---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The private ballroom, with its elaborate…"
description: "\"“The private ballroom, with its elaborate plasterwork scenes of Neptune, mermaids, porpoises, and fish, was a perfect backdrop for Vivien. She resemble..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/lisa-kleypas-111_first-sight_the-private-ballroom-with-its-elaborate_178359.jpg"
---

#  The private ballroom, with its elaborate plasterwork…

![“The private ballroom, with its elaborate plasterwork scenes of Neptune, mermaids, porpoises, and fish, was a perfect backdrop for Vivien. She resembled a mermaid herself, wearing a green silk gown that clung to every curve of her body. The deep neckline and hem of the gown were trimmed with…” quote by Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/lisa-kleypas-111_first-sight_the-private-ballroom-with-its-elaborate_178359.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/lisa-kleypas-111_first-sight_the-private-ballroom-with-its-elaborate_178359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/lisa-kleypas-111_first-sight_the-private-ballroom-with-its-elaborate_178359.jpg)

> ““The private ballroom, with its elaborate plasterwork scenes of Neptune, mermaids, porpoises, and fish, was a perfect backdrop for Vivien. She resembled a mermaid herself, wearing a green silk gown that clung to every curve of her body. The deep neckline and hem of the gown were trimmed with ruchings of white satin and dark green gauze, and the sleeves were mere wisps of gauze at the shoulders. It did not escape Grant's or any other man's attention that Vivien had dampened her skirts to cling more closely to her legs and hips, heedless of the bitter clime outside. That first sight of her was like a blow to the stomach. She wasn't classically beautiful, but she was as vibrant as a flame, with an intriguing combination of sweetness and witchery in her face. Her mouth was a fantasy come true, tender, full, and unmistakably carnal. The mass of her sunset-red curls had been pinned at the crown of her head, exposing a vulnerable neck and the most beautiful ivory shoulders Grant had ever seen.””

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A vivid description of Vivien’s seductive allure, contrasting her unconventional beauty with a fiery, enchanting presence that captivates onlookers.

**In simple terms:** Vivien is strikingly attractive and magnetic despite not fitting classic standards.

Key Takeaway

Embrace unique charm and confidence.

Themes

beauty seduction confidence appearance desire

Mood

sensual enthralling poetic

Type

descriptive narrative

When to use this quote

- ballroom gala
- social gathering
- romantic encounter
- fashion showcase

Key Concepts

magnetism contrast vulnerability sensuality

Questions to Reflect On

- How does unconventional beauty affect self‑perception?

A Different Perspective

May focus on appearance distract from deeper qualities?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[First sight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-sight/) [Mermaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mermaid/)

## Related quotes

> [“He noted that she sipped the wine immediately, without the usual ritual of those accustomed to sampling fine vintages... no swirling of the glass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/he-noted-that-she-sipped-the-wine-immediately-without-the-usual/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [“Victoria was an innocent country gentlewoman who spent her time reading, teaching the local children, painting, gathering armfuls of heather in the meadow. Vivien,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/victoria-was-an-innocent-country-gentlewoman-who-spent-her-time/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [“In those days, she let her hair loose, down to her waist, and whenever I met old friends of hers, they would describe my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/in-those-days-she-let-her-hair-loose-down-to-her-waist-and-whenever-i/)

[Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/)

> [Having a fantasy come true doesn't always mean it will be permanent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/having-a-fantasy-come-true-doesn-t-always-mean-it-will-be-permanent/)

[Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/)

> [“I ended up being allowed to take that sabbatical, and it was a fantasy come true. In fact, I have a confession. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/i-ended-up-being-allowed-to-take-that-sabbatical-and-it-was-a-fantasy/)

[Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/)

> [“THE BLUE GLACIER SALOON was part general store, part restaurant, part bar. It was my fantasy come true, a Stuckey’s that served shots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-harper/the-blue-glacier-saloon-was-part-general-store-part-restaurant-part/)

[Molly Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-harper/)

> [You're my fantasy come true. The feel of my skin tinkling as you kiss your way along my body generates so much heat and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemis-khan/you-re-my-fantasy-come-true-the-feel-of-my-skin-tinkling-as-you-kiss/)

