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I’m Trying To Embroider.” Hyacinth Held Up Her Handiwork As Proof. “you’re Trying To Avoid—” Her Mother Stopped, Blinking. “i Say, Why Does That Flower Have An Ear?” “it’s Not An Ear.” Hyacinth Looked Down. “and It’s Not A Flower.” “wasn’t It A Flower Yesterday?” “i Have A Very Creative Mind,” Hyacinth Ground Out, Giving The Blasted Flower Another Ear. “that,” Violet Said, “has Never Been In Any Doubt.” Hyacinth Looked Down At The Mess On The Fabric. “it’s A Tabby Cat,” She Announced. “i Just Need To Give It A Tail.

-Julia Quinn

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I’m Trying To Embroider.”

Julia Quinn

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I’m Trying To Embroider.” Hyacinth Held Up Her Handiwork As Proof. “you’re Trying To Avoid—” Her Mother Stopped, Blinking. “i Say, Why Does That Flower Have An Ear?” “it’s Not An Ear.” Hyacinth Looked Down. “and It’s Not A Flower.” “wasn’t It A Flower Yesterday?” “i Have A Very Creative Mind,” Hyacinth Ground Out, Giving The Blasted Flower Another Ear. “that,” Violet Said, “has Never Been In Any Doubt.” Hyacinth Looked Down At The Mess On The Fabric. “it’s A Tabby Cat,” She Announced. “i Just Need To Give It A Tail.

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I Vow To Spend The Rest Of My Life Keeping Your Hands And Feet Warm.

Heartache, Daphne Eventually Learned, Never Really Went Away; It Just Dulled. The Sharp, Stabbing Pain That One Felt With Each Breath Eventually Gave Way To A Blunter, Lower Ache—the Kind That One Could Almost—but Never Quite—ignore.

The Two Of You Together Are A Menace,” Penelope Remarked. “my Aim In Life,” Lady Danbury Announced, “is To Be A Menace To As Great A Number Of People As Possible, So I Shall Take That As The Highest Of Compliments, Mrs. Bridgerton.” “why Is It,” Penelope Wondered, “that You Only Call Me Mrs. Bridgerton When You Are Opining In A Grand Fashion?” “sounds Better That Way,” Lady D Said, Punctuating Her Remark With A Loud Thump Of Her Cane.

Sometimes There Are Reasons For Our Fears That We Can’t Quite Explain. Sometimes It’s Just Something We Feel In Our Bones, Something We Know To Be True, But Would Sound Foolish To Anyone Else.

I Just -- I Know My Own Heart And I Love You, Turner. And If You Have Even The Tiniest Shred Of Decency, You'll Say Something Because I've Said Everything I Possibly Can, And I Can't Bear The Silence, And -- Oh For Heaven's Sake! Will You At Least Blink?" He Couldn't Even Manage That.

And What Renders Him So Unmarriageable?” Eloise Asked. Francesca Leveled A Serious Stare At Her Older Sister. Eloise Was Mad If She Thought She Should Set Her Cap For Michael. “well?” Eloise Prodded. “he Could Never Remain Faithful To One Woman,” Fran-cesca Said, “and I Doubt You‟d Be Willing To Put Up With Infidelities.” “no,” Eloise Murmured, “not Unless He‟d Be Willing To Put Up With Severe Bodily Injury.

Anthony Looked Down At His Evil Clutches -- Hands, He Reminded Himself, Hands -- And Grinned Anew.

To Call That Writing, Madam, Is An Insult To Quills And Ink Across The World.

James - "are You Paying Attention Or Just Trying To Make Me Look Like An Idoit?" Elizabeth - "oh, I'm Definately Paying Attention. If You Look Like An Idiot It Has Nothing To Do With Me.

You Have To Live Each Hour As If It's Your Last And Each Day As If You Were Immortal. - Kate Sheffield

Watch Over Honoria, Will You? See That She Doesn’t Marry An Idiot.

Be Careful What You Wish For,her Mind Thundered.

Hyacinth,” Lady Bridgerton Said In A Vaguely Disapproving Voice, “do Try To Speak In Complete Sentences.” Hyacinth Looked At Her Mother With A Surprised Expression. “biscuits. Are. Good.” She Cocked Her Head To The Side. “noun. Verb. Adjective.” “hyacinth.” “noun. Verb. Adjective.” Colin Said, Wiping A Crumb From His Grinning Face. “sentence. Is. Correct.

Then It's Settled," Harriet Said. "we Shall Work Out The Smaller Roles Later.""what About You?" Elizabeth Demanded."oh, I'm Going To Be The Goddess Of The Sun And Moon.""the Tale Gets Stranger And Stranger," Daniel Said."just Wait Until Act Seven," Miss Wynter Told Him."seven?" His Head Snapped Up. "there Are Seven Acts?""twelve," Harriet Corrected, "but Don't Worry, You're In Only Eleven Of Them. Now Then, Miss Wynter, When Do You Propose That We Begin Our Rehearsals? And May We Do So Out Of Doors? There Is A Clearing By The Gazebo That Would Be Ideal.

He Smiled, And Suddenly She Knew That His Words Were True. Everything Would Be All Right. Maybe Not Today And Maybe Not Tomorrow, But Soon. Tragedy Couldn't Coexist In A World With One Of Colin's Smiles.

"are You All Right?” He Asked Olivia. His Heart Was Still Racing With Terror That She’d Been Hurt. “i Heard A Woman Scream.” “ah, That Would Have Been Me,” Sebastian Said. Harry Looked Down On His Cousin, Face Frozen In Disbelief. “you Made That Noise?” “it Hurt,” Sebastian Bit Off. Harry Fought Not To Laugh. “you Scream Like A Leettle Girl."

