lily

“There is nothing good about watching another man claim your ship because your skin is too dark to do it yourself," he says, each word a glancing wound. "So in future, you needn't demand apologies on my behalf.”
― Mackenzi Lee, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

“I have become a veritable scholar in seemingly innocent ploys to get his skin against mine.”
― Mackenzi Lee, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

“So long as you don’t go falling in love with me.” I don’t know why I say it. Call it battlements around my helpless heart. Percy looks away from me fast, shoulders curling up. It almost looks like a flinch. But then he says, “I’ll try my best.” He”
― Mackenzi Lee, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

“I love you, but I don’t know how to help you. I still don’t! I’m an emotional delinquent and I say wrong things all the time, but I want to be better for you. I promise that. It doesn’t matter to me that you’re ill and it doesn’t matter if I have to give up everything, because you’re worth it. You’re worth it all because you are magnificent, you are. Magnificent and gorgeous and brilliant and kind and good and I just . . . love you, Percy. I love you so damn much.”
― Mackenzi Lee, The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue