“Do for yourself, for no one else will.”

“I never learned to swim.""Wonderful.That had to be the one skill you don't possess,didn't it?"How could he be so sarcastic when her panic was soaring again? "When do we reach port?""If the weather holds, probably sometime tomorrow."She glared furiously at him. "You couldn't say that instead of 'next week'? Do you like seeing women faint?" she added scathingly.He raised a curious brow. "You've figured out how to fake that,too, without hurting yourself?""Go to the devil!""This room has already become hell, so I'd say I'm close enough.""For once we agree."She wasn't going to say another word to the odious man.”

“Damn," he said. "Have you been stuffing yourself with desserts just to prolong the suspense?"She failed to note the humor in his tone. All she gathered from his remark was that he still didn't believe she was pregnant."You've found me out at last," she snapped. "I'm merely giving birth to a pastry.""That's not funny,Becca.""Neither was your absurd remark. Do you really think I like that my body is going to be disfigured? I hate it, but not as much as I hate you!”

“You are not my wife yet, to concern yourself in my affairs.""And when I am your wife?"His conscience pricked him, making him snap, "You will learn not to question me."-Royce to Corliss-”

“Are you ready to discuss what you're doing here?""Certainly-with your daughter." He suddenly swept Rebecca into his arms and carried her out of the room."Now just a minute!" Lilly protested behind the,.Rupert didn't stop,in fact, he as nearly running up the stairs to the second floor. Incredulous,Rebecca pointed out, "She might follow us.""She won't," he replied with typical male confidencec. "I suppose I'll have to try each of these doors to find out which one is yours,just as you did at my house."He was doing just that,but she said, "Or you could ask."He glanced down at her. "And you'd tell me?""Why don't you try that one." She nodded toward the door he'd been about to open.”

“And here I thought you were actually going to behave yourself," he said. "It's going to get worse if they don't keep their hands off you.""I suppose you're going to tell me now that only you have the right to touch me.""I see we understand each other.”

“Rebecca,why haven't you burned his wardrobe yet?"Rebecca turned to see what had provoked that question, then just stared. Her husband was wearing one of those horribly bright satin coats better suited to a costume ball, this one in a ghastly orange, with excesive lace at the wrists and the throat. With his long black hair and his soft cheeks so smoothly shaved,it made him look somewhat effeminate when she knew he was anything but.But he actually looked to be trying not to laugh when he said to his mother, "She'll do nothing of the sort. She likes my taste in clothes. It reminds her of when we first met."Rebecca continued to just stare, her mind in a whirl. It sounded as if he was just teasing, but she couldn't be sure. To imply that she had fond memories of their first meeting wasn't even remotely amusing. She had nothing of the sort."You can't seriously intend to take your wife out wearing something like that?" Julie continued."What's wrong with what she's wearing?""Not her,you fool.You! You're married now. Your old taste in clothes-""Marriage has nothing to do with taste, Mother," Rupert cut in. "Well, perhaps a little,at least in women, but nothing a'tall to do with one's wardrobe.Shall we go, m'dear?"The last was added for Rebecca as he put an arm around her to lead her out of the room. His hand on her hip was all she could think about.But his mother refused to be dismissed so easily. Julie actually shouted at him, "Find a new tailor! You're mortifying your wife!”