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A Dangerous Fortune

Book by Ken Follett · 4 quotes · Marriage, Bourgeoisie, Elite

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A Dangerous Fortune Quotes

“I have to go into town," Hugh said as he put on a collar and tie. "Who's going to look after the boys, then?" she said. "You, I hope." "No!" she screeched. "I'm going shopping!" "I'm sorry, Nora, but this is very important." "I'm important too!" "Of course you are, but you can't have your way about this. I have to speak to Ben Greenbourne urgently." "I'm sick of this," she said disgustedly. "Sick of the house, sick of this boring village, sick of the children and sick of you. My father lives better than we do!" Nora's father had opened a pub, with a loan from Pilasters Bank, and was doing extremely well. "I ought to go and live with him, and work as a barmaid," she said. "I'd have more fun and I'd be paid for doing drudgery!" Hugh stared at her. Suddenly he knew he would never share her bed again. There was nothing left of his marriage. Nora hated him, and he despised her. "Take your hat off, Nora," he said. "You're not going shopping today." He put on his suit jacket and went out.”

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“Edward was calming down rapidly, to Micky's relief. Micky said: "When we're first married, we should probably spend a few evenings at home, and give the occasional dinner party. But after a while we'll go right back to normal." Edward frowned. "Don't wives mind that?" Micky shrugged. "Who cares whether they mind? What can a wife do?" "If she's discontented I suppose she can bother her husband." Micky realized that Edward was taking his mother as a typical wife. Fortunately few women were as strong-willed or as clever as Augusta. "The trick is not to be too good to them," Micky said, speaking from observation of married cronies at the Cowes Club. "If you're good to a wife she'll want you to stay with her. Treat her roughly and she'll be only too glad to see you go off to your club in the evening and leave her in peace.”

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“Nora was sitting up in bed, surrounded by lace pillows, sipping tea. Hugh perched on the edge of the bed and said: "You were wonderful last night." r school based "I showed them all," she said, looking pleased with herself. "I danced with the Prince of Wales." "He couldn't stop looking at your bosom," Hugh said. He reached over and caressed her breasts through the silk of her high-buttoned nightdress. content areas She pushed his hand aside irritably. "Hugh! Not now." He felt hurt. "Why not now?" "It's the second time this week." "When we were first married we used to do it constantly." "Exactly when we were first married. A girl doesn't expect to have to do it every day forever." Hugh frowned. He would have been perfectly happy to do it every day forever-wasn't that what marriage was all about? But he did not know what was normal. Perhaps he was overactive. "How often do you think we should do it, then?" he said uncertainly. She looked pleased to have been asked, as if she had been waiting for an opportunity to clear this up. "Not more than once a week," she said firmly. "Really?" His feeling of exultation went away and he suddenly felt very cast down. A week seemed an awfully long time. He stroked her thigh through the sheets. "Perhaps a little more than that." "No!" she said, moving her leg. Hugh was upset. Once upon a time she had seemed enthusiastic about lovemaking. It had been something they enjoyed together. How had it become a chore she performed for his benefit? Had she never really liked it, but just pretended? There was something dreadfully depressing about that idea.”

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