Georgette Heyer Venetia Quotes

He took her face between his hands, turning it up, and looking down at her for a moment before he kissed her. "I do love you, Jenny," he said gently. "Very much indeed
you are part of my life. Julia was never that-only a boy's impractical dream. ~ Georgette Heyer

Taken thus by surprise, it was several moments before she was able to decide whether to make herself known to him, or to await a formal introduction. The strict propriety in which she had been reared urged her to adopt the latter course; then she remembered that she was not a young girl any longer, but a guardian-aunt ... To flinch before what would certainly be an extremely disagreeable interview would be the act, she told herself, of a pudding-heart. Bracing herself resolutely, she got up from the writing-table, and turned, saying, in a cool, pleasant tone: 'Mr Calverleigh?'
He had picked up a newspaper from the table in the centre of the room, and was glancing through it, but he lowered it, and looked enquiringly across at her. His eyes, which were deep-set and of a light grey made the more striking by the swarthiness of his complexion, held an expression of faint surprise; he said: 'Yes? ~ Georgette Heyer

There was something very taking in her face which owed nothing to the excellence of her features: an expression of sweetness, a sparkle of irrepressible fun, an unusually open look, quite devoid of self-consciousness. ~ Georgette Heyer

My dear girl, you don't consent to an abduction! You consent to an elopement, and I knew you wouldn't do that. ~ Georgette Heyer

Entertaining females with accounts of jug-bitten maunderings is one of my favourite pastimes.' He ~ Georgette Heyer

But it was very stupid of me not to see that of course the friend of Juliana must be this Mary Challoner. It was stupid of you too, Rupert. More stupid. ~ Georgette Heyer

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. ~ Georgette Heyer

You're Beau Wyndham! Well, I'll be damned!'
'The prospect,' said Sir Richard, bored, 'leaves me unmoved ~ Georgette Heyer

you had as well go rabbit-hunting with a dead ferret as try to get past his butler! ~ Georgette Heyer

Miss Trent regarded her thoughtfully. "Well, it's an odd circumstance, but I've frequently observed that whenever you boast of your beauty you seem to lose some of it. I expect it must be the change in your expression."
Startled, Tiffany flew to gaze anxiously into the ornate looking-glass which hung above the fireplace. "Do I?" she asked naively. "Really do I, Ancilla?"
"Yes, decidedly," replied Miss Trent, perjuring her soul without the least hesitation. ~ Georgette Heyer

Meg, as good-natured as her mother and brother, would have been amiable to anyone for whom her kindness had been solicited. Had she found herself confronted by a dazzling blonde she would not have spurned Kitty; but it could not be denied that the discovery that Miss Charing was a brunette immediately confirmed her in her conviction that she would like her prodigiously. ~ Georgette Heyer

Martin,' interrupted Gervase, 'why were you stunned, kept in durance vile, and finally rolled into a sand-pit? ~ 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. ~ Georgette Heyer

Child, you do not know me. You have created a mythical being in my likeness whom you have set up as a god. It is not I. Many times, infant, I have told you that I am no hero, but I think you have not believed me. I tell you now that I am no fit mate for you...My reputation is damaged beyond repair, child. I come from vicious stock, and I have brought no honor to the name I bear. To no women have I been faithful; behind me lies scandal upon sordid scandal...You have seen perhaps the best of me; you have not seen the worst'

'Ah, Monseigneur, you need not have told me this! I know--I have always known, and still I love you. I do not want a boy. I only want Monseigneur. ~ Georgette Heyer

If you imagine that I have the smallest desire to receive your hand as a reward for having performed a difficult task to your satisfaction you're beside the bridge, my child! I've no fancy for a reluctant wife. I want your love, not your gratitude. ~ Georgette Heyer

I'm not talking nonsense, lass. I'd give you the whole of the moon if I could, and throw in the stars for good measure,' he said, taking her hand, and kissing it. 'You couldn't be content with less? ~ Georgette Heyer

Cecy, help me to collect the ducklings, and put them back into the box! If we were to place your muff on top of them they will very likely believe it to be their mother, and settle down! ~ Georgette Heyer

No one had ever looked at her just like that before, and it had the effect upon her of making her feel, for perhaps the first time in her life, a strong desire to lay the burden of her cares upon other shoulders. Captain Staple's were certainly broad enough to bear them. ~ Georgette Heyer

