“Luck is a fickle creature. She lovesmany, but is faithful to none.”

“Still, it was up to her to lure her victim to the rocky shore of loss by appealing to his vanity and challenging his manly pride.She smiled at herself in the mirror. "It isn't perfect, but 'twill have to do.""Och,miss! Ye look as pretty as a princess." Mary opened the door and stood to one side. "Careful going down the stairs; yer pa pried up a board in the third step.""On the steps? Someone could get injured.""So he's hopin'."Sophia frowned. "I'll have Angus fix it. I want MacLean to hate the house, not die in it.""Men never think,miss. 'Tis a sad fact 'o life.""Tell me about it," Sophia muttered. "Wish me luck. I've heard a lot about MacLean,none of it good.”

“Is she always like that?”“Like what?” Sara asked absently, staring a^ the letter in her hands.“Floating about as if she was a blasted fairy.”

“Jack took the note:My lord, Lady Kincaid announced she would be out this evening. When I asked where, she said shewas going “carousing.” That is a direct quote. Please advise. Devonsgate.”

“Jane?” She lifted her brows. “Yes?”“If you so much as hum one word, I shall stuff one of your gloves into your mouth.” “Tsk,tsk.”She assumed an exaggerated sad look.“It’s like that,is it?”

“She also mentioned how close my balcony was to yours; so close that even an old lady like herself could leap between the two without the least effort."Venetia's cheek heated and she pulled her night gown closer, "Grandmama is anything but subtle.""Almost as subtle as your mother.""Oh no! Not mama too."..."Your mother was concerned I might be afraid of heights. She told me if she were thinking of jumping between the balconies and couldn't bring herself to make the leap, it might be possible to pick the lock on the connecting door with, say, a cravat pin.”

“If sarcasm were gold, she would have just made her fortune.”