Marsha Canham > Quotes

“Note savages, eh? They live in mountain caves and dress like wild men. They walk about in woolen petticoats, which they are not in the least modest about casting aside when they need their sword arms free. Dash me, can you even begin to imagine the sight of a horde of naked, hairy-legged creatures charging at you across a battlefield like bloody fiends out of hell—screaming and flailing those great bloody swords and axes of theirs like scythes? Not savages?”
― Marsha Canham, The Pride of Lions

“How can love be frightening?"

"When it consumes you. When it binds you to all other considerations. When you can no longer distinguish right from wrong, love becomes a terrible burden and it can destroy you as readily as it can save you."

Catherine pondered the words carefully, then sighed. "I don't think I would ever want to be that much in love.”
― Marsha Canham, The Pride of Lions

“Indeed. And here is a new one for you: I love you, Alexander Cameron. More than common sense or decency should allow. Your strength frightens me and your stubbornness angers me, and I believe you to be a truly dangerous threat to a woman's inbred gentility, but there you have it. And unless you are prepared to give me several honest and convincing reasons why I should do otherwise, I intend to remain here at Achnacarry as your wife, as your lover if you will have me, as the mother of your sons, of which -please God- there will be many.”
― Marsha Canham, The Pride of Lions

“Indeed, sir, I would be more than willing to do whatever I can to speed my mistress and myself away from this accursed country and away from the likes of you." She looked Alex directly in the eye. "You, sir, ride with death on your shoulder, and it does not make for pleasant company.”
― Marsha Canham, The Pride of Lions

“Here is where I find my strength, Catherine. Right here in your arms.”
― Marsha Canham, The Blood of Roses

“Obviously no one has ever cautioned you against pricking the vanity of proud men or wild animals; neither is completely predictable."

"And which of those categories do you fit into?"

"I'll leave the choice solely to your discretion," he mused and bowed solicitously.”
― Marsha Canham, The Pride of Lions

“You are so right, my love, she thought in wild despair. No man, no king, no ghost is strong enough to come between us; only the indominable splendor of your honor, your pride, and your passion can accomplish that.”
― Marsha Canham, The Blood of Roses

“He would stay with his brothers out of loyalty, fight alongside his clansmen out of pride, but if he died, it would be for Scotland, for his love of the barren, windswept moors and jagged corries he had been unable to call home for so many years and wanted so desperately to call home again. His passion was his strength, but it was also his greatest weakness.”
― Marsha Canham, The Blood of Roses

“Ah, Maura, ye were right," he whispered. "All those years ago ye were right."

Alexander leaned forward, and Lochiel waved his hand in a dismissing gesture. "'Tis naught but somethin' Maura said tae me on our weddin' night. She said we Highlanders possess the pride o' lions. Like lions, we nae fear tae temper our actions, only pride tae govern them.”
― Marsha Canham, The Pride of Lions

“Cameron's fingers curled around the arms of the chair, although the urge to throttle was slowly and unexpectedly giving way to the urge to smile. He had called her bold and brazen, but he was thinking now that the characterization was too mild. She was sitting naked, with only a blanket between her and ruin, yet she dared to defy him with those huge violet eyes and that soft pout mouth--both of which were sorely undermining his efforts to ignore the fact that she was sitting there naked in front of him with only a thin layer blanker protecting him from ruin.”
― Marsha Canham, The Pride of Lions

“The wolves were circling, wary of the might and presence of the kingly beasts who dared to challenge possession of the crown and so far, the lions had proved to be invincible. But should they drop their guard for an instant, or should the scavengers discover the quixotic virtue of their armor, all of the honor, pride, and passion in the world would not save them. It would, instead, be the cause of their ultimate downfall.”
― Marsha Canham, The Blood of Roses

“It was just one of the many absurdities she discovered being married to Alexander Cameron: having everything she had ever wanted yet having nothing at all.”
― Marsha Canham, The Blood of Roses

“Excuse me," she said tartly, "but this is my horse. It is, in effect, my clearing as well, so if you don't mind I would prefer that you leave here at once."

Amused, he raised an eyebrow. "And if I said I preferred to stay?"

She drew a slow breath. "I would say that you were a nuisance and a trespasser, as impudent and lacking in scruples as any man I have ever had the misfortune to meet. And one who no doubt has had thoughts of poaching, even if he has not done so already."

He edged closer, and Catherine felt the heat of the midnight eyes rake her again.

"Indeed, I am beginning to have thoughts, Mistress Ashbrooke," he murmured. "But not of poaching.”
― Marsha Canham, The Pride of Lions

“The reverend began droning the oft-repeated rites and vows of the marriage ceremony. He dared not look either participant in the eye, but directed the promises of love, honor, and obedience to the lofty bookshelves. Only once did he make the mistake of focusing on anything more animated, and then only because the cut over the groom's eye had begun to leak again and a bright red spot of blood dripped onto the front of his shirt, staining the stark whiteness of the silk like an omen of tragedy to come.”
― Marsha Canham, The Pride of Lions

“It was a fine night for treachery - dark with a pale moon rising.”
― Marsha Canham, Pale Moon Rider

“you persist in playing the role of a spoiled, petulant debutante without the wit to realize your every action has a consequence.”
― Marsha Canham, The Pride of Lions and The Blood of Roses

