“In a letter to Sebastian..."My brother is preoccupied with affairs of state and all the more suitable of his friends are unavailable at present, which only leaves you..."Seb winced. The minx. She knew how to deliver a neat insult.”

“Sebastian stretched. Clara stared. She could not help it. He was still in his breeches and shirt and she was riveted by the deliciously tight fit of the buckskins over his thighs."You could avert your eyes," Sebastian said mildly. "I could," Clara agreed, "but I am not going to."He smiled. "Hussy.""I know. But I have waited a long time--”

“He'll admit to his feelings when he's in his cups."The valet nodded. "That's true, ma'am. If we could get him drunk."Clara stifled a laugh. "I am not certain I would want a man who has to be drunk to admit his love for me.”

“Congratulations?" Martin's expression was like boiling milk. "Congratulations? I will not permit my sister to marry such a rogue.""Martin, darling." Juliana said, putting a gentle hand on her husband's arm, "I completely understand your misgivings but I do think we should consider the matter calmly.""Calmly!" Martin spun around. "I am not calm!""I think we all realize that, dearest," Juliana said.”

“I dreamed I saw you dead in a place by the water. A ravaged place. All flat and empty and wide open. And you were covered in some kind of binding. Like a mummy. Something white and reflective, from head to toe. And the light shone on you. Oh, how it shone on you! It glanced off you, and it was like a pure, bright silver. The wind was singing. It sang: you have suffered enough. You have suffered enough. Then death came and he kissed you. Lightly. Gently. Upon the lips. There is nothing beyond, he whispered, only me, only me. There is nothing beyond. Only me.”

“So many words get lost. They leave the mouth and lose their courage, wandering aimlessly until they are swept away into the gutter like dead leaves. On rainy days you can hear their chorus rushing kkpast.”

“Only regret the things you don't do”