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“Please, I do not wish to be rescued by a gentleman. Could you find a farmer or a shopkeep - anyone not of the gentry - and then do me a great favor of forgetting you saw me?”
― Cindy Anstey, Love, Lies and Spies

“There’s a Lady Amelia Pembroke here to see you, my lord. She was most insistent.â€�

Benedict glanced up from his desk. “I trust you informed her that I was not receiving, and refused to let her in?�

“Of course.� The butler hesitated before continuing, “She said she would simply wait until you are receiving.�

Benedict put down his pen. “Wait where, pray?�

“Upon the front step, my lord. I’m afraid the lady brought... the lady brought... a book. She cannot be budged.”
― Erica Ridley, The Viscount's Christmas Temptation

“The ladies, I daresay, will have already selected silk gowns and appropriate jewels," the countess droned on, "and are quite capable of comporting themselves in line with both propriety and fashion.â€�

“I don’t care about fashion,â€� Lord Sheffield murmured into Amelia’s ear, “but I’m sorely disappointed whenever a lady I escort decides to comport herself with propriety.”
― Erica Ridley, The Viscount's Christmas Temptation

“People do understand the language of the heart, you know, even if the head does not always comprehend it.”
― Mary Balogh, The Proposal

“He didn't choose between me and you, Julia: it was between me and ruin.”
― Georgette Heyer, A Civil Contract

“One minute he stood transfixed, the next he uttered a crushing oath, and took a hasty stride forward. Mr Ringwood, recovering from his own stupefaction, closed with him, just as George, flushing vividly, sprang to his feet.

"Sherry!" Mr Ringwood said warningly. "For God's sake, dear boy, remember where you are! You can't choke George to death here!”
― Georgette Heyer, Friday's Child

“Maddie squirmed out from under him. “I’m sorry. So sorry. I know this is supposed to be physical. Impersonal. It’s only that I keep thinking of lobsters.â€�

He flipped onto his back and lay there, blinking up at the ceiling. “Until just now, I would have said there was nothing remaining that could surprise me in bed. I was wrong.�

She sat up, drawing her knees to her chest. “I am the girl who made up a Scottish lover, wrote him scores of letters, and kept up an elaborate ruse for years. Does it really surprise you that I’m odd?�

“Maybe not.�

“Lobsters court for months before mating. Before the male can mate with her, the female has to feel secure enough to molt out of her shell. If a spiny sea creature is worth months of effort, can’t I have just a bit more time? I don’t understand the urgency.”
― Tessa Dare

“We should go,â€� he said gruffly, his face inscrutable.

“Why?� Her heartbeat thundered. She gripped his arms tight to keep herself from twining her own about his neck.

He lowered his mouth to her ear, brushing it with a feather-soft kiss. “It isn’t safe.�

Her answering shiver had nothing to do with the cold. She had never stood so close to any man, had never fought the urge to press herself even closer.

“What could happen?� she whispered.

He cupped her face in his hands. “Anything.”
― Erica Ridley, The Viscount's Christmas Temptation

“Having never had dealings with Bow Street, Lady Fieldhurst was not quite certain what to expect: perhaps a stout fellow past his prime, befuddled with sleep or spirits, with a bulbous red nose—the same sort as might be found in any number of watchmen’s boxes across the metropolis. The individual who entered the room in [the footman's] wake, however, was very nearly her own age. To be sure, his nose was somewhat crooked, as if it had been broken at some point, but it was far from bulbous, and it was certainly not red. He was quite tall, almost gangly, with curling brown hair tied at the nape of his neck in an outmoded queue. He wore an unfashionably shallow-crowned hat and a black swallow-tailed coat of good cloth but indifferent cut; indeed, his only claim to fashion lay in the quizzing glass which hung round his neck from a black ribbon, and which he now raised, the resulting magnification revealing his eyes to be a warm brown. Julia might have been much reassured as to his competence, had it not been for the fact that his mouth hung open as from a rusty hinge.”
― Sheri Cobb South, In Milady's Chamber

“He shut the door, and stood looking across the room at her. 'Cressy, what did you mean when you told that harridan that your affections were engaged?'

The colour deepened a little in her cheeks, but she replied lightly: 'Well, she talked so much like someone in a bad play that I became carried away myself! Besides, I had to say something to convince her! I could see she didn't quite believe me when I said I wasn't going to marry your brother.'

He let his breath go in a long sigh, and walked forward, setting his hands on her shoulders, and saying: 'You don't know how much I have wanted to tell you the truth! Cressy, my dear one, forgive me! I've treated you abominably, and I love you so much!'

Miss Stavely, who had developed an interest in the top button of his coat, looked shyly up at this. 'Do you, Kit?' she asked. 'Truly?'

