Quotes from Mary Balogh

But there is a difference between thinking of an absent friend and thinking of someone who used to be a friend and never will be again.

Her feelings for him were purely regrets for a past that might have been. He was not now the sort of man whom she would wish to captivate even if that were possible.

He would do anything to put things right for her, though he knew from experience that no one could ever put someone else's life to rights. One could only listen and encourage and love. And hold when holding was appropriate.

He had not forgiven her and doubted that he ever would or could. And during his own brief visit to her and the meeting at last evening's ball she had shown no sign of wishing forgiveness.

How did Uncle Ben put it last night? It has led us to peace and hope. And love.

If I were to touch you, I might find it impossible not at least to try to ravish you. It is a dreadful fate to be a notorious rake, Diana. We have so little self-control when confronted with beautiful ladies inside secluded buildings in the dead of night and in the middle of a storm.

Oh, yes, she said, surrendering to the longing within her, make me forget, William. Make me love you.

And she had given herself to him, not just from sympathy but with more passion than he had ever known in a woman.

After you have broken my heart and left me, I will remember that we are always and ever connected.

Was it possible that he still retained some of the old regard for her?

She did not move. She had her eyes closed. I don't care, she said after a few moments of silence, about tomorrow or about propriety or about anything except tonight and this place. And you.

I shall always love you, he had said, and Elizabeth had believed him. She laughed harshly now . . . Forever did not last very long, she reflected.

I wonder you did not marry. Cecily has told me that you were in society once. You are so beautiful and so wise, I wonder all the men did not love you. Elizabeth laughed. There were so many duels over who should have me, she said, that finally there was no one left alive to claim my hand. I am a very tragic figure, you know.

When had he become the sun and moon to her, the very air she breathed? - The Proposal

Había ciertos momentos en los que la vida daba un giro que cambiaba por completo el curso establecido. Y era característico que dichos momentos sucedieran sin previo aviso, dejando al interesado sin tiempo para considerar sus opciones o razonar consigo mismo sobre las repercusiones. De modo que solo quedaba tomar una decisión apresurada de la que casi se podía decir que dependería el resto de la vida.

You see now why I cannot marry you? I would never be able to rid myself of the shame of my past. And you would not be able to forget, either.

He was a man who seemed careless of his appearance, very different from the gentlemen with whom she had consorted until a few months ago. She would not have afforded him a second glance if she had passed him on the street—or even a first glance for that matter. But during the few minutes she had been forced into his company, she had been aware of a sort of restless energy and raw masculinity about him, and she had been slightly shocked at herself for noticing. It was not like her at all.

Las mentiras solo acarreaban sufrimiento.

It was delicate and pretty and always semifashionable because it had never been ultrafashionable.

Elizabeth's fingers itched to slap him. She could recall now the stinging satisfaction she had had from doing so on a previous occasion.

And that is something else you do . . . You joke a great deal about yourself so that no one can get close to really knowing you.

You are insufferable, my lord, she seethed. He grinned as he held back her chair while she seated herself. Yes, my lady, I know, he said.

Awfully?" she said, taking his arm to descend the stairs. "I am full of awe," he explained.

You are quite safe now, ladies, the marquess announced as if he were personally and solely responsible for saving them from the horrors of hell.