Liz Carlyle > Quotes

“Oh, aye. I'm the devil all right. And last night, you were begging to step into the fire.”
― Liz Carlyle, My False Heart

“Sometimes the only thing which truly tempts us is the thing which we cannot have.”
― Liz Carlyle, Never Lie to a Lady

“Sidonie,” he said, his voice strangely hoarse. “You are the most—I mean, you are so…I find you…ah, devil take it! Never mind!”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Nothing,” he growled. “I misspoke. What did you say about oranges?”
― Liz Carlyle, The Devil to Pay

“The truth is, Sidonie, I don’t fare well with women.” He spoke coolly, and without looking at her. “It is my own fault, of course. I…I neglect them. I forget where I’m supposed to be, and when I’m supposed to be there. I’m irresponsible. I drink to excess, gamble to excess, and sometimes I brawl. I never remember special occasions. And I very often go to sleep before they’ve…well, never mind that.” Devellyn fell silent for a moment. “And I cheat on them,” he quietly added. “Dreadfully. Did I mention that?”

“You did not,” she answered. “But a full disclosure of one’s fidelity, or even one’s skill in the bedroom, is not, strictly speaking, necessary before having dinner with someone.”

Devellyn smiled down at her a little wearily. “Ah, Sid, I have no charm at all, have I?” he said almost regretfully.”
― Liz Carlyle, The Devil to Pay

“If there is something one wants badly, one must often be bold.”
― Liz Carlyle, Never Lie to a Lady

“I would know your scent anywhere. Even in the darkest night in the darkest room with a hundred other people." His voice dropped to a husky whisper. "Yes, Camille. I would know it. Always, I would know...you.”
― Liz Carlyle, Never Romance a Rake

“Did you know, ma'am, that our mutual friend can say "kiss my arse" in six languages?”
― Liz Carlyle, No True Gentleman

“job to remember everything. But the lady was a conundrum wrapped in an enigma. Alas, Napier loved nothing better”
― Liz Carlyle, A Bride by Moonlight

“Deceivingly, Miss Neville, the word vodka means 'little water.' The Russians are masters of the understatement." - Lord Nash”
― Liz Carlyle, Never Lie to a Lady

“And I am not old," she continued. "I am but thirty."
"Ah, but you will be thirty-one come the sixth of March," he said. "You certainly are not young."
"I believe we may have to return to the topic of my weight," she said tartly. "You will be more apt to see thirty-six that way.”
― Liz Carlyle, Three Little Secrets

“Gibbons came trotting out of the dressing room with Nash’s best evening clothes draped over his arm, whistling a merry tune—always a bad sign.
“What are you doing with those?” Nash asked suspiciously.
“Checking for moths,” replied the valet testily. “We go to Brierwood next week, you will recall.”
“Not in that rig.”
“But there is to be a ball,” sniffed Gibbons. “I had it from Mr. Hayden-Worth. Honestly, if I waited for you to tell me anything—”
“Next week,” Nash interjected. “That, Gibbons, is the operative word.”
“And if there are moths?” challenged the valet. “Have you any idea how long it would take to get a new suit of evening clothes made up?”
Nash shrugged. “I must have a dozen more in there somewhere,” he said, picking up his coffee. “Just drag out a set of old ones.”
“They mightn’t fit,” said Gibbons with another sniff. “None of us, I fear, are quite the men we once were.”
Nash put his coffee down, and turned sharply in his chair. “What the devil is that supposed to mean?”
Gibbons smiled faintly. “You are almost five-and-thirty, sir,” he said. “Things begin to shift—or spread—perhaps even sag.”
“I’ll be damned,” said Nash, leaping from his chair. He loosened the dressing gown and jerked it off.
“Really, my lord!” Gibbons rolled his eyes.
“The tape measure!” Nash growled, stripping off his shirt and hurling it to the floor. “Get me the goddamned tape measure!”
Gibbons sighed, went into the dressing room, and returned with the tape, curled like a little snake in the palm of his hand.
Nash loosened the fall of his trousers, and held up his arms. “All right,” he said. “Measure it.”
“Sir, this really is not nec—”
“No, by God, I said measure it.”
Gibbons wrinkled his nose and wrapped the heavy ribbon around Nash’s waist.
“Ah-ha!” said Nash. “Thirty-two inches, is it not?”
“Tsk, tsk,” said Gibbons.
“What?” Nash demanded.
“They do say a man’s eyesight is the second thing to go,” said Gibbons mournfully. “This tape plainly says thirty-three.”
Nash gasped in horror. “You must be lying.” He squinted down. Yes, Gibbons was lying. The tape very plainly said thirty-four.
“Oh, God!” said Nash.
“Not to worry, sir,” said Gibbons placatingly. “Before your sucking gasp of horror, it was an even three-and-thirty.”
― Liz Carlyle, Never Lie to a Lady

“Number Four Whitehall was rather like a gristmill, with more work to grind out than wanted weighing, and Napier was booked from now until death with meetings, appointments, and general government arse kissing.”
― Liz Carlyle, A Bride by Moonlight

“Alasdair considered it. "Well, I would prefer she vanish from the face of the earth," he finally said. "I would prefer you to be able to marry again. But since that is not possible unless one of us gives her a shove down the well- and we'd have to look to Esmee for that; she's the only one with the mettle for it - then we must think of the child instead.”
― Liz Carlyle, Three Little Secrets