[Kemis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemis-khan/)

> [Passion and persistence are what matter. Dreams are achievable and you can make your fantasy come true, but there are no shortcuts. Nothing happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/passion-and-persistence-are-what-matter-dreams-are-achievable-and-you/)

[Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/)

> [Yeah, they look great, but that isn't a fantasy come true, Harry. That's a wood chipper in Playboy bunny clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/yeah-they-look-great-but-that-isn-t-a-fantasy-come-true-harry-that-s/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [Seeing Sunset Boulevard was a fantasy come true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-meisner/seeing-sunset-boulevard-was-a-fantasy-come-true/)

[Randy Meisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-meisner/)

## More by Lisa Kleypas

> [“It was a popular belief in Victorian society that women, with their mercurial natures and lesser brains, could not have the same quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/it-was-a-popular-belief-in-victorian-society-that-women-with-their/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [“Just don't ask me to stand up with you at the wedding, as I have no desire to be a hypocrite." "No, just an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/just-don-t-ask-me-to-stand-up-with-you-at-the-wedding-as-i-have-no/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [“Why isn't it enough that I'm willing to submit to you?' Poppy asked, her own temper flaring. 'Why must I be eager to lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/why-isn-t-it-enough-that-i-m-willing-to-submit-to-you-poppy-asked-her/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [“Then, as now, there were always girls who were overlooked and ignored by gentlemen who really should have known better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/then-as-now-there-were-always-girls-who-were-overlooked-and-ignored/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [“You've always been a know-it-all. Well, you're about to find out how much you don't know." "Believe me," I muttered, "I'm the first one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/you-ve-always-been-a-know-it-all-well-you-re-about-to-find-out-how/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [One glance and I knew exactly who and what he was. The classic alpha male, the kind who had spurred evolution forward about five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/one-glance-and-i-knew-exactly-who-and-what-he-was-the-classic-alpha/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [I always counsel aspiring novelists that passion is the most important quality for a writer to possess - technique can be taught, but that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/i-always-counsel-aspiring-novelists-that-passion-is-the-most/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [Sometimes you meet a really nice guy, but no matter how you try, you can’t seem to make yourself want him. But that’s not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/sometimes-you-meet-a-really-nice-guy-but-no-matter-how-you-try-you/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [“Risking a glance at the dignified young man beside her- what was his name?- Mr. Arthurson, Arterton?- Pandora decided to try her hand at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/risking-a-glance-at-the-dignified-young-man-beside-her-what-was-his/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [“You'll be my wife," he said inexorably. "You want to own me!" she accused, trying to crawl away from him. "Yes." He flung her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/you-ll-be-my-wife-he-said-inexorably-you-want-to-own-me-she-accused/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [And then another letter had come from Christopher, so devastating that Amelia wondered how mere scratches of ink on paper could rip someone's soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/and-then-another-letter-had-come-from-christopher-so-devastating-that/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [“You thought I was peculiar,” she said in a muffled voice. His mouth brushed the edge of her ear and settled against her neck.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/you-thought-i-was-peculiar-she-said-in-a-muffled-voice-his-mouth/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [“Friends are the support bras of life. We don't let each other down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/friends-are-the-support-bras-of-life-we-don-t-let-each-other-down/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [A slow smile began on Gideon's face, and his blue eyes sparkled. With a shake of his head, he put his hand on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/a-slow-smile-began-on-gideon-s-face-and-his-blue-eyes-sparkled-with-a/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

> [“She felt tears slip from beneath her lashes, no matter how she tried to blink them back. Her heart was ablaze. It seemed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/she-felt-tears-slip-from-beneath-her-lashes-no-matter-how-she-tried/)

[Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

[Explore all 1,262 Lisa Kleypas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/)

## More First sight quotes

> [ONE stone enough to break a glass,,, ONE sentence is enough to break a heart,,, FIRST sight is enough to fall in love,,, ONE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-stone-enough-to-break-a-glass-one-sentence-is-enough-to-break-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I never believed that they was such thing as love at first sight but I think I'm having that feeliing @sarahlovemoody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mishack/i-never-believed-that-they-was-such-thing-as-love-at-first-sight-but/)

