126 Quotes & Sayings By Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

He gave her a sly, sideways look. "Did youbring 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. . Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

I am asking you to marry me because I love you, ” he said, “because I cannot imagine living my life without you. I want to see your face in the morning, and then at night, and a hundred times in between. I want to grow old with you, I want to laugh with you, and I want to sigh to my friends about how managing you are, all the while secretly knowing I am the luckiest man in town.”“ What?” she demanded. He shrugged. “A man’s got to keep up appearances. I’ll be universally detested if everyone realizes how perfect you are. Julia Quinn

He murmured her name, tenderly taking her face in his hands. “I love you, ” he said, his voice low and fervent. “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.” He bent forward and kissed her, once, softly, on the lips. “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. Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

Miss Bridgerton, ” he said, “the devil himself couldn’t scare you.” She forced her eyes to meet his. “That’s not a compliment, is it?” He lifted her hand to his lips, brushing a feather-light kiss across her knuckles. “You’ll have to figure that out for yourself, ” he murmured. To all who observed, he was the soul of propriety, but Hyacinth caught the daring gleam in his eye, and she felt the breath leave her body as tingles of electricity rushed across her skin. Her lips parted, but she had nothing to say, not a single word. There was nothing but air, and even that seemed in short supply. And then he straightened as if nothing had happened and said, “Do let me know what you decide.” She just stared at him.“ About the compliment, ” he added. “I am sure you will wish to let me know how I feel about you.” Her mouth fell open. He smiled. Broadly. “Speechless, even. I’m to be commended.”“ You–”“ No. No, ” he said, lifting one hand in the air and pointing toward her as if what he really wanted to do was place his finger on her lips and shush her. “Don’t ruin it. The moment is too rare. Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

Well, ” she finally said, “he’s coming back shortly, so you are absolved of your responsibilities.” “No.” The word came from him like an oath, emerging from the very core of his being. She looked at him in impatient confusion. “What do you mean?” He stepped forward. He wasn’t sure what he was doing. He knew only that he couldn’t stop. “I mean no. I don’t want to be absolved.” Her lips parted. He took another step. His heart was pounding, and something within him had gone hot, and greedy, and if there was anything in the world besides her, besides him–he did not know it. “I want you, ” he said, the words blunt, and almost harsh, but absolutely, indelibly true. “I want you, ” he said again, and he reached out and took her hand. “I want you.” “Marcus, I–” “I want to kiss you, ” he said, and he touched one finger to her lips. “I want to hold you.” And then, because he couldn’t have kept it inside for one second longer, he said, “I burn for you.” He took her face in his hands and he kissed her. He kissed her with everything that had been building within him, every last aching, hungry burst of desire. Since the moment he had realized he loved her, this passion had been growing within him. It had probably been there all along, just waiting for him to realize it. He loved her. Julia Quinn

Don’t tell me your name. It’s likely to awaken my conscience, and that’s the last thing we want. Julia Quinn

If you do not apologize to Lady Honoria, ” Marcus said, his voice so mild as to be terrifying, “I will kill you.” There was a collective gasp, and Daisy faked a swoon, sliding elegantly into Iris, who promptly stepped aside and let her hit the floor.“ Oh, come now, ” Mr. Grimston said. “Surely it won’t come to pistols at dawn.”“ I’m not talking about a duel, ” Marcus said. “I mean I will kill you right here. . Julia Quinn

He smacked the heel of his hand against his forhead, as if that could knock the mental picture out of his head. Hell, he though irritably, he didn't want to knock the image just out of his head. He wanted to send it clear across the room and out the window. Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

