How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
She hated the sick, milk-turning feeling that came when she thought of her future gentleman. She pictured it as a sort of ball, one that lasted a lifetime, in which parliament chose her dance partner. And she didn't know if he would be a considerate dancer, one who led her through tight steps with ease, or if he would lurch through the steps. Or worse, if he was the sort of partner who would force her through the movements and scoff at her when she stumbled at his hand. (1.36)
Azalea is not a fan of this whole getting married thing at first. After all, as the firstborn princess, there's a good chance that parliament will have a hand in the selection process, for the good of the country and all that. Since Azalea connects everything to dancing, she thinks about a potential marriage partner in terms of a dance partner: will he be considerate, or a jerk?
Quote #2
"But it's not just for anyone," said Azalea. "It has to be for your husband, or royalty. Like a king." Flora giggled. "For you that will be the same thing!" (9.30)
Little sisters are oh so good at reminding us of things we'd rather not think about. In Azalea's case, it's how the beautiful but rare Soul's Curtsy is only appropriate for royalty or for her future husband… who will, once he marries her anyway, be royalty as well as her husband. It's the kind of curtsy you must give with your whole heart and soul, and right now, Azalea's not sure if she'll ever meet anyone that'll make her want to give the curtsy properly or at all. Nothing wrong with having standards.
Quote #3
Lady Aubrey wrote the "Height of Society" news, which, in Eathesbury, usually involved a discussion on why Lady Caversham and Minister Fairweller would be such a fine match. (9.80)
This gossip column is a good reminder that marriage is both a personal and a social thing—and this is especially the case for the people with high social status. The rest of the population likes to speculate on their love lives, and in the case of people in politics, it kinda makes sense, since they're the ones making the policies that affect everyone else.
Quote #4
Years ago, when Azalea had discovered that the crown princess of Delchastire was betrothed to a prince nearly forty years her senior, Azalea had fussed with the article so much it had turned her fingers black with ink. (14.193)
So Azalea's not just being paranoid about ending up in an arranged marriage that is politically beneficial—this sort of stuff still happens in her day. We can see why she's a little fearful for her future.
Quote #5
Mr. Hyette's smile faded.
"Now see here," he said. "You certainly have no right to be picky. Everyone knows the point of this silly riddle is to find the future King." (15.23-24)
Just a tip for Mr. Hyette: reminding someone that they're essentially powerless to choose their future spouse is perhaps not the best courtship strategy. Rubbing in something like that is, shall we say, impolite. It's no wonder Azalea doesn't like him at first.
Quote #6
"And me," said Bramble, and even her pushed smile faded. "Well… me. I've got too little dowry and too much mouth. And no gentleman likes that. The King will be grateful to have anyone take me." (15.53)
Dowry (or the custom of the bride's family giving a sum of money or goods to the groom) is still going strong in the world of Entwined. For a gal like Bramble who's outspoken, this could be a problem, since it's not like her family can afford to pay someone to put up with her. They're gonna have to find someone who actually likes her and wants her around. Now who might that be…?
Quote #7
"So I have heard," said Fairweller, unmoved. "Also, from what I have heard, Miss Clover does not care for the match."
"Ah, never mind that," said the Viscount with a wry smile. "We are men of the world, are we not? Ladies like her are easily bullied." (16.146-147)
Pressuring someone into a marriage sure sounds like a swell thing to do. (Not.) The Viscount here apparently thinks nothing of it, while Fairweller, to his credit, reacts to protect Clover (and not just because he has a thing for her, we're thinking—any decent human being would be appalled at the thought of trying to coerce someone into a marriage they didn't want).
Quote #8
"When she left I—I just stared at that horrid perfumed letter and—and I couldn't bear to think of Fairweller with her! He was too good and noble and—and—" Clover's fists shook. "And I realized I was in love with him! And I would marry him! Fairweller was mine!" (22.31)
Is marriage motivated by a desire to possess someone? In Clover's case, yeah, it kinda looks that way. We don't think she's being creepy about it, but rather has realized how good a person Fairweller is and she wants to be with him rather than letting someone like Lady Caversham (who seems like a gold-digger) be with him. Hopefully marriage is, for most people, based on sharing values, like between Clover and Fairweller.
Quote #9
"I just sent the marriage contract with his steward," said the King. "I certainly told him no often enough […] He loves her. He doesn't give a fig for her dowry, he loves her for who she is."
[…]
"But—but—that's not the way it's done," she stammered. "You can't just arrange Bramble's marriage without even asking her! That's not how it's done nowadays!" (24.98-100)
The King decides to marry Bramble off to Lord Teddie without even asking her first, which angers Azalea to no end—and if it can happen to one of her sisters, who's to say it couldn't happen to her? Besides, Azalea promised Bramble she'll make sure it doesn't happen this way. How awful… it's almost a good thing that the undead High King D'Eathe comes back to the palace and disrupts everyone's plans.
Quote #10
"It is only glass, you know. Nothing fine or grand. Your Mother knew it, when she accepted it with my hand. And she knew I danced as well as a tree. She knew about the politics and duties and responsibilities of marrying into royalty." (30.24)
The King tells Azalea about giving the jet brooch to her mother, and about how she knew, before marrying the King, what it would involve. It seems like a good idea to know the circumstances you're marrying into, especially if they'll involve special obligations—and Azalea has been hoping that Mr. Bradford is willing to accept the obligations that will accompany marrying her, and she's about to (finally) see that he is. Yay.