Mishack

> [I do believe in love at first sight. I believe in a lot of thing. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-i-believe-in-a-lot-of-thing-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I had the love for the game at first sight. Growing up, I'd play anywhere, in any weather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-wan-bissaka/i-had-the-love-for-the-game-at-first-sight-growing-up-i-d-play/)

[Aaron Wan-Bissaka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-wan-bissaka/)

> [I don't BeliEvE in lOvE at FirST SiGht ? because I BelIeVe in LoVe at EverY sIGHt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-because-i-believe-in-love-at/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Sometime when u meet somone u just click i don't believe in love at first sight, but I sure believe in the click](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiz/sometime-when-u-meet-somone-u-just-click-i-don-t-believe-in-love-at/)

[Kiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiz/)

> [It was love at first sight. Then I took a second look!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/it-was-love-at-first-sight-then-i-took-a-second-look/)

[Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/)

> [“Aah, man. Forty-one was far too fucking old for love at first sight. He might as well throw himself at her feet and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-scott/aah-man-forty-one-was-far-too-fucking-old-for-love-at-first-sight-he/)

[Kylie Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-scott/)

> [ p.61 He \[Roark\] was usually disliked, from the first sight of his face, anywhere he went. His face was closed like the door of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/p-61-he-roark-was-usually-disliked-from-the-first-sight-of-his-face/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [It was love at first sight. Until reality struck like lightning and burnt up everything leaving me with nothing but scars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-love-at-first-sight-until-reality-struck-like-lightning-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind, Two of us will help you, whichever you would find, One among us seven will let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/danger-lies-before-you-while-safety-lies-behind-two-of-us-will-help/)

[J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/)

> [When I was starting out, conceptual photography had become something that had to be amateur - like, that had to be black-and-white, or photocopied,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elad-lassry/when-i-was-starting-out-conceptual-photography-had-become-something/)

[Elad Lassry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elad-lassry/)

> [“Men often fall in love at first sight”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-archer/men-often-fall-in-love-at-first-sight/)

[Jeffrey Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-archer/)

> [I now believe in love at first sight. Especially after it's happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/i-now-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-especially-after-it-s-happened/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I don't really believe in love at first sight because your judging the person by their looks and usually the person is rude.I fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/destiny/i-don-t-really-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-because-your-judging/)

[Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/destiny/)

[Browse all 594 First sight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-sight/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The private ballroom, with its elaborate plasterwork scenes of Neptune, mermaids, porpoises, and fish, was a perfect backdrop for Vivien. She resembled a mermaid herself, wearing a green silk gown that clung to every curve of her body. The deep neckline and hem of the gown were trimmed with ruchings of white satin and dark green gauze, and the sleeves were mere wisps of gauze at the shoulders. It did not escape Grant's or any other man's attention that Vivien had dampened her skirts to cling more closely to her legs and hips, heedless of the bitter clime outside. That first sight of her was like a blow to the stomach. She wasn't classically beautiful, but she was as vibrant as a flame, with an intriguing combination of sweetness and witchery in her face. Her mouth was a fantasy come true, tender, full, and unmistakably carnal. The mass of her sunset-red curls had been pinned at the crown of her head, exposing a vulnerable neck and the most beautiful ivory shoulders Grant had ever seen.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lisa Kleypas"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/the-private-ballroom-with-its-elaborate-plasterwork-scenes-of-neptune/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "First sight"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/the-private-ballroom-with-its-elaborate-plasterwork-scenes-of-neptune/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/lisa-kleypas-111_first-sight_the-private-ballroom-with-its-elaborate_178359.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/lisa-kleypas-111_first-sight_the-private-ballroom-with-its-elaborate_178359.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d2/lisa-kleypas-111_first-sight_the-private-ballroom-with-its-elaborate_178359.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The private ballroom, with its elaborate plasterwork scenes of Neptune, mermaids, porpoises, and fish, was a…” — Lisa Kleypas",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Lisa Kleypas",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The private ballroom, with its elaborate...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/the-private-ballroom-with-its-elaborate-plasterwork-scenes-of-neptune/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/the-private-ballroom-with-its-elaborate-plasterwork-scenes-of-neptune/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