Weakness Never Got Anyone Anywhere.

In His Heart, She’d Been Smiling For Him. But Now She Was Smiling At Colin Bridgerton, He Of The Famous Charm And Sparkling Green Eyes.

Did You Know I Have Always Suspected That Men Were Idiots," Daphne Ground Out, "but I Was Never Positive Until Today.

She Needed Him To Be Him. Even If He Could Not Be Hers.

Besides," He Said Breezily, "were It Not For Misunderstandings, We Would Be Sadly Lacking In Great Literature." She Looked At Him Questioningly. "where Would Romeo And Juliet Be?" "alive.

Society Is Capricious And Rewards The Bad As Often As The Good. But It Never Rewards The Quiet.

In Her Heart She Longed For This Man, Dreamed Of A Life That Could Never Be.

Not That I Knew Who You Were Until Last Month. But Now That I've Got You, I'm Not Letting You Go." "you're Not?" Blake Stared At Her In Irritated Confusion. What Was Her Game? "do You Think I'm An Idiot?" He Spat Out. "no," She Said. "i've Just Escaped From A Den Of Idiots, So I'm Well Familiar With The Breed, And You're Something Else Entirely. I Am, However, Hoping You're Not A Terribly Good Shot.

Don’t Tell Me Your Name. It’s Likely To Awaken My Conscience, And That’s The Last Thing We Want.

Click. The Door Swung Open. "three," James Said With A Slightly Self-satisfied Smile. "well Done," Caroline Said. He Smiled Back At Her. "i've Never Met A Woman Or A Lock That Didn't Love Me.

When A Man Writes A Romance, The Woman Dies. When A Woman Writes One, It Ends All Tidy And Sweet.

Olivia: You Didn't Even Know I Was There! Harry: Excuse Me, Yes I Did.

Until You've Lived Through All That," He Said, "don't You Ever Complain About What We Have. Because To Me... To Me..." He Choked On The Words, But He Barely Paused Before He Continued. "this - Us - Is Heaven. I Can't Bear To Hear You Say Otherwise.

If One Didn't Have Love, Was It Better, Then, To Be Alone?

I Have Thoroughly Compromised Your Niece," Alex Declared. "will You Plase Insist That She Marry Me?" Caroline Didn't Bat An Eyelash. "this", She Announced, "is Most Peculiar.

Michael Nodded Tersely, Eyeing A Table Across The Room. It Was Empty. So Empty. So Joyfully, Blessedly Empty. He Could Picture Himself A Very Happy Man At That Table. "not Feeling Very Conversational This Evening, Are We?" Colin Asked, Breaking Into His (admittedly Tame) Fantasies.

Daphne," He Said With Controlled Gentleness, "what Is Wrong?" She Sat Down Opposite Him And Placed A Hand On His Cheek. "i'm So Insensitive," She Whispered. "i Should Have Known. I Should Never Have Said Anything." "should Have Known What?" He Ground Out. Her Hand Fell Away. "that You Can't—that You Couldn't—" "can't What?" She Looked Down At Her Lap, Where Her Hands Were Attempting To Wring Each Other To Shreds. "please Don't Make Me Say It," She Said. 'this," Simon Muttered, "has Got To Be Why Men Avoid Marriage.

The Unexpected Moment [is] Always Sweeter.

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There Was A Huge Difference Between Dislike And Disregard.

Love Works In Mysterious Ways.

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Francesca: It's Still A Bit Cold Yet. Michael: Never Stopped John And Me. Francesca: Yes, Well, You're Scottish. Your Blood Circulates Quite Well Half Frozen.

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Raw Toast," Lucas Said Grimly, Shaking His Head. "it Goes Against The Very Nature Of Man.

It Was One Of Those Things That Had To Be Experienced To Be Understood

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Elizabeth, You Resemble Nothing So Much As A Hen Trying To Hatch A Book.

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He Was The Firstborn Bridgerton Of A Firstborn Bridgerton Of A Firstborn Bridgerton Eight Times Over. He Had A Dynastic Responsibility To Be Fruitful And Multiply.

It Suddenly Made Sense. Only Twice In His Life Had He Felt This Inexplicable, Almost Mystical Attraction To A Woman. He’d Thought It Remarkable, To Have Found Two, When In His Heart He’d Always Believed There Was Only One Perfect Woman Out There For Him. His Heart Had Been Right. There Was Only One.

He Didn’t Know Where The Thought Had Come From, Or What Strange Corner Of His Brain Had Come To That Conclusion, Because He Was Quite Certain It Would Be Nearly Impossible To Live With Her, But Somehow He Knew That It Wouldn’t Be At All Difficult To Love Her.

Why Don’t You Purchase An Italian Dictionary? I Will Assume The Expense.” “i Have One,” She Said, “but I Don’t Think It’s Very Good. Half The Words Are Missing.” “half?” “well, Some,” She Amended. “but Truly, That’s Not The Problem.” He Blinked, Waiting For Her To Continue. She Did. Of Course. “i Don’t Think Italian Is The Author’s Native Tongue,” She Said. “the Author Of The Dictionary?” He Queried. “yes. It’s Not Terribly Idiomatic.

Not That I Wish To Give You Any Ammunition, But The Sad Fact Of It Is-most Men Are Sheep. Where One Goes, The Rest Will Follow. And Didn't You Say You Wished To Be Married?' 'not To Someone Who Follows You As The Lead Sheep.

I Knew Nothing But Love And Devotion When I Was Growing Up. Trust Me, It Makes Everything Easier.

