... You are the closest I will ever come to heaven, either here on Earth or in the afterlife, and I will not regret it, not even at the cost of your tears. So I go to my grave an unrepentant sinner, Iโm afraid. There is no use in mourning one such as I, dearest... -Simon to Lucy in a letter before the last duel.
Elizabeth HoytThis is my social face,โ he said lightly. โDonโt confuse it with the animal beneath.
Elizabeth HoytLucy swayed in shock. A gust of wind moaned through the conservatory and blew out all but one of her candles. Simon must have done this. Heโd destroyed his fairyland conservatory. Why? She sank to her knees, huddled on the cold floor, her one remaining flame cradled in her numb palms. Sheโd seen how tenderly Simon had cared for his plants. Remembered the look of pride when sheโd first discovered the dome and fountain. For him to have smashed all this . . . He must have lost hope. All hope.
Elizabeth HoytI love you," she sobbed, rubbing her hands over his face, his hair, his chest, making sure he was solid and real. "I love you, and I thought you were dead. I couldn't bear it. I thought I would die too." "I'd walk through fire for you," he rasped, his voice hoarse and broken. "I have walked through fire for you.
Elizabeth HoytRebecca held her head high and swanned across the hallway, but as she neared the footman, she could see quite plainly that his gaze was not where it should be. She stopped dead and slapped her hands over her bosom. "Its too low, isn't it? I knew I shouldn't have listened to that maid. She might not mind her boobies hanging out for all to see, but i just can't-" Her brain suddenly caught up with her mouth. She removed her hands from her bosom and slapped them over her awful, awful, awful mouth.
Elizabeth Hoyt