Sebastian Kingston Quotes

“Family is everything to him. When he was a young boy, he lost his mother and four sisters to scarlet fever, and was sent away to boarding school. He grew up very much alone. So he would do anything to protect or help the people he cares about."
She hefted the album into Keir's lap, and watched as he began to leaf through it dutifully.
Keir's gaze fell to a photograph of the Challons relaxing on the beach. There was Phoebe at a young age, sprawling in the lap of a slender, laughing mother with curly hair. Two blond boys sat beside her, holding small shovels with the ruins of a sandcastle between them. A grinning fair-haired toddler was sitting squarely on top of the sandcastle, having just squashed it. They'd all dressed up in matching bathing costumes, like a crew of little sailors.
Coming to perch on the arm of the chair, Phoebe reached down to turn the pages and point out photographs of her siblings at various stages of their childhood. Gabriel, the responsible oldest son... followed by Raphael, carefree and rebellious... Seraphina, the sweet and imaginative younger sister... and the baby of the family, Ivo, a red-haired boy who'd come as a surprise after the duchess had assumed childbearing years were past her.
Phoebe paused at a tintype likeness of the duke and duchess seated together. Below it, the words "Lord and Lady St. Vincent" had been written. "This was taken before my father inherited the dukedom," she said.
Kingston- Lord St. Vincent back then- sat with an arm draped along the back of the sofa, his face turned toward his wife. She was a lovely woman, with an endearing spray of freckles across her face and a smile as vulnerable as the heartbeat in an exposed wrist.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“Damn it, he thought wearily, I miss Evie.
When she was away, which thankfully was seldom, the world stopped spinning, the sun went dark, and life devolved to a grim exercise in endurance until she returned.
At the outset of their marriage, Sebastian had never dreamed a shy, awkward wallflower, who'd spoken with a stammer since childhood, would turn out to have such fearsome power over him. But Evie had immediately gained the upper hand by making it clear he would have nothing from her- not her affection, her body, or even her thoughts- unless he'd earned it. No woman had ever challenged him to be worthy of her. That had fascinated and excited him. It had made him love her.
Now he was left counting the remaining nights- four, to be precise- of waking in the middle of the night blindly searching the empty space beside him. And the hours- ninety-six, approximately- until Evie was in his arms again.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“First," he said, "let me remind everyone that in my youth, I was by no means the angel I am now."
Lillian's mouth twisted. "Believe me, Kingston... no one's forgotten.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“It was hardly a surprise to find St. Vincent here, since his family owned the club, and his maternal grandfather had been Ivo Jenner himself. In recent years, St. Vincent had taken over the management of the club from his father. By all accounts, he was doing an excellent job of it, with his customary cool and relaxed aplomb.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Chasing Cassandra

“Hoagland," Kingston said in a voice like expensive liquor on ice, "it's good to see you. Your son is better, I trust?"
"You're very kind to ask, Your Grace. Yes, he's recovered fully from his tumble. The poor lad's grown so fast, he hasn't yet learned to manage those long arms and legs. A rackabones, my wife calls him."
"My boy Ivo is the same. He's shot up like a weed of late."
"Will he grow as tall as your other two sons, do you expect?"
"By force of will, if necessary," the duke replied dryly. "Ivo has informed me he has no intention of being the youngest and the shortest.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“Have you met Lady Merritt?"
The mere mention of her name softened the tension in the atmosphere almost miraculously. Keir felt the small muscles of his face relaxing. "Aye, I've had the honor. A kind and bonnie woman, she is."
The duke's sudden easy smile was like the sun giving off light. "I've known her since the day she was born."
Keir's brows lifted slightly. "You were there during the storm?"
"She told you about that? Yes, I was one of the volunteers who went out in search of a midwife or doctor. It didn't look promising when one of us brought back a veterinarian, but to his credit, it all turned out well."
"I'd say the credit should go to Lady Merritt's mither," Keir said.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“You might consider a full shave," he suggested. "You certainly have the chin for it."
Keir shook his head. "I must keep the beard."
Looking sympathetic, the barber asked, "Pockmarks? Scars?"
"No' exactly." Since the man seemed to explain an explanation, Keir continued uncomfortably, "It's... well... my friends and I, we're a rough lot, you ken. 'Tis our way to chaff and trade insults. Whenever I shave off the beard, they start mocking and jeering. Blowing kisses, calling me a fancy lad, and all that. They never tire of it. And the village lasses start flirting and mooning about my distillery, and interfering with work. 'Tis a vexation."
The barber stared at him in bemusement. "So the flaw you're trying to hide is... you're too handsome?"
A balding middle-aged man seated in the waiting area reacted with a derisive snort. "Balderdash," he exclaimed. "Enjoy it while you can, is my advice. A handsome shoe will someday be an ugly slipper."
