Julia Quinn: Herring

“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.”

“In her heart she longed for this man, dreamed of a life that could never be.”

“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.”

“She needed him to be him. Even if he could not be hers.”

“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.”

“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'm leaving!" she said, with, in her opinion, great drama and resolve.
But he just answered her with a sly half smile, and said, "I'm following."
And the bloody man remained two strides behind her the entire way home.”

“But when Anthony kissed her, she felt as
if she were losing her mind. And when he
kissed her twice, she wasn't even sure if she wanted it back!”

“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”

“I don't like your tone," was Violet's standard answer when one of her children was winning an argument.”

“Tonight," he whispered, his voice hoarse and hot in her ear, "I will make you mine."

-Simon to Daphne”

“He loved her.
He wanted her.
He needed her.
And he needed her now.”