It was a mystery why the army bothered with a signal…

“There were many things a man might think he should be told when a woman agreed to marry him. She had choose not to…

— Ruth Downie

“I seem to remember sitting on a golden bench, and she started chattering about the sunset, or something. She seemed quite happy so I…

— Ruth Downie

“But, when she was alone, someone rapped on the door and she found herself on her feet, knife in hand, before she had time…

— Ruth Downie

“...a little knowledge would unlock the gates to vast and unsuspected gates of ignorance.”

— Ruth Downie

“Sparrows and pigeons and a blackbird were celebrating the morning in the courtyard.”

— Ruth Downie

“But she’s only a woman!” The watch captain shook his head again. “So was Helen of Troy, sir. Look what she started.”

— Ruth Downie

“The Empress Sabina had long ago formed her own theory about the nonsense in travel books. No traveler, having gone to the expense and…

— Ruth Downie

“But what if--- Most of what if never happens.”

— Ruth Downie

“wriggled to avoid the lump that always seemed directly under”

— Ruth Downie

“That was one of the bad things about being able to read: people could nag you from a great distance.”

— Ruth Downie

“But how can an ordinary girl not know this? Had Varana's mother not bothered to teach her anything at all or just shouted complaints…

— Ruth Downie

“He tried the diversion of reciting all the bones in the body, working down the left side, down to the toes and then back…

— Ruth Downie

“Quid nomen tibi est? She was not about to offer her name up to a stranger. It was almost the only thing she possessed…

— Ruth Downie

“One of the many difficult things about women was that they tended to pick the most unsuitable times to tell you something they considered…

— Ruth Downie

“And leave me alone when I tell ya to. I will have things to do that are private. I cannot always have you trailing…

— Ruth Downie