"What did he say, nephew?" asked the elderly man beside him, lifting a metal horn to his ear.
The middle-aged man spoke into the horn. "Young fellow says he's too handsome."
"Too handsome?" the old codger repeated, adjusting his spectacles and squinting at Keir. "Who does the cheeky bugger think he is, the Duke of Kingston?"
Amused, the barber proceeded to explain the reference to Keir. "His Grace the Duke of Kingston is generally considered one of the finest-looking men who's ever lived."
"I know-" Keir began.
"He caused many a scandal in his day," the barber continued. "They still make jokes about it in Punch. Cartoons with fainting women, and so forth."
"Handsome as Othello, they say," said a man who was sweeping up hair clippings.
"Apollo," the barber corrected dryly. He used a dry brush to whisk away the hair from Keir's neck. "I suspect by now Kingston's probably lost most of those famed golden locks."
Keir was tempted to contradict him, since he'd met the duke earlier that very day and seen for himself the man still had a full head of hair. However, he thought better of it and held his tongue.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“Before Keir MacRae arrived, everything was normal. Now there's been stabbings, explosions, and debauchery, and my sensible older sister is engaged to a Scottish whisky distiller. What's happened to you? You're supposed to be level-headed!"
Merritt tried to sound dignified. "Just because one is usually level-headed doesn't mean one is always level-headed."
"You won't be comprised if no one knows about it," Luke said. "And God knows none of us are going to say anything."
The duke intervened, his voice so dry one could have struck a match off it. "My boy, you're missing the point. Your sister wants to be compromised."
Ethan Ransom, who had been inching toward the stairs, ventured, "I don't need to be part of this conversation. I'm going up to see my wife.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“Despite my deep and abiding affection for your parents, I'd rather not be overrun by Marsdens for the time being."
"Neither would I," Merritt assured him. "Papa would ask a great many questions I have no wish to answer, and Mama... well, as you know, she's as subtle as a marauding Viking."
The duke laughed softly. "In the interest of self-preservation, I'll withhold comment.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“... was Aunt Evie very upset when you told her about the letter?"
"No. Only concerned for the boy's sake, and mine as well."
"Many women in her position would consider him as... well, an embarrassment."
That drew a real smile from him, the first she'd seen from him in a while. "You know Evie. She already thinks of him as someone else to love.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“The day after you pop up at your distillery alive and kicking, someone will come to finish you off."
"Let them try," Keir shot back. "I can defend myself."
The duke arched a mocking brow. "Impressive. Only a matter of days ago, we were celebrating that you were able to drink through a straw. And now apparently you're well enough for an alley fight."
Keir was instantly hostile.
"I know how to keep up my guard."
"That doesn't matter," Kingston replied. "As soon as your arm muscles fatigue, your elbows will drift outward, and he'll find an opening."
"What would a toff like you know about fighting? Even with my ribs cracked, you couldn't take me down."
The older man's stare was that of a seasoned lion being challenged by a brash cub.
Calmly he picked up a small open pepper cellar from the table and dumped a heap of ground black pepper in the center of Keir's plate.
Perplexed, Keir glanced down at it, as a puff of gray dust floated upward. His nose stung, and in the next breath, he sneezed. A searing bolt of agony shot through his rib cage. "Aghhh! He turned away from his plate and doubled over. "Devil take your sneakit arse!" he managed to gasp.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“After twenty minutes of hard swimming, his muscles were burning. He hoisted himself out of the water, breathing heavily, and went to fetch a towel from a stack on a table. As he dried himself vigorously, he caught a glimpse of someone standing by the other end of the swimming bath. He went very still at the sight of rose-copper hair... pink cheeks and round blue eyes... and lavish curves contained in a fashionable striped wool dress. Every filament of his nervous system sparked with an infusion of joy.
"Evie?" he asked huskily, afraid he was imagining her.
She glanced at the water, remarking innocently, "You were swimming so hard, I thought there might be a sh-shark."
It took all Sebastian's concentration to reply casually, "You know better than that, pet." He wrapped the towel around his waist and tucked in the overlapping edge to fasten it. "I am the shark."
He went to his wife in no apparent hurry, but as he drew closer his stride quickened, and he snatched her up with an ardor that nearly lifted her feet from the floor. She gasped and clutched his shoulders, and lifted her smiling mouth to his.
Glorying in the taste and feel of her, Sebastian kissed her thoroughly, eventually finishing with a soft, provocative bite at her lower lip.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“I'm pointing out that I set aside past grievances for the sake of your friendship with my husband. If I'm not worthy of your trust after that, I'll be damned if I'll try any longer."
"Try to what?" Sebastian asked, mystified. As he stared into her infuriated face, and saw the hurt in her eyes, he asked slowly, "Lillian, are you saying you want to be friends with me?"
