Wives Like Us Quotes

“Lady Caroline cocked her head to one side and regarded her daughter fondly. “Darling. Don’t be so obtuse. I mean, a flat in Fulham and a job as a headmistress at the age of forty can only lead to one thing.” “To what, Mummy?” “A tragic, impoverished spinsterhood.” Arabella made a face. “Really. Mama. Have you not yet come across the phrase ‘internalised misogyny?’” Her mother ignored this. “Surely you want to settle down in the country and have children?” “I’ve already got four hundred and fifty children at school.”
― Plum Sykes, Wives Like Us

“The Old Coach House, like many of its neighbours, boasted two kitchens. There was generally a “back” kitchen where food was prepared by staff, and a “front” or “Marie Antoinette” kitchen, where at most a muffin was toasted or a button pressed on a Nespresso machine. This was where the family would dine so that they could feel as though they were eating informally “in the kitchen,” like normal people who didn’t have household staff.”
― Plum Sykes, Wives Like Us

“You know that old saying,” Betty said, a look of approval on her face as Josh lowered the front ramp and led out two stunning chestnut warmblood showjumpers, one after the other. “Don’t drive a Rolls-Royce and bring out an old banger of a horse. Drive an old banger and bring out a Rolls-Royce of a horse.”
― Plum Sykes, Wives Like Us

“Ian, old boy!” Tuggy called out from behind the bar as soon as he walked through the door. The thirty-five-year-old landlord, nicknamed at birth for his similarity to a tugboat at that young age, rather enjoyed bartending on the odd Saturday night. “Your usual, sir?” “Sounds good.” Ian perched on one of the bar stools, which had been painted yellow and had just the right amount of colour sanded off for a vintage effect, and leaned an elbow on the marble-topped counter while Tuggy put together his “usual” in an old-school highball glass. This consisted of a Franklin & Sons rosemary tonic water, a splash of Ceder’s Classic juniper, coriander and rose-geranium botanical spirit, a stem of fresh mint, and a generous heap of ice.”
― Plum Sykes, Wives Like Us

“Not at all,” said Ian, taking in every detail of the rather attractive man before him. He was tanned and tawny-haired, with hazel eyes. He was dressed in luxurious-looking jogging bottoms and a matching zip-up sweater of fine navy cashmere (which Ian immediately clocked as being Loro Piana, loungewear of the super-rich).”
― Plum Sykes, Wives Like Us

“A pillar of the community, Lady Caroline was chair of the local Women’s Institute, a magistrate, a prison visitor, church warden, district commissioner of the Pony Club, wife to Sir Reggie Backhouse (eighty-two, as far as he could recall), and mother to two daughters.”
― Plum Sykes, Wives Like Us