It Was Heaven. Forget Angels, Forget St. Peter And Glittering Harpsichords. Heaven Was A Dance In The Arms Of One's True Love.

She Could Not Bear The Thought. She Simply Could Not Bear The Thought That She Might Somehow Prove To Her Grandfather That Her Mother Had Indeed Been A Fool And Her Father Had Been A Damned Fool And That She Was The Damnedest Fool Of Them All.

And Then, Well . . . He Might Have Slept For A Bit. He Rather Hoped He Was Sleeping, Because He Was Quite Certain He’d Seen A Six-foot Rabbit Hopping Through His Bedchamber, And If That Wasn’t A Dream, They Were All In Very Big Trouble. Although Really, It Wasn’t The Rabbit That Was So Dangerous As Much As The Giant Carrot He Was Swinging About Like A Mace. That Carrot Would Feed An Entire Village.

He Stepped Toward Her, And Her Heart Just Ached From It. His Face Was So Handsome, And So Dear, And So Perfectly Wonderfully Familiar. She Knew The Slope Of His Cheeks, And The Exact Shade Of His Eys, Brownish Near The Iris, Melting Into Green At The Edge. And His Mouth-she Knew That Mouth, The Look Of It, The Feel Of It. She Knew His Smile, And She Knew His Frown, And She Knew- She Knew Far To Much.

When You Walk Into A Room,” He Said Softly, “the Air Changes.

Daphne Felt Something Wild And Wicked Take Hold. “let’s Walk In The Garden,” She Said Softly. “we Can’t.” “we Must.” “we Can’t.

The Girl Doesn’t Need A Violin,” He Added. “she Needs To Have Her Hands Bound So She Can Never Touch An Instrument Again.

He’d Spent His Life Being A Perfect Gentleman. He’d Never Been A Flirt. He’d Never Been A Rogue. He Hated Being The Center Of Attention, But By God, He Wanted To Be The Center Of Her Attention. He Wanted To Do The Wrong Thing, The Bad Thing. He Wanted To Pull Her Into His Arms And Carry Her To Her Bed. He Wanted To Peel Every Last Inch Of Her Clothing From Her Body, And Then He Wanted To Worship Her. He Wanted To Show Her All The Things He Wasn’t Sure He Knew How To Say.

And If That Weren't Bad Enough, The Next Sound He Heard Was A Loud Click. The Damned Woman Had Locked Him Out. She'd Taken All The Food And Locked Him Out. "you'll Pay For This!" He Yelled At The Door. "do Be Quiet," Came The Muffled Reply. "i'm Eating.

He Loved Her. He Wanted Her. He Needed Her. And He Needed Her Now.

Deep Inside, She Knew Who She Was, And That Person Was Smart And Kind And Often Even Funny, But Somehow Her Personality Always Got Lost Somewhere Between Her Heart And Her Mouth, And She Found Herself Saying The Wrong Thing Or, More Often, Nothing At All.

To This Day, The Duke And I Remains Particularly Close To My Heart; I Felt It Was The Novel In Which My Writing Took A Huge Leap Forward.

It Was A Damned Good Thing Men Couldn’t Have Children. Gregory Took No Shame In Admitting That The Human Race Would Have Died Out Generations Earlier.

Before She Knew What She Was About, She Was Jumping About Like A Crazy Woman, Yelling, “yes! Yes! I Win!” “you Don’t Win,” Anthony Snapped. “oh, It Feels Like I’ve Won,” She Reveled.

If You Want To Know If A Gentleman Loves You,” Her Mother Said, “there Is Only One True Way To Be Sure.” “it’s In His Kiss,” Her Mother Whispered. “it’s All There, In His Kiss.

I Cannot Feel Like A Duchess In My Mother’s Sitting Room.” “what Do You Feel Like, Then?” “hmmm.” She Took A Sip Of Her Tea. “just Daphne Bridgerton, I Suppose. It’s Difficult To Shed The Surname In This Clan. In Spirit, That Is.” “i Hope That Is A Compliment,” Lady Bridgerton Remarked. Daphne Just Smiled At Her Mother. “i Shall Never Escape You, I’m Afraid.” She Turned To Gareth. “there Is Nothing Like One’s Family To Make One Feel Like One Has Never Grown Up.

I’m Trying To Embroider.” Hyacinth Held Up Her Handiwork As Proof. “you’re Trying To Avoid—” Her Mother Stopped, Blinking. “i Say, Why Does That Flower Have An Ear?” “it’s Not An Ear.” Hyacinth Looked Down. “and It’s Not A Flower.” “wasn’t It A Flower Yesterday?” “i Have A Very Creative Mind,” Hyacinth Ground Out, Giving The Blasted Flower Another Ear. “that,” Violet Said, “has Never Been In Any Doubt.” Hyacinth Looked Down At The Mess On The Fabric. “it’s A Tabby Cat,” She Announced. “i Just Need To Give It A Tail.

Interesting, He Later Reflected, Was Perhaps Not The Correct Word.by The Time He And Henry Arrived Back At The House For Their Midday Meal-a Scrumptious Bowl Of Hot, Sticky Porridge-he Had Mucked Out The Stable Stalls, Milked A Cow, Been Pecked By Three Separate Hens, Weeded A Vegetable Garden, And Fallen Into A Trough.

I Had To Do Something," She Said. "i Couldn't Just Sit And Wait For Life To Happen To Me Any Longer.

As His Hands Moved To His Trousers, He Saw That She Was Pulling The Bedsheets Over Her. "don't," He Said, Barely Recognizing His Own Voice. Her Eyes Met His, And He Said, "i'll Be Your Blanket".

