How ghastly for her, people actually thinking, with their brains, and right next door. Oh, the travesty of it all.

The ill-informed masses included her own family among their ranks, a family that specialized in being both inconvenient and asinine.

I think we seldom regret the risks we take as much as the times we did not try at all.

I suspect it may be like the difference between a drinker and an alcoholic; the one merely reads books, the other needs books to make it through the

Highland werewolves had a reputation for doing atrocious and highly unwarranted *things*, like wearing smoking jackets to the dinner table.

I mean to say, really, I am near to developing a neurosis - is there anyone around who doesn't want to study or kill me?"Floote raised a tentative hand."Ah, yes, thank you, Floote.""There is also Mrs Tunstell, madam," he offered hopefully, is if Ivy were some kind of consolation prize."I notice you don't mention my fair-weather husband.""I suspect, at this moment, madam, he probably wants to kill you."Alexia couldn't help smiling. "Good point.

And I find perfect beauty excessively boring, don't you?

There was a pleasantness to the air and a spirit about the town that did not come from its color, but from some inner, tasty citrus quality. It made Alexia wonder fancifully if cities could have souls.

Just because history says it isn't possible doesn't mean that there aren't exceptions.

Alexia figured, delightedly, that this meant he did, in fact, tend to traipse around his private apartments in the altogether. Marriage was becoming more and more of an attractive prospect.

We like the shadows. That's where all the power is.

The Rakshasa," said Percy pedantically, "are a different breed altogether from our vampires. Much in the same way that poodles and dachshunds are different breeds of dog. Rakshasas are reviled in India. Their position as tax collectors is an attempts by the crown to integrate them in a more progressive and mundane manner."Rue said, "Oh, how logical. Because we all know ordaining someone as a tax collector is the surest way to get them accepted by society.

Oh, Major, you do so love to annoy, don't you?""It is the stuff of living, my lady.

Trust is a lot to ask of someone.

Where were the scientific pamphlets that taught a woman how to listen to herself die?

...you have been fraternizing with warewolves overmuch! Military men can be terribly bad for one's verbal concatenation!

I like fish," chirruped Tunstell."Really, Mr. Tunstell? What is your preferred breed?""Well"--Tunstell hesitated--"you know, the um, ones that"--he made a swooping motion with both hands--"uh, swim.

Sophronia felt bound to object. "I, for one, should prefer not to shoot at someone I like.""Admirable scruples, Miss Temminnick. Get over them. For you will do it anyway.

The Earl of Woolsey was indeed completely nude. He did not seem particularly perturbed by this fact, but Miss Tarabotti felt the sudden need to close her eyes tight and think about asparagus or something equally mundane.

He has been mad for you these many months, ever since you prodded him in the nether regions with a hedgehog.

Great, Alexia thought, I have gone from soul sucker to electrical ground. The epithets just get sweeter and sweeter.

Felicity was horrible and snide, but then Felicity had been