Vintage Jane Austen Quotes

“After all, she understood people so well, as well as Fredrick understood his library.”
― Sarah Holman, Emmeline

“If you are ever angry at him, threaten to do something to one of his books, as calling him Fred does nothing.”
― Sarah Holman, Emmeline

“We delude ourselves if we think that decency is not rewarded in other people simply because we refuse to practice it ourselves.”
― Sarah Scheele, Bellevere House

“Abbey relaxed, grateful not only that someone had thought to throw a party for her, but that she had been able to escape attending.”
― Emily Ann Benedict, Perception

“The heart is a strange thing," Evelyn said, staring off into space. "It can be broken easily and takes a long time to mend, yet it can also withstand so much.”
― Sarah Holman, Emmeline

“This could ruin all of Emmaline's plans. She could not have [the girl] fall for a farmer, especially one that couldn't afford a decent hat.”
― Sarah Holman, Emmeline

“Ed frowned. “Well, it’s a terrible picture of me! Here, give me that. I’m going to tear it up. There ought to be legal action against publishing a bad picture like that without my permission . . . .”

A wild scuffle ensued as they tried to keep Ed from destroying the article before they could read it.”
― Sarah Scheele, Bellevere House

“He cracked his crooked smile that made all women swoon except the ones who wanted to slap him. Faye was a fence-sitter on the subject.”
― Sarah Scheele, Bellevere House

“And I’d have you know, through all of it, I still had perfect nails! Because I am completely swell.”
― Sarah Scheele, Bellevere House

“I can't settle for merely liking a man when I've known what it’s like to love one.”
― Emily Ann Benedict, Perception

“You're my guardian angel, Abbey," she said as she climbed into the car.

"No, not really, Sam. I'm just a messenger."

"But that’s what angels are. That’s how God says, 'I'm here, and it's going to be all right.”
― Emily Ann Benedict, Perception

“Marion stared into his face. “Thank you.” She blinked back sudden tears. “Mr. Bradley, you’re swell. You’ve helped my family so much, and I never appreciated it before.”
“Thank you.” Mr. Bradley returned her look, intensely. “I care for all of you. You’re some of the best people I’ve ever known.”
Marion smiled and mumbled, “Mr. Sour-face.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing!” She grinned wider.
He smiled back. It was a nice smile.”
― Kelsey Bryant, Suit and Suitability

“No pressuring them, Aunt Jennie,” Marion admonished with a straight face but laughing eyes. “They don’t like being hurried. They’re likely to baulk like mules and wait until they’re thirty.”
“Jeepers, I hope not!” Frances cried, halting her knife and fork’s work at some beef. “I’m tired of waiting and guessing their intentions. I’ve been doing that for seven months. I just want to see them married!”
Everett grinned. “So do I.”
― Kelsey Bryant, Suit and Suitability

“I don’t know how to ask this,” Everett began. “You and Mr. Bradley…you’re not…” He gestured helplessly with his left hand. “I mean, there’s not, uh, something…is there?”
After a bewildered moment Ellen’s eyes widened. “Oh, no! Not—not at all.”
Everett’s breath hitched. “I thought—I thought perhaps there was. That’s why I hesitated…but if there isn’t…then I got the right color.” He studied his crimson bouquet, spinning it
slowly in a mesmerizing circle. Ellen gulped.
Everett looked up, walked forward, and glanced down at his roses, then held them out to her and recaptured her gaze. “I remember you said you liked roses. I think you said white roses,
but they don’t have the right meaning.” He smiled sheepishly.
Ellen’s eyes dropped. She reached out a shaky hand and clasped the firm, cool, de-thorned stems.
“You…do understand me then?” he asked.
“Perfectly.” Ellen burst into tears.”
― Kelsey Bryant, Suit and Suitability

“At last, the details finally settled, Abbey found herself coming to terms with the inevitable: the whole lot of them would go to Cape Cod. It was a dizzying prospect. Thirteen years ago she had said goodbye once and for all to the only man she had ever loved. Now she was setting out with him on a vacation, accompanied by a young woman determined above all else to become his wife.”
― Emily Ann Benedict, Perception

“What?! Oh, Ellen, so the rumors are true! She’s married to Everett Shepherd! Why, I could wring his scrawny neck! I knew he was trouble. All men are! That cheating, no-good liar, cad, and—”
“Please, Frances, I appreciate your taking up for me, but cursing him won’t help me. I’ve had a lot of time to ponder it, and I don’t think he’s worthy of that much censure. You see, he had been engaged to Leona Bingham for years, and it might have gone a little stale. He was attracted to me at first, but he stuck by Leona, as he ought to do. Men get tempted, but what really matters is what they do in the end.”
Frances looked up at her, eyes and brows narrowed into a legible V. “Yep, you’re hurt. Girls like you, when they get hurt, they always defend the fella.”
― Kelsey Bryant, Suit and Suitability