A Treacherous Performance Quotes

“I mean no offense,” he added, “but you have appalling taste in archnemeses.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Kesgrave laughed, as she’d hoped he would, and said, “Who is being pedantic now?” “Alas, you have thoroughly corrupted me,” she said on a giggle, feeling momentarily lighthearted because it was still a wonder, this thing between them.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“We would never presume to lecture you on morality, Miss Drake, however insufficient we find yours.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Behaved?” Kesgrave echoed, as if not entirely sure what the word meant, and he repeated it again as his lips curved into a smile. “Why do I suddenly feel like a faithful bloodhound being complimented on the hunt?”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Thoughtfully, he considered the matter, and Bea, reminded again of the seriousness and esteem with which he regarded her, fell a little deeper in love.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Devil it, I am biddable!” she said angrily, for she had spent twenty unresisting years under the thumb of her aunt. Surely, that was enough for an informal endorsement of her character. Her furious insistence on her own docility further amused the duke, who said between chuckles that he felt sure she had no cause to worry.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“You may cease pretending to be disappointed,” he added mildly, “when we both know you have got exactly what you want. And don’t think you hoodwinked me by switching to an inane argument so that your original premise seemed reasonable in comparison.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“I mean no offense,” he added, “but you have appalling taste in archnemeses.” Bea laughed and assured him that none was taken.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Startled by her restraint, Kesgrave stared. “You haven’t asked her yet?” “We are partners, and as such I would not pursue the investigation without you,” she said. “Did I not just explain all this? I made a particular point to be pedantic about it so you would be sure to understand.” Her comment earned her a smile, but she could not say if it was the dip into pedantry or the sentiment itself that pleased him.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“But I won’t because I know what you are, Mrs. Norton, what you have always been. You are a dull and stupid woman who knows she is a dull and stupid woman. And Bea is bright and clever and that is a personal affront to you because the dull and stupid are always affronted by the temerity of wit.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“I will own that being near the man whose life you helped brutally end is probably an extremely unpleasant experience for you, but I would argue that perhaps you should have considered that possibility before you helped brutally end a man’s life.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“How do you plan to inform her of your success? A letter via a messenger or in person? If you would seek my opinion, I would advise the former, as it is much easier to be exquisitely condescending in a note. Without question, it can be done in person, as I have demonstrated on several occasions, but a letter allows you to control every aspect and therefore can be particularly cutting.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Unaccountably, she felt laughter well up inside her. That…that damnable mustache had humiliated her again. It was more than she could bear, and she succumbed to another bout of giggles, horror and humor uniting with so much vigor she could barely breathe. She was certainly incapable of choking out an apology. But she did feel sorry, so dreadfully sorry, for unintentionally scraping off his skin. Kesgrave, clutching her by the shoulders in hopes of calming her, asking with genuine bewilderment, “How can I love someone so absurd?”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Ardently, he detailed the arbitrary pricing of ink, and Kesgrave, who was accustomed to inflicting boredom, not suffering from it, could stand it no longer. He rose abruptly to his feet with the imperiousness of five centuries of breeding and bid the solicitor good day.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“I contemplate how easily it could have gone the other way. Just a little less spite from Miss Brougham, and I would have lived my whole life without you.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“And yet, as she heard herself recount for Kesgrave the events of her first season, she felt a fresh stab of pain as she recognized the depth of her isolation. She’d never said those words out loud before because she had never had anyone to say them aloud to. It was mortifying, Bea thought, to realize that she could still discover new ways to feel bad about herself.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Then he held her hand more tightly and said, “You are an unnatural woman in many ways—your inability, for example, to grasp how truly impressive I am makes you deeply abnormal—but you are not inhuman. It makes you sad because it is sad.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Whatever clever reply she’d begun to formulate in response to the conundrum of his affection was entirely forgotten as Bea crossed the room in three brisk steps and flung herself into his arms. She could resist his blond curls, certainly, and withstand the tug of his twinkling blue eyes easily, but she was utterly powerless against the ruthless treatment of a beloved relative.