Home > Work > Silk Is for Seduction (The Dressmakers, #1)
21 " She set her hand against his chest, to push him away. He laid his hand over hers, and held hers there, over his pounding heart. "
― Loretta Chase , Silk Is for Seduction (The Dressmakers, #1)
22 " Clevedon was to take Marcelline shopping....'If we're to get this done by the end of the day, you must come with me ... I've no time to waste while a clerk dithers or tries to sell me something I don't want. I haven't time for dithering about prices. I need prompt, preferably obsequious attention. Entering with the Duke of Clevedon is a sure way to get that and more.''I assumed I'd come with you,' he said. 'Did you not notice how diligently I took notes?'She had noticed and wondered at it. She held her tongue, though, until they were in his carriage. And then it wasn't the notebook she asked about.'I thought you loathed shopping with women above all things,' she said, remembering what he'd said to Lady Clara.'That was before,' he said. 'Now you've made it *interesting*, curse you.''Interesting?''All the bustling about,' he said. 'All the drama. All that naked ambition coupled with passionate belief in the rightness of your vision. All that ... purpose. It amuses me to catch the occasional stray bit of purpose by trailing in your wake. "
23 " I'll be glad to be rid of you. When a man sinks to reading fashion journals - no, it's worse than that. When a man finds himself plumbing their depths, seeking arcane knowledge of no use to him whatsoever ... Oh, it's your corrupting influence. I shall be glad to see the back of you, Noirot, and return to my life.''It annoys you to be a guardian angel,' she said. "
24 " The bourgeoisie is so tediously self-righteous. "
25 " I love her,' he said. 'I've loved her since we were children. But you-''It's my fault, is it?' she said. 'I'm the demon destroying your happiness? Only look at yourself and listen to yourself. Like every other man, you want what you can't have. Like every other man, you'll stay interested - even obsessed - until you get it. You came here this evening because you can't think straight - because it drives you mad not to have something you want. "
26 " The ton will be all atwitter about last night "
27 " Clevedon,' she began.He turned back to her, the smile fading. 'You may not rake me over the coals,' he said. 'She set out to captivate me, much as her mother did-''She's six years old!''You both succeeded,' he said. 'What was I to do? She's a little girl. Why should she not have a doll?''She has dolls! Does she seem neglected to you? Deprived in any way? She's *my* daughter, and I take care of her. She has nothing to do with you. You've no business buying her dolls. What will Lady Clara think? What do you think your fine friends in the ton will say when they hear you've given my daughter gifts? You know they'll hear of it.' Lucie would show the doll to the seamstresses, naturally, and they'd tell everybody they knew, and word would spread through the ton in no time at all. 'And do you think their speculations will do my business any good?''That's all you think about. Your business.''It's my life, you great thickhead! This' - she swept her hand to indicate the shop - 'This is how I *earn* my living. Can you not grasp this simple concept? Earning a living?''I'm not-''This is how I feed and clothe and house and educate my daughter,' she raged on. 'This is how I provide for my sisters. What must I do to make you understand? How can you be so blind, so willfully obtuse, so-''You'll make me run mad,' he said. 'Everywhere I turn, there you are.''That's monstrous unfair! Everywhere I go, there is your great carcass! "
