A Perilous Undertaking (Veronica Speedwell, #2)

by Deanna Raybourn

It appeared to be a private residence, 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.

The cage in which I have lived my life may be gilt, but it is nonetheless a cage,”

“I understand that you believe you have something to prove to them, but you don’t. You are worth a thousand of them, Veronica. But they will never see it. If you set yourself up as their lackey because you want their approbation, it will not stop. This is a game you cannot win, so do not play it. Walk away now, before they’ve got under your skin,” he warned.

It 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.”

“Live long enough and interesting things are bound to happen.

It doesn’t do to tell them too soon what they are capable of. If they are gifted, they will wreck themselves trying to make success happen. If they aren’t gifted, you stifle the spirit when they might have had one good work in them.”

And an unhappy wife is a dangerous creature.”

And there was no pain sharper than that of loving someone when you would do anything to stop it.

He was a curious sort of champion, I reflected. But a champion he was.

“I have not spoken of it. I may never. But when I do, it will be with you.”

“When I most had need of you, you did not leave me. Whatever this thing is that makes us different, this thing that makes quicksilver of us when the rest of the world is mud, it binds us. To break that would be to fly in the face of nature.”