“We plan to avoid cupids," Mr. Audley said."Cupids?" Amelia echoed. Good heavens, he did move from topic to topic.He shrugged. "I have discovered that I am not fond of them."How could anyone not be fond of cupids?”

“What is there not to like about cupids?""You don't find them rather dangerous?""Chubby little babies?""Carrying deadly weapons.”

“It wasn‟t even desire. It was far more than that.It was love.Love. With a capital L and swirly script and hearts and flowers and whatever else the angels—and yes, all those annoying little cupids—wished to use for embellishment.”

“Speaking of which,” he murmured.Hyacinth’s mouth fell open as he dropped down to oneknee. “What are you doing?” she squeaked, franticallylooking this way and that. Lord St. Clair was surely peekingout at them, and heaven only knew who else was, too.“Someone will see,” she whispered.He seemed unconcerned. “People will say we’re inlove.”“I—” Good heavens, but how did a woman argueagainst that?“Hyacinth Bridgerton,” he said, taking her hand in his,“will you marry me?”She blinked in confusion. “I already said I would.”“Yes, but as you said, I did not ask you for the right reasons.They were mostly the right reasons, but not all.”“I—I—” She was stumbling on the words, choking onthe emotion.He was staring up at her, his eyes glowing clear andblue in the dim light of the streetlamps. “I am asking youto marry me because I love you,” he said”

“I miss my dog."..."What was his name again?""Mouse.""That was very unkind of you.""Naming him mouse?""Isn't he a greyhound?""I could have named hum Turtle.""Frederick!"..."It's better than Frederic," Annabel said, "Good heavens, that's my brother's name.”

“I wonder where everyone is," she muttered."Sleeping, if they have any idea what's good for them," Dunford replied acerbically."I suppose we could get started on our own," she said doubtfully.For the first time all morning he smiled broadly and meant it. "I know less than nothing about stonemasonry, so I vote we wait.”

“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.”