Claptrap last week, ” Lady D announced. “I think the priest is getting old.” Gareth opened his mouth, but before he could say a word, his grandmother’s cane swung around in a remarkably steady horizontal arc. “Don’t, ” she warned, “make a comment beginning with the words, ‘Coming from you…’”“ I wouldn’t dream of it, ” he demurred.“ Of course you would, ” she stated. “You wouldn’t be my grandson if you wouldn’t.” She turned to Hyacinth. “Don’t you agree?” To her credit, Hyacinth folded her hands in her lap and said, “Surely there is no right answer to that question.”“ Smart girl, ” Lady D said approvingly.“ I learn from the master.” Lady Danbury beamed. “Insolence aside, ” she continued determinedly, gesturing toward Gareth as if he were some sort of zoological specimen, “he really is an exceptional grandson. Couldn’t have asked for more.” Gareth watched with amusement as Hyacinth murmured something that was meant to convey her agreement without actually doing so.“ Of course, ” Grandmother Danbury added with a dismissive wave of her hand, “he hasn’t much in the way of competition. The rest of them have only three brains to share among them.” Not the most ringing of endorsements, considering that she had twelve living grandchildren.“ I’ve heard some animals eat their young, ” Gareth murmured, to no one in particular. Hyacinth wrinkled her nose, as she always did when she was thinking hard. It wasn’t a terribly attractive expression, but the alternative was simply not to think, which she didn’t find appealing. . Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

No one said we had to spend every waking moment together, " he said, "but at the end of the day"-he leaned and kissed each of her eyebrows, in turn-"an most of the time during, there is no one I would rather see, no one whose voice I would rather hear, and no one whose mind I would rather explore. Julia Quinn

Thank you, ” she whispered, sending up a quick prayer for his continued recovery.“ You’re welcome, ” Marcus murmured. Honoria let out a little shriek of surprise, jumping back nearly a foot.“ Sorry, ” he said, but he was laughing. It was quite the loveliest sound Honoria had ever heard.“ I wasn’t thanking you, ” she said pertly.“ I know.” He smiled Julia Quinn

He’d mesmerized her, held her soul captive. And she couldn’t move.“ Unless you want more than a dream, ” he said. She did.“ Will you stay?” he whispered. “Or will you go?” She stayed. Heaven help her, she stayed. And Michael showed her just how romantic a library could be. Julia Quinn

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. . Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

She’d ceased spying upon him, that was true, but the damage was done. Every time he sat at his desk, he could feel her eyes upon him, even though he knew very well she’d shut her curtains tight. But clearly, reality had very little to do with the matter, because all he had to do, it seemed, was glance at her window, and he lost an entire hour’s work. It happened thus: He looked at the window, because it was there, and he couldn’t very well never happen to glance upon it unless he also shut his curtains tight, which he was not willing to do, given the amount of time he spent in his office. So he saw the window, and he thought of her, because, really, what else would he think of upon seeing her bedroom window? At that point, annoyance set in, because A) she wasn’t worth the energy, B) she wasn’t even there, and C) he wasn’t getting any work done because of her. C always led into a bout of even deeper irritation, this time directed at himself, because D) he really ought to have better powers of concentration, E) it was just a stupid window, and F) if he was going to get agitated about a female, it ought to be one he at least liked. F was where he generally let out a loud growl and forced himself to get back to his translation. It usually worked for a minute or two, and then he’d look back up, and happen to see the window, and the whole bloody nonsense cycled back to the beginning. Julia Quinn

Caroline stamped her foot in frustration, but when it landed, it landed on something considerablyless 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. Julia Quinn

Just curious, she mouthed." What? I didn't catch that." Jjuussttccuurriioouuss. She drew it out this time, hoping he'd be able to read her lips." If you spoke out loud, " he drawled, "I might understand what you're saying." Caroline stamped her foot in frustration, but when it landed, it landed on something considerablyless'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. . Julia Quinn

Oakley won't, " the duke said. She turned and blinked. "I beg your pardon."" Lord Oakley. He won't forget to find us rooms. I've known him for years. The only thing that is making this bearable is that he must be dying inside over all this."" You don't like him?"" On the contrary. I've long considered him a friend. It's why I enjoy his misery so much. Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

But there she was, standing next to his mother, so beautiful, so radiant that he could not see anyone else. Suddenly the rest of the world seemed like such a chore. He didn’t want to be here at this dance, with people he didn’t want to talk to and messages he didn’t particularly wish to deliver. He didn’t want to dance with young ladies he didn’t know, and he didn’t want to make polite conversation with people he did. He just wanted Billie, and he wanted her all to himself. He forgot about Tallywhite. He forgot about pease, porridge, and pudding, and he stalked across the room with such single-minded purpose that the crowds seemed to melt from his path. And somehow, amazingly, the rest of the world had not yet noticed her. She was so beautiful, so uncommonly alive and real in this room full of waxen dolls. She would not go undiscovered for long. But not yet. Soon he would have to fight the throngs of eager young gentlemen, but for now, she was still his alone. Julia Quinn

