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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.

-Julia Quinn

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Milk?” Lady Bridgerton Asked.

Julia Quinn

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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.

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

Have You Seen Frances?” He Tilted His Head To The Right. “i Believe She’s Off Rooting About In The Bushes.” Anne Followed His Gaze Uneasily. “rooting?” “she Told Me She Was Practicing For The Next Play.” Anne Blinked At Him, Not Following. “for When She Gets To Be A Unicorn.” “oh, Of Course.” She Chuckled. “she Is Rather Tenacious, That One.

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.

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.

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.

Is There Anything Else I Can Do To See To Your Comfort, Miss Trent?" Perriwick Inquired. "she's Fine," Blake Growled. "clearly, She--" "perriwick, Isn't The West Wing On Fire?" Perriwick Blinked, Sniffed The Air, And Stared At His Employer In Dismay. "i Do Not Understand Sir.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Miss Wynter, I Think You Should Be The Evil Queen,” Harriet Said. “there’s An Evil Queen?” Daniel Echoed. With Obvious Delight. “of Course,” Harriet Replied. “every Good Play Has An Evil Queen.” Frances Actually Raised Her Hand. “and A Un—” “don’t Say It,” Elizabeth Growled. Frances Crossed Her Eyes, Put Her Knife To Her Forehead In An Approximation Of A Horn, And Neighed.

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

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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.

Suddenly It Was Too Hard To Be In His Presence, Too Painful To Know That He Would Belong To Someone Else.

Weakness Never Got Anyone Anywhere.

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

Daniel Held Himself Very Still, Waiting For The Wave Of Jealousy That Never Came. He Was Furious With The Man Who’d Taken Advantage Of Her Innocence, But He Did Not Feel Jealous. He Did Not Need To Be Her First, He Realized. He Simply Needed To Be Her Last. Her Only.

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

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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?

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He Wondered If She'd Mind If He Threw Her Down On The Blanket And Tore Off Her Clothing. (..) She Looked Heartbreakingly Innocent. Alex Sighed. She'd Probably Mind.

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Love Was The Best Present Of All.

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

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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.

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

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.

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

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Daniel Immediately Knelt At Her Side, Pulling Her Close. “it’s All Right,” He Murmured. “everything Is Going To Be All Right.” Anne Shook Her Head. “no, It’s Not.” She Looked Up, Her Eyes Shining With Love. “it’s Going To Be So Much Better.

He Looks Like A Man.' 'how Descriptive,' Susan Said In A Droll Tone. 'remind Me Never To Advise You To Seek Work As A Novelist.

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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.

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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.

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.

I Can Imagine No Greater Bliss Than To Lie About, Reading Novels All Day.

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

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

I Don't Like Your Tone," Was Violet's Standard Answer When One Of Her Children Was Winning An Argument.

Blake Took A Small Roll From The Tray On The Table, Then Put It Back In Favor Of A Larger One. And Maybe A Little Butter. It Certainly Couldn't Hurt. And Jam...no, He Drew The Line At Jam. She Was A Spy, After All.

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.

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

It’s A Curse, Really,” Lady Danbury Said. “i’m The Only Person I Know My Age Who Has Perfect Hearing.” “most Would Call That A Blessing.” She Snorted. “not With That Musicale Looming Over The Horizon.

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

Gregory,” She Said, “you Cannot Leave Me Here. What If Someone Finds You And Removes You From The House? Who Will Know I Am Here? And What If…and What If…and Then What If…” He Smiled, Enjoying Her Officiousness Too Much To Actually Listen To Her Words. She Was Definitely Herself Again. “when This Is All Over,” He Said, “i Shall Bring You A Sandwich.” That Stopped Her Short. “a Sandwich? A Sandwich?

Love Works In Mysterious Ways.

Mysterious Ways

It Was Juvenile, He Knew, This Need To Assign Blame, But Everyone Had A Right To Childish Emotions From Time To Time, Didn't They?

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.

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.

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

I Love You With Everything I Am, Everything I've Been, And Everything I Hope To Be. I Love You With My Past, And I Love You For My Future. I Love You For The Children We'll Have And For The Years We'll Have Together. I Love You For Every One Of My Smiles And Even More, For Every One Of Your Smiles.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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I Keep Waiting For The Day In Which Everyone Who Loves Downton Abbey Will Realize They Were Actually Watching A Historical Romance Novel.

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.

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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.

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

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

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

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.

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

You Might Wish To Revisit Your Understanding Of The Word Everything.” Gregory Turned To His Mother. “vocabulary And Comprehension Were Never Her Strong Suits.” Violet Rolled Her Eyes. “every Day I Marvel That The Two Of You Managed To Reach Adulthood.” “afraid We’d Kill Each Other?” Gregory Quipped. “no, That I’d Do The Job Myself.

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.

He'd Been Waiting For A Love Fraught With Passion And Drama; It Hadn't Even Occurred To Him That True Love Might Be Something That Was Utterly Comfortable And Just Plain Easy.

