Thomas Cresswell Quotes

“Catch me if I fall, all right?”
A smile curved his lips in a most delightful manner. “I’ve already fallen hard, Wadsworth. Perhaps you should have warned me sooner.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Hunting Prince Dracula

“Mr. Thomas Cresswell might not truly hold the title of prince, but the was perfectly fine. To me, he'd always be the king of my heart.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Hunting Prince Dracula

“You do say you like a man with a rather large—”

“Stop.” I held my hand up. “I beg of you. My uncle is right there.”

“Brain.” He finished anyway, grinning at my reddening face. “You truly astound me with the direction your filthy mind travels in, Wadsworth.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Capturing the Devil

“Men are keen on blaming women for the rise in sin. It's been something plaguing humanity since the Bible first accused Eve of tempting Adam. As if he had no mind to taste that forbidden fruit before she offered it to him. Everyone seems to forget God told Adam the fruit was forbidden. He created Eve later.”

“Honestly?” I snorted. “I didn’t realize you were so well versed in religion.”

Thomas placed my hand in the crook of his arm, steering us toward my uncle, who’d just exited the station. “I enjoy causing discord when forced to attend parties. You ought to hear the arguments that break out from uttering something so supposedly blasphemous. The one question no one can answer is always, if Adam had been warned, why didn’t he pass the message along to his wife? Seems he was more to blame than she was. Yet Eve is always the villain, the wicked temptress who cursed us all.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Capturing the Devil

“Thank you for the shoes, Thomas.” I looked at the stack of boxes, teetering precariously close to the edge of the settee now. He caught my stare and nudged them back to safety. “All of them. It was very sweet. And highly unnecessary.”

“Your happiness is always necessary to me.” He tilted my chin up and kissed the tip of my nose. “We’ll find new ways of navigating the world together, Wadsworth. If you can no longer wear heels, we’ll design flats you adore. If you ever find those no longer work, I’ll have a wheeled chair made and bejeweled to your liking. Anything at all in the universe you need, we will make it so. And if you’d prefer to do it on your own, I will always step aside. I also promise to keep my opinion mostly to myself.”

“Mostly?”

He considered that. “Unless it’s vastly inappropriate. Then I’ll share it with gusto.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Capturing the Devil

“She’s the muscle. I’m clearly the charm.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Escaping from Houdini

“However, grieving or being affected by something doesn't make you weak, Wadsworth. Sometimes strength is knowing when to tend to yourself for a bit.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Hunting Prince Dracula

“I long to live in a world where equal treatment is not something in need of commending”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Capturing the Devil

“I find myself striving to learn new talents, especially when the result is you looking—”

“Radiant?” I guessed.

“I was going to suggest ‘like you wish to destroy my virtue at once,’ but I suppose yours isn’t a terrible deduction, either.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Capturing the Devil

“I despise being the one having an emotional dilemma. It’s much more enjoyable being the one consoling you. You haven’t even offered to let me sit on your lap. You’re terrible at this.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Capturing the Devil

“Thomas Cresswell couldn't die. If he did...a darkness so complete as to truly be terrifying welled up inside me. I did not know who I'd become, should I lose him. But Satan would tremble at my approach.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Capturing the Devil

“Dear Daci,

I wish to ask for Audrey Rose’s hand and fear putting a foot in my mouth instead. The taste of leather soles doesn’t suit me. You know what I think of fools, and I’m the worst sort. Please help.

Your massively intelligent yet moronic brother,
Thomas”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Becoming the Dark Prince

“I cannot promise all will be well, Audrey Rose.”

I exhaled loudly. “This is one of those times it’s all right to lie, Thomas. I’m quite aware of how dire things are, but I’d like to pretend otherwise. At least for a few moments.”

“Right,” he said, turning his thoughts inward. “What I mean is, I promise to stand by your side through whatever comes our way. You’ll end up being the hero, no doubt, but I’ll look good beside you. And that’s what truly counts.”

“Honestly?”

He drew back, feigning being affronted. “You can’t possibly have all the glory. Good looking and the hero? This is one of those times it’s all right to lie, Wadsworth.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Escaping from Houdini

“Mephistopheles waved her off as she left. “One more woman running off with another man. I’m losing my touch.”

“Have you considered you might be a Thorne in their sides?” Thomas asked. “You certainly can be a pric—”

“Thomas,” I whispered harshly, pinching the inside of his elbow.

“How clever,” Mephistopheles said blandly. “You’ve made my name into a pun. What other comedic brilliance will you think of next? I wish I could say I missed this”—he motioned between himself and Thomas—“but that sort of lying doesn’t pay my bills.”

“Nor do the gemstones on your suits,” Thomas muttered.

“Are you still jealous about my jackets?” Mephistopheles grinned.

“For the love of the queen,” I said, interrupting before they really got into it.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Capturing the Devil

“Dear Lord Wadsworth, esteemed Baron of Somerset,

I write to you under great duress. I cannot seem to properly ask to formally court your daughter and ought to be put out of my misery at once. Please send a vicious brood of vampire bats to dispatch me at your earliest convenience. It would clearly be an improvement over this letter…

Your daughter’s hopeful yet stupid suitor,
Thomas”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Becoming the Dark Prince

“You know? I believe this is the most precious rose I’ve ever received.”

