Betty Neels > Quotes

“He sighed deeply: to fall in love at first sight with this malodorous sleeping girl, with, as far as he could see, no pretensions to beauty or even good looks, was something he had not expected. But falling in love, he had always understood, was unpredictable, and, as far as he was concerned, irrevocable That they hadn't exchanged a word, nor spoken, made no difference. He, heart whole until that minute, and with no intention of marrying until it suited him, had lost that same heart.”
― Betty Neels

“She had been the quiet, rather plain girl, with a surprisingly sharp tongue if she was put out, lovely eyes and pretty hair and a way of looking very directly at one. Now he had to admit that she had become more important to him than anyone else in the world. The idea of a future without her wasn't to be borne. She had by some mysterious metamorphosis become more beautiful than anyone else he had ever encountered.”
― Betty Neels

“She wasn't looking her best; her hair was coming down, for she had shed hairpins as she'd run, and her face lacked powder and lipstick. She looked hot and tired and surprisingly happy. He thought that he had never seen anyone quite as beautiful, so absolutely necessary to his happiness. It wasn't the first time he had fallen in love, but he knew that this was the last.”
― Betty Neels, Only By Chance

“I’m sorry your evening has been spoilt; I hope Juffrouw van Doorn won’t be too upset.’

‘She will be livid,’ he observed with calm. ‘Drink your brandy, it will prevent you catching cold.’ He leant over Bertie for a moment and listened to the dog’s snores. ‘He’ll be all right now.’

Becky sipped her brandy, wrinkling her nose. ‘This tastes very peculiar.’

Not a muscle of the Baron’s face moved. He would hardly have described his best Napoleon brandy as peculiar.”
― Betty Neels, The Promise of Happiness

“You see, when we met I thought, "There's a brown mouse of a girl with a sharp tongue," and then before I knew what was happening I was in love with you. Oh, I did my best to ignore it, and I thought that if I ignored you too I'd be safely back in my bachelor state in no time—only it didn't work out like that. You were under my skin, in my bones, my very heartbeat. And I'd gone out of my way to make you dislike me so that it would be easier for me to get over you. Only I haven't done that, my darling.”
― Betty Neels, Heaven Around The Corner

“One falls in and out of love, but when one loves that is an entirely different matter, for that lasts through life and beyond, and is a rare thing.”
― Betty Neels

“He mopped her face and thought how beautiful she was -- hair in a glorious tangle, a pink nose and puffy eyes, and swathed in a shapeless dressing gown only fit for the dustbin. The thought struck him with some force that he had fallen in love at last -- that, indeed, he had been in love for some time.”
― Betty Neels, Marrying Mary

“There are so many kinds of beauty-have you ever looked in a small hidden pool in a wood, Becky? It's full of beauty, but it's not in the least spectacular, only restful and quiet and never-endingly fascinating.”
― Betty Neels

“But however fast the world was spinning, time was standing still for Celine and Oliver, held in a magic moment they would never forget.”
― Betty Neels, Midsummer Star

“Something in his voice stopped her from asking any more questions and he went on: 'So you see, Octavia, we need you and you need us. Between us we can be a family instead of three lonely people.”
― Betty Neels, Never While the Grass Grows

“The professor was looking at Theodosia; he knew with resigned amusement that he was about to become the owner of the little dog. She wasn’t going to ask, but the expression on her face was eloquent.”
― Betty Neels, A Christmas Romance

“He stood back smiling while they shook hands and murmured politely, and Amelia, meeting the Dutchman's sleepy gaze, had a sudden strange feeling, as though everything had changed; that nothing would ever be the same again; that there was no one else there, only herself and this giant of a man, still staring at her.”
― Betty Neels, The Silver Thaw

“Someday, Sarah, someone will come along and give you the moon, and the stars too.”
― Betty Neels, Roses Have Thorns

