The killer could scarcely expect to cover the fact that one man committed both murders.
Quite certainly Anne's parents would be more ambitious for her than that; so we scarcely expected anything to come of it.
One would scarcely expect an immediate admission, in any case.
She could scarcely expect him to remember, in any case.
"No, I could scarcely expect to yet, but why do you ask?"
He wasn't happy, but I scarcely expected him to be happy.
He has not, of course, but you will scarcely expect my cousin to believe that!
At the same time, she carried on her life with such independence that he scarcely expected any confidence to be expressed in words.
You could scarcely expect to have your personal choice rejected.
You can scarcely expect to keep such news a secret, my Lord.