He gave me a slow, playful smile. “My magic trick was fairly impressive, too. Do you think Mephistopheles will take me on? I could practice. Actually,” he said, taking my arm in his, adjusting his gait as I moved unsteadily beside him, “we ought to do an act together. What do you think of ‘the Amazing Cressworths’? It’s got a pleasant sound to it.”

“Cressworth? Did you honestly combine our names? And why does your name go first?” I stared at him out of the corner of my eye, mouth curved upward despite my best efforts. “I think the most amazing part of our act would be not lulling the audience to sleep with your wit.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Escaping from Houdini

“While my cousin had the voice of a nightingale, Thomas’s singing was atrocious. A cat in heat held a note in a more pleasant manner than he did. At least it proved he wasn’t limitlessly skilled, which pleased me to no end.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Capturing the Devil

“Tonight is fall asleep to the image of gold-flecked eyes and a wicked mouth. And all the wonderful ways I might one day explore those lips in dark, empty rooms. Our passion burning brighter than all the stars in the sky. Saints drag me to hell.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Hunting Prince Dracula

“Beyond life, beyond death. My love for thee is eternal."
"That's beautiful. Was that in the letter?"
"No. It's how I feel about you." I swore my heart stuttered a moment”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Capturing the Devil

“I had no idea you were also a chiropterologist,” I said blandly. “Is this how you impress all the young ladies?”

He surveyed me with interest. “Well, I had no idea you knew the scientific term for bat study.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Hunting Prince Dracula

“He turned to me, expression as serious as I'd ever witnessed it. "You would miss me terribly and know it. Just as I would miss you in ways I cannot fathom, should we ever part.”
― Hunting Prince Dracula, Kerri Maniscalco

“If I end up being devoured by ravenous spiders, at least I’ll be memorable for something other than my good looks.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Hunting Prince Dracula

“I don’t believe it,” I muttered. “How on earth did he manage to get the padlocks back onto the can?”

Thomas opened his mouth, but Mrs. Harvey silenced him with a look. “Not a word out of you, dear. Or I swear I’ll finish my story about poor Mr. Harvey and his underthings.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Escaping from Houdini

“You’re both so intelligent in matters involving the mind, but the heart? It’s as if beings from other galaxies are puzzling out fried potatoes.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Escaping from Houdini

“if Thomas had been hurt, I would have plowed through the entire country if I had to, leaving bones and ash in my wake.”
― Hunting Prince Dracula, Kerri Maniscalco

“Much as I hate to break you two up…” Daciana coughed delicately from the doorway. “We have a visitor.” She eyed my new outfit and grinned. “You look phenomenal. Very intimidating and ‘Bringer of Death.’”

Thomas groaned as I stepped out of his grasp, then shot his sister a withering glare Aunt Amelia would have been proud of. “Bringer of Death is what the villagers will label me if you continue to ruin all of our clandestine moments, Daci. Go entertain your visitor on your own.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Hunting Prince Dracula

“I cannot have men stationed outside the first-class promenade. How will that look to well-paying passengers? This is not a workhouse and I will not treat my passengers like prisoners. They’re not being terrorized with a theatrical murder tonight and I intend to keep it that way. I will not make them suffer.”

I physically had to check to see if my head had exploded from such a ridiculous statement. Gentle prodding of my hair proved my skull was still intact, miracle of all miracles.

“You cannot be serious.” Thomas tossed his hands in the air. “It would seem an awful lot better to have crew members posted along the decks than to see dismembered body parts floating about while first-class patrons made their way to breakfast and tea. ‘Oh, look, Miss Eldridge, there’s a mauled torso. Won’t you pass the cream and sugar?’”

“Don’t be absurd,” the captain said, aghast.

“Apologies,” Thomas said, not sounding at all sorry, “I’m only following your lead.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Escaping from Houdini

“While that may be true, we really should be on our way. We've got that experiment we need to check on in the laboratory. Remember?'
'Actually, you're wrong again, my dear.'
I was so mad I could scream some of the worst obscenities I'd heard at the docks at him. He was ruining our exit strategy, and I was most certainly not his dear.
When I thought all hope was lost, Thomas checked his watch. 'We should've left precisely three minutes and twenty-three seconds ago. If we don't run now, our experiment will be destroyed.' He turned to the editor and superintendent. 'It's been as pleasant as a fast day in Lent, gentlemen.'
By the time they figured out his parting was, in fact, an insult, we were already rushing out through the bustling newsroom.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Stalking Jack the Ripper

“You must know what you mean to me. Surely you must know how I feel about you, Audrey Rose, The thought of losing you -Thomas Cresswell”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Stalking Jack the Ripper

“I do love it when you speak so maliciously Wadsworth, gives my head a bit of a rush” -Thomas Cresswell.”
― Kerri Maniscalco, Stalking Jack the Ripper Paperback Collection