Eliza Cross Quotes

“I must apologize for the dog," said Cross as he closed the door of his study. "My daughter has a tender heart."
Hugh nodded once in acknowledgement. "An admirable trait in a woman.”
― Caroline Linden, An Earl Like You

“Her hands went still. Hugh stared at the nape of her neck, at the honey-colored wisps curling against her pale skin. Could he chance it? Did he have a choice?
"Bravo," called Cross from his seat. "What did you think, Hastings?"
He had to clear his throat. "Lovely. You've a splendid voice, Miss Cross."
She twisted to look up at him, her eyes shining with delight. "Thank you, sir."
Hugh smiled on instinct. That look... She wasn't a beauty, nor even very pretty. London society would call her plain. But when she gazed at a man that way, with her heart in her eyes, she was not ordinary.”
― Caroline Linden, An Earl Like You

“She turned her head to smile at him, and in that moment she looked rather lovely. With her face lit by affection and happiness, she wasn't actually plain, Hugh realized. Her face was unremarkable, true, but there was a brightness and an animation to her tonight, some spark that made her arresting.”
― Caroline Linden, An Earl Like You

“I think Papa's quite fond of Willy, but he refuses to admit it."
"It's very much his loss," declared Lord Hastings. "Dogs are often better company than people."
"Yes, indeed!" Eliza beamed at him in delight. "Very much so.”
― Caroline Linden, An Earl Like You

“She had a lovely singing voice. Most well-bred young ladies could play, but few could sing, and Miss Cross could.
Eliza, he reminded himself. Perhaps his future wife, the mother of his children, the woman would share his bed and his house. She loved her dog, she sang beautifully, and she liked the theater. Other than that, he knew nothing about her.Could he do this?
She wasn't a typical beauty. Her face was round and her hair was an ordinary shade of light brown. A string of pearls circled her neck, and Hugh was sure her pale green silk gown had cost as much as Edith's court gown, but it suited her. Some women had no sense of style and bought the latest fashion whether it made them ugly or exquisite. With two sisters and a mother in his house, Hugh knew enough of ladies' clothing to see that this lady chose well. When she reached to turn the page, he got up and went to stand beside her to turn the next one. Her voice wobbled a bit as he did so, but she played on.
Her skin was lovely. He spied a few freckles on her nose, but her shoulders and bosom were as pale as cream. Her bosom... Hugh reached for the next page and stole a quick glance downward. Plump and tempting, now that he looked at it. Her hands were graceful on the keys, and his mind wandered involuntarily into thoughts of what they would feel like on him. What it would be like to kiss her. What she would be like in bed. Would she be shy? Frightened? He found himself hoping not, even though he hadn't even decided to court her yet.”
― Caroline Linden, An Earl Like You

“Hugh paid no more attention to the farce than he had to the opera. He took every opportunity to study the young woman sitting beside him. She didn't hide her amusement at the production on stage, laughing at the pranks of the fool and clapping one hand to her mouth when the hero fell to his knee and proclaimed his love for the fainting maiden. Hugh sensed it was all genuine, as genuine as her nerves and her devotion to Willy and even her welcoming words to him this evening.”
― Caroline Linden, An Earl Like You

“She wondered when Papa would accept that she wasn't the sort of girl gentlemen flocked to. In his eyes she was lovely, but Eliza knew he was the only one who saw her that way. Plain girls had made splashes in society, but usually by virtue of being vivacious and witty. Eliza tended to grow mute and hesitant in the presence of elegant strangers, and any wit she had vanished from her brain if one of them actually spoke to her. Undoubtedly Papa hoped her enormous dowry would outweigh her shyness, but Eliza would rather be that eccentric old lady with a house full of dogs than marry a husband who only wanted her money.
So Papa could dream, but Eliza was far less certain. Perhaps some day she would meet an affable country squire who didn't need a beautiful, charming wife, but preferred a quiet girl content to play with her dog and tend her garden. And if not, she would just remain where she was.”
― Caroline Linden, An Earl Like You

“I scarcely noticed the time passing. Miss Cross was kind enough to entertain me in the meantime."
Papa chuckled. "I cannot fault you for forgetting me, then. She's far better company than I!"
Hastings gave Eliza a warm glance. "I cannot disagree.”
― Caroline Linden, An Earl Like You

“It was a relief to believe that she was as she seemed, but the more he liked her, the less fair it seemed that she was being fooled. And Hugh wasn't such an ogre that he didn't care for her feelings.
On the contrary, he was coming to like her very much. Unlike many society girls, Eliza didn't act as if any gentleman nearby was obliged to amuse her. She expressed such delight in a simple posy, he couldn't help wondering what she would say if he presented her with a real gift. She seemed utterly content to spend time in her garden with her dog, and didn't even evince the slightest boredom at living in Greenwich away from the whirl of society. He told himself it must be easy, with Cross's vast fortune at her disposal; she needn't fret about a dark and drab drawing room, as Edith did, or moan about her lack of new gowns, as Henrietta did. But somehow he knew it wasn't just the money. Eliza wasn't the type to complain. Instead she gave every appearance of being content with her life and taking joy in small pleasures.”
― Caroline Linden, An Earl Like You

“So much for fearing a shy, paralyzed virgin; she might be innocent, but Eliza had pressed against him and kissed him back until he completely forgot that he was pursuing her because of her father's manipulations.
That thought cooled his blood somewhat. Edward Cross wanted him to court and marry his daughter, didn't he? Hugh smiled grimly. Cross was about to get exactly what he wanted.
And so was he. Not only Cross's money, but Eliza herself.”
― Caroline Linden, An Earl Like You