Page 176 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

"I'll get her," Lucien said immediately.

And he was already up the stairs, returning moments later with Matilda, who immediately stopped crying and grabbed his cravat.

"See?" he said triumphantly. "She just wanted attention."

"From you."

"She has excellent taste."

"She has your wrapped around her tiny finger."

"Proudly."

"Pathetically."

"Same thing when it comes to daughters."

"Fair point."

Matilda, having achieved her goal of attention, now turned her considerable baby charm on James, who made the mistake of leaning too close.

"She's lovely...ow!"

"She grabbed your hair," Cordelia said unnecessarily.

"Strongly!"

"She's practising," Arabella explained.

"For what?"

"Everything."

"World domination," Julian suggested, entering without invitation as usual. "Starting with hair pulling."

"She's not planning world domination."

"Have you seen her glare?"

"That's Lucien's glare."

"Exactly. Tyrannical."

"I'm not tyrannical!"

"You made a chart about acceptable breakfast foods."

"Organisation isn't tyranny!"

"Colour-coded organisation is."

"That was your idea!"

"Which you implemented with frightening efficiency."

"Someone has to maintain standards."

"Boys," Arabella interrupted. "You're scaring James."