“She wanted desperately to put out her hand
and clutch his arm and explain why she was
sad, and not because of Tom, who had suddenly
become quite unimportant, but because
she loved him so much and he didn't care
two straws for her.
'I'm very happy,' she said a shade too
loudly. As the waiter went past she took
another glass of champagne.
'Happy? Oh yes, and I'm sure you will
be— -because you will make your own happiness.
You'll tend it with all the care of
someone holding a last candle in the dark.
You'll learn to make do with second best; a
great many men and women do, you know.
Just a few know what real happiness is—
to love someone so much that nothing else
matters any more, only the two of you and
the life you share.' Gideon smiled faintly.
'We could have been like that, you and I. You know that deep in your heart, don't you,
my darling? And do you know something
else? If it would make you happy, I would
give up all I have and live in a desert with
you, or on top of a mountain. I'd pluck the
moon from the sky and hang the stars round
your beautiful neck. The world could be paradise.'
He sighed. 'But most of us, as I said,
make do with second best.'
Amelia drank in every word, her insides
glowing with excitement. He loved her—he
must, to talk to her like that. She had only to
explain...

The next minute she knew that she never
would. He laughed suddenly and the mockery
in his laugh was so blatant that she winced.
'What nonsense one talks at weddings! Come
and meet Fiona; we came together—we've
known each other for a long time.”
― Betty Neels, The Silver Thaw

“I shall report this, and in the meantime the animal can be taken away by one of the porters.’

‘Don’t you dare,’ said Emmy fiercely. ‘I’ll not allow it. You are—’

It was unfortunate that she was interrupted before she could finish. ‘Ah,’ said Professor ter Mennolt, looming behind the supervisor. ‘My kitten. Good of you to look after it for me, Ermentrude.’ He gave the supervisor a bland smile. ‘I am breaking the rules, am I not? But this seemed the best place for it to be until I could come and collect it.’

‘Miss Foster has just told me…’ began the woman.

‘Out of the kindness of her heart,’ said the professor outrageously. ‘She had no wish to get me into trouble. Isn’t that correct, Ermentrude?’

She nodded, and watched while he soothed the supervisor’s feelings with a bedside manner which she couldn’t have faulted.

‘I will overlook your rudeness, Miss Foster,’ she said finally, and sailed away.

‘Where on earth did you find it?’ asked the professor with interest.

She told him, then went on, ‘I’ll take him home. He’ll be nice company for Snoodles and George.’

‘An excellent idea. Here is your relief. I shall be outside when you are ready.’

‘Why?’ asked Emmy.

‘You sometimes ask silly questions, Ermentrude. To take you both home.”
― Betty Neels, The Mistletoe Kiss

“Not too bad, but I went and had coffee afterwards and sat for a bit. I hate the dentist.”
― Betty Neels, The Convenient Wife

“She smiled and wanted to cry, too, for a moment. From happiness, she supposed. ‘What a wonderful day to be in love and be loved. I’m so happy.”
― Betty Neels, A Christmas Romance

“The storm broke then with a vivid flash of lightning and a great rumble of thunder which drowned every other sound. The Baron turned up the collar of his Burberry. ‘You go down that side, I’ll search this— we’ll find him, Becky. You’re not afraid of the storm?’

She was terrified, but her terror was quite wiped out by anxiety for Bertie. She shook her head and started off down the deserted street, peering through the pelting rain, searching the canal as well as every doorway and alley.”
― Betty Neels, The Promise of Happiness

“Anyone with any sense knew that one of the best parts of the day was the hour just as the sun was rising.”
― Betty Neels, A Gentle Awakening

“Probably”
― Betty Neels, An Ideal Wife

“two”
― Betty Neels, Polly

“She paused and added seriously, 'Isn't it funny the way we're talking, just as though we've known each other for years and years.'
He said easily, 'Oh, I'm a great believer in instant friendship.”
― Betty Neels, The Little Dragon

“Get stuffed,”
― Betty Neels, Emma's Wedding

“couldn’t examine”
― Betty Neels, Esmeralda

“thanked him”
― Betty Neels, The Most Marvellous Summer

“round”
― Betty Neels, A Winter Love Story

“I would be delighted to see the pair of you married, but Sophie’s quite right to think it over; love is for a lifetime.”
― Betty Neels, The Awakened Heart

“Werdmer ter”
― Betty Neels, A Girl Named Rose

“You tempt me to telephone Matron and ask her to let you have the afternoon off.’ He spoke lightly and Sarah felt a surprising regret that he couldn’t possibly mean it. ‘That sort of thing happens in novels, never in real life. I can imagine Matron’s feelings!”
― Betty Neels, Fate is Remarkable

“told”
― Betty Neels, A Christmas Romance