“One of the more ignominious features of love was that you could only express it with cliches...it made you sound like a fraud at a time when you were blazing with sincerity.”

“Babies were dangerous . . .they made you fall in love before you knewwhat was happening.”

“There is nothing on earth more beautiful to me than your smile...no sound sweeter than your laughter...no pleasure greater than holding you in my arms. I realized today that I could never live without you, stubborn little hellion that you are. In this life and the next, you’re my only hope of happiness. Tell me, Lillian, dearest love...how can you have reached so far inside my heart?”

“Only you could love such a vile, selfish peacock, Evie.”

“But I hadn't known what love was. And I wondered how you could ever be sure, when you thought you loved someone, if you really did.”

“Do you think it will make good wine?”“Probably not,” he said, and laughed.“Then why have you gone to so much trouble?”“Because you never know. The grapes might turn out to reveal some attributes of the wine that you never expected. Something that expresses this place more perfectly than anything you could have planned. You have to…”As Sam paused, searching for the right phrase, Lucy said softly, “You have to take a leap of faith.”Sam gave her an arrested glance. “Yes.”Lucy understood all too well. There were times in life when you had to take a risk that might end in failure. Because otherwise you would be haunted by what you hadn’t done…the paths you hadn’t taken, the things you hadn’t experienced.”

“I love you," she said wretchedly. “And if I were well, no power on earth could keep me away from you. If I were well, I would take you to my bed, and I would show you as much passion as any woman could.”