“By your father's word has your life been given to me to protect. Now do I give you my life in return, yours to keep until the day I die.--Falon to Shanelle”

“With my life comes my heart, yours now to crush or cherish as you will. It is my hope you will have a care in keeping both.”

“Or maybe you wouldn't mind lending me a few of your dresses until I can find a seamstress in town? You haven't exactly been wearing your clothes lately, so I'm sure you won't miss them!”

“You better think real carefully before you say anything, cateyes, because if you give me your love, I’m not going to let you take it back. I can’t keep worrying about whether or not I can make you happy. I’ll try my best but there isn’t going to be any changing your mind later. Do you understand what I’m saying? If you’re going to be my woman, there’s no way in hell I’ll ever let you go.”

“But your habits undergo no change in this pretense? Or do you think anyone was fooled yesterday by your so-called 'appointment' last night? That is what you told your mother, correct? That you had an appointment?"His eyes came back to hers. "Are we showing signs of jealousy again?""I'm asking a pertinent question," she said stiffly. "If you think this pretense is going to only be one-sided, then it ends now."Incredibly,his humor returned abruptly, his grin quite wide. "Before you start turning green, I suppose I must admit that appointment wasn't a good word for it, since it wasn't a scheduled meeting. I merely went to see my solicitor,and,no, he doesn't wear skirts."She ignored that ridiculous attempt at a joke.”

“You've already slept the entire day. Why not take over for Matthew now?""You really think I could sleep with your eyes devouring me all day?"Her face turned red with rage and mortification. That faker! She had been staring at him at various times throughout the day. She probably had his face so memorized that she could sketch it without his being present. But he couldn't keep his knowledge of that to himself? He had to make sure she was embarrassed right down to her toes?But he didn't rub it in further. At least,she thought he was done with the subject when he lay down on his seat and turned his back to her. "Get some sleep yourself," he ordered. "You'll need to be at your best tomorrow, too."She was just lying down when he added, "And keep your eyes off my arse."Waves of heat crept up to her cheeks. That pretty much guarenteed that she wasn't going to get any sleep until he was out of the coach.”

“You know,I think I'd rather freeze than continue this conversation. You've been warned.Proceed at your own risk."He smiled. "I always do,darlin'.”