Page 140 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"Now, Lucien. Something's wrong."

"You can't know that."

"I can feel it."

"That's the pregnancy talking."

"That's instinct. We need to go home."

Lucien looked at her pale, determined face and nodded. "We leave within the hour."

The journey back was tense, everyone on edge. Even Thistle seemed subdued, staying close to Arabella as if sensing danger.

They made good time to Calais, caught the morning packet, and were back in Dover by evening. But instead of stopping for the night, Arabella insisted they continue.

"You're exhausted," Lucien protested.

"I'm worried."

"About what?"

"I don't know. That's what worries me."

They drove through the night, changing horses at every posting inn, pushing hard despite exhaustion. As dawn broke, they finally saw Blackthorn Manor in the distance.

It looked peaceful, normal, safe.

"See?" Lucien said. "Everything's fine."

But Arabella was already pointing at the stables, where smoke was rising. "Fire!"

They raced the final distance, arriving to find the household in chaos. The stable fire had been contained, but barely.

"What happened?" Lucien demanded.

"We don't know, my Lord," Mrs. Fielding said, looking shaken. "It started in the night. If young Tom hadn't been up with a sick horse..."

"Was anyone hurt?"

"No, my Lord. But..."

"But what?"

"We found this."

She handed him a piece of paper, singed at the edges. Two words: "Just beginning."

"Harrington," Julian said grimly.

"He's here?" Arabella asked.

"Or has someone here been working for him."

"Either way," Lucien said, pulling Arabella close, "he's made a mistake."

"How?"

"He's threatened my family on my land. That's declaration of war."