The King's Man Quotes

“Her husband rode at the head of the party. He did not ride beside her, or speak to her or look at her, even when at last they arrived at the abbey. They were fed a fine supper, and the minstrels sang, and all the while they sat like strangers to one another. But later, in the dark of the room that had been prepared for them, he reached for her again like a starving man.”
― Elizabeth Kingston, The King's Man

“She said nothing at all, allowing the silence to grow between them again. In it, he saw what he had not noticed before: her pace had slowed infinitesimally, her stride narrowed just enough to bring her even with him. Two could walk astride here, and they did so by her very subtle design.”
― Elizabeth Kingston, The King's Man

“She had to be a legend, her mother had said. So she was. It had sounded a great and glorious thing, a secret that would one day be sung by the bards. But never had she guessed that it would require this endless proving of herself, always holding on to power with the very tips of her fingers.”
― Elizabeth Kingston, The King's Man

“Their breaths mingled, and she waited. And then he was kissing her, his mouth hard and unforgiving on hers.”
― Elizabeth Kingston, The King's Man

“Even worse, she wore a dress and not armor. Worst of all, that she could never wear armor again. And secretly, quietly, the greatest guilt, one that she had only begun to admit to herself –that she did not truly hate any of these things.”
― Elizabeth Kingston, The King's Man

“What if it were not to blame –the night, or his injuries, or the surprise of seeing her face in the firelight? What if it were true, that she had an advantage over him? He could not bear it, to lose again. And he was not sure that he wouldn’t, did he test her now.”
― Elizabeth Kingston, The King's Man

“As a child when it began, she had to show she was as strong as her boy cousins, for them to accept her. And then she had to show that she was stronger than them, and then that she was strongest of all – until now if she showed but the slightest hint of weakness, it was as though she had done naught in her life but sit in the solar to embroider and gossip. And then she had to show that she could fight as well as them – and then better, and then best, until now she must be unbeatable or else it were like she had never lifted a sword. And now: she had bested Morency, but she must hold him or she was not fit to lead men. She had to be a legend, her mother had said. So she was.”
― Elizabeth Kingston, The King's Man

“He kept his consciousness just barely through the sickening pain in his shoulder, only to regret it when his eyes opened to look up at bitter defeat. She stood over him, sword-point poised at his throat, boot on his chest, and enough light on her face to bring the humiliation home. A war of beauty and ugliness waged on her face – homely and stern, some misalignment of the features preventing the beauty that her eyes and mouth promised. Black hair plastered against her flushed cheeks and she breathed heavily.
“Has my lord had… enough of my… womanly comfort?” she huffed. And there was no mistaking the light of triumph on her face.
Her eyes flicked down at Ranulf again. “I’ll not demand you to yield. I ask no more than you are beneath me, with legs spread.” The men laughed – her men, he realized with another dull shock.”
― Elizabeth Kingston, The King's Man