--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dare I ask how you were received?”…" description: "\"“Dare I ask how you were received?” “Warily, at first. Then somewhat belligerently.” His eyebrow quirked. “But my reception improved markedly, once I e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/tessa-dare-564_dinner-party_dare-i-ask-how-you-were-received-warily_901691.png" --- # Dare I ask how you were received?” “Warily, at first. Then… ![“Dare I ask how you were received?” “Warily, at first. Then somewhat belligerently.” His eyebrow quirked. “But my reception improved markedly, once I extended the invitation to a dinner party with my aunt.” A rueful smile curved Sophia’s lips. Yes, that would be her parents’ reaction. They’d dine…” quote by Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/tessa-dare-564_dinner-party_dare-i-ask-how-you-were-received-warily_901691.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/tessa-dare-564_dinner-party_dare-i-ask-how-you-were-received-warily_901691.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/tessa-dare-564_dinner-party_dare-i-ask-how-you-were-received-warily_901691.png) > ““Dare I ask how you were received?” “Warily, at first. Then somewhat belligerently.” His eyebrow quirked. “But my reception improved markedly, once I extended the invitation to a dinner party with my aunt.” A rueful smile curved Sophia’s lips. Yes, that would be her parents’ reaction. They’d dine with the Devil himself, if a duchess were in attendance. “They are dreadful, aren’t they?” He shrugged. “Isn’t everyone’s family? I doubt your father and I will ever be great friends, but we did discover one interest in common.” “What’s that?” “You.” Strong fingers cupped her chin. “We both want to see you happy. We both love you.” For a moment, Sophia did not trust herself to speak. Relief and joy swelled within her, until there was room for nothing else. His lips brushed hers in a gentle kiss. “Am I forgiven, for not telling you first?” Yes, yes. Forgiven, cherished, treasured, adored. Loved, beyond reason. “I suppose,” she said coyly, tracing the line of his jaw with her fingertips. “So long as you will extend me the same forgiveness.” “Why?” His eyes narrowed. “Have you been keeping secrets again?” “Just one.” Smiling, she took his hand and pressed it meaningfully against her gently rounded abdomen. “A very, very tiny one.”” [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tentative courtship deepens through mutual vulnerability and forgiveness, leading to intimacy and trust. **In simple terms:** Vulnerability builds trust and love. Key Takeaway Embrace honesty and forgiveness. Themes love trust vulnerability forgiveness intimacy Mood hopeful romantic Type narrative dialogue When to use this quote - first dates - confessing secrets - reconciling after betrayal - building intimacy Key Concepts psychology romantic dynamics conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - How does vulnerability change a relationship? - What role does forgiveness play in love? A Different Perspective Forgiveness may not erase underlying issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Devil Duchess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil-duchess-1247063/) [Dinner party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner-party/) [Duchess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duchess/) [Forgiven Cherished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiven-cherished-1247065/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Great friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-friends/) [Keeping secrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping-secrets/) [Kiss Forgiven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kiss-forgiven-1247062/) [Yes Forgiven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yes-forgiven-1247064/) ## Related quotes > [Yes you are forgiven, come back to me and we can start all over again... 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"Is this duchess food?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/mac-and-cheese-and-pigs-in-a-blanket-with-white-fuckin-wine-he-stated/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [The enormity of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's global influence is daunting, especially for Kate, whose look is admired, copied, and analysed everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-seward/the-enormity-of-the-duke-and-duchess-of-cambridge-s-global-influence/) [Ingrid Seward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-seward/) > [My mother always used to say when picking up a product, 'Would you give this to the Duchess of Windsor?' Well, that's lovely. 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I can't tell you just now what the moral of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-re-thinking-about-something-my-dear-and-that-makes-you-forget-to/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) ## More by Tessa Dare > [“This explains so much," she said, clucking her tongue in mother-hen fashion. "You're compensating for this withered appendage." Withered appendage? 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/) > [“You think a few features scattered on your face make you plain? I am ugly to the core. All England knows it. And after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/you-think-a-few-features-scattered-on-your-face-make-you-plain-i-am/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“I’d be more than happy to let you survey my physical perfection in its entirety. 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The low-cut bodice did miraculous things for her bosom, and the vibrant color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/madeline-stood-before-him-in-a-gown-of-rich-emerald-green-silk-the/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“And she was well-enough acquainted with loneliness to understand that the worst part wasn't having nobody caring for you - it was having nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/and-she-was-well-enough-acquainted-with-loneliness-to-understand-that/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“He stood in the doorway to a side chamber, bared to the waist and dripping. He propped one shoulder against the doorway and clutched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/he-stood-in-the-doorway-to-a-side-chamber-bared-to-the-waist-and/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“And you claim to be feeling this way. Floatish. Singsong-ish. About me.” She sighed. “Yes.” “That’s absurd.” “I know, but I can’t seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/and-you-claim-to-be-feeling-this-way-floatish-singsong-ish-about-me/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“No, of course she didn't say it. But there is no other reason she should have called, except to pave the way for her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/no-of-course-she-didn-t-say-it-but-there-is-no-other-reason-she/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“And there it was. The prim face of censure he’d been seeking. A strange sense of satisfaction descended on him. Divine justice, perhaps. Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/and-there-it-was-the-prim-face-of-censure-he-d-been-seeking-a-strange/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Another sketch-this one of Gabriel-hung on the all above the water cask. 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Have a care for your reputation, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/miss-finch-it-s-not-wise-for-officers-to-quarter-in-the-same-house/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) [Explore all 472 Tessa Dare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) ## More Dinner party quotes > [My girlfriend and I went to a dinner party the other night and we ended up playing charades. There was another couple there that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/my-girlfriend-and-i-went-to-a-dinner-party-the-other-night-and-we/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [“As we prepared for sleep that night I noticed that Lisa was staring at her reflection in the mirror. She looked as young now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-n-drake/as-we-prepared-for-sleep-that-night-i-noticed-that-lisa-was-staring/) [S.N. 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Then somewhat belligerently.” His eyebrow quirked. “But my reception improved markedly, once I extended the invitation to a dinner party with my aunt.” A rueful smile curved Sophia’s lips. Yes, that would be her parents’ reaction. They’d dine with the Devil himself, if a duchess were in attendance. “They are dreadful, aren’t they?” He shrugged. “Isn’t everyone’s family? I doubt your father and I will ever be great friends, but we did discover one interest in common.” “What’s that?” “You.” Strong fingers cupped her chin. “We both want to see you happy. We both love you.” For a moment, Sophia did not trust herself to speak. Relief and joy swelled within her, until there was room for nothing else. His lips brushed hers in a gentle kiss. “Am I forgiven, for not telling you first?” Yes, yes. Forgiven, cherished, treasured, adored. Loved, beyond reason. “I suppose,” she said coyly, tracing the line of his jaw with her fingertips. “So long as you will extend me the same forgiveness.” “Why?” His eyes narrowed. “Have you been keeping secrets again?” “Just one.” Smiling, she took his hand and pressed it meaningfully against her gently rounded abdomen. “A very, very tiny one.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tessa Dare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/dare-i-ask-how-you-were-received-warily-at-first-then-somewhat/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dinner party" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/dare-i-ask-how-you-were-received-warily-at-first-then-somewhat/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/tessa-dare-564_dinner-party_dare-i-ask-how-you-were-received-warily_901691.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/tessa-dare-564_dinner-party_dare-i-ask-how-you-were-received-warily_901691.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/857/tessa-dare-564_dinner-party_dare-i-ask-how-you-were-received-warily_901691.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Dare I ask how you were received?” “Warily, at first. 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