Miss Grantham's sense of humour got the better of her at this point, and, tottering towards a chair, she sank into it, exclaiming in tragic accents:'Oh Heavens! I am betrayed!' His lordship blenched; both he and miss Laxton regarded her with guilty dismay. Miss Grantham buried her face in her handkerchief, and uttered one shattering word: 'Wretch!

Georgette Heyer

Categorized in : Heaven Missing Betrayed

As soon as one promises not to do something, it becomes the one thing above all others that one most wishes to do.

Georgette Heyer

temptation wish promise

I think myself I ought to be shot for writing such nonsense.... But it's unquestionably good escapist literature and I think I should rather like it if I were sitting in an air-raid shelter or recovering from flu.

Georgette Heyer

air writing thinking

But it is only in epic tragedies that gloom is unrelieved. In real life tragedy and comedy are so intermingled that when one is most wretched ridiculous things happen to make one laugh in spite of oneself.

Georgette Heyer

epic real laughing

No one could have called Mr. Standen quick-witted, but the possession of three sisters had considerably sharpened his instinct of self-preservation.

Georgette Heyer

instinct three self

It was growing late, and though one might stand on the brink of a deep chasm of disaster, one was still obliged to dress for dinner.

Georgette Heyer

ironic growing dresses

When fate is got it in for you, there is no limit to what you may have to put up with.

Georgette Heyer

fate limits may

Only trust me! You have fallen into a fit of despondency and there is not the least need! In fact, nothing could be more fatal, in any predicament! It encourages one to suppose that there is nothing to be done, when a little resolution is all that is wanted to bring matters to a happy conclusion.

Georgette Heyer

done littles needs

Talking to you is like -- like talking to an eel!" "No, is it? I've never tried to talk to an eel. Isn't it as waste of time?" "Not such a waste of time as talking to you!

Georgette Heyer

eels waste talking

There is nothing so mortifying as to fall in love with someone who does not share one's sentiments.

Georgette Heyer

heartbreaking falling-in-love doe

You may have married her, but she is mine. Do you think I shall let you take her? She may be ten times your wife, but, by God, you shall never have her.

Georgette Heyer

wife may thinking

Those fine eyes of hers had a disconcertingly direct gaze, and very often twinkled in a manner disturbing to male egotism. She had common-sense too, and what man wanted the plainly matter-of-fact, when he could enjoy instead Sophia's delicious folly?

Georgette Heyer

common-sense eye men

She decided that her wisest course would be to put him out of her mind. After reaching this conclusion she lay thinking about him until at last she fell asleep.

Georgette Heyer

would-be mind thinking

Randall laid his hand on Stella's, but only to remove it from his sleeve. "My precious, you really must have some regard for my clothes," he said with gentle reproach. "Much as I love you, I cannot permit you to maul this particular coat.

Georgette Heyer

clothes love-you hands

His attention caught, her companion raised his eyes from the book which lay open beside him on the table and directed them upon her in a look of aloof enquiry. 'What's that? Did you say something to me, Venetia?' 'Yes, love,' responded his sister cheerfully, 'but it wasn't of the least consequence, and in any event I answered for you. You would be astonished, I daresay, if you knew what interesting conversations I enjoy with myself.

Georgette Heyer

interesting-conversation eye book

You don't feel you could marry me instead? Got no brains, of course, and I ain't a handsome fellow, like Jack, but I love you. Don't think I could ever love anyone else.

Georgette Heyer

brain love-you thinking

Oh, Randall, don't be such a vile beast!" "I don't think much of that",he said critically. "Amiable snake was much better.

Georgette Heyer

beast snakes thinking

Is it not insupportable to be held down to a canter when you long to gallop for miles?

Georgette Heyer

miles long

She succumbed to the eternal feminine passion for bargains.

Georgette Heyer

feminine eternal passion

Eccentricity may be diverting, Mama, but it is out of place in a wife: certainly in my wife!

Georgette Heyer

mama wife may

People who start a sentence with personally (and they're always women) ought to be thrown to the lions. It's a repulsive habit.

Georgette Heyer

lions habit people