Most people would have probably lost count around seven. This was, Harry knewfrom his extensive reading on logic and arithmetic, the largest number that most peoplecould visually appreciate. Put seven dots on a page, and most people can take a quickglance and declare, “Seven.” Switch to eight, and the majority of humanity was lost. Julia Quinn

This is a wonderful day, ” Anthony was muttering to himself. “A wonderful day.” He looked up sharply at Gareth. “You don’t have sisters, do you?”“ None, ” Gareth confirmed.“ I am in possession of four, ” Anthony said, tossing back at least a third of the contents of his glass. “Four. And now they’re all off my hands. I’m done, ” he said, looking as if he might break into a jig at any moment. “I’m free.”“ You’ve daughters, don’t you?” Gareth could not resist reminding him.“ Just one, and she’s only three. I have years before I have to go through this again. If I’m lucky, she’ll convert to Catholicism and become a nun. Gareth choked on his drink.“ It’s good, isn’t it?” Anthony said, looking at the bottle. “Aged twenty-four years.”“ I don’t believe I’ve ever ingested anything quite so ancient, ” Gareth murmured. Julia Quinn

He shook his head in wonder. "You are magnificent."" I keep telling everyone that, " she said with a nonchalant shrug, "But you seem to be the only one to believe me. Julia Quinn

My mother is convinced that yellow is a happy color and that a happy girl would get a husband.- Penelope Featherington Julia Quinn

The youngest one, ” she interrupted. “The youngest son, I mean. The one who is unmarried.”“ I know who he is.”“ Very well, then. What is wrong with him?” At that she cocked her head to the side and waited expectantly. He thought for a moment. “Nothing.”“You–wait.” She blinked. “Nothing?”He shook his head, then shifted his weight a little; his good foot was beginning to fall asleep. “Nothing comes immediately to mind.” It was true. She could do a good deal worse than Gregory Bridgerton.“Really?” she asked suspiciously. “You find nothing at all objectionable about him.” Marcus pretended to think about this a bit longer. Clearly he was supposed to be playing a role here, probably that of the villain. Or if not that, then the grumpy old man. “I suppose he’s a bit young, ” he said. . Julia Quinn

You have asked her to marry you, I hope'''' I might have demanded it'', he admitted.'' Even better Julia Quinn

You know all of the young gentlemen better than I do, ” Lady Manston continued. “Are there any we should avoid?” All of them, George wanted to say. ''What about Ashbourne’s son?''“ No.” “No?” his mother echoed. “No, as in you don’t have an opinion?” “No, as in no. He is not for Billie.” Who, George could not help but note, was watching the mother-son exchange with an odd mix of curiosity and alarm. “Any particular reason?” Lady Manston asked. “He gambles, ” George lied. Well, maybe it wasn’t a lie. All gentlemen gambled. He had no idea if the one in question did so to excess. “What about the Billington heir? I think he –” “Also no.” His mother regarded him with an impassive expression. “He’s too young, ” George said, hoping it was true. “He is?” She frowned. “I suppose he might be. I can’t remember precisely. Julia Quinn

Oh, come now, you two, ” Lady Manston said, “surely it can be no surprise that I have long hoped for an alliance between the Rokesbys and Bridgertons.” “Alliance?” Billie echoed, and all George could think was that it was a terrible, clinical word, one that could never encompass all that he had come to feel for her. Julia Quinn

Would you care to dance?” he blurted. “Now?” She smiled adorably. “Is there music?” There wasn’t. It was some testament to how foolish in love he’d become that he did not even feel embarrassed. Julia Quinn

For a moment he could do nothing but close his eyes. Was this a taste of the rest of his life as Billie Bridgerton’s husband? Was he destined to live in terror, wondering what sort of danger she’d thrown herself into that day? Was it worth it?“ George?” she whispered. She sounded uneasy. Had she seen something in his expression? A sign of doubt? He touched her cheek, and he looked into her eyes. He saw his whole world there.“ I love you, ” he said. Someone gasped. It might have been his mother. “I cannot live without you, ” he said, “and in fact, I refuse to do so. So no, you will not be going on some ill-advised mission to the coast to hand off a potentially dangerous package to people you don’t know. Because if anything happened to you…” His voice broke, but he didn’t care. “If anything happened to you, it would kill me. And I’d like to think you love me too much to let that happen.” Billie stared at him in wonder, her softly parted lips trembling as she blinked back tears. “You love me?” she whispered. He nearly rolled his eyes. “Of course I do.” “You never said.” “I must have done.” “You didn’t. I would have remembered.” “I would remember, too, ” he said softly, “if you’d ever said it to me.” “I love you, ” she said immediately. “I do. I love you so much. I –” “Thank God, ” Lady Manston exclaimed. George and Billie both turned. Julia Quinn