But Looking Beautiful Isn't, I Think, As Important As Feeling Beautiful.

Turn Right Up Ahead," He Directed. "it'll Take Us Directly To My Cottage." She Did As He Asked. "does Your Cottage Have A Name?" "my Cottage." "i Might Have Known," She Muttered. He Smirked. Quite A Feat, In Her Opinion, Since He Looked Sick As A Dog. "i'm Not Kidding," He Said. Sure Enough, In Another Minute They Pulled Up In Front Of An Elegant Country House, Complete With A Small, Unobtrusive Sign In Front Reading, My Cottage

Reformed Rakes Make The Best Husbands,"violet Said. "rubbish And You Know It." -anthony To Violet

There Are Moments In A Woman's Life When Her Heart Flips In Her Chest, When The World Suddenly Seems Uncommonly Pink And Perfect, When A Symphony Can Be Heard In The Tinkle Of A Doorbell.

Tonight," He Whispered, His Voice Hoarse And Hot In Her Ear, "i Will Make You Mine." -simon To Daphne

Love Is Blind,” Harriet Quipped. “but Not Illiterate,” Elizabeth Retorted.

I'm Not A Gentle Pony... I Promise You, You Will Have To Work To Keep Your Seat.

She Wandered Over To The Enclosed Range, A Rather Modern-looking Contraption That Cook Had Purchased Earlier In The Year. "do You Know How To Work This?" She Asked. "no Idea. You? " Daphne Shook Her Head. "none." She Reached Forward And Gingerly Touched The Surface Of The Stove Top. "it's Not Hot. " " Not Even A Little Bit? " She Shook Her Head. "it's Rather Cold, Actually. " Brother And Sister Were Silent For A Few Seconds . " You Know," Anthony Finally Said, "cold Milk Might Be Quite Refreshing ." " I Was Just Thinking That Very Thing!

He Was A Puzzle. And Hyacinth Hated Puzzles. Well, No, In Truth She Loved Them. Provided, Of Course, That She Solved Them.

You're In A Rather Odd Mood Today." I'm Soaking Wet, Eloise." No Need To Snap At Me About It, I Didn't Force You To Walk Across Town In The Rain." It Wasn't Raining When I Left,". There Was Something About A Sibling That Brought Out The Eight-year-old In A Body. I'm Sure The Sky Was Gray," Clearly, She Had A Bit Of The Eight-year-old In Her As Well.

I Have Friends Who Have Children, And They Have Told Me How Remarkable It Is To Have A New Life That Is A Piece Of Your Own Flesh Anf Blood. But I --" "i Realized That I Didn't Love Her Because She Was A Piece Of Me, I Loved Her Because She Was A Piece Of You.

That Was Very Rude Of Me.” “think Nothing Of It. You’ve Done Worse.

And If You Say That's Because You Lot Barged Into Her Home Like A Herd Of Mentally Deficient Sheep, I'm Disowning All Three Of You.

My Mother Is Convinced That Yellow Is A Happy Color And That A Happy Girl Would Get A Husband. -penelope Featherington

I‟m Going To Kill Her,” Francesca Said To No One In Particular. Which Was Probably A Good Thing, As There Was No One Else Present. “who Are You Talking To?” Hyacinth Demanded. “god,” Francesca Said Baldly. “and I Do Believe I Have Been Given Divine Leave To Murder You.” “hmmph,” Was Hyacinth‟s Response. “if It Was That Easy, I‟d Have Asked Permission To Eliminate Half The Ton Years Ago.” Francesca Decided Just Then That Not All Of Hyacinth‟s Statements Required A Rejoinder. In Fact, Few Of Them Did.

I Can't Imagine A Romance Novel Published Today Where The Hero Rapes The Heroine And She Falls In Love With Him.

Falling In Love

His Brows Rose. “and How Is It That You Have Come To Be Such An Expert On Scrapes And Bruises?” “i’m A Governess,” She Said. Because Really, That Ought To Be Explanation Enough.

Turner Let His Face Fell Into His Hands. "i'm Never Going To Touch Her Again", He Moaned. "he's Never Going To Touch Me Again!" They Heard Miranda Roar."well,it Doesn't Look Like You'll Have Much Argument From Your Wife On That Point", Olivia Chirped.

I Also Think He Is Given To Disguises...sometimes He Wears Spectacles And Sometimes He Does Not. And Twice He Has Worn An Extremely Peculiar Hat. Inside.

My Love Has Eyes Blue As The Sky. Her Warm, Bright Smile Makes Me Want To Try To Give Her The World, And When She's Curled Up In My Arms Where I Can Feel Her Touch, I Realize Again That I Love Her So Much. My World Has Turned From Black To White. Kissing In Starlight, Basking In Sunlight, Dancing At Midnight.' ~john's Poem For Belle

Very Well,” He Said With A Small Sigh. “ladies Today Are So Very Capable. It Breaks My Hea Rt, Really.” He Leaned In, Almost As If Sharing A Secret. “no One Likes To Feel Superfluous.” Grace Just Stared At Him. “rendered Mute By My Grace And Charm,” He Said, Stepping Back To Allow Them To Exit. “it Happens All The Time. Really, I Shouldn‟t Be Allowed Near The Ladies. I Have Such A Vexing Effect On You.

How Do You Feel?” She Asked, Trying To Fluff His Pillow. “other Than Terrible, I Mean.” He Moved His Head Slightly To The Side. It Seemed To Be A Sickly Interpretation Of A Shrug. “of Course You’re Feeling Terrible,” She Clarified, “but Is There Any Change? More Terrible? Less Terrible?” He Made No Response. “the Same Amount Of Terrible?

