Becky of Becky's Bookshelves

“She was no stranger to the game of flirtation. During her time in Paris, many men had attempted to woo her with sweet words and kisses. But this was different. Mr. Royce was no courtly French gentleman. His touch wasn’t sweet. It was incendiary.”
― Mimi Matthews, Rules for Ruin

“Effie felt no great urgency to fill it. There was power in saying nothing. It generally prompted one's opponent to stumble into the conversational breach, saying too much. Revealing too much.”
― Mimi Matthews, Rules for Ruin

“Effie's brow lifted. Miss Corvus never received any of the girls in her private rooms. Not even the teachers. At least, she hadn't during Effie's tenure. Miss Corvus's rooms had always been sealed off, as impenetrable as a tomb, behind an impassable set of tall, iron-banded wooden doors. Not even the canniest members of the Academy had dared attempt entry.”
― Mimi Matthews, Rules for Ruin

“He was no good at comforting people. But this was important. She was important. "It's all right," he said. "It's over. I have you now.”
― Mimi Matthews, Rules for Ruin