Daring and the Duke (The Bareknuckle Bastards, #3)

by Sarah MacLean

“Why would I settle for duchess?” she asked, the night cloaking her in fury and vengeance. “I was born the duke.”

“None of you can bear to behave as you wish without masks. What is the purpose of the power you’ve amassed, if not to find delight?”

family was found, not born.

planning was for business and not for pleasure.

Men are curious beasts, are they not? They at once wish to keep us out of their spaces and also loathe the idea of us making space for ourselves.”

But what do we call the aching emptiness that I feel for you? All the time? Every day?” Tears stung at the words, at the way he put voice to the emptiness that lived inside her, as well. An aching sadness, like a part of her was gone. He kissed her again, urgent and full of that ache. “What do we call the loneliness, as though my other half has gone, never to return?” he asked. “What do we call that?” Love.