S.J. Bennett > Quotes

“The Queen considered that she did not underestimate President Putin, thank you very much, and resented being told she did. “Do explain.”
― S.J. Bennett, The Windsor Knot

“The Queen solves mysteries. She solved the first one when she was twelve or thirteen, so the story goes. On her own. She sees things other people don’t see—often because they’re all looking at her. She knows so much about so many things. She’s got an eagle eye, a nose for bullshit, and a fabulous memory.”
― S.J. Bennett, The Windsor Knot

“He offered her his arm and they walked down the aisle together, towards the window. His window. It showed timelessness, and recovery and hope. It didn't stop her feeling terribly for the young man in the attic room and the innocent girl in her flat, and even the other one, who suffered such terrors before she died, but it gave her the strength to walk calmly and capably back into the busy castle, where she was the center of its turning world.
In two days she and half the Household would head back to London to prepare for the State Opening of Parliament. Life very much went on. One did what one could. Right now, it was absolutely time for a little gin.”
― S.J. Bennett, The Windsor Knot

“The Queen frowned. She was certain she reminded him of his doddery granny. It was tempting to remind him that she had signed several state papers this morning and could recite all the countries in Africa in alphabetical order, and the kings and queens of England from Ethelred up to herself.”
― S.J. Bennett, The Windsor Knot

“Charles beamed with gratitude (though he and Camilla had departed after coffee for an event at Highgrove the following day, leaving her feeling like the mother of a university student who comes home merely so one can do his laundry).”
― S.J. Bennett, The Windsor Knot

“One could do what one liked in one’s own castle, but staff did not appreciate surprises in areas they considered their own.”
― S.J. Bennett, The Windsor Knot

“It seemed as if the very foundations of democracy were being undermined in ways she hadn't seen since the war, which was longer than many of her subjects' lifetimes. Like everyone else, she felt they were all on the brink of something they didn't fully understand, grasping around to hold on to whatever they believed, praying that it would stand.”
― S.J. Bennett, A Three Dog Problem

“Judy was a woman in her fifties: at that age when everybody needs you—parents, children, workmates, pets . .”
― S.J. Bennett, Murder Most Royal

“There was nothing in life as satisfying as beating a posh boy at something he was good at.”
― S.J. Bennett, The Windsor Knot

“She saw herself. And the image of her sun-bronzed husband heading for her across the water, beaming. These were the memories that made the rest of it possible. What could be more precious than that?”
― S.J. Bennett, A Three Dog Problem

“and little George so nicely lined up to follow him after all the ghastliness, that wouldn’t be such a terrible prospect at all. But Windsor would be best. One could bear anything here.”
― S.J. Bennett, The Windsor Knot

“So he gets a knighthood, and he goes on thinking she's a dim old lady who lives in a nice castle?"
"A dim old lady he works his guts out for, right or wrong."
Rozie shook her head. "I still can't get my head around it. I mean, who has that much..."
"Self-discipline?"
"Yeah."
"One person in the world, I'd say. Enjoy it while you can.”
― S.J. Bennett, The Windsor Knot

“Gavin Humphreys was a methodical man who lived by an old adage, beloved of his military father, known as the Seven Ps: Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance. The director general of M15 planned, he was prepared, and he never expected to underperform.”
― S.J. Bennett, The Windsor Knot

“We know enough to recognize cruelty when we see it.”
― S.J. Bennett, Murder Most Royal

“He had captured something very few artists managed, which was a sense that she was reflecting on more than the act of being captured on canvas, or being queen. In fact, she was rarely thinking about either. There was so much to absorb her attention. She was glad that future generations might get a glimpse of her actively contemplating a world beyond one's own.”
― S.J. Bennett, A Three Dog Problem

“. . . that the light and shadow on the faces was very clever, and the women were beautiful but also interesting, like real women - the ones she knew. People with complicated interior lives, caught in the moment. They had been quite lovely.”
― S.J. Bennett, A Three Dog Problem

“My dear, you can't afford it. A candle called Ernesto. It's supposed to remind one of the cigar smoke of revolutionaries. I've always adored it.”
― S.J. Bennett, A Three Dog Problem

“Philip was full of the news when he arrived to share a coffee with her after lunch.
"Lilibet, did you hear the man was nude?"
"Yes, actually, I did."
"Strung up like a Tory MP. There's a word for it. What is it? Auto-sex something?"
"Autoerotic asphyxiation," the Queen said grimly. She had Googled it on her iPad.”
― S.J. Bennett, The Windsor Knot

“The night had been magical . . . until an over-oiled guest had managed to throw up in one of the pianos, but that was hardly Ned’s fault.”
― S.J. Bennett, Murder Most Royal

“She sensed they shared something that neither found very often in other people. A love of art and music and beautiful things, yes, but she knew loads of friends who had that, too. It was something about this art, this> music, these things. And it wasn't in any way sexual or crude, as Lulu Arantes had suggested. She felt perfectly safe with him.”
― S.J. Bennett, A Three Dog Problem