She needed him to be him. Even if he could not be hers.

A man’s got to keep up appearances. I’ll be universally detested if everyone realizes how perfect you are.

If one didn't have love, was it better, then, to be alone?

Anthony looked down at his evil clutches -- hands, he reminded himself, hands -- and grinned anew.

I had to do something," she said. "I couldn't just sit and wait for life to happen to me any longer.

Gareth turned to Gregory. “Your sister will be safe with me,” he said. “I give you my vow.” “Oh, I have no worries on that score,” Gregory said with a bland smile. “The real question is—will you be safe with her?” It was a good thing, Gareth later reflected, that Hyacinth had already quit the room to fetch her coat and her maid. She probably would have killed her brother on the spot.

Oh, Elizabeth," he murmured, leaning down to press a gentle kiss on her mouth, "I love you so much. You must believe me." "I believe you," she said softly, "because in your eyes, I see what I feel in my heart.