

"No, you're objecting. There's a difference."

"Is there?"

"Preventing requires action. Objecting is just words."

"I could carry you upstairs."

"You could. But that would cause a scene."

"I don't care about scenes."

"You do when they upset me. And being carried from the dining room would definitely upset me."

"You're manipulative."

"I'm strategic."

"Same thing."

"If it was the same thing, you wouldn't love me."

"I'd love you regardless."

"Even if I was manipulative?"

"Especially then. It would mean you were thinking."