“Her chances of a decent marriage were about to be dashed-and all because of a ferret.”

“You were never one to moon over handsome boys, or talk about balls and parties, or dream about your future husband.”“That was because of Merripen,” Win admitted. “He was all I ever wanted.”

“No marriage stays in the same pattern forever. It is both the best feature of marriage and the worst, that it inevitably changes.”

“Daisy has a unique spirit. A warm and romantic nature. If she is forced into a loveless marriage, she will be devastated. She deserves a husband who will cherish her for everything she is, and who will protect her from the harsher realities of the world. A husband who will allow her to dream."-Westcliff”

“Coming forward with a placating smile, Win handed him a piece of paper. "Of course we would never want to force you into a loveless marriage, dear. But we have put together a list of prospective brides, all of them lovely girls. Won't you take a glance and see if any of them appeals to you?"Deciding to humor her, Leo looked down at the list. "Marietta Newbury?""Yes," Amelia said. "What's wrong with her?""I don't like her teeth.""What about Isabella Charrington?""I don't like her mother.""Lady Blossom Tremaine?""I don't like her name.""Oh, for heaven's sake, Leo, that's not her fault.""I don't care. I can't have a wife named Blossom. Every night I would feel as if I were calling in one of the cows." Leo lifted his gaze heavenward. "I might as well marry the first woman off the street. Why, I'd be better off with Marks."Everyone was silent.”

“I realized that my kisses with Dane had become a form of punctuation, the quotations or the hasty dash at the end of a conversation”

“Because letting someone in close meant they could hurt you. I knew all about that kind of fear. I lived with it.”