Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1)

by Cassandra Clare

“You read novels. Obviously, I’m here to rescue you. Don’t I look like Sir Galahad?” He raised his arms dramatically. “ ‘My strength is as the strength of ten, Because my heart is pure—’ ”

“My books—” “I’ll get you more books.”

“let me give you a piece of advice. The handsome young fellow who’s trying to rescue you from a hideous fate is never wrong. Not even if he says the sky is purple and made of hedgehogs.”

“Will!” he shouted. “Will, she bit me!”

“It’s bad form to bite,” he informed her. “Rude, you know. Hasn’t anyone ever told you that?” “It’s also rude to go about grabbing at ladies you haven’t been introduced to,” Tessa said stiffly. “Hasn’t anyone told you that?”

“It isn’t against the Law to be an idiot.”

“I hope not. I intend to marry Agatha myself. She may be a thousand years old, but she makes an incomparable jam tart. Beauty fades, but cooking is eternal.”

I’ve never seen anyone get so excited over books before. You’d think they were diamonds.”

“Someone ought to be rude to him. He’s rude enough to everyone else.”

“You never laugh,” she said. “You behave as if everything is funny to you, but you never laugh. Sometimes you smile when you think no one is paying attention.”

When he leaned toward her and brushed his lips across hers, she reached for him as if she would otherwise drown.