The Shadow and the Star Quotes

“She hadn't ascribed to this modern notion of equality between the sexes. Woman were patently superior.”
― Laura Kinsale, The Shadow and the Star

“Just—let me hold you. That’s all. Hold you and go to sleep.” He smoothed his thumbs over the back of her hands. “You can tell me everything about tableware.”
She was silent a moment, gazing down at their hands. Then she said, “Would you like to know about holloware or flatware?”
“Flatware. Naturally, flatware.”
“I shall certainly put you to sleep with that. I venture to say you’ll be snoring by the time I get to the runcible spoon.”
“My God. Do I snore?”
“You were decidedly snoring last night, as I was enlightening you upon the nature and arrangement of sideboards. I’m rather a connoisseur of sideboards, but I suppose not everyone enters into my own enthusiasm. Kindly refrain from swearing, if you please.”
“I beg your pardon.” He kissed her nose...”
― Laura Kinsale, The Shadow and the Star

“If you’re not a criminal, then what are you doing stealing all these swords and things?” For a moment he was silent. Then he rubbed his chin and said, “There’s no name for it in English.” “Oh, is there not? ‘Burglary’ seems descriptive enough.” “Kyojitsu.” He looked levelly into her eyes, not wavering. “False-true.”
― Laura Kinsale, The Shadow and the Star

“Love is worn like a wreath through the summers and the winters”
― Laura Kinsale, The Shadow and the Star

“To try to let go was to hold more tightly.”
― Laura Kinsale, The Shadow and the Star

“He had never in his adult memory touched a woman for so long before. His life had been Kai’s quick hugs and a skip away, or Lady Tess’ brief, quiet welcomes. The sweetness of the embrace amazed him; he felt absurdly close to tears with the warmth of her against his face and beneath his hands.
He wanted to tell her, but he had no words for it. He wanted to say warm, delicate, soft; your hair, your beautiful hair falling free, your hands, your waist…do you understand? I won’t hurt you. I don’t want to hurt you. I’m dying.
Her hand rested around the back of his neck. He felt her breathing, the rise and fall of her breasts against his cheek.
“I am afraid we’re very shocking.” Her hand tightened slightly. She lifted a lock of his hair, slid it through her fingers, and brushed it back.”
― Laura Kinsale, The Shadow and the Star

“El amor era un potente estimulante [...] que uno tenía que saborear con extrema prudencia, con sorbos pequeños y refinados, igual que el licor de cerezar.”
― Laura Kinsale, The Shadow and the Star

“I enjoy Mr. Verne’s work,” she went on brightly. “He writes of such exotic places. But you’ve seen all that sort of thing in person. I suppose it’s nothing to you.”
“Of course. Giant squids. Cannibals. Every day.”
― Laura Kinsale, The Shadow and the Star