“When I give an order, Evangeline, I expect it to be obeyed. I don't expect it to be questioned. Or ignored. Or embellished with hare-brained notions. A ship runs on discipline. My discipline. As my father is fond of saying, on board this ship I am God, king, and all the saints combined and if you pray to anyone to keep you safe, you pray to me.”
― Marsha Canham, The Following Sea

“You are all I have. You are the single most important thing in my life and I want to know you are safe. Do that much for me, Catherine. Live for me, live for our son. I will always be a part of you, whatever happens, and you will always be a part of me. Nothing can change that. Nothing.”
― Marsha Canham, The Blood of Roses

“I have always found it puzzling that men believe it perfectly acceptable to take their pleasure where they may without guilt or recriminations, but when women do the same, they are branded whores and trulls.”
― Marsha Canham, The Iron Rose

“Why does it feel as if I've barely closed my eyes?"
"Possibly because you just have, my insatiable young minx. I should have remembered what effect Archibald's company had on your tolerance for wine."
"It was not the wine that kept me awake, sir. It was the brandy."
He glanced up from tucking his shirttails into his breeches and grinned wolfishly. "Perhaps next time we should try drinking it out of glasses."
"Perverted and lustful,"she grumbled crossly. "That's what you are. And far too knowledgeable of things decent men and women would never dream of going in their most wicked fantasies."
"Is that a complaint?”
― Marsha Canham, The Blood of Roses

“God deliver me from the sin o’ fornication,” Spence gasped, clutching at the sheets of blood that poured from the deep gash in his head. “Have the bastards killed me?”
― Marsha Canham, Across A Moonlit Sea

“Wh-what do
you think you are doing?"
"I am getting some sleep, Governess. And so help me, if you keep me from it, your
lovely backside will be a latticework of switch marks."
Summer held her breath as Wade yawned, shifted, and settled into a more comfortable
position.
Surely he was not thinking she would remain with him like this for the rest of the night!
"Captain Wade, I must insist--!"
"Blood”
― Marsha Canham, Bound by the Heart

“Wine often makes people say things, do things without the distraction of a conscience.”
― Marsha Canham, Bound By The Heart

“In simple terms, madam? I am your prisoner. At the whim of your mercy-or devilment-for the remainder of the day and the better part of the night....er, assuming you desire my company, that is."
"Desire your company?" She flung herself into his arms with a small cry. "If I thought it would keep you here, I would burn your clothes and tie you hand and foot to the bed."
"An interesting proposition," he mused. "Perhaps when all of this is over, we might explore it more thoroughly.”
― Marsha Canham, The Blood of Roses

“She closed her eyes. "What are you going to do with me now?"

"What do you suggest I do? What would you do with a tiresome, officious nuisance of a woman who is the first to question a man's word of honor, yet the last to keep her own?"

Catherine started to turn, to challenge the accusation, but caught a glimpse of hard-thewed flesh and jerked back. "I hardly consider myself bound by honor to a murderer and a spy."

He sighed and shook his head. "Then may I ask by what distorted logic you suppose a murderer and a spy would be expected to honor his gurantee?”
― Marsha Canham, The Pride of Lions

“He laughed softly. "My dearest Mistress Ashbrooke, while I will admit to a certain misguided attraction to your more earthly charms, I would not now, or ever, consider them worth relinquishing my freedom. I would not relinquish that for you or, indeed, any other woman."

The candor heightened the flush in her cheeks. "You have an aversion to marriage, sir?"

"Distinct and everlasting, madam. But aside from that, do I honestly strike you as the type of man who would take an unwilling wife to hearth and home?"

"I suppose ... if I thought about it ..."

He laughed again. "If women thought about a tenth of the things they should think about, I warrant the world would be a far less complicated place to live in.”
― Marsha Canham, The Pride of Lions

“When I came up the beach back there, do you have any idea how close you came to being thrown down in the sand and ravished there and then, before your mother, your father... before God Himself?”

“They would have killed you if you’d tried.”

He smiled. “I doubt that. In fact, it was your mother who suggested I just drag you off into the bushes and keep you there until you came to your senses. She said that was the only way your father managed to convince her she could be stronger with him than without him.”
― Marsha Canham, The Iron Rose

“The purpose behind your aggravating persistence eludes me, sirrah. What is it exactly that you wish to know? Lord Lucien is a fine, noble gentleman – ”

“Who loves you to the point of distraction and cannot bear to think of a prolonged separation.”

“A noble gentleman,” she reiterated furiously, “who – ”

“Who wants something you have, and is willing to sacrifice his much prized freedom to get it.”

She flushed hotly. “There may have been some consideration given to the dowry, but – ”

“My lady,” the rogue laughed outright. “You are far too modest. With what you bring into the marriage you will turn Lincoln into his small, private domain. A kingdom, if you will, with a dragon on the throne and a nest of serpents writhing at his feet, eager to do his bidding.”
― Marsha Canham, Through a Dark Mist

“Ain’t lost unless yus don’t know where yus are,” Jim grumbled. “I know’d where we are, it’s jest that no one else does.”
― Marsha Canham, Under the Desert Moon

“Ellen followed his progress, thinking of all those young men who believed it was fashionable to wear their pants hanging half off their butts and loose enough to fit an entire basketball team. They should see the way a real man wore jeans.”
― Marsha Canham, The Mark of the Rose