Mr Fancot, preferring actions to words, said nothing whatsoever in answer to this, but took her in his arms and kissed her. Miss Stavely, who had previously thought him unfailingly gentle and courteous, perceived, in the light of this novel experience, that she had been mistaken: there was nothing gentle about Mr Fancot's crushing embrace; and his behaviour in paying no heed at all to her faint protest could only be described as extremely uncivil. She was wholly unused to such treatment, and she had a strong suspicion that her grandmother would condemn her conduct in submitting to it, but as Mr Fancot seemed to be dead to all sense and propriety it was clearly useless to argue with him.”
― Georgette Heyer, False Colours

“So off had gone John to the wars again. But he had not remained for long in the position of a humble volunteer. Colonel Clifton, commanding the 1st Regiment of Dragoons, no sooner heard that Crazy Jack was back then he enrolled him as an extra aide-de-camp.”
― Georgette Heyer, The Toll-Gate

“I will grab your other arm, you will close your eyes, and up you will come. Back on terra firma."

"This is terra firma. " Juliana pointed with her nose to the rugged cliff wall.

"Yes, but I doubt very much that you want to stay there."

"I like the idea of dangling in the air so much less.”
― Cindy Anstey, Love, Lies and Spies

“The thought flashed into her mind that she beheld the embodiment of her ideal. It was as instantly banished;”
― Georgette Heyer, The Nonesuch

“The only thing he was sorry for was slamming the door and perhaps raising his voice to the woman who'd been like a mother to him since the passing of his parents. Perhaps she hadn't really deserved his reaction, but he was, justifiably, weary of their meddling and hearing about his father's will. Apparently no suitable maiden was going to appear on his doorstep. He seemed to be looking for a needle in a haystack.”
― Lisa Prysock, To Find a Duchess

“It was William who would climb out of his carriage unafraid and help a farmer drive a herd of cattle or sheep across a road when necessary.”
― Lisa Prysock, To Find a Duchess

“Caroline leaned forward. “Now explain to me why this is perfectly normal and dressing up in Regency gear is not.â€�
He blinked. “Finley, because the Civil War is history.�
“So is Regency England.â€� She laughed, eyes bright. “Just because we’re not firing cannons or riding horses doesn’t mean it won’t be fun.”
― Mary Jane Hathaway, Emma, Mr. Knightley, and Chili-Slaw Dogs

“Mr Warboys, without putting himself to the trouble of deciding which of the more ferocious animals his friend resembled, stated the matter in simple, and courageously frank terms. "You know, old fellow," he once told Martin,"if you had a tail, damme if you wouldn't lash it!”
― Georgette Heyer, The Quiet Gentleman

“Pur essendosi ormai rassegnata a tenere il cappello fermo con la mano destra, con la quale reggeva pure l’ombrellino e una piccola borsa di velluto blu, Miss Portland procedeva spedita, lo sguardo fisso a terra, ormai a pochi metri dal calesse di Maylon.
E lo avrebbe superato senza prestare alcuna attenzione, né all’uomo che lo guidava né al cavallo che lo tirava, se l’ottavo conte di Maylon non ne fosse smontato con un salto e non le si fosse parato davanti sbarrandole la strada.

«Miss Portland, è un piacere insperato incontrarvi.»
Sophie sussultò e sollevando lo sguardo si trovò di fronte quell’uomo. Che nelle ultime due settimane tante volte era riuscita abilmente a evitare.
Lo fissò senza nascondere la propria sorpresa e, con un semplice «Lord Maylon» e una frettolosa riverenza, si apprestò a proseguire il proprio cammino. Tentativo sprecato, perché lui, di nuovo, le si parò davanti.
Che cosa voleva da lei?
«Ho appena fatto visita alla vostra madrina, illudendomi di incontrarvi, Miss Portland. Ma è evidente che non ho avuto questa fortuna. Così, quando vi ho vista, ho sperato che mi avreste fatto l’onore di lasciarvi ricondurre a casa.»
La mano ancora sul cappello, il pericoloso ombrellino puntato verso di lui come una lancia in resta, Sophie socchiuse gli occhi come per osservarlo meglio e, senza giri di parole, gli chiese: «Per quale ragione, Lord Maylon, vorreste ricondurmi a casa, quando sono quasi arrivata?»

