A Scandalous Deception Quotes

“but the importation of knowledge did not mean the exportation of wisdom.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“Rather, she feared her distress had its roots in the unexpected amiability of the enterprise, the sense of camaraderie that had sprung up between them as they sat quietly by the fire in her room discussing suspects in Mr. Otley’s murder. In those moments, she’d felt known by the duke in a way she hadn’t been by anyone else, and it made her sad and unsettled to realize how quickly he would cease to know her.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“Were ingratiating smiles of compensation an essentially female thing?”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“All you knew about a lie was where it would start, never where it would end.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“At least now she had something to mourn properly, she thought mockingly, determined not to wallow in the tragic turn her life had suddenly taken. As was her practice, she would be amused and diverted by the ridiculousness of the situation. Middling Beatrice Hyde-Clare in love with the high-flying Duke of Kesgrave. It was the apogee of a very good joke.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“Excuse me?” he said. “I pledged to cease investigating the horrible deaths that cross my path,” she explained, her mood lightening a little as she felt the warmth of the sun on her face. The ache in her head continued unabated, but the one in her heart started to subside. “That was the promise you extracted and the promise by which I will abide.” “I cannot perceive a distinction,” he said as he urged his team around a curricle that was stopped in the middle of the road. “I know, your grace, and for that I’m grateful,” she said, before commending him on his skill as a whipster.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“For Bea, it was a truly terrifying moment, for it was the instant when she finally understood who the Duke of Kesgrave really was. He was a man endowed by his creator with power and influence few could dream of possessing. She’d thought his authority came from the sycophancy of a beau monde unable to resist the lure of money and status combined in a pleasing form. But in her naïveté she had gotten it backward, for it was very much the other way around: Authority demanded compliance.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“May we now proceed to Sylvan Press so that we may hold Mr. Hill responsible for the brutal slaying of Lord Fazeley? Or do you have other promises you would like to extract through devious means?” “No others,” he said mildly. “Just the one to ensure you don’t meet a grisly end at the hands of a vicious killer.” “For the record, I find your high-minded condescension to be just as irritating as your usual sort,” she said. He professed surprise that she didn’t find it more irritating.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“Bea, shaking her head, did not disappoint. “You are a true profile in courage, your grace.” “Quite,” he said, gesturing to the doorway that led back to the staircase. “Now, do you want to continue to mock me or should we pay a call on Mr. Cornyn?” She laughed at the naïveté of the question, and as she crossed the floor, assured him she could quite easily do both.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“I cannot explain what has come over me except that seeing a kitchen so disrespectful of your position or requirements offended me with such intensity I forgot myself. It will not happen again.” “Stephens, it is knowing that you will be affronted on my behalf that allows me to keep a cool head when abused by a kitchen,” Kesgrave said gravely.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“At this charge, he smiled faintly and said with pronounced sobriety that he was relieved to hear that it was, of course, ultimately his fault.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“No,” he said. He could have at least considered it before rejecting the notion entirely out of hand. “Why not?” “You said a rational discussion,” he pointed out, aggrieved by the deception. “Your proposing to dress up as a man and accompany me to look at a house is not rational. It’s ludicrous.” “Why is it ludicrous?” she asked. “I think I would make a very convincing fellow. I have the shoulders for it.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“He titled his head at a curious angle as he smiled. “I believe that’s the first compliment you’ve ever intentionally paid me.” Acceding this point silently would have furthered her agenda, but she couldn’t refrain from pointing out that intentional compliments were not necessary, as he frequently pulled thoughtlessly spoken words out of the air and used them to praise himself.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“Bea could not wait to mock the duke for his beetroot sermon, which must have been as tedious as his lecture on the Battle of the Nile. She would even look up information about the root vegetable herself so she could drop a few fusty facts into the— And then she remembered Kesgrave’s fainthearted retreat two nights before. She would have no opportunity to mock his ostentatious pedantry.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“No!” At this unexpectedly vehement denial, Lord Duncan started and, sensing an opportunity to slip away unnoticed, took several steps backward. Watching him make his escape, a scurrying little creature afraid of his own shadow, Bea sneered at the cowardly display. Any man with an iota of self-respect would have stayed firmly rooted to the spot and enjoyed his tormentor’s disgrace.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“Although Bea knew her health required no restoration, she decided it was better to appease her aunt now in order to defy her later. She was just about to observe that the fig tree did indeed look welcoming when Kesgrave spoke first and invited her to dance. Horrified, Aunt Vera said, “Oh, no.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“Will I?” she said quietly as Kesgrave began to return the papers to a neat stack. She didn’t know which surprised her more: his assumption that she was soon to meet the famous widow or that he was thoughtful enough to straighten up the table before they departed.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“You haven’t asked how I found you,” Kesgrave said as he leaned back in the chair. “No,” Bea agreed. “You aren’t curious?” As she was only human, Bea was extremely interested in learning how he had contrived to appear on the first floor of Montague House at the very moment she required a figure of authority to smooth her way, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of revealing it. “Not particularly.” His lips twitched at the firmness of her tone. “I’m going to tell you regardless.” “Well, naturally, you cannot resist the opportunity to show off,” she said.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“Bea was humbled by his belief in her, yes, but more than that she was emboldened, and now that another opportunity to test her detection skills had presented itself, she was eager to see how she would perform. Indeed, there was something thrilling in the uncertainty because for so many years her failure had been assured.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception

“Even so, Bea couldn’t quite elude the conviction that the murder had somehow been contrived for her benefit to demonstrate the dangers of lying.”
― Lynn Messina, A Scandalous Deception