““His thumb stroked over the thin wool of her gown, making promises to what was concealed. She felt his other hand at her back, setting her free of all the small tokens of decency, which great factories in the north pressed into buttons, clasps and hooks that women fastened dutifully, knowing their place, knowing their role. Covered, bound, laced, wrapped, bundled away from the world like objects to be kept on a shelf. Put away from this kind of honesty and the revelations it might bring””
![“Speak plainly, sir.' '*Sir*? I say, Lyd. Are you always so formal with men you've made love with?' The whip of her head caused the bird [on her hat] to saw wildly, like a famished woodpecker in range of a tree.” quote by Meredith Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3d6/meredith-duran-2968_quote_speak-plainly-sir-sir-i-say-lyd-are-you_184237.jpg)