--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The windows had been thrown open to the…" description: "\"“The windows had been thrown open to the summer breezes, and as Brisbane pressed me down onto the bed, I smelled the roses at the casement surrendering..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/deanna-raybourn-4836_flowers_the-windows-had-been-thrown-open-to-the_2214669.png" --- # The windows had been thrown open to the summer breezes… ![“The windows had been thrown open to the summer breezes, and as Brisbane pressed me down onto the bed, I smelled the roses at the casement surrendering their perfume at the end of the long day. He put his hands through my hair and the lavender wreath, broken to bits by the exertions of dancing…” quote by Deanna Raybourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/deanna-raybourn-4836_flowers_the-windows-had-been-thrown-open-to-the_2214669.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/deanna-raybourn-4836_flowers_the-windows-had-been-thrown-open-to-the_2214669.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4a/deanna-raybourn-4836_flowers_the-windows-had-been-thrown-open-to-the_2214669.png) > ““The windows had been thrown open to the summer breezes, and as Brisbane pressed me down onto the bed, I smelled the roses at the casement surrendering their perfume at the end of the long day. He put his hands through my hair and the lavender wreath, broken to bits by the exertions of dancing, scattered like so much confetti across the sheets. What followed...well, there are words to describe such a thing, but they are known only to poets. I believed I loved him before that night; I believed I understood what passes between a man and a woman before that night. I believed I knew all there was of intimacy and pleasure and passion and perfect satisfaction. I was wrong. I went into the room the woman I had always been, but I emerged the next day exactly as Marigold had described—a new creation. I mourned the loss of the beautiful pale violet corset Brisbane had destroyed in his haste, but it was the only casualty of his loss of control, and as I stared mournfully at the shreds of French lace, I marvelled that I had driven him to take it apart with his bare hands. There was power in him, but gentleness as well, and he had given me both.”” [Deanna Raybourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-raybourn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A passionate encounter shatters the narrator’s previous notions of intimacy, revealing both power and tenderness in the lover. **In simple terms:** Intimacy can change you beyond expectations. Key Takeaway Embrace vulnerability and growth. Themes love transformation power gentleness Mood introspective sensual Type literary emotional When to use this quote - romantic relationships - personal evolution - sexual awakening Key Concepts intimacy self‑discovery Questions to Reflect On - What does true intimacy mean? - How can power be balanced with gentleness? A Different Perspective May romanticize unhealthy power dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flowers/) [Knew Intimacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knew-intimacy-4918611/) [Long day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-day/) [Loss Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss-beautiful-340525/) [Next day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-day/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Smelled Roses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smelled-roses-1996863/) [Summer breeze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summer-breeze/) [Surrendering Perfume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrendering-perfume-4918610/) ## Related quotes > [“...they knew each other as much as they knew themselves, and their intimacy, rather like too many suitcases, was a matter of perpetual concern;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/they-knew-each-other-as-much-as-they-knew-themselves-and-their/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [It was June, and the world smelled of roses. 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Its incessant flow has polished the rocks carried from the top of the mountain. The aqueous caress, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-dubois/i-sit-down-by-the-river-its-incessant-flow-has-polished-the-rocks/) [Gabrielle Dubois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-dubois/) > [So, when I was eight or nine my mom's friend gave her a big purple bag full of cassettes and I found Seals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/so-when-i-was-eight-or-nine-my-mom-s-friend-gave-her-a-big-purple-bag/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) ## More by Deanna Raybourn > [Life is too uncertain... 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Some of them good, some of them clever, and some of them with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-raybourn/i-think-people-are-much-the-same-wherever-you-go-some-of-them-good/) [Deanna Raybourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-raybourn/) > [“Brisbane put one in mind of wolves and lithe jungle cats, while Edward conjured images of seraphim and slim young saints. It required an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-raybourn/brisbane-put-one-in-mind-of-wolves-and-lithe-jungle-cats-while-edward/) [Deanna Raybourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-raybourn/) > [“I had a vision of you, the first time I stepped into Grey House, the night Edward died. 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"He was here a quarter of an hour at the most."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-raybourn/my-face-grew-hot-we-were-discussing-the-investigation-i-told-him/) [Deanna Raybourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-raybourn/) > [“Yo no he dicho eso. Tiene usted el don de sacar el peor significado posible de mis palabras. Nicholas Brisbane”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-raybourn/yo-no-he-dicho-eso-tiene-usted-el-don-de-sacar-el-peor-significado/) [Deanna Raybourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-raybourn/) > [I am sorry " I murmured. "I know. I ought not to have threatened to beat you " he returned. He pressed a kiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deanna-raybourn/i-am-sorry-i-murmured-i-know-i-ought-not-to-have-threatened-to-beat/) [Deanna Raybourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-raybourn/) [Explore all 100 Deanna Raybourn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deanna-raybourn/) ## More Flowers quotes > [“On the third day, she smelled the fruit as soon as she came in. She followed the scent to the kitchen, and the peach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/on-the-third-day-she-smelled-the-fruit-as-soon-as-she-came-in-she/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Most girls get flowers or candy. I get a declaration of martial law.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-shearin/most-girls-get-flowers-or-candy-i-get-a-declaration-of-martial-law/) [Lisa Shearin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-shearin/) > [I do whatever entertains me. If it entertains me to throw flowers halfway across the room, then that's what I'll do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-owens/i-do-whatever-entertains-me-if-it-entertains-me-to-throw-flowers/) [Kevin Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-owens/) > [ROSES ARE RED VIOLETS ARE BLUE YOU DID ME WRONG SO GUESS WAT BABE??FUKK YU](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica/roses-are-red-violets-are-blue-you-did-me-wrong-so-guess-wat-babe/) [JESSICA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica/) > [My days – the blossom of my youth and the flower of my manhood – have been darkened by the dreariness of servitude. 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He put his hands through my hair and the lavender wreath, broken to bits by the exertions of dancing, scattered like so much confetti across the sheets. What followed...well, there are words to describe such a thing, but they are known only to poets. I believed I loved him before that night; I believed I understood what passes between a man and a woman before that night. I believed I knew all there was of intimacy and pleasure and passion and perfect satisfaction. I was wrong. I went into the room the woman I had always been, but I emerged the next day exactly as Marigold had described—a new creation. I mourned the loss of the beautiful pale violet corset Brisbane had destroyed in his haste, but it was the only casualty of his loss of control, and as I stared mournfully at the shreds of French lace, I marvelled that I had driven him to take it apart with his bare hands. 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