"Yes, you self-absorbed, dull-witted lobcock!”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“It must have been a nightmare to learn you had a grown child you were never told about. It could have just as easily happened to Marcus, you know."
"Hard to imagine."
"Not really. No matter how careful one is, there's always a risk. As the mother of six children, I ought to know."
Sebastian sent her a bleak glance. "I always knew I'd have to pay for my sins in some future cosmic reckoning. But in my arrogance, it didn't occur to me that a man never bears the cost of his sins alone. The people around him --- especially those who love him --- have to pay as well. That's the worst part of it."
It was the most vulnerable he'd ever allowed himself to be with her.
When Lillian replied, her voice was uncommonly gentle. "Don't be unduly hard on yourself. Ever since you married Evie, you've tried to be the man she deserves. In fact, you've inhabited the role of a good man for so long, I think you may be growing into it. We become our choices, eventually.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“I wasn't shocked by what they were doing as much as I was by Merritt's recklessness. Taking a man into her bed in broad daylight? It's not at all like her. She's behaving as if scandal can't touch her, and she knows better than that."
"So does Keir. But they’re both moonstruck. You remember how it is in the beginning.”
She grimaced. “Yes, a state of derangement with chapped lips." Folding her arms across her chest, she heaved a sigh. "Tell me about this young man. Is he a silk purse or a sow's ear?"
"He's pure gold. A big, fearless lad... engaging and quick-witted. Admittedly, the manners are a bit rustic, and I can't speak as to hygiene: so far, grooming him has been a collective effort. But all in all, a fine young man."
"And how is he with Merritt?"
Sebastian hesitated before replying, "No one outside a relationship can ever know its inner workings. But from what I've seen, it has the makings of something durable. They talk easily. They pull together in adversity. Many marriages have started with far less, including mine.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“There was no reason to make a fuss. But he kept his head down as his eyes and nose stung and the room became a watery blur. His throat clenched until he had to clear it.
In the next moment, he felt himself caught in a secure, roughly affectionate grip, one hand at the nape of his neck, the other clamping on his shoulder to bring him close in something that wasn't quite an embrace, but felt like one. And through the ramshackle pattern of his own breathing, he heard Kingston's vibrant and unsteady voice.
"You’ll always be Lachlan MacRae’s son. But you’re mine too.” A pause, and then he added hoarsely, “You can be mine too.”
“Aye,” Keir whispered, while an unexpected sense of peace stole over him.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“Well, naturally. Keir is descended from my line. Our virility is unmatched."
Westcliff tried to look severe. "You realize, Kingston, that my first grandchild has been sired by your illegitimate offspring."
"Yes, yes, who cares about legitimacy. This child will be magnificent. With my looks and your brains..."
"It could have my looks and your brains," Westcliff pointed out.
"Don't be such a pessimist. Bring the brandy bottle over here, and we'll start making plans."
And the two old friends grinned at each other as they clinked their glasses.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“West told Cassandra, “Phoebe and I have come up with a plan.”
“It’s West’s plan,” Phoebe said.
“You’ll recall she has a younger brother named Raphael,” West continued. “Tall, unmarried, nice teeth. He’s perfect.”
“He’s not at all perfect,” Phoebe said. “And how do you know he’s tall and has nice teeth?”
“Your parents are obviously incapable of producing a less than superior human being.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Chasing Cassandra

“The club was started lang ago by a professional boxer. His daughter married the Duke of Kingston, who owns the place now."
Keir, who couldn't have cared less about some doddering old aristocrat, responded with an indifferent shrug. "'Tis no' unusual for a duke to own prime London real estate."
"Aye, but the interesting part is, Kingston ran the club himself for a time." To make sure Keir understood the significance, Catach added, "Noblemen never work. To their minds it lowers them, ye ken, and costs them the respect of the common folk as well as their peers."
"He must have had no choice," Keir mused.
"To be sure. But the duke made Jenner's what it is, and enriched himself in the process." Catach had shaken his head with a mixture of admiration and envy. "A charmed life, that one's had. They say in his youth, Kingston was as wicked as the devil himself. The bane of every man with a pretty wife. Then he married a rich woman and settled into a respectable middle age. For Kingston, the wages of sin have been nothing but gold and treasure."