I cannot bear to go back alone - to the world I have lived in with you. ~ Georgette Heyer

Next you will say that you don't intend to have more than one house in the country!' 'Nay, I shan't say that! I want one in Leicestershire.' 'Oh, in that case there's no more to be said, for I've set my heart on one in the moon!' 'You don't mean that, love! Nay then, you can't have thought!' he expostulated. 'It's much too far from town! ~ Georgette Heyer

You do mean to remain, then?'
'If I get what I want.'
'The Dower House?'
'Nay, that's a small matter! I'll tell you what it is one of these days, but I'm not so very sure I can get it yet, so happen I'll do best to keep it to myself.'
'Well, I wouldn't tell anyone!' she exclaimed.
'The thing is you might say I'd no hope of getting it,' he explained. An odd little smile came into his eyes as he saw her puzzled frown. 'I'd be all dashed down in a minute,' he said, shaking his head. 'That would never do! ~ Georgette Heyer

My lord said, amongst other things, that he did not propose to burden the doctor with the details of his genealogy. He consigned the doctor and all his works, severally and comprehensively described, to hell, and finished up his epic speech by a pungent and Rabelaisian criticism of the whole race of leeches. ~ Georgette Heyer

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

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! ~ Georgette Heyer

She thought, in touching innocence, that in Miles Calverleigh she had found a friend, and a better one by far than any other, because his mind moved swiftly, because he could make her laugh even when she was out of charity with him, and because of a dozen other attributes which were quite frivolous – hardly attributes at all, in fact – but which added up to a charming total, outweighing the more important faults in his character. ~ Georgette Heyer

Your fate is writ clear;you will be murdered. I cannot conceive how it comes about that you were not murdered long since!
How odd!Charles himself once said that to me, or something like it!
There is nothing odd in it; any sensible man must say it! ~ Georgette Heyer

I am sure I do not know why a man should not be a gamester, if his talents make it an eligible profession for him! ~ Georgette Heyer

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. ~ Georgette Heyer

And now I wish I hadn't been civil, because he says he shall not despair! He is as stupid as Endymion!"
"No, no!" said Alverstoke soothingly. "Nobody could be as stupid as Endymion! ~ Georgette Heyer

Yes, Nicky, but you think I know everything because I never tell you anything I am not quite certain of ~ Georgette Heyer

It was strange how the dullest party could be enjoyed because there was one person present whose eyes could be met for the fraction of a second, in wordless appreciation of a joke unshared by others: almost as strange as the insipidity of parties at which that person was not present. ~ Georgette Heyer

There is a worse tyranny than that of ill-treatment. It is the tyranny of tears, vapours, appeals to feelings of affection and of gratitude! ~ Georgette Heyer

You seem to forget that you wished to purchase the moon for me!'
'Nay, I don't forget that! The thing is I can't purchase it, so there was no harm in saying it. Now, if I'd said I'd like to give you a diamond necklace, or some such thing, you might have taken me up on it. I remembered that just in time to stop myself,' he explained, apparently priding himself on his forethought.
'I should like very much to have a diamond necklace,' said Anthea pensively.
'Wouldn't a paste one do as well?' he asked, in a voice of great uneasiness. She had been so sure that he would fall into the trap that she was taken, for an instant, off her guard, and looked up at him with such a startled expression on her face that his deep chuckle escaped him, and he lifted her quite off her feet, and kissed her. ~ Georgette Heyer

She was generally considered to be a pretty woman; and, since she was as good-natured as she was foolish, she was almost universally liked. ~ Georgette Heyer

The Marquis believed himself to be hardened against flattery. He thought that he had experienced every variety, but he discovered that he was mistaken: the blatantly worshipful look in the eyes of a twelve-year-old, anxiously raised to his, was new to him, and it pierced his defences. ~ Georgette Heyer

You know how comfortably you go on as a bachelor, and how very much you would dislike to be tied to a wife's apron-strings."

He laughed a little ruefully, but denied it. "I shouldn't dislike being tied to your apron-strings. ~ Georgette Heyer

Lady Winwood being denied, the morning caller inquired with some anxiety for Miss Winwood, or, in fact, for any of the young ladies. ~ Georgette Heyer