The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke, #1)

by Tessa Dare

“For a particularly ugly woman, approximately my size.”

he suspected some other man had made her feel unwanted. That made him furious.

This is a marriage of convenience.” “That’s what we agreed.” “There will be no affection involved. In fact, every precaution will be taken against it.”

“Dinner. Kisses. This is what I get for wedding a vicar’s daughter from the country. Girlish notions about romance.”

However unbelievably, for a couple who’d been engaged for a week, wed a full day and a night, and come within inches of consummating their union . . . this was the first time he’d held her in his arms.

You’re a wife. You’re not supposed to enjoy this, you’re supposed to lie there and endure it.”

“All the usual ones. After it was done, I jumped up and down for ten minutes. Sniffed pepper to make myself sneeze three times, and drank a full teacup of vinegar. I did everything right.”

Im so angry that these women knew nothing about sex

“Yes, it was. You asked a question. I replied. With words and everything.”

Witty banter

“Do keep trying with your cat. The creatures most difficult to reach make the most loving companions in the end.”

Why was it that men woke up looking just as handsome as they had when falling asleep—if not more so? Ruffled hair, an attractive shadow of whiskers. It wasn’t fair.

The quiet girls, the spinsters, the simply overlooked. Dressmaking wasn’t superficial with them. A well-made, flattering gown had the ability to draw forth inner qualities: not only loveliness, but confidence.

“If you say so, my treasure.” “I daresay I do, you little baggage.”

Baggage? Wtf i died laughing

It wasn’t only her body he craved, it was closeness. Acceptance. The feeling of being wanted, and never turned away.

He’s using you, Emma.

She has past trauma

Look at me. Look at me. Because you’re the only one who does. Likely the only one who ever will.

She would not let her father hold her back. Not from trusting. Not from living. Not from loving. Not anymore.

Crying for the third time reading this book

“Lord, how I hate that woman. She made you feel like a monster, and ever since, you’ve devoted yourself to making it the truth. I can tell you a hundred times over how much I want you, how deeply I love you—and yet you still choose to believe her word over mine. She made you impossible to live with, and entirely too difficult to love.”

“I love you. You know that.” Did he know that? He heard her say the words, yes. But after the past quarter hour, he wasn’t certain he believed them anymore. No, that wasn’t fair to her. He wasn’t certain he’d ever believed them, or that he ever could.

If you don’t love yourself, you’ll never let another person love you

Pride was worthless to him now.

The possibility of selfless, unwavering affection between father and daughter had never entered her mind. How could it? She’d never known it herself.