He touched her cheek, and he looked into her eyes. He saw his whole world there Julia Quinn

You have a freckle, ” he murmured. “Right” — he leaned down and dropped a light kiss near the inside of her elbow — “here.” “You’ve seen it before, ” she said softly. It wasn’t in an immodest spot; she had plenty of frocks with short sleeves. He chuckled. “But I’ve never given it it’s proper due.” “Really.” “Mmm-hmm.” He lifted her arm, twisting it just a bit so that he could pretend to be studying her freckle. “It is clearly the most delightful beauty mark in all of England.” A marvelous sense of warmth and contentment melted through her. Even as her body burned for his, she could not stop herself from encouraging his teasing conversation. “Only England?” “Well, I haven’t traveled very extensively abroad…” “Oh, really?” “And you know…” His voice dropped to a husky growl. “There may be other freckles right here in this room. You could have one here.” He dipped a finger under the bodice of her nightgown, then moved his other hand to her hip. “Or here.” “I might, ” she agreed. “The back of your knee, ” he said, the words hot against her ear. “You could have one there.” She nodded. She wasn’t sure she was still capable of speech. “One of your toes, ” he suggested. “Or your back.” “You should probably check, ” she managed to get out. He took a deep, shuddering breath. Julia Quinn

It's the curse of motherhood. You're required to love us even when we vex you. Julia Quinn

There were rules among friends, commandments, really, and the most important one was Thou Shalt Not Lust After Thy Friend's Sister. Julia Quinn

Watch over Honoria, will you? See that she doesn’t marry an idiot. Julia Quinn

You have a minute and a half left."" Fine, " she snapped. "Then I'll reduce this conversation to one single fact. Today I had six callers. Six! Can you recall the last time I had six callers?" Anthony just stared at her blankly." I can't, " Daphne continued, in fine form now. "Because it has never happened. Six men marched up our steps, knocked on our door, and gave Humboldt their cards. Six men brought me flowers, engaged me in conversation, and one even recited poetry." Simon winced." And do you know why?" she demanded, her voice rising dangerously. "Do you?" Anthony, in his somewhat belatedly arrived wisdom, held his tongue." It is all because he"–she jabbed her forefinger toward Simon–"was kind enough to feign interest in me last night at Lady Danbury's ball. Julia Quinn

Did you know I have always suspected that men were idiots, " Daphne ground out, "but I was never positive until today. Julia Quinn

Any man, you'll soon learn, has an insurmountable need to blame someone else when he is made to look a fool. Julia Quinn

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. It hurts, because deep inside, she knew who she was, and that person was smart and kind and often very 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. Julia Quinn

I can’t help but think that if she was going to kill herself, she might as well have done it earlier. Perhaps when I was a toddler. Or better yet, an infant. It certainly would have made my life easier. I asked my uncle Hugh (who is not really my uncle, but he is married to the stepsister of my current mother’s brother’s wife and he lives quite closeand he’s a vicar) if I would be going to hell for such a thought. He said no, that frankly, it made a lot of sense to him. I do think I prefer his parish to my own. . Julia Quinn

This was different. He didn't want a woman. He wanted her. And he supposed that if he had to spend the afternoon being strange, sad, and disfigured just to be in her company, it would be well worth it. Then he remembered the wart. He turned to Miss Wynter and said firmly, "I am not getting a wart." Really, a man had to draw the line somewhere. Julia Quinn

Yes?""When you said you weren't angry..."" Yes?"" Were you?"" I was rather annoyed, " he admitted." But not angry?" She sounded as if she didn't believe him." Believe me, Henry, when I get angry, you'll know."" What happens?" His eyes clouded over slightly before he answered. "You don't want to know." She believed him. Julia Quinn

