--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tell me,\" he said, smiling, \"Would you…" description: "\"“Tell me,\" he said, smiling, \"Would you really have danced with the duke?\" She relaxed, the danger past. \"Yes. But he was my second choice. You, sir, d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/judith-o-brien-80576_gaze_tell-me-he-said-smiling-would-you-really_2822822.jpg" --- # Tell me," he said, smiling, "Would you really have danced… ![“Tell me," he said, smiling, "Would you really have danced with the duke?" She relaxed, the danger past. "Yes. But he was my second choice. You, sir, didn't seem to have much interest in me." "Ah. There you are very wrong." His smile faltered, and then he began to lean forward, as if he would kiss…” quote by Judith O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/judith-o-brien-80576_gaze_tell-me-he-said-smiling-would-you-really_2822822.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/judith-o-brien-80576_gaze_tell-me-he-said-smiling-would-you-really_2822822.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/404/judith-o-brien-80576_gaze_tell-me-he-said-smiling-would-you-really_2822822.jpg) > ““Tell me," he said, smiling, "Would you really have danced with the duke?" She relaxed, the danger past. "Yes. But he was my second choice. You, sir, didn't seem to have much interest in me." "Ah. There you are very wrong." His smile faltered, and then he began to lean forward, as if he would kiss her again. But the door opened, and a loud group of young men pushed into the courtyard, filling the garden with glimmering light and sound as they laughed amongst themselves.”” [Judith O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-o-brien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A flirtatious encounter reveals power dynamics and hidden motives in a social setting. **In simple terms:** A tense romance shows hidden motives. Key Takeaway Watch for ulterior motives in relationships. Themes power romance trust social intrigue miscommunication Mood suspenseful intriguing dramatic Type narrative dialogue When to use this quote - high‑society gatherings - romantic pursuits - political negotiations Key Concepts psychology social dynamics courtship Questions to Reflect On - What signals indicate genuine interest? - How do power imbalances affect intimacy? A Different Perspective The dialogue may be overly dramatic, reducing realism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courtyard Filling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtyard-filling-3602607/) [Danced Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danced-duke-3602605/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Light And Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light-and-sound/) [Pushed Courtyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pushed-courtyard-3602606/) [Second choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-choice/) [Smile Faltered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile-faltered-757689/) [Young men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-men/) ## Related quotes > [“You overestimate my interest in you," Loki grinned broadly. "I prefer my Princesses in unsoiled pajamas." My clothes would've been relatively clean if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/you-overestimate-my-interest-in-you-loki-grinned-broadly-i-prefer-my/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [“The cybernetic operation?” “No, the sex change.” The doctor’s smile faltered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/the-cybernetic-operation-no-the-sex-change-the-doctor-s-smile-faltered/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“The cybernetic operation?" "No, the sex change." The doctor's smile faltered. "I'm joking.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/the-cybernetic-operation-no-the-sex-change-the-doctor-s-smile/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“Have you got money for food?” Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say, because her smile faltered. 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Although unable to control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-frost/he-experienced-while-sleeping-the-unsettling-sensation-of-full-waking/) [Mark Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-frost/) > [I think that those elements - light and sound - are beyond democratic. They're into the creative part of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/i-think-that-those-elements-light-and-sound-are-beyond-democratic/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [In thinking of light, if we can think about what it can do, and what it is, by thinking about itself, not about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-turrell/in-thinking-of-light-if-we-can-think-about-what-it-can-do-and-what-it/) [James Turrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-turrell/) > [The classic Soul Travel experience is leaving the human body in full awareness and having the Light and Sound of God flow directly into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/the-classic-soul-travel-experience-is-leaving-the-human-body-in-full/) [Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/) ## More by Judith O'Brien > [“As she was being pulled away, she caught one last glimpse of Barnaby. As if he sensed her location, he looked up and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-o-brien/as-she-was-being-pulled-away-she-caught-one-last-glimpse-of-barnaby/) [Judith O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-o-brien/) > [“She shook her head, and he just-stared at her. She could feel his gaze, although she looked straight ahead and pretended that she didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-o-brien/she-shook-her-head-and-he-just-stared-at-her-she-could-feel-his-gaze/) [Judith O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-o-brien/) [Explore all 3 Judith O'Brien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-o-brien/) ## More Gaze quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. 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What the devil was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/this-explains-so-much-she-said-clucking-her-tongue-in-mother-hen/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) [Browse all 15,087 Gaze quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Tell me,\" he said, smiling, \"Would you really have danced with the duke?\" She relaxed, the danger past. \"Yes. But he was my second choice. You, sir, didn't seem to have much interest in me.\" \"Ah. There you are very wrong.\" His smile faltered, and then he began to lean forward, as if he would kiss her again. 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