The Gilded Shroud Quotes

“I dislike any form of betrayal. Too many people take their marriage vows lightly. If one is fortunate enough to inspire affection, one should strive to deserve it, do you not think?”
― Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud

“With an impatient gesture, he flung away a little from the fireplace. “If you don’t stop ‘my lording’ me, woman, I will not be answerable for the consequences. We have surely moved too far for that.” Too far toward what? But Ottilia did not say it. She could feel her heart beating unnaturally fast. She strove for calm. “Very well, if you desire it. In private at least, I will address you by name, but you must excuse me if I keep to formality in the presence of others.” His dark gaze was upon her, its expression unfathomable. “Afraid of scandal, Tillie?” Ottilia’s breath stuck in her throat. Would there might be cause! She essayed a nonchalance she was far from feeling. “It would scarcely be seemly, as your mother’s companion, to be seen to be upon terms of — of —” The word would not leave her tongue. Lord Francis supplied it. “Intimacy?” She let out a faint gasp. “I was going to say ‘friendship’.” “Were you indeed?” Ottilia felt her breathing to be quite as shallow as that of the dowager so recently. She controlled its passage as best she could, and firmly brought the subject to an end. “We are wandering from the point.” For a moment he did not answer. Then he withdrew his gaze from hers and threw himself down into the chair opposite.”
― Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud

“With an impatient gesture, he flung away a little from the fireplace. “If you don’t stop ‘my lording’ me, woman, I will not be answerable for the consequences. We have surely moved too far for that.” Too far toward what? But Ottilia did not say it. She could feel her heart beating unnaturally fast. She strove for calm. “Very well, if you desire it. In private at least, I will address you by name, but you must excuse me if I keep to formality in the presence of others.” His dark gaze was upon her, its expression unfathomable. “Afraid of scandal, Tillie?” Ottilia’s breath stuck in her throat. Would there might be cause! She essayed a nonchalance she was far from feeling.”
― Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud

“Francis hesitated. “I’m sure I ought to refuse to let you come with me.” Her eyes lit with mischief. “And I am just as sure you ought not. How can you prevent me?” As he eyed her, he was aware of disturbance in the rate of his heartbeat and an unsettling shortness of breath. “I can think of several ways,” he responded without thinking. Colour fluctuated in Ottilia’s cheek. With an effort, Francis wrenched his attention away from the images crawling in his head.”
― Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud

“In other circumstances, she would have found them an entertaining duo as they sat together on the sofa by the windows, the one as plump as a Christmas goose, the other as skinny as its skeleton after the diners had eaten their fill.”
― Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud

“Whenever I wish to analyse human reactions, I think back to the conduct of my nephews. It is like viewing the world in microcosm, but in high relief, for children are much more obvious than their adult counterparts.”
― Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud

“Francis focused on the woman’s eyes. They really were quite free of guile, he reflected. Unusual in the females of his acquaintance, and therefore refreshing.”
― Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud

“It is merely a trick of taking notice, sir. I assure you I am no better informed than another.”
― Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud

“the tone adopted by the Dowager Marchioness of Polbrook and the acerbic nature of her remarks was promising.”
― Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud

“grey tint slipping round the edges of the shutters at the windows.”
― Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud

“George did likewise. “What do you think of him?” “Behaving like a cat on a hot bakestone,” said Tretower,”
― Elizabeth Bailey, The Gilded Shroud