Oh, go ahead and giggle, " Lady Danbury sighed. "I've found that the only way to avoid parental frustration is to view him as a source of amusement. Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

Elizabeth, you resemble nothing so much as a hen trying to hatch a book. Julia Quinn

I'm home'', he said against her skin, and she realized it was the truth.'' I'm home, too''. Julia Quinn

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 . Julia Quinn

Maybe she was a wallflower. There was no shame in that. Especially not if one enjoyed being a wallflower. Julia Quinn

Did you know I dream about your hair? I use to say it was the color of the sun at sunset, but I'm wrong. It's brighter than the sun, just as you are. Julia Quinn

I thought that I needed a church and hundreds of guests and music thatactually sounded like music, but I was wrong. What I needed was a drunken priest, irreverent guests, and a companionwho learned to play piano from a goat."" Then you got exactly what you needed."" I suppose so. But then again, all I really needed was you. Julia Quinn

You should do that more often, ” he said. “Laugh, I mean.”“ I know.” But that sounded sad, and she didn’t want to be sad, so she added, “I don’t often get to torture grown men, though.”“ Really?” he murmured. “I would think you do it all the time.” She looked at him.“ When you walk into a room, ” he said softly, “the air changes. Julia Quinn

Love works in mysterious ways, Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

What are you smiling about?” she asked. He drew back a few inches, cupping her face with both hands. “How did you know I was smiling?” “I could feel it on my lips.” He brought a finger to those lips, tracing the outline, then running the edge of his fingernail along the plump skin. “You make me smile, ” he whispered. “When you don’t make me want to scream, you make me smile.”- Sophie & Benedict . Julia Quinn

You stopped, ” she whispered, looking surprised. “This isn’t the place, ” he replied. For a moment her face showed no change of expression. Then, almost as if someone were pulling a shade over her face, horror dawned. It started in her eyes, which grew impossibly round and somehow even more green than usual, then it reached her mouth, her lips parting as a gasp of air rushed in. “I didn’t think, ” she whispered, more to herself than to him. “I know.” He smiled. “I know. I hate it when you think. It always ends badly for me.” “We can’t do this again.” “We certainly can’t do it here.” “No, I mean–” “You’re spoiling it.” “But–” “Humor me, ” he said, “and let me believe the afternoon ended without your telling me this will never happen again.” “But–” He pressed a finger to her lips. “You’re not humoring me.” “But–” “Don’t I deserve this one little fantasy?” At last, he broke through. She smiled. “Good, ” he said. “That’s more like it.” Her lips quivered, then, amazingly, her smile grew. “Excellent, ” he murmured. “Now then, I’m going to leave. And you have only one task while I go. You will stay right here, and you will keep smiling. Because it breaks my heart to see any other expression on your face.” “You won’t be able to see me, ” she pointed out. He touched her chin. “I’ll know.” And then, before her expression could change from that enchanting combination of shock and adoration, he left.- Sophie & Benedict . Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

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. Julia Quinn

To call that writing, madam, is an insult to quills and ink across the world. Julia Quinn

I am going to kill you, " he hissed. She gulped. "Don't you want to lecture me first?" He stared at her with a heavy dose of stupefaction." I take that back, " he said with precisely clippedwords. "First I am going to strangle you, and then I am going to kill you."" Here?" she asked doubtfully, looking around. "Won't my dead body look suspicious in the morning? Julia Quinn

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 mywitness, 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. Julia Quinn

Sebastian, ” Katarina said, turning to her nephew. “You’ve grown.” “It happens, ” Sebastian quipped, flashing her his usual lopsided grin.“ Goodness, ” she said with smile, “you’ll be a danger to the ladies soon.” Harry very nearly rolled his eyes. Sebastian had already made conquests of nearly all the girls in the village near Hesslewhite. He must give off some sort of scent, because the females positively fell at his feet. It would have been appalling, except that the girls couldn’t all dance with Sebastian. And Harry was more than happy to be the nearest man standing when the smoke cleared. Julia Quinn

This thing between them, this bond–it wasn’t just passion, and it wasn’t wicked. It was love, and it was divine. Julia Quinn

I should thank you'', she said. His lips stilled, and she felt him smile against his skin. ''For what?'''' Everything, really. But mostly for being you Julia Quinn