A Perilous Undertaking

Men, I had often observed, were never happier than when they believed they were imparting wisdom.

The hardest lesson I had learnt upon my travels was patience. There are times when every muscle, every nerve, screams for movement, when every instinct urges escape. But the instinct to fly is not always a sound one. There are occasions when only stillness can save you.

And royalty are immune from homicidal tendencies? Study your history, Stoker. I think you will discover that is how most of them became royal in the first place.

but just beneath the bell was a small scarlet plaque bearing the name of the club and the legend ALIS VOLAT PROPRIIS. “‘She flies with her own wings,’” I translated.

No,” he said slowly. “I am better than a husband. I am your friend.

ALIS VOLAT PROPRIIS. “‘She flies with her own wings,’” I translated.

You do not yet know what it means to love someone more than yourself. I have no pride left, no delicacy. I cannot afford it. So I will tell you the truth: I wanted his happiness above all things.

Gentlemen are champion sulkers so long as one doesn’t call the behavior by that name.

The soul is a thing apart. When you decide to share that with someone, then you will know what it is to live.

You are far too old for fairy tales, Miss Speedwell. Surely you know the life of royalty is not at all as we believe it to be. It is a prison—a gilded one—but a prison nonetheless.

I have traveled alone. I am unmarried, I live without a chaperone, and I work for a living. These are not the actions of a lady,

Anyone can get lucky,” he said coldly. “And I suspect your continued survival owes itself to a combination of good fortune and sheer bloody-mindedness. You are too stubborn to die.

Instead we were cooped up like hapless chickens nesting on our disappointed hopes.

If you mean to abuse me, let me finish my whiskey first.

I gave him a watery smile. “There is an old Spanish proverb: ‘Take what you want. Take it, said God. And pay.’” “We have paid every minute of our lives. Let someone else pay,

I would earnestly warn you against trying to find out the reason for and explanation of everything . . . To try and find out the reason for everything is very dangerous and leads to nothing but disappointment and dissatisfaction, unsettling your mind and in the end making you miserable.

Yes, but you usually aren't ... Well, I have to keep them covered or else you lose the power of speech

I found it entertaining that such a hardened man of the world could have gained so much experience as scientist, explorer, natural historian, naval surgeon, and taxidermist and still let himself be nettled by a woman half his size.

There is an old Spanish proverb: ‘Take what you want. Take it, said God. And pay.

is the greatest advantage of getting old, you know. I can say precisely what I like and everyone excuses it because I knew Moses from his bulrush days.

The body is a willful creature of passions that must be satisfied. But the heart--the heart must only be given to one. "That" is the sacred bit.

The word was soft as a prayer.

I do not know if I shall ever feel safe again leaving my house. I shall look into every stranger’s eyes thinking, ‘Is it you? Is it you who hates me so?

We have answers but they have only led to more questions,

I can have you stopped,” he said, lowering his head like a bull.

He recovered his usual sternness, pointing a hectoring finger at me.

He sighed again and I began to worry for his digestion.

I studied him back, appreciating the lines of care at the corners of his eyes, the silver threads in his hair that had been bought with years of responsibility.

That is the essence of painting, child. To capture something utterly temporary and conjure permanence.