These Old Shades Quotes

“Remind me one day to teach you how to achieve a sneer, Hugh. Yours is too pronounced, and thus but a grimace. It should be but a faint curl of the lips.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“His Grace was at her side, and lifted her down from the chair.
"My enfant," he said , "duchesses do not dance on chairs, nor do they call their brothers 'imbécile'."
Léonie's twinkled irrepressibly.
"I do," she said firmly.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“Léonie, you will do well to consider. You are not the first woman in my life."

She smiled through her tears. "Monseigneur, I would so much rather be the last woman than the first,” she said.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“M'sieur, I am as a slave to my wife." He kissed the tips of his fingers. "I am as the dirt beneath her feet." He clasped his hands. "I must bestow on her all that she desires, or die!"

"Pray make use of my sword, " invited his Grace. "It is in the corner behind you.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“My house seems remarkably full of people," he observed. "Is it possible we were expected.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“Wonderful!" said the Duke. "We progress!"
"We...? Progress? You said we? Progress?"
"It seems I erred," Avon sighed. "We remain at the same place.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“A certain cynicism, born of the life she has led; a streak of strange wisdom; the wistfulness behind the gaiety; sometimes fear; and nearly always the memory of loneliness that hurts the soul.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“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, These Old Shades

“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.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“I am relieved. May I now have the truth?”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“I do not want a boy. I only want Monseigneur!”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“I cannot bear to go back alone - to the world I have lived in with you.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“I believe I have several times requested you not to call Rupert 'imbecile', infant."
"But Monseigheur, he is an imbecile!" she protested. "You know he is!"
"Undoubtedly, ma fille, but I do not tell the whole world so."
"Then I do not know what I am to call him," said Leonie.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“It must have been-hell!" Merivale said.

"Just so," bowed his Grace. "It was the very worst kind of hell, as I know."

"The wonder is that she has come through it unscathed."

The hazel eyes lifted.

"Not quite unscathed, my dear Anthony. Those years have left their mark."

"It were inevitable, I suppose. But I confess I have not seen the mark."

"Possibly not. You see the roguery, and the dauntless spirit."

"And you?" Merivale watched him curiously.

"Oh, I see beneath, my dear! But then, I have had experience of the sex, as you know."

"And you see-what?"

"A certain cynicism, born of the life she has led; a streak of strange wisdom; the wistfulness behind the gaiety; sometimes fear; and nearly always the memory of loneliness that hurts the soul.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“My God, Justin, do you hate him so?"
"Bah!" said his Grace..."does one hate an adder? Because it is venomous and loathsome one crushes it underfoot, as I shall crush this Comte.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“Dear Edward has given Fanny a chocolate-coloured coach with pale blue cushions. The wheat is picked out in blue." He held the sheet at arm's length. "It seems strange, but no doubt Fanny is right. I have not been in England for such a time...Ah, I beg her pardon. You will be relieved to hear, my dear Hugh, that the wheat still grows as it ever did. The wheels are picked out in blue.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“You'll dine with us, Comte? And you, Anthony?"
"I trespass on your hospitality!" Armand protested.
"Devil a bit, man!" said Rupert. "It's Avon's hospitality you trespass on, and our patience.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“Of a certainty Madame has died," Leonie said wickedly. "Tiens, c'est bien drole!”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“Léonie, you will do well to consider. You are not the first woman in my life.’ She smiled through her tears. ‘Monseigneur, I would so much rather be the last woman than the first,’ she said.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“And I am very uncomfortable in these clothes. I think too that I am a little frightened. There is not even M. Davenant left. I shall be forced to eat pudding, and that woman will kiss me.’ She heaved a large sigh. ‘Life is very hard,’ she remarked sadly.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“Rot his black soul!" fumed Rupert. "The devil's in it now and no mistake. A horse, Fletcher, a horse!"
"Horse sir?"
"Burn it, would I want a cow? Horse, man, and quickly!”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“Rupert is a silly boy, like the Prince de Condé! If you do not marry me, Monseigneur, I will not marry anyone!'

'That would be a pity,' he said. 'Mignonne, are you --sure?'

She nodded; a tremulous smile curved her lips.

'Oh, Monseigneur, I never thought that you would be so very blind!”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades

“Madam Field was not an exhilarating companion, as her mind ran on illness and death, and the froward ways of the younger generation.”
― Georgette Heyer, These Old Shades