Y.S. Lee > Quotes

“Stop shining your lantern in my face."
"It's such a lovely face.”
― Y.S. Lee, The Traitor in the Tunnel

“He smiled. "I suppose I thought we'd have a madly impractical, terrifyingly modern sort of marriage. One based on love. Not to mention dangerous undertakings and hair's-breadth escapes from burning buildings, high ledges and exploding sewers."

"And bickering."

"Always that, yes."

"Assuming I want to marry at all."

"True. I know of no good way of forcing you to do anything."

"And you're mad enough to think it could work - one day?"

He cupped her face in his hands. His smile was so brilliant it seemed to illuminate the room. "I think it would be heaven."

She trembled, then. "You have a very strange idea of heaven."

"Kiss me and see.”
― Y.S. Lee, The Traitor in the Tunnel

“He laughed, then became serious once more. "Mary............"
The expression in his eyes set her heart pounding. "Yes?"
Twice he began to frame a sentence, and twice his voice seemed to fail him.
And she thought she understood. What could he possibly say to her now, when he was on the verge of leaving forever? Even something as simple as asking her to write to him carried a distinct sort of promis, the type of promise he was ten years and a half a world removed from being able to make.
She forced a polite smile and held out her hand. "Good luck, James."
Regret-and relief-flooded his eyes. he took her hand, cradling it for a long moment. "And to you."
It was foolish to linger. She slid her fingers from his grasp, turned, and began to walk away in the direction of the Academy. She'd gone about thirty paces when she heard his voice.
"Mary!"
She spun about. "What is it?"
"Stay out of wardrobes!"
She laughed, shook her head, and began to walk again. She was smiling this time.”
― y.s. lee, A Spy in the House

“Read as widely and as deeply as you can. You have to be a reader before you can be a writer.”
― Y.S. Lee

“It's terrifying, to be on the verge of finally getting what you want.”
― Y.S. Lee, A Spy in the House

“I’m so sorry. I don’t think the etiquette manuals cover this sort of situation.” He leaned in close, his lips all but grazing her neck, and inhaled. “Mmm. You smell good, too.”

She nearly choked. Took a step backwards, until her back met cold stone. “Th-thank you.”

“That’s better. May I kiss you?” His finger dipped into her shirt collar, stroking the tender nape of her neck.

“I d-don’t th-think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not? We’re alone.” His hands were at her waist.

Her lungs felt tight and much too small. “Wh-what if somebody comes in?”

He considered for a moment. “Well, I suppose they’ll think I fancy grubby little boys.”
― Y.S. Lee, The Body at the Tower

“I am madly, ridiculously, passionately in love with you. I don’t care about your past. Your race does nothing to change my feelings. I love you, you stubborn little fool. Is that clear enough for you?”
― Y.S. Lee, The Traitor in the Tunnel

“Calmly, slowly, she reached behind with her left hand and came up against — yes, fabric. Fine linen, to be precise. So far, so good: she was inside a wardrobe, after all. The only problem was that this linen was oddly warm. Body warm. Beneath the tentative pressure of her palm, it seemed to be moving...

With terrifying suddenness, an ungloved hand clamped roughly over her nose and mouth. A long arm pinned her arms against her sides. She was held tightly against a hard, warm surface.

"Hush," whispered a pair of lips pressed to her left ear. "If you scream, we are both lost.”
― Y.S. Lee, A Spy in the House

“Her Majesty Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, had a lamp shade on her head. Again.”
― Y.S. Lee, The Traitor in the Tunnel

“For several moments, Mary couldn't hear anything over the violent pounding of her pulse.”
― Y.S. Lee, A Spy in the House

“She hesitated for a moment longer, then tentatively placed her fingers in his. Her hand was hot and dry and so fragile-seeming that James cradled it gingerly. The next moment, she squeezed so hard his eyes widened.
Fragile lady be damned. He squeezed back spitefully. "Vicious minx.”
― Y.S. Lee, A Spy in the House

“Angelica rolled the wedding band between her finger and thumb. "It's terrifying, to be on the verge of finally getting what you want.”
― Lee, Y. S.

“He looked at her for a moment, amazed. "How did you know that? How can a servant girl like you understand so much?"

Because self-absorbed man-children are common as weeds, thought Mary. But she said, "I don't know, sir. I only guessed.”
― Y.S. Lee, The Traitor in the Tunnel

“My dearest Mary,

Both my words and my conduct at our last meeting were ungentlemanly - born of haste and high emotion, rather than friendship and good judgement - and yet I cannot find it within me to apologize. I am glad I kissed you; glad to have revelled in your scent, your taste, the touch of your hands; glad, even, to have quarrelled with you because during those moments of anger, I was in your presence.

Mary, you are the most singular woman I know: intelligent, brave and honest, and I crave your friendship. I confess to only the haziest notion of what I ask, having never been friends with a woman before. My friendships are male and conventional; pleasant and without distinction. But a friendship with you would be a bright, new, rare thing - if you would do me the honour.

I expect that what I ask is impossible. But it is sweet to dream, Mary, and thus I tender one last, insolent, unapologetic request: write to me only if you can say yes.

Yours,

James”
― Y.S. Lee, The Traitor in the Tunnel

“Are you quite certain you don't want to come up to my flat for tea and toast and scandal?”
― Y.S. Lee, Rivals in the City

“It's terrifying to be on the verge of finally getting what you want.”
― Y.S. Lee, A Spy in the House

“¿Por qué la modestia nunca es uno de los atributos del héroe?”
― Y. S. Lee, A Spy in the House

“If you ever need to poison someone, do it with a bacon sandwich”
― Y.S. Lee, The Traitor in the Tunnel

“Only the greedy and stupid attempt the White Pass. They try by the hundreds each week.”
― Y.S. Lee, A Tyranny of Petticoats

“-¿Me deseas suerte para mi último día?
-Si utilizas la cabeza, no la necesitarás.”
― Y. S. Lee, A Spy in the House

“-No me lo prometas a mí, Cass. Prométetelo a ti misma.”
― Y. S. Lee, A Spy in the House

“-¿No sabes qué decir? -parecía divertirse con la confusión que se reflejaba en su rostro.
-Sospecho que eres tú quien trata de dejarme sin nada que decir.”
― Y.S. Lee, A Spy in the House

“Mr. Ching claims the superiority of Chinese hand-and-foot fighting, and promises ocular proof of such.”
― Y.S. Lee, Rivals in the City

“The door was locked, but that didn’t deter him. He pulled her tight against him, her back against his chest, his breath loud and moist in her ear. His arm was locked about her waist — he was surprisingly strong, despite his doughy appearance — and he fumbled her skirts again. He wanted her to struggle. He wanted her to cry, to beg, to be terrified.”
― Y.S. Lee, The Traitor in the Tunnel

“pronounced”
― Y.S. Lee, A Spy in the House

“Felicity smiled and passed Mary an illustrated newspaper printed in lurid colors.”
― Y.S. Lee, The Body At The Tower

“He stopped in a seedy alley in Holborn where he jumped down from the carriage, held a muttered conference with a dirty, one-eyed old woman, and climbed back in, his arms full of grubby cloth.
She wrinkled her nose. "Phew. What the devil is all that?"
"It's a dress."
"Oh, no. I'm not putting that on. It stinks of last week's washing up."
"It smells of the people.”
― Y.S. Lee, A Spy in the House

“Pipe dreams,”
― Y.S. Lee, The Traitor in the Tunnel

“They plodded on, contemplating the faithlessness of modern love and marriage.”
― Y.S. Lee, Rivals in the City

“Isambard Kingdom Brunel,”
― Y.S. Lee, A Spy in the House