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“How irritating indeed to believe you are about to astonish your listener with a profoundly shocking fact only to have your moment scuttled by the other person’s intolerable cleverness. Kesgrave had done it to her more than once.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“But you will note how flexible I am being, my dear. I am willing to compromise my vision to ensure your happiness.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Kesgrave, however, was not finished discussing Mr. Fairbrother’s leg—or, rather, the brutal way he had been exposed to it without notice. Naturally, Bea scoffed at the notion that he had not been warned, as the situation itself had made the expectation apparent to anyone with an awareness of logic. “If you choose to cultivate a healthy disregard for reason, then that is your decision and I cannot see how I am to be held responsible.” As the Duke of Kesgrave considered himself to be among the most rational men in the kingdom, if not the most, he took great exception to this charge, and while his carriage rambled along Fenchurch toward the Particular, he explicated in detail all the ways her assumption was incorrect. Delightedly, she refuted each one, sometimes descending into illogic just to provoke his pique, and by the time they arrived at the theater, Kesgrave was resigned to inspecting all gangrenous limbs as a condition of their marriage.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Although Fairbrother was relieved to discover he was in the presence of a medical professional, the supposed medical professional himself was not as pleased about the news and glowered intimidatingly at its bearer. Bea stared blithely back, undaunted by his surliness, for she had no patience for his delicate sensibilities.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Possible?” she asked, mercilessly pressing her advantage. “My good man, I think it’s probable. I cannot imagine the physician you and Chatterley managed to find treated the wound properly. Now do remove your trousers so that Mr. Harper may take a look. He was a field doctor during the war. If you ask, he will rattle off the battles at which he performed surgery in chronological order.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Thoughtfully, she listed the most nourishing types, noting with regret that she had been unable to find information on Kesgrave’s favorite variety, the ‘Audacious.’ Noting the depth of her disappointment, his grace, who had invented the ‘Audacious’ in an attempt to earn a distracted Bea’s attention only the week before, announced that he might have possibly got the name wrong. He would consult with his chef on his preferred type of beetroot and report back to her posthaste. It was, Bea thought, a tactical mistake, for now he would have to follow through, and if he thought complaining about having to bear more than his fair share of abstemiousness to his intended was humiliating,”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“she advised him not to come in or risk being embroiled in another conversation about the various varieties of beets. “She has been reading Mr. Fletcher’s Guide to Edible Roots in preparation,” she warned,”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“My impulse is to ascribe this oversight to the overweening confidence of an arrogant man, but you, my lord duke, are by far the most arrogant person I’ve ever met and you would never leave the ruination of a dowdy spinster to a subordinate. You would oversee every detail yourself to ensure maximum destruction of her reputation. And I do not say that merely because I am fond of you,” she hastened to add. Now Kesgrave’s lips twitched with genuine humor. “You don’t?” “No,” she affirmed, grateful that his rage had subsided.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Truly, it’s too difficult to say,” Mr. Rodwell concluded. Although Bea appreciated his sincere attempt to give an accurate accounting, she thoroughly enjoyed how his indecisive rambling caused Tavistock to vibrate with impatience. Long after her curiosity had been satisfied, she posed question after question simply to discomfit him further.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“Although Bea expressed concern that such a statement might undermine her standing in the new household, she promised to consider it. “You will note, I trust, how I did not immediately say no to your request even though I will ultimately deny it? That is what we call proper conduct or decorum, your grace.” Before he could respond to her exquisite condescension, the carriage slowed to a stop, and Bea felt her anxiety, which had receded during the ride, increase sharply.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“I?” he asked in sweeping astonishment, as if she had proposed something truly shocking, such as strolling down Bond Street in his dressing gown. Naturally, she did not appreciate his needlessly dramatic response, and bristling with offense, said, “Yes, you can tell Marlow that you believe I will make a most biddable mistress. Upon reconsideration, it is in fact the better arrangement. It will carry more weight coming from you, as you know me slightly better than Jenkins.” “Slightly?” he said, succumbing entirely to his mirth. “I know you only slightly better than my groom?” She found his ability to be easily distracted by a trifle to be genuinely exasperating and sighed with hearty frustration.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance

“It worked, in a fashion, for eventually the gales waned enough for Mrs. Norton to glare at her with fervent dislike and ask with disgust dripping from every syllable, “What kind of…of…ghoul are you?” It was the wrong thing to say.”
― Lynn Messina, A Treacherous Performance