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

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

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.

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.

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

He Ought To Buy Her A New Dress. She Would Never Accept It, Of Course, But Maybe If Her Current Garments Were Accidentally Burned... ...but How Could He Manage To Burn Her Dress? She'd Have To Not Be Wearing It, And That Posed A Certain Challenge In And Of Itself.

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

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

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.

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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

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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.

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

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

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.

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

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

Just Be Quiet And Accept The Praise.

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

Unrequited Love

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

So He Decided To Stay Out Of It And Instead Turned Back To Lady Bridgerton, Who Was, As It Happened, The Closest Person To Him, Anyway. “and How Are You This Afternoon?” He Asked. Lady Bridgerton Gave Him A Very Small Smile As She Handed Him His Cup Of Tea. “smart Man,” She Murmured. “it’s Self-preservation, Really,” He Said Noncommittally. “don’t Say That. They Wouldn’t Hurt You.” “no, But I’m Sure To Be Injured In The Cross Fire.

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

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

It's The Curse Of Motherhood. You're Required To Love Us Even When We Vex You.

"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."

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.

Any Man, You'll Soon Learn, Has An Insurmountable Need To Blame Someone Else When He Is Made To Look A Fool.

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

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.

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!

Love's About Finding The One Person Who Makes Your Heart Complete. Who Makes You A Better Person Than You Ever Dreamed You Could Be. Its About Looking In The Eyes Of Your Wife And Knowing All The Way To Your Bones That She's Simply The Best Person You've Ever Known.

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!

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

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

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".

Caroline Trent Hadn't Meant To Shoot Percival Prewitt, But She Had, And Now He Was Dead. Or At Least She Thought He Was Dead.

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

Simon Stopped Breathing Until Her Forefinger Touched His Nipple, And Then His Hand Shot Up To Cover Hers. "i Want You," He Said. Her Eyes Flicked Downward, And Her Lips Curved Ever So Slightly. "i Know." "no," He Groaned, Pulling Her Closer. "i Want To Be In Your Heart. I Want-" His Entire Body Shuddered When Their Skin Touched. "i Want To Be In Your Soul.

You Don't Always Have To Kiss A Lot Of Frogs To Recognize A Prince When You Find One -henrietta Barett

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Mother,” Hyacinth Said With A Great Show Of Solicitude, “you Know I Love You Dearly—” “why Is It,” Violet Pondered, “that I Have Come To Expect Nothing Good When I Hear A Sentence Beginning In That Manner?

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

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.

Miss Butterworth And The Mad Baron,” Sebastian Said Approvingly. “excellent Choice.” “you Have Read This?” Alexei Asked. “it’s Not As Good As Miss Davenport And The Dark Marquis, Of Course, But Worlds Better Than Miss Sainsbury And The Mysterious Colonel.” Harry Found Himself Rendered Speechless. “i’m Reading Miss Truesdale And The Silent Gentleman Right Now.” “silent?” Harry Echoed. “there Is A Noticeable Lack Of Dialogue,” Sebastian Confirmed.

...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.

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.

It's Only Through Sheer Force And Luck That She's Yet To Take Over The World.

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.

You Are Not Going To Waltz In Here And Distract Me With A Clever Phrase And A Beguiling Smile." "you Think My Smile Is Beguiling?

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.

I Shall Have One, Too," He Told Her. "so That You Don't Feel Alone." She Tried Not To Smile. "that Is Most Generous Of You." "i Am Quite Certain It Is My Gentlemanly Duty." "to Eat Cake?" "it Is One Of The More Appealing Of My Gentlemanly Duties," He Allowed.

Perriwickturned To Penelope As He Set The Tray Down On A Table. "if I Might Be So Bold, My Lady-" "perriwick!" Blake Roared. "if I Hear The Phrase 'if I Might Be So Bold' One More Time, As God Is My Witness, I'm Going To Toss You Into The Channel!" "oh Dear," Penelope Said. "perhaps He Does Have The Fever, After All.perriwick , What Do You Think?" The Butler Reached For Blake's Forehead, Only To Have His Hand Nearly Bitten Off. "touch Me And Die," Blake Snarled.

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

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

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

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.

But She Was Already In. Gareth Couldn't Help But Stand Back In Admiration. Hyacinth Bridgerton Was Clearly A Natural Born Athlete. Either That Or A Cat Burglar.

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

Oh, Very Well, Do You Want To Know Why I Really Think You Should Keep A Journal?" She Nodded. "because Someday You're Going To Grow Into Yourself, And You Will Be As Beautiful As You Already Are Smart.

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.

Colin Decided Then And There That The Female Mind Was A Strange And Incomprehensible Organ - One Which No Man Should Even Attempt To Understand. There Wasn't A Woman Alive Who Could Go From Point A To B Without Stopping At C, D, X, And 12 Along The Way.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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