The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting

He doesn’t remember her birthday or bring her silks, or ever do thoughtful things like that. He just works to make her safe and happy, because that’s how he loves people.

You cannot protect her from failure, so you might as well give her the best chance to succeed.

Something difficult for you isn’t less difficult because other people have different problems.

Society is a consequential fool, and I am tired of rules and strictures that do no good and bring nobody happiness.

One of Miss Marianne Loxleigh’s most admired features, at least by the kind of people who catalogued beauty rather than reacting to it, was her noble and lofty forehead. She usually emphasised it in the way she dressed her hair. Currently she was emphasising it by banging it on the breakfast table.

This isn’t a speech, it’s a statement. A simple declarative statement. I love you. You thought you were renting me for a month and you have me for life. Buyer beware.

... when people want to hurt someone very much, they often reach for the thing that would hurt themselves most deeply.

You make it so easy,” Hart whispered, because his throat was closing. “How is all this so easy for you?” “I think I have a different idea of what makes life hard.” Hart couldn’t find a response to that. After a moment Robin said, “Sorry. That didn’t come out quite as I intended.” “Happens to me all the time.” “But it was stupid. Something difficult for you isn’t less difficult because other people have different problems.” “More serious ones.” “It’s your life. You decide what constitutes a problem in it.

Was he truly the only man who noticed Hart’s kindness, and passion, and thighs?

You did what nobody has done for me in my whole life. You saw I needed defending, and you fought.

I love you,” Robin said. “I’ve been in love with you for I don’t know how long. Since—” “—the fishpond—” “—yes, the fishpond, and don’t finish my sentences just because you know what I’m going to say.

That was an argument. This is a crisis. When we’ve dealt with the crisis, we’ll go back to the argument.

I like you, Hart. You might try believing that, and if you can’t, you’re a fool to consort with me at all. Think about it and make your decision. But don’t shout at me because you’re afraid.

... why have we all decided that the most important and to-be-respected quality is the one possessed by the worst people?

There is more to life than the pursuit of happiness!” “Tell that to the United States.” Giles snorted. “Yes, and I doubt that will work out well.

I had no idea my life had enough room for anything so bright and warm and free as you.

Come, Marianne,” Robin said, offering her his arm, and sliding several thousand pounds worth of emeralds into his pocket as casually as possible. “Let us go.

Yes?” Robin enquired, close to a snarl. “Do you have anything to say to me? Please do. Really. I’d be fascinated.” Sir Roger appeared to read Robin’s absolute lack of damns to give on his face, because he said, “Come, Lady A,” and urged his wife away with soothing noises.

There were audible gasps at that. Robin could almost hear the crackle as his carefully cultivated facade of Humble and Pleasant went up in flames. Oh well. What good was a bridge you couldn’t burn?

How is Verney?” He hoped the bastard caught plague, but it seemed only fair to make a concession.

Four thousand two hundred and twenty pounds over thirty-one days was a hundred and thirty-six pounds a night. If the money mattered—if it had ever mattered—he was paying a hundred and thirty-six pounds for the privilege of sitting in an armchair that badly required reupholstering and stroking Robin’s hair, and it was worth every penny because he was here when he was needed.

This isn’t a contest,” Robin said gently. “If it hurts, it hurts.

So I don’t want to hear any more nonsense from you, because you really are a very desirable man, and I’m sorry for the fool who couldn’t see it. His loss.

Oh.” Hart’s cheeks darkened visibly. It was a blush. Robin had made him blush. That was utterly delicious. “Uh. Thank you.

But at least I mean what I say.” “I can’t imagine why you pride yourself on that. Any fool can say what he means and mean what he says. That’s why we invented manners, as a way to stop society descending into a brawl.

I don’t know about lovable, but I bloody know who deserves to be loved.’ He sounded ferocious. Hart looked at him, startled, to see that Robin looked somewhat shocked himself. ‘Thank you,’ he said inadequately. ‘I, uh, appreciate that.’ Robin squeezed his hand. ‘Well, someone had to tell you.

I have noticed that when people want to hurt someone very much, they often reach for the thing that would hurt themselves most deeply. Someone who calls other people cowards is probably terrified of being found out as one, do you see? People who lash out at others for low morals are usually stinking cesspits inside.

The Upper Ten Thousand sold women into marriages with cruel, greedy, brutal men every day for social or financial advantage,

He just works to make her safe and happy, because that’s how he loves people.

She could start a fight in an empty room, and regards a belt as a handy indication of what to hit below.