Devil in Spring (The Ravenels, #3)

by Lisa Kleypas

Kathleen had been right—whatever she chose, it wouldn’t be perfect. She would have to lose something. But no matter what else she gave up, this man was the thing she couldn’t lose. She burst into tears.

“You’re so beautiful . . . so precious to me. I’m not asking for a surrender, I’m offering you one. I’ll do anything. It has to be you, Pandora . . . only you . . . for the rest of my life. Marry me . . . say you’ll marry me . . .”

Taking Pandora lightly by the shoulders, the duke smiled and bent to press a warm kiss to her forehead. “What a welcome addition you are to the family, Pandora. Be forewarned—from now on, the duchess and I will consider you as one of our own children, and spoil you accordingly.”

He learned how to love them without changing them. To let them be what they were meant to be.”

Whenever she jumped from one topic to another seemingly unrelated one, it didn’t appear to bother him. It seemed that no matter what her faults were, he was willing to accept her for who she was, and who she was not.

“That I’ll never be able to control them. They are who they are. All I can do is love them, and try my damnedest to keep them safe, even knowing it won’t always be possible.” Devon sounded wry. “Having a family has made me a happy man. It’s also robbed me of all peace of mind, probably forever. But on the whole . . . not a bad bargain.”

Ransom’s gaze lingered on the doctor for a few extra seconds as she strode away, the divided skirt swishing around her hips and legs.

The tension 🎵

“You propose to let her outside the house? Exposing her to filthy public places swarming with germs, bacteria, vermin, street manure—” “For heaven’s sake,” Pandora protested, “I’m not planning to run out and start rolling on the pavement.”

In a businesslike manner, she wrote a prescription, and gave it to Pandora. Fuming, Pandora looked down at the slip of paper. Take one overwrought husband and administer compulsory bed rest. Apply as many embraces and kisses as necessary until symptoms are relieved. Repeat as needed.

“You can’t be serious,” Pandora said, looking up at Garrett Gibson’s composed face. “I suggest you follow it to the letter.” Pandora scowled. “I’d rather have an enema.”

“You’re not going to have your way on this,” Gabriel informed her in a hard voice. “No matter what you say or do, it’s not going to happen.” “Who would have thought my first outing would be to see the Prince of Wales?” Pandora commented lightly as she descended from the carriage in front of the Guildhall.

Best transition ever 😂

“What are those?” she asked Dragon, although she was afraid she already knew the answer. “I hope they’re some kind of ventilation device.” “They are,” Dragon muttered, pulling up another floor plank to reveal another row of gleaming cylinders. “They’ll ventilate the roof right off the building.”

Stepping closer to her, Gabriel nuzzled the upswept locks near her temple. “I love your hair,” he murmured. “It’s like midnight in my hands.” She twisted away with a stifled laugh. “No, don’t be romantic in the middle of the toy department.” “It’s not working?” “It is, that’s the problem.”