***
Tutte le risposte che vennero alle labbra di sua signoria non avrebbero potuto essere riferite a Sophie senza il ricorso a imbarazzanti spiegazioni.
Se le avesse detto che voleva riaccompagnarla a casa per poter rimanere finalmente solo con lei, anche se per pochi minuti, avrebbe dovuto spiegarle anche il perché di quel desiderio. Avrebbe dovuto confessarle che da quando si erano incontrati non faceva che pensare a lei. Con un’intensità fastidiosa e insistente, tanto da non essere più riuscito a guardare né tantomeno a toccare un’altra donna.
No, questa spiegazione era fuori luogo, l’avrebbe scandalizzata: era una debuttante, dopo tutto.
Avrebbe potuto dirle che voleva respirare il suo profumo, che sapeva di mughetti e viole, gioire del suo sorriso coinvolgente e pericolosamente sensuale, sentirsi circondato dalla vitalità e dal calore che il suo corpo sprigionava, ascoltare la sua voce e perdersi nei suoi occhi.
Scartò anche questa ipotesi, ritenendo che tale risposta avrebbe potuto apparire a Miss Portland non solo esagerata ma del tutto sciocca.
Quindi, con tono rude e sguardo severo, si limitò a fornirle più che una sola motivazione, un intero elenco di ragioni inappuntabili.
«Primo, perché è tardi, Miss Portland, e Lady Rumphill era molto preoccupata che non foste ancora rientrata a casa. Secondo, perché la borsa che portate è talmente pesante che, se non ve ne liberate subito, domani avrete difficoltà a muovere le braccia... a proposito, quando contate di leggere tutti quei libri, Miss Portland?... e, terzo, perché altrimenti finirete col perdere quel delizioso cappello di paglia che a quanto pare non vuole rimanervi sulla testa. Forse perché la vostra testa è talmente dura da scoraggiare anche un cappello. Allora, salite o devo convincervi in altro modo?»
«È questo che pensate della mia testa, my lord?» gli rispose lei, le labbra arrotondate in un Oh! oltraggiato.
«Questo, e molto altro.»
«Non oso davvero chiedervi cosa intendiate per molto altro, ma presumo sia meglio evitare di darvi quest’ulteriore soddisfazione.»

E mentre diceva queste parole, docile docile Miss Portland gli permise di aiutarla a salire sul calesse, mentre lui, pur sorpreso dalla resa di lei, ancora sogghignava per quella risposta tagliente.

***”
― Viviana Giorgi, Zitta e ferma Miss Portland!

“Would you condemn me to such a cavernous, empty life, Miranda?”
― Dominique Eastwick, The Earl and His Virgin Countess

“He opened his eyes again and stared into her soul. "Then I'll tell you the truth."
"Which is?" Her hand was shaking.
"I did it because I want you.”
― Valerie Bowman, The Untamed Earl

“Well,' Frederick had said, 'I will see what can be arranged, Archie. But I will not have the girl frightened or compromised.'

'You sound like a grandfather who has raised fifteen daughters and is now starting on his granddaughters, Freddie,' Lord Archibald had said. 'It is most disconcerting.”
― Mary Balogh, Dancing with Clara

“I am still not used to being the possessor of such a grand title. I believe I shall have to start wearing a purple satin turban and carrying a lorgnette.”
― Mary Balogh, Dancing with Clara

“She raised the shovel, ready to plunge it into the soft soil. "I am not afraid. I am not."
"You should be." A sinister, accented voice pierced her consciousness.
The shovel fell from her nerveless fingers, thudding onto the cold ground.
Cassandra knew that voice; it had the rich, dark cadence that had haunted her dreams since the night she'd first met him. She spun around, the hood of her cloak falling to her shoulders.
Rafael Villar stepped out from behind a mausoleum. The shadows embraced his bronze skin, obscuring the scars on the left side of his face while moonlight highlighted his exotic Mediterranean features on the right....
"You! You've been the one disturbing my people?”
― Brooklyn Ann, Bite at First Sight

“I'm very cute, you know. And I'm not sure you've heard, but I have five thousand pounds a year. I've taken a place in Boulder for the season. Miss Dashwood and her sister will vouch for my parentage.”
― Danika Stone, All the Feels

“I'm not in the business of dancing with innocents."
"I'm not in the business of taming rogues. I suppose we'll both have to try something new.”
― Valerie Bowman, The Untamed Earl

“Give her books, where other people did all the running around and courting; it was far easier to read about such matters than to experience them herself.”
― Sophie Dash, To Wed a Rebel

“Isaac dared not move and she did not stir either, both staring up at the canopy above. If he reached over, if he –no, no. It was better to keep a small shield between them, to preserve the little progress they had made in their standoffish, untested relationship, two strangers forced together under impossible circumstances. The last thing he needed was to push her away, to frighten her, to be the brute she’d taken him for. It had been three weeks since they’d been in this very same position and so much had changed and yet so little. A ridiculous, naïve hope drifted into his head before he found sleep: perhaps one day, a long time from now, they would be friends. He would settle for that, if he could have nothing more. Even though he wanted everything.”
― Sophie Dash, To Wed a Rebel

“His friend laughed. 'You missed your calling, Freddie,' he said. 'You should have been one of the aforementioned clergy. Is this what marriage does to you? One shudders at the very idea.”
― Mary Balogh, Dancing with Clara

“Either way, he was always staring into a bottomless pit, or into a whirlpool that forever sucked him inexorably inward to its vortex.”
― Mary Balogh, Dancing with Clara

“A woman’s lust is addictive ," he murmured, marveling at the wetness coating his fingers as he stroked her. She trembled and her breath hitched in response. "It inspires a man to touch and to taste.”
― Alexandra Hawkins, Waiting For an Earl Like You