Page 35 of A Scandal for the Beastly Earl

A scratch at her door interrupted her descent into sleep. She sat up, wondering if she'd imagined it. Then it came again, definitely real.

"Who is it?"

"It's... it's me." Lord Blackthorn's voice, muffled by the heavy door.

Arabella's heart began to race. She pulled her wrapper more tightly around herself and went to the door, opening it a crack.

He stood in the hallway, still in his dressing gown, holding what appeared to be a book.

"I'm sorry to disturb you," he said, and she could see he was genuinely uncomfortable. "I just... I thought you might... My mother used to read this." He held out the book. "I thought you might enjoy it. For your library here. A wedding gift, of sorts."

She took the book, a leather-bound volume worn soft with handling. "Pride and Prejudice," she read from the spine.

"She said it reminded her that first impressions aren't always accurate," he said. "That people can surprise you if you let them."

"And did she? Surprise you?"

"Every day." His voice was soft with memory. "She was the only person who never saw me as the future Earl first and a person second. Until..." He stopped.

"Until?"

"Nothing. It's late. I shouldn't have disturbed you."

"I'm glad you did."

He looked at her then, something raw and uncertain in his expression. "Are you?"

"Yes."

"Even though I'm the Beast of Blackthorn who trapped you in a practical marriage?"

"You're not a beast," she said firmly. "And you didn't trap me. I walked in with my eyes open."

"Half-drowned and covered in lake weed, as I recall."

"The lake weed added character."

He almost smiled; she could see it hovering at the corners of his mouth. "Everything adds character with you."

"It's a gift."

"Or a curse."

"Probably both."

This time he did smile, just slightly, and it transformed his face. The scars were still there, would always be there, but suddenly she could see the man he might have been without the weight of tragedy and isolation.

"Goodnight, Arabella."

"Goodnight, Lucien."

She used his name deliberately, watching as surprise flickered across his features. Then something else, which looked like pleasure but It was gone too quickly to be sure.

He bowed slightly and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the west wing. Arabella closed the door and leaned against it, holding the book to her chest.

A wedding gift. The first gift he'd given her that wasn't born of duty or propriety but something approaching affection. She opened the cover and found an inscription in faded ink:

"To my darling boy! May you find someone who challenges your pride and softens your prejudices. All my love, Mother"