Love Was The Best Present Of All.

When The Dead Body Said, "good Evening," Annabel Had To Face The Grim Conclusion That It Wasn't As Dead As She'd Hoped.

His Mouth Captured Hers, Trying To Show Her With His Kiss What He Was Still Learning To Express In Words. He Loved Her. He Worshipped Her. He'd Walk Across Fire For Her. He— —still Had The Audience Of Her Three Brothers. Slowly Breaking The Kiss, He Turned His Face To The Side. Anthony, Benedict, And Colin Were Still Standing In The Foyer. Anthony Was Studying The Ceiling, Benedict Was Pretending To Inspect His Fingernails, And Colin Was Staring Quite Shamelessly.

Never," He Spat Out, "kick A Man Who Is Pointing A Gun At You.

I Was Told Once That The Most Important Part Of A Fight Is Making Sure Your Opponent Looks Worse Than You Do When You’re Through.

I Didn't Think I Should Die But I Did Not Know How I Would Live.

In Every Life There Is A Turning Point. A Moment So Tremendous, So Sharp And Clear That One Feels As If One's Been Hit In The Chest, All The Breath Knocked Out, And One Knows, Absolutely Knows Without The Merest Hint Of A Shadow Of A Doubt That One's Life Will Never Be The Same.

This Is Why I Didn't Get Married Last Year," She Said To Him. "i Wouldn't Be Here To Nurse You." She Thought About That For A Moment. "of Course, One Could Make The Argument That You Wouldn't Be In This Situation If Not For Me. But We're Not Going To Dwell Upon That.

The Smythe-smith Musicale. Thankfully, It Came Around Just Once Per Year, Because Hyacinth Was Quite Certain It Would Take A Full Twelve Months For Her Ears To Recover.

The Ranks Of Society Are Once Again Filled With Ambitious Mamas, Whose Only Aim Is To See Their Darling Daughters Married Off To Determined Bachelors

Happy Endings Are All I Can Do. I Wouldn't Know How To Write Anything Else.

Everyone Has Secrets. Especially Me.

He Sighed, Wondering How His Life Had Been Turned Upside Down By This Woman In Less Than Forty-eight Hours. Correction: By This Woman, A Pig, And A Rabbit.

You Should Be Thankful That Dark Colors Suit You. Not Everyone Wears Black Well." "why, Lady Olivia, Is That A Compliment?" "not So Much As A Compliment To You As An Insult To Everyone Else," She Assured Him. "thanks Heaven For That. I Don't Think I Would Know How To Conduct Myself In A World In Which You Offered Compliments.

It Has Oft Been Said That Physicians Make The Worst Patients, But It Is The Opinion Of This Author That Any Man Makes A Terrible Patient. One Might Say It Takes Patience To Be A Patient, And Heaven Knows, The Males Of Our Species Lack An Abundance Of Patience.

Annabel Looked Down. Her Hands Were Shaking. She Couldn't Do This. Not Yet. She Couldn't Face The Man She'd Kissed Who Happened To Be The Heir To The Man She Didn't Want To Kiss But Whos She Probably Was Going To Marry. Oh Yes, And She Could Not Forget That If She Did Marry The Man She Didn't Want To Kiss, She Was Likely To Provide Him With A New Heir, Thus Cutting Off The Man She Did Want To Kiss.

He Gave Her His Best Smile. His Best I-almost-died-so-how-can-you-deny-me Smile. Or At Least That’s How He Hoped It Appeared. The Truth Was, He Wasn’t A Very Accomplished Flirt, And It Might Very Well Have Come Across As An Iam- Mildly-deranged-so-it’s-in-all-of-our-best-interests-if-youpretend- To-agree-with-me Smile.

And So Harry Became Proficient In The Task Of Cleaning Up Vomit.

Of Course None Of Those Men Was Suitable. Half Were After Your Fortune, And As For The Other Half—well, You Would Have Reduced Them To Tears Within A Month.” “such Tenderness For Your Youngest Child,” Hyacinth Muttered. “it Quite Undoes Me.

Where Is He? Bridgerton!" He Bellowed. Three Chestnut Heads Swiveled In His Direction. Simon Stomped Across The Grass, Murder In His Eyes. "i Meant The Idiot Bridgerton." "that, I Believe," Anthony Said Mildly, Tilting His Chin Toward Colin, "would Refer To You.

You Always Get More Respect When You Don't Have A Happy Ending.

What About Me?” Frances Asked. “the Butler,” Harriet Replied Without Even A Second Of Hesitation. Frances’s Mouth Immediately Opened To Protest. “no, No,” Harriet Said. “it’s The Best Role, I Promise. You Get To Do Everything.” “except Be A Unicorn,” Daniel Murmured. Frances Tilted Her Head To The Side With A Resigned Expression. “the Next Play,” Harriet Finally Gave In. “i Shall Find A Way To Include A Unicorn In The One I’m Working On Right Now.” Frances Pumped Both Fists In The Air. “huzzah!

Tell Me Something Wicked.

She Hated That She Was Still So Desperate For A Glimpse Of Him, But It Had Been This Way For Years.

Unrequited Love

And, She Was Able To Tell Herself With Some Satisfaction, The Man In Question - One Colin Bridgerton - Felt Precisely The Same Way.... ....his Earth Shook, His Heart Leaped, And Penelope Knew Without A Doubt That His Breath Was Taken Away As Well. For A Good Ten Seconds. Falling Off A Horse Tended To Do That To A Man.

I Have To Tell You It Was The First Time Even After All These Years Of Expecting My Own Death That I Truly Knew What It Meant To Die Because With You Gone There Was Nothing Left For Me To Live For.

