Spellmaker Quotes

“I will get you out of here, if I have to melt the castle down myself, do you understand?”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“I love you more than Barbados, more than magic, more than myself. You are all I think about. And now you are mine. I love you, Elsie.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“ Of course I’ll come, you great lummox. You don’t need to beg me. What more important thing could I possibly have to do?
She set the pencil down and waited. A few seconds passed before it rose and tilted, nub pressing to the paper.
Lummox?
She chuckled. It’s a term of endearment.
The pencil jerked in her hand—Bacchus had started writing before she could set it down. Then you find me endearing. ”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“You are not a burden, Elsie Camden. You merely have had an unfortunate number of complete imbeciles in your life.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“He’s not a bad choice, Elsie. He’s titled, wealthy, and virile.”
Elsie’s cheeks heated. “Did you say virile?”
Ogden smirked. “It’s hard not to notice.”
She covered her face with both hands, hiding her embarrassment.
Until another realization hit her, making her stomach drop.
“Oh no,” she whispered.
Ogden tensed. “What’s wrong?”
Slowly, she dropped her hands from her face and lifted her eyes. “If I marry him…”
Ogden leaned closer.
“My name will be Elsie Kelsey,” she finished, mortified.
Oh, how the Wright sisters would love that.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“Is that how all Bajan men kiss?” He smirked, the insolent man. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never kissed any of them.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“Lummox? She chuckled. It’s a term of endearment. The pencil jerked in her hand—Bacchus had started writing before she could set it down. Then you find me endearing.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“Elsie, Bacchus’s fine script spelled, I’ve been contacted by the duke. He wants to talk, but—the pencil paused for a moment—I’d prefer to have you with me. I do not believe the duke or anyone in his household intends me harm. Nor do I think there will be any nonsense with spells. But I’ve not yet sorted through my feelings regarding the revelation about the siphoning spell, and I believe your presence will help me remain steady.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“Alas, there weren’t any straightforward rules of decorum for how to comfort a lady after she was nearly murdered by her possessed employer”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“I'll remind you it's unnecessary. I'm perfectly capable of keeping a wife."

She loved the way that word sounded on his lips. Wife.

"And I'm perfectly capable of keeping a husband.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“Bacchus asked after her family, and Elsie was filled with a keen awareness of how close he sat - his body inches away from hers. A halo of warmth emanated from him, and she wondered how a man could burn so hot and still be comfortable in a frock coat.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“His lips slowed, and he pulled back, his eyes dark. A long breath escaped his nose before he said, "We need to stop before you make me think unchristian thoughts Elsie.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“Bacchus lifted a hand and ran the pad of his thumb along her cheek, sending a wave of heat coursing over her skin. "You are very much worth it, Elsie Camden.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“the”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“It really is a quaint match, isn’t it? A spellmaker and a spellbreaker, ha!”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“She stared at him, wanting so badly to believe him. Wanting to ignore the fear and anxiety festering beneath her ribs and give hope it’s way, but hope had always hurt her. Still, she found herself nodding. Not hoping, exactly. Wishing, perhaps.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“I’ll not sleep while she’s in danger.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“We are at war. Not across country borders, but in our very streets. The lower class must fight for everything. Food on their tables, employment, right of way, their very dignity.” Her voice was strained. “We even fight each other. If there’s one pattern history teaches us, it’s that the rich start wars and force the poor to soldier them.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“ Of course I’ll come, you great lummox. You don’t need to beg me. What more important thing could I possibly have to do?
She set the pencil down and waited. A few seconds passed before it rose and tilted, nub pressing to the paper.
Lummox?
She chuckled. It’s a term of endearment.
The pencil jerked in her hand—Bacchus had started writing before she could set it down. Then you find me endearing.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“ I’ve been contacted by the duke. He wants to talk, but—” the pencil paused for a moment— I’d prefer to have you with me. I do not believe the duke or anyone in his household intends me harm. Nor do I think there will be any nonsense with spells. But I’ve not yet sorted through my feelings regarding the revelation about the siphoning spell, and I believe your presence will help me remain steady.
Elsie’s heart softened like better. Help him remain steady. Smiling, she reached for the pencil, but it moved again, and she stayed her hand.

He wishes to see me tonight. I do not expect you to rearrange your plans for this. I’m prepared to reschedule. I believe he will do as I wish; if the duchess’s letters are to be believed, Isaiah feels guilty for the part he has played in this. I am happy to provide transport—”
Elsie grabbed the pencil and wrenched it out of Bacchus’s invisible hand. She felt the moment he let go, and beneath his half-finished sentence, she wrote, Of course I’ll come, you great lummox. You don’t need to beg me. What more important thing could I possibly have to do?
She set the pencil down and waited. A few seconds passed before it rose and tilted, nub pressing to the paper.
Lummox?
She chuckled. It’s a term of endearment.
The pencil jerked in her hand—Bacchus had started writing before she could set it down. Then you find me endearing. ”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“Maybe it was simple misfortune—and imbeciles—that had carved her life into what it was today.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“Do you think I did this just to save you? That I’m some gallant prince from a fairy tale, selflessly trying to save the young maiden from certain doom? No. I did not expect your arrest or this magistrate’s games. They merely sped up the process. And I have spent hour after blasted hour, day after day, trying to find a way to convince you that I am genuine in my affections, but it’s like throwing darts at a stone wall.”
Elsie simply shook her head at his attempts to reassure her, too miserable to examine them closely.
“Am I so untrustworthy?” he asked, and he might as well have stabbed her though the heart with a kitchen knife. “Do my actions seem so completely false to you?”
“No.” A tear slid down her cheek. “It’s not you. You are wonderful and perfect. You have been nothing but wonderful and perfect. But I’m a regret waiting to happen.” She fumbled to open her reticule, seeking a handkerchief. “I only want to save you, Bacchus. I only want you to be happy.”
“You are a foolish woman.”
She nodded, found her handkerchief. Looked up to apologize. “I—”
But Bacchus was there, so close to her, risen off his seat. She barely had time to register his closeness before his hand slipped around her neck and he gruffly pulled her toward him, his lips finding hers.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“It is easy to miss the pain of being different when you fit in so well with the standard.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“When you are an outsider, you do whatever you have to do to fit in, or people will ostracize you. Sometimes without even realizing it.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“I’m so sorry, I can’t imagine—”
She shrugged and managed a strangled laugh. “Well, that’s life for you, isn’t it? It would make a very good novel, I think.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“He would have contacted her earlier, but he’d thought it best to wait. Alas, there weren’t any straightforward rules of decorum for how to comfort a lady after she was nearly murdered by her possessed employer.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“No one could ever forget their deepest hurts, only learn to better shoulder them.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker

“If there’s one pattern history teaches us, it’s that the rich start the wars and force the poor to soldier them.”
― Charlie N. Holmberg, Spellmaker