Quotes from Georgette Heyer

Would you believe it? – the instant she clapped eyes on me, she said that she saw I had taken to dyeing my hair! I was never more shocked, for it is quite untrue! It is not dyeing one's hair merely to restore its colour when it begins to fade a little! I denied it, of course, but all she did was to give the horridest laugh, which made me feel ready to sink, as you may suppose!

He did not want middle-aged men with distinguished records with him: they could be better employed elsewhere, and would, moreover, have bored him. He wanted polished young men of good families, who were of his own world, who knew how to make themselves pleasant in exalted circles, and could amuse his leisure moments with their adventures, and their fun, and their bubbling energy.

Which was the best I could do, sir, seeing as the motorboat was no use and I'd got to get across the creek somehow. I won't repeat what that Peabody said, because it doesn't bear repeating, but... I said, interrupted a voice with relish, I said I 'adn't been 'ired to row an 'ippo across the creek, and no more I 'ad.

Tell him that I shan't interfere in any way! I shall, of course, but he will never know it, so you needn't scruple to say that, dearest!

I shall take leave to tell you, Carleton, that I find your – your wit offensive!' 'By all means!' replied Mr Carleton. 'You have my leave to tell me anything you choose! How unjust it would be in me to refuse to grant you leave to do so when it has never occurred to me that I should ask your permission to say that I find you a dead bore, which I've been doing for years.

It was incomprehensible to her that anyone should be amused by such a circumstance, but both Gilly and Gideon plainly thought it excessively funny, so she smiled dutifully, realizing the truth of her mama's dictum, that there was never any knowing what stupidities men would find diverting.

If I were you, I'd put up that pistol, Mr. Ottershaw,' said Hugo. 'Were you meaning to challenge the ghost with it? You'd catch cold if you did, you know. It's no crime that I ever heard of to caper about rigged up as a boggard.

Well, I've never written a line of poetry in my life: it is not my way! But if I *did* write about you I shouldn't call you a paltry daffodil! I should liken you to a rose--one of those yellow ones, with a deep golden heart, and a sweet scent! said Sir Bonamy, warming to the theme. Nonsense! she said briskly. You would be very much more likely to call me a plum partridge, or a Spanish fritter!

I must have forgotten the outcome of your previous encounter!' Sir James continued to smile, with that air of patronage which made Adrian long to hit him. 'But he matches his grays against a very different pair this time, you must remember.' 'True, but you are driving them, are you not?' said Adrian, with deceptive innocence.

And although she did, when shown the impropriety of her behaviour, say she was sorry to have made a scene in public, it was evident that she was not in the least penitent.

Nothing he wore was designed to attract attention, but he made every other man in the room look either a trifle overdressed or a trifle shabby.

In my experience, the human mind, when under the influence of fear, rushes round in frantic circles.

He lived in Half-Moon Street. His house was ruled by his cook, the wife of Moggat, his valet-footman. She also ruled the hapless Moggat. Moggat retaliated by ruling his jovial master as far as he was able, so one might really say Mrs. Moggat ruled them all. As Tom was quite unaware of this fact, it troubled him not a whit.

Good God, my love, what is amiss?' 'That man!' choked Miss Grantham. 'That devil!' 'Oh, heavens, you have quarrelled with Ravenscar again!' cried her ladyship. 'Don't tell me you have had him put in the cellar! I can't bear it!

But perhaps I might feel strange, and unlike myself. It wouldn't be comfortable, not to be acquainted with myself.

Does it matter what I know? It is what Cleone knows, but there's naught under the sun so unreasonable as a maid in love.

Really, I don't know what the world is coming to if I am to be suspected of staring in at windows!

But as for Thaddeus Drybeck, words fail me!' The Inspector, placing no dependence on this statement, waited for her to continue.

I have not always appeared to be sensible of the care you have bestowed on me, but I know now that it has been unceasing.

But time was slipping away; in another minute it would be too late; and urgency acted not as a spur but as a creeping paralysis which clogged the mind, and weighted the tongue, and imposed on desperation a blanket of numb stupidity.

When I think of all the pretty and lovely girls who have done their best to attach him, and he tells me that he has offered for an insipid female who has neither fortune nor any extraordinary degree of beauty, besides being stupidly shy and dowdy, I – oh, I could go into strong hysterics!

Lady Sheringham, having provided herself with a smelling-bottle to fortify her nerves during an interview with her only child, removed the stopper and inhaled feebly. 'I am sure I do not know what would become of me if I had not my good brother to support me in my lonely state,' she said, in the faint, complaining tone which so admirably concealed a constitution of iron and a strong determination to have her own way.

Don't worry. Chivalry has practically no appeal for me whatsoever. -- Neville Fletcher

Wrotham had been inspired at the eleventh hour to send the flowers with the second of his messages in place of the first. Wear these, and I shall know what to think, ran the inscription on his lordship's card. This was going too fast for Miss Milborne, who felt that until she herself knew what to think it would be better for his lordship to remain in his present uninformed state.