There Were A Lot Of Things In Life To Be Afraid Of, But Strangeness Ought Not Be Among Them.

No Words For The Passion. No Words For The Need.no Words For The Sheer Epiphany Of The Moment.and So, On An Otherwise Unremarkable Friday Afternoon, In The Heart Of Mayfair, In A Quiet Drawing Room On Mount Street, Colin Bridgerton Kissed Penelope Featherington.and It Was Glorious.

Just Be Quiet And Accept The Praise.

...i Do Not Tell You Often Enough, Dear Mother, How Very Grateful I Am That I Am Yours. It Is A Rare Parent Who Would Offer A Child Such Latitude And Understanding. It Is An Even Rarer One Who Calls A Daughter Friend. I Do Love You, Dear Mama.

The Only Words I'll Allow From Your Mouth Are, 'oh, Gareth,' And 'yes, Gareth.'" "what About 'more, Gareth'?" "he Almost Kept A Straith Face. "that Will Be Acceptable.

A Lot Could Happen In A Week. Just Look At The Last One.

There Were Only So Many Ways A Man‟s Heart Could Break, And He Had A Feeling His Couldn‟t Survive Another Puncture.

Milk?” Lady Bridgerton Asked. “thank You,” Gareth Replied. “no Sugar, If You Please.” “hyacinth Takes Hers With Three,” Gregory Said, Reaching For A Piece Of Shortbread. “why,” Hyacinth Ground Out, “would He Care?” “well,” Gregory Replied, Taking A Bite And Chewing, “he Is Your Special Friend.

Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Cousin‟s Wife. Moses Must Have Forgotten To Write That One Down

Your Heart Is Free Now." "no," He Whispered. "it's Yours.

Children,” Lady Bridgerton Said With A Sigh As She Retook Her Seat. “i Am Never Quite Certain If I’m Glad I Had Them.

But Hyacinth Bridgerton, Who At Ten Should Have Known The Least About Kisses Of Anyone, Just Blinked Thoughtfully, And Said, " I Think It's Nice. If They're Laughing Now, They'll Probably Be Laughing Forever.

Gareth Turned To Gregory. “your Sister Will Be Safe With Me,” He Said. “i Give You My Vow.” “oh, I Have No Worries On That Score,” Gregory Said With A Bland Smile. “the Real Question Is—will You Be Safe With Her?” It Was A Good Thing, Gareth Later Reflected, That Hyacinth Had Already Quit The Room To Fetch Her Coat And Her Maid. She Probably Would Have Killed Her Brother On The Spot.

He Sucked His Lips In An Attempt Not To Laugh. "aren't You Spanish?" She Raised One Arm In A Salute. "viva La Queen Isabella!" "i See. Then Why Are You Speaking With A French Accent?

He Blinked A Few Times, Each Motion So Slow That He Was Never Quite Sure If He’d Get His Eyes Open Again. He Wasn’t Wearing A Shirt. Funny How He Was Only Just Realizing It. Funnier Still That He Couldn’t Seem To Summon Any Concern For Her Maidenly Sensibilities. She Might Be Blushing. He Couldn’t Tell. It Was Too Dark To See. But It Didn’t Matter. This Was Honoria. She Was A Good Egg. A Sensible Egg. She Wouldn’t Be Scarred Forever By The Sight Of His Chest.

He Would Not Give Her Up,he Could Not.for The First Time In His Life He'd Found Someone Who Filled All The Empty Spaces In His Heart

Eloiseis Getting Married As Well.” “eloise?” Michael Asked With Some Surprise. “was She Even Being Courted By Anyone?” “no,” Francesca Said, Quickly Flipping To The Third Sheet Of Her Mother‟s Letter. “it‟s Someone She‟s Never Met.” “well, I Imagine She‟s Met Him Now,” Michael Said In A Dry Voice.

No. Haven’t You Been Listening?” Marcus Would Always Remember That Moment. It Was To Be The First Time He Would Ever Be Faced With That Most Vexing Of Female Quirks: The Question That Had Nothing But Wrong Answers.

I’m Not Certain You’d Know The Right Sort Of Man For You If He Arrived On Our Doorstep Riding An Elephant.” “i Would Think The Elephant Would Be A Fairly Good Indication That I Ought To Look Elsewhere.

What?" "you're So Neat," She Said, Looking Almost Embarrassed. He Glanced Pointedly Over His Shoulder. "there Are Four Hundred On The Other Side Of This Door." "but You're Ruining Me." "i Can't Do It Neatly?

Am I Not Allowed To Have My Pride? Or Is That An Emotion Reserved For The Elite?

I Thought You Wanted Food," She Gasped. "i Do," He Murmured, Tugging On The Bodice Of Her Dress. "but I Want You More.

Will You Be Quiet?" He Asked, Smiling Down At Her. She Nodded. He Pretended To Think About It. "i Don't Believe You/" She Planted Her Hands On Her Hips, Which Had To Be A Ludicrous Postition, Naked As She Was From The Waist Up. All Right," He Acceded, "but The Only Words I'll Allow From Your Mouth Are, 'oh, Gareth,' And 'yes, Gareth.' He Lifted His Finger. What About 'more, Gareth?'" He Almost Kept A Straith Face. "that Will Be Acceptable

It's Just That I Don't Think Friends Tie Friends To The Bedpost." James Choked On His Tea. "caroline, You Have No Idea.

The Biggest Challenge Of My Career, Which Is Something That Authors Of Genre Fiction Face All The Time, Is Writing Something Fresh And New And At The Same Time Meeting Reader Expectations.

