Georgette Heyer

Novelist

1902-08-16

Quotes by Georgette Heyer

• The Viscount stepped into the room. Came to see if you was dead, he said. Laid Pom odds you weren't.Lethbridge passed his hand across his eyes. I'm not, he replied in a faint voice.No. I'm sorry, said the Viscount simply. He wandered over to the table and sat down. Horry said she killed you, Pom said So she might, I said No. Nonsense.Lethbridge still holding a hand to his aching head tried to pull himself together. Did you? he said. His eyes ran over his self invited guest. I see. Let me assure you once more that I am very much alive.Well I wish you'd put your wig on, complained the Viscount. What I want to know is why did Horry hit you on the head with a poker?Lethbridge gingerly felt his bruised scalp. With a poker was it? Pray ask her, though I doubt if she will tell you.You shouldn't keep the front door open, said the Viscount. What's to stop people coming in and hitting you over the head? It's preposterous.I wish you'd go home, said Lethbridge wearily.The Viscount surveyed the supper-table with a knowing eye.Card-party? he inquired.

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• Has no one ever told you that it is the height of impropriety to kiss any gentleman, unless you have the intention of accompanying him immediately to the altar?

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• You must not imagine that Papa or I have the least notion of compelling you to marry anyone whom you hold in aversion, for I am sure that such a thing would be quite shocking! And Charles would not do so either, would you, dear Charles?—(Elizabeth Ombersley)"No, certainly not. But neither would I consent to her marriage with any such frippery fellow as Augustus Fawnhope!""Augustus," announced Cecilia, putting up her chin, —will be remembered long after you have sunk into oblivion!——By his creditors? I don't doubt it.

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• The more enchanted the idyll, greater must be the pain of its ending.

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• People who start a sentence with personally (and they're always women) ought to be thrown to the lions. It's a repulsive habit.

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• Nothing more likely,said Hannasyde. I've got to try and rattle him.It's him that'll do the rattling,said the Sergeant darkly. he's the nearest thing to a snake I've seen outside of the Zoo.

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• He then, with great presence of mind, put a stop to any further recriminations by kissing her; and his indignant betrothed, apparently feeling that he was too deeply sunk in depravity to be reclaimable, abandoned (for the time being, at all events) any further attempt to bring him to a sense of his iniquity.

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• But it is infamous that they have not told you!' declared Eustacie. "Je n'en reviendrai jamais!'"If it's all the same to you, miss, I'd just as soon you'd talk in a Christian language,' said Mr. Stubbs.

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• I don't ask you - fribble!' snapped his lordship, rounding on him, with the speed of a whiplash. 'You may keep your tongue between your teeth!'Yes, sir - happy to!' uttered Claud, dismayed. 'No wish to offend you! Thought you might like to be set right!''Thought I might like to be set right?''No, no! Spoke without thinking!' said Claud hastily. ' I know you don't!

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• One minute he stood transfixed, the next he uttered a crushing oath, and took a hasty stride forward. Mr Ringwood, recovering from his own stupefaction, closed with him, just as George, flushing vividly, sprang to his

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• A jaw like a mastiff's, a frame like a giant's, eyes like two daggers, a smile like a tiger's snarl,Bernard murmured.Aye, he is all that!! Master Herbert said.A murrain be on him! And when I came to him,what did I do? I did bow in all politeness, yet stiffly withal to show him I'd not brook his surliness.I did hear ye did bow so low that your head came below your knees,Bernard said.

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• I must own, too, that I can't be astonished at his being vexed to death over this business. It is excessively awkward! However, he doesn't lay the blame for that at my door: you mustn't think that!I should think not indeed! exclaimed Anthea between amusement and indignation. How could he possibly do so?No, very true, my love! agreed Mrs Darracott. I thought that myself, but it did put me on the fidgets when Richmond said he wanted to see me, because in general, you know, things I never even heard about turn out to be my fault.

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• Sir William was also startled, but when Vicky smiled at him, rather in the manner of an engaging street-urchin, his countenance relaxed slightly, and he asked her what she was doing with herself now that she had come home to live.Well it all depends, she replied seriously.Sir William had no daughters, but only his memories of his sisters to guide him, so he said that he had no doubt she was a great help to her mother, arranging flowers, and that kind of thing.Oh no, only if it's that sort of a day! said Vicky.Sir William was still turning this remark over in his mind when the butler came in to announce that dinner was served.

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• Monseigneur, I have killed you! You are dead! You are dead!You display an unseemly joy, he remarked. I had no notion you were so bloodthirsty.

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• Miss Grantham's sense of humour got the better of her at this point, and, tottering towards a chair, she sank into it, exclaiming in tragic accents:'Oh Heavens! I am betrayed!' His lordship blenched; both he and Miss Laxton regarded her with guilty dismay. Miss Grantham buried her face in her handkerchief, and uttered one shattering word: 'Wretch!

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• How could you receive a member of the Male Sex in your bedroom, and in your dressing gown?Sir, I must request you to leave immediately!You don't mean to tell me that's a dressing gown? interrupted Mr Carlton, a dangerous gleam in his eyes. Well, it's by far the most elegant one I've ever been priviledged to see, and I suppose I must have seen scores of 'em in my time-paid for them too!

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• Bustle about Noddy, or we shant be in time to snabble any of the lobster patties.

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• It is possible,— said Miss Marling stiffly, —that Frederick and not Mary will have the ordering of thejourney."Vidal chuckled. "Not if I know my Mary,— he replied

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• If it comes to that, retorted Frederica, with spirit, I am continually shocked by the things you don't scruple to say to me,cousin! You are quite abominable!He sighed. Alas, I know it! The reflection gives me sleepless nights.

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• Those fine eyes of hers had a disconcertingly direct gaze, and very often twinkled in a manner disturbing to male egotism. She had common-sense too, and what man wanted the plainly matter-of-fact, when he could enjoy instead Sophia's delicious folly?

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