Julia Quinn "Bridgerton" series

читала і перечитувала - двічі! - всю серію. Чому в мене в чернетках лише 2 цитати і лише ці? а хто зна?.. але - "йой, най буде", нє?..

…"I always loved everything about you, of course, but for some reason I always found your impatience especially charming. It was never because you wanted more, it was because you wanted everything."

…Eloise wasn't so sure that sounded like such a good trait.

"You wanted everything for everyone, and you wanted to know it all and learn it all, and..."

For a moment Eloise thought her mother might be done, but then Violet turned around and added, "You've never been satisfied with second-best, and that's good, Eloise. I'm glad you never married any of those men who proposed in London. None of them would have made you happy.

Content, maybe, but not happy."…

…the sort of man with whom one ought to trifle. She was playing with fire, and she knew it, but somehow she couldn't stop herself. It was as if each statement from his lips was a dare, and she had to use her every faculty just to keep up.

If this was a competition, she wanted to win.

And if any of her flaws was going to prove to be fatal, this was surely it.

"Miss Bridgerton," he said, "the devil himself couldn't scare you." She forced her eyes to meet his.

"That's not a compliment, is it?"

He lifted her hand to his lips, brushing a feather-light kiss across her knuckles. "You'll have to figure that out for yourself," he murmured.

To all who observed, he was the soul of propriety, but Hyacinth caught the daring gleam in his eye, and she felt the breath leave her body as tingles of electricity rushed across her skin. Her lips parted, but she had nothing to say, not a single word. There was nothing but air, and even that seemed in short supply.

And then he straightened as if nothing had happened and said, "Do let me know what you decide."

She just stared at him.

"About the compliment," he added.

"I am sure you will wish to let me know how I feel about you."

Her mouth fell open.

He smiled. Broadly. "Speechless, even. I'm to be commended."

"You—"

"No. No," he said, lifting one hand in the air and pointing toward her as if what he really wanted to do was place his finger on her lips and shush her. "Don't ruin it. The moment is too rare."

And she could have said something.

She should have said something. But all she could do was stand there like an idiot, or if not that, then like someone completely unlike herself.

"Until next time, Miss Bridgerton," he murmured.

And then he was gone…