"He sounds like a selfish pult," Keir said flatly.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“From what he'd been told about the duke's past, Keir would have expected a florid old dandy, or a rheumy-eyed satyr. Anything but this elegantly lean man who moved with the supple ease of a tomcat. His clean-shaven face was a marvel of bone structure: a gift of male beauty that could never be outlived. The dark gold of his hair was silvered at the temple and sides, and time had weathered his complexion here and there with fine lines. But the signs of maturity only made him seem more powerful. The sheer presence of the man caused the hairs on Keir's arms to prickle in warning beneath the too-short sleeves of his ready-made coat.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“As soon as he was inside, Merritt went to Phoebe's father, and his arms closed around her in a brief, comforting embrace. She and her siblings had always known Kingston as the kind, handsome man with an abundant supply of funny stories and always made time to play jackstraws or checkers with bored children. As Merritt had grown older, however, it had been impossible to avoid the gossip about his notorious past. She found it difficult to reconcile that version of him- the skirt-chasing scoundrel- with the devoted family man whose entire world centered around his wife. Whatever Kingston's past, he was like a second father, and she would have trusted him with her life.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“Having known the duke her entire life, Merritt had never thought about his looks. She was aware he was handsome, of course, but she'd never paid particular attention to his individual features or spent any time at all dwelling on them. To her he had always simply been Uncle Sebastian.
But in this moment, as she stared up at him, she was struck by the distinctive pale blue of his eyes, like a winter sky, like moonlight... like Keir's.
Shaken, she stared up at this complex, powerful man, who was so familiar... and yet so full of mystery.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“A stranger stood beside him, tall and stern-faced, blindingly handsome, with silvery-gold hair. He looked like an angel. Not the kind offering comfort- the kind sent to smite people. Almost certainly this was the angel of death, and about time he appeared. Even hell would be better than this.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“The light from a single lamp gilded both men's profiles, making it impossible to ignore their likeness, even with the thick beard covering the lower half of Keir's face. The long, straight noses, the high-planed cheekbones, the way their hairlines were shaped in a very slight widow's peak. Even the hand Kingston laid across Keir's forehead, the fingers long and blunt-tipped... that was familiar, too.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“Does Aunt Evie know?" Merritt asked, too tired to guard her tongue.
"Know what?" Kingston asked, fishing a pocket watch from his waistcoat.
"That you have a natural-born son."
The duke's gaze remained on Keir. After a charged silence, he said evenly, "I have no secrets from my wife."
"Were you and she married when-" Merritt broke off as Kingston shot her an incredulous glance, his eyes flashing like sunlight striking off silver.
"Good God, Merritt. That you could even ask-"
"Forgive me," she said hastily. "I was only trying to guess his age."
"He's thirty-three. I would never betray Evie." Kingston took in a long breath and let it out slowly, working to bring his temper under control. "I should hope I'd never be so tedious. Adultery is only running away from one problem to create a new one.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“Keir's attention, however, was fixed not on Kingston, but on the frozen figure by the doorway. "Who's that?" he demanded.
Merritt followed his gaze to Phoebe, whose face was carefully blank. What a shock it must be for her, to be confronted with a man who looked so eerily similar- almost identical- to her father as a young man. "Dear," she said apologetically to Phoebe, "about that story I was telling you... there was a part I hadn't yet reached."
Her friend replied slowly, staring at the duke. "I think perhaps my father should explain it to me."
"I will," Kingston said, giving his daughter a reassuring smile. "Come with me." He ushered her from the room, saying, "We'll leave Merritt with her fiancé."
"What?" came Phoebe's bewildered voice, just before he closed the door.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“When Keir met Kingston at the back of the house, he was glad to discover the family dog, Ajax, was going to join them on the excursion. The boisterous black and tan retriever helped to ease the tension as they walked along the holloway, a narrow sunken lane that had once been an ancient cart path. Slender trees bracketed the high banks on either side, forming a delicate canopy overhead.
Casually Kingston said, "You mentioned you have a dog. What breed?"
"A drop-eared Skye terrier. A good rabbiter.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“Keir had watched him with growing interest, having assumed Kingston would toss the unlucky crab aside, maybe fling it toward the sea. Any of Keir's friends would have thought nothing of chucking it into the path of a foraging herring gull. But to show consideration for an insignificant beastie... take the trouble to carry it to a safe place... it revealed something wholly unexpected about the man's character. A regard for the fragile, the vulnerable.
Now Keir wasn't sure what to make of Kingston. An aristocrat of staggering wealth and position, notorious for his decadent past... a devoted father and faithful husband... there seemed no way to reconcile those two versions of him. And here was yet another version, a man lounging casually next to a fire on the beach with his dog, his bare feet dusted with sand, as if he were an ordinary human.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“Although a stream of cheerful postcards and letters had arrived from Evie for the past three weeks, they were a poor substitute for the sound of her voice, and her good morning kisses, and the quirks only a husband would know about. The adorable way her toes would wiggle in her sleep whenever he touched her foot. And the way she would bounce a little on her heels when she was especially happy or excited about something.
God, he needed her back in his bed. He needed it soon.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise

“You may tell the other two I've regained my sweet temper and am no longer breathing fire. And don't fret over things you can't change. 'Life must be lived forwardly.' That's from a philosopher Marcus has taken to quoting lately, I can never remember the name."
"Kierkegaard," Sebastian said "Life can be understood only by looking back, but has to be lived forwardly.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Devil in Disguise