A Perilous Undertaking Quotes

“Men, I had often observed, were never happier than when they believed they were imparting wisdom.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“The hardest lesson I had learnt upon my travels was patience. There are times when every muscle, every nerve, screams for movement, when every instinct urges escape. But the instinct to fly is not always a sound one. There are occasions when only stillness can save you.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“And royalty are immune from homicidal tendencies? Study your history, Stoker. I think you will discover that is how most of them became royal in the first place.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“but just beneath the bell was a small scarlet plaque bearing the name of the club and the legend ALIS VOLAT PROPRIIS. “‘She flies with her own wings,’” I translated.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“No,” he said slowly. “I am better than a husband. I am your friend.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“Gentlemen are champion sulkers so long as one doesn’t call the behavior by that name.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“You do not yet know what it means to love someone more than yourself. I have no pride left, no delicacy. I cannot afford it. So I will tell you the truth: I wanted his happiness above all things.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“Yes, but you usually aren't ...
Well, I have to keep them covered or else you lose the power of speech”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“Instead we were cooped up like hapless chickens nesting on our disappointed hopes.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“ALIS VOLAT PROPRIIS. “‘She flies with her own wings,’” I translated.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“You are far too old for fairy tales, Miss Speedwell. Surely you know the life of royalty is not at all as we believe it to be. It is a prison—a gilded one—but a prison nonetheless.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“It was as close as an aristocratic Englishman could come to expressing real emotion, but it was enough for the princess. She pressed his hand.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“Veronica, I have extensive medical training as well as significant experience in debauchery. I know perfectly well that anyone who has imbibed not only a full opium pipe but a syringe of cocaine is going to feel like seven hells. Now, drink up.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“It is the best of a bad lot,” he admitted. “Would you prefer ‘Sodomites’?” “Hardly. That smacks of Evangelicalism, and you know my feelings on forcible religion,” I reminded him.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“Miss Speedwell, I am delighted to find my assessment of your liberal thinking is accurate. To meet a lady of such broad-mindedness is rare indeed. Stoker, if you don’t marry Miss Speedwell, I might.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“Stoker gave him a thin, feral smile, baring his teeth. “You always were a slippery bastard,” he said in a low tone. “But even you cannot talk your way around the fact that we found your name in Ramsforth’s ledger.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“You little devil!” he said, his tone admiring. “You think to use your fiendish wiles upon me with no care for what might become of my position at Scotland Yard. You are an absolute monster,” he told me, but he was smiling as he said it.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“As I said, child, I have always liked the notion of granting wishes. Now, off to the ball with you, Cinderella. I have ordered the town carriage for your use tonight, but I am afraid we haven’t any mice for footmen. You will simply have to make do with the ordinary kind.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“So do I, Rip,” Stoker put in. “You were rat-arsed and no doubt made some highly vulgar observations which so inflamed Merry that he came round at the first opportunity to see Miss Speedwell for himself. He as much as insinuated she was my mistress,” he said flatly.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“Sorry for him? But Mr. Gilchrist is blessed with talent and angelic looks. He is well-connected and has a tremendous future. Why should you be sorry for him?”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“She not only turned a blind eye to his philandering, she befriended the women he bedded!”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“I studied him back, appreciating the lines of care at the corners of his eyes, the silver threads in his hair that had been bought with years of responsibility.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“They say Louise has ordered the windows of the palace bricked up to stop Lorne escaping into Kensington Gardens to tryst with soldiers. Whether it is true or not, I can tell you that Louise has been unhappy. And an unhappy wife is a dangerous creature.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“How dreadful to have millions of strangers know the intimate details of one’s life, to pick over them like so many discarded bones from a banquet table, looking for the choicest bits of meat.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“The very fact that she had been in the grotto and viewed the collection would have catastrophic repercussions for herself and the throne. Married women did not conduct themselves in such a fashion, and married princesses with Puritanical mothers were held to a higher standard still.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“He would rather dance at the end of a hangman’s noose than betray you? That speaks to a connection more intimate than mere friendship,”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“And do you know who was supposed to look after it? I was. She would live with us and give him his golden child, and I was to be nothing more than a nursemaid in my own home, reduced to whatever crumbs she saw fit to leave me.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“What in the name of Satan’s arsehole is that?” he demanded. “The genitals of a very healthy young man,” I told him, waving the phallus-shaped lamp.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“I am angry at being used as a pawn,” I retorted. “I am not your chess piece to move as you see fit, my lady. I was not engaged upon this investigation simply because you wished to amuse Her Royal Highness or make certain Miles Ramsforth didn’t hang. You were testing me.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking

“Who do you think insisted upon this piece of theater that Sir Hugo has played out in the inquest? Who do you think demanded that Ottilie Ramsforth’s confession be written and submitted into evidence?” Ice numbed my spine. “If I had given evidence, I might have been charged with Ottilie’s death,” I said, groping slowly towards understanding. “He could not take the chance that I would be exposed.” “He could not stand that his own child would suffer,” she corrected. “He did this for you.”
― Deanna Raybourn, A Perilous Undertaking