You’re Going To Be My Grandmother.” “you Silly Child. In My Heart, I’ve Been Your Grandmother For Years. I’ve Just Been Waiting For You To Make It Official.

She'd Met Colin On A Monday. She'd Kissed Him On A Friday. Twelve Years Later. She Sighed. It Seemed Fairly Pathetic.

Nothing Like Trapping The Gentlemen Where They Couldn't Get Away.

A Duel, A Duel, A Duel. Is There Anything More Exciting, More Romantic ... Or More Utterly Moronic?

Men Are Sheep. Where One Goes, The Rest Will Soon Follow. -lady Whistledown

Sometimes Hen...i Think I Would Give My Life Just For One Of Your Smiles.

She Glared At Him. "i'm Not Asking You To Apologize." "well, That's A Relief.i Doubt I Could Find The Words.

It Wasn‟t Even Desire. It Was Far More Than That. It Was Love. Love. With A Capital L And Swirly Script And Hearts And Flowers And Whatever Else The Angels— And Yes, All Those Annoying Little Cupids—wished To Use For Embellishment.

A Man’s Got To Keep Up Appearances. I’ll Be Universally Detested If Everyone Realizes How Perfect You Are.

He Gave Her A Sly, Sideways Look. "did You Bring It?" "my List? Heavens, No. What Can You Be Thinking?" His Smile Widened. "i Brought Mine." Daphne Gasped. "you Didn't!" "i Did. Just To Torture Mother. I'm Going Peruse It Right In Front Of Her, Pull Out My Quizzing Glass—" "you Don't Have A Quizzing Glass." He Grinned—the Slow, Devastatingly Wicked Smile That All Bridgerton Males Seemed To Possess. "i Bought One Just For This Occasion." "anthony, You Absolutely Cannot. She Will Kill You. And Then, Somehow, She'll Find A Way To Blame Me." "i'm Counting On It.

It Was The One Dream He'd Never Permitted Himself To Consider.

To Say That Men Can Be Bullheaded Would Be Insulting To The Bull.

Darling," He Said Distractedly,"about The Moon..." "yes?" "i Don't Think It Matters Whether You Want It Or Not." "what Are You Talking About?" "the Moon. I Think It's Yours." Victoria Yawned, Not Bothering To Open Her Eyes. "fine. I'm Glad To Have It." "but--" Robert Shook His Head. He Was Growing Fanciful. The Moon Didn't Belong To His Wife. It Didn't Follow Her, Protect Her. It Certainly Didn't Wink At Anybody. But He Stared Out The Window The Rest Of The Way Home, Just In Case

Don't Settle. Know What You Want And Reach For It. And If You Don't Know What You Want, Be Patient. The Answers Will Come To You In Time, And You May Find That Your Heart S Desire Has Been Right Under Your Nose All The While.

For Me, The Dialogue Is The Easiest Part Of Writing. It Just Always Seems So Obvious What A Character Will Say. Maybe Its Because I Talk Too Much!

No One Knows As Well As I How Much Nonsense Is Printed In Books.

I Would Give The World To Have One More Person For Whom I Would Lay Down My Life.

People Will Think You're Courting Me.' 'nonsense, Everyone Knows I Don't Court Respectable Women.

And For The Rest Of The Night, He Couldn’t Quite Forget The Smell Of Her Perfume. Or Maybe It Was The Soft Sound Of Her Chuckle. Or Maybe It Was Neither Of Those Things. Maybe It Was Just Her.

Do I Look Like A Mess?” She Asked. He Nodded. “but You’re My Mess,” He Whispered.

Every Unmarried Man Is Looking For A Wife. They Just Don't Always Know It.

She Smelled Like England, Of Soft Rain And Sun-kissed Meadows. And She Felt Like The Best Kind Of Heaven. He Wanted To Wrap Himself Around, Bury Himself Within Her, And Stay There For All Of His Days. He Hadn’t Had A Drop To Drink In Three Years, But He Was Intoxicated Now, Bubbling With A Lightness He’d Never Thought To Feel Again.

Oh, Elizabeth," He Murmured, Leaning Down To Press A Gentle Kiss On Her Mouth, "i Love You So Much. You Must Believe Me." "i Believe You," She Said Softly, "because In Your Eyes, I See What I Feel In My Heart.

Nonetheless, I Can't Help But Be Flattered That You Noticed The Latest Addition To My Collection," He Said. She Rolled Her Eyes. "because Personal Injuries Are Such A Dignified Thing To Collect." "are All Governesses So Sarcastic?

Caroline Stamped Her Foot In Frustration, But When It Landed, It Landed On Something Considerably Less Flat Than The Floor. "owww!" He Yelled. Oh! His Foot!sorrysorrysorrysorrysorrysorry , She Mouthed.i Didn't Mean It. "if You Think I Can Understand That," He Growled, "you're Crazier Than I'd Originally Thought.

Anthony Sneezed And Pushed Them Aside. "mother, I Am Trying To Have A Conversation With The Duke." Violet Looked At Simon. "do You Want To Have This Conversation With My Son?" "not Particularly." "fine, Then. Anthony, Be Quiet.

And I Hope You Will Not Think Me Foolish When I Also Extend My Thanks. Thank You, Michael, For Letting My Son Love Her First. —from Janet Stirling, Dowager Countess Of Kilmartin, To Michael Stirling, Earl Of Kilmartin

There Was A Certain History To This. While Heavily Pregnant With Amelia, She Had Asked Him If She Was Radiant Or If She Just Looked Like A Waddling Duck. He Told Her She’d Looked Like A Radiant Duck. This Had Not Been The Correct Answer.

Stirlings Of Old Had Been So Damned Besotted With Their Newfound Earldom That They Couldn't Think To Put Any Other Name On Anything...it Was A Wonder He Didn't Drink Kilmartin Tea And Sit On A Kilmartin-style Chair. In Fact, He Probably Would Be Doing Just That If His Grandmother Had Found A Way To Manage It Without Actually Taking The Family Into Trade.

This Has To Be The Most Self-centered Thing I've Ever Said, But No, I Think You Just Wanted To Vex Me.

She Had Been Born For This Man, And She Had Spent So Many Years Trying To Accept The Fact That He Had Been Born For Someone Else.

Phillip Looked To Eloise. "perhaps Introductions Are In Order?" "oh," Eloise Said, Gulping. "yes, Of Course. These Are My Brothers." "i'd Gathered," He Said, His Voice As Dry As Dust. She Shot Him An Apologetic Look, Which, Phillip Thought, Was Really The Least She Could Do After Nearly Getting Him Tortured And Killed, Then Turned To Her Brothers And Motioned To Each In Turn, Saying, "anthony, Benedict, Colin, Gregory. These Three," She Added, Motioning To A, B, And C, "are My Elders. This One"—she Waved Dismissively At Gregory—"is An Infant.

There Were Rules Among Friends, Commandments, Really, And The Most Important One Was Thou Shalt Not Lust After Thy Friend's Sister.

She Tried To Remind Herself That Beauty Was Only Skin Deep, But That Didn't Offer Any Helpful Excuses When She Was Berating Herself For Never Knowing What To Say To People. There Was Nothing More Depressing Than An Ugly Girl With No Personality.

I Don't Know Whether To Toss You Through That Window Or Shake Your Hand And Say 'well Done'" Henry Said In A Tired Voice.

Anthony Bridgerton Leaned Back In His Leather Chair,and Then Announced, "i'm Thinking About Getting Married." Benedict Bridgerton, Who Had Been Indulging In A Habit His Mother Detested—tipping His Chair Drunkenly On The Back Two Legs—fell Over. Colin Bridgerton Started To Choke. Luckily For Colin, Benedict Regained His Seat With Enough Time To Smack Him Soundly On The Back, Sending A Green Olive Sailing Across The Table. It Narrowly Missed Anthony's Ear.

He Said He Loved Me,” She Whispered. Daniel Swallowed, And He Had The Strangest Sensation, Almost A Premonition Of What It Must Like To Be A Parent. Someday, God Willing, He’d Have A Daughter, And That Daughter Would Look Like The Woman Standing In Front Of Him, And If Ever She Looked At Him With That Bewildered Expression, Whispering, “he Said He Loved Me . . .” Nothing Short Of Murder Would Be An Acceptable Response.

Felicity," Mrs. Featherington Interurupted, "why Don't You Tell Mr. Brdgerton About Your Watercolors?" For The Life Of Him, Colin Couldn't Imagine A Less Interesting Topic (except Maybe For Phillipa's Watercolors), But He Nonetheless Turned To The Youngest Featherington With A Friendly Smile And Asked, "and How Are Your Watercolors?" But Felicity, Bless Her Heart, Gave Him A Rather Friendly Smile Herself And Said Nothing But, "i Imagine They're Fine, Thank You.

What Happened To Your Face?" Harriet Asked. "it Was A Misunderstanding," Daniel Said Smoothly, Wondering How Long It Might Take For His Bruises To Heal. He Did Not Think He Was Particularly Vain, But The Questions Were Growing Tiresome. "a Misunderstanding?" Elizabeth Echoed. "with An Anvil?" "oh, Stop," Harriet Admonished Her. "i Think He Looks Very Dashing." "as If He Dashed Into An Anvil." "pay No Attention," Harriet Said To Him. "she Lacks Imagination.

If He Was Planning To Attack And Ravish, He Gave No Indication Of Being In A Hurry To Do So.

Caroline, Do You Value Your Neck?" "yes, I'm Rather Fond Of It. Why?" "because If You Don't Shut Up, I'm Going To Wring It.

You Are Always Looking At People Like This.” And Then She Made A Face, One He Couldn’t Possibly Begin To Describe. “if I Ever Look Like That,” He Said Dryly, “precisely Like That, To Be More Precise, I Give You Leave To Shoot Me.

James Started To Laugh. His Chin Hurt Where She'd Smacked Him Twice, His Foot Throbbed Where She'd Stepped On It, And His Entire Body Felt As If He'd Swum Through A Rosebush, Which Wasn't As Far Off The Truth As It Sounded. Yet Still He Started To Laugh.

It Was Funny, He Reflected Later, How One’s Life Could Alter In An Instant, How One Minute Everything Could Be A Certain Way, And The Next It’s Simply ... Not

Men. The Day They Learned To Admit To A Mistake Was The Day They Became Women.

Let Me Drive," She Said, Reaching For The Reins. He Turned To Her In Disbelief. "this Is A Phaeton, Not A Single-horse Wagon." Sophie Fought The Urge To Throttle Him. His Nose Was Running, His Eyes Were Red, He Couldn't Stop Coughing, And Still He Found The Energy To Act Like An Arrogant Peacock. "i Assure You," She Said Slowly, "that I Know How To Drive A Team Of Horses.

Rehearsels, Actually." "rehearsals?" "for The-" Oh,no. "-musicale." The Smythe-smith Musical.it Finished Off What The Crusades Had Begun.there Wasn't A Man Alive Who Could Maintain A Romantic Thought When Faced With The Memory-or The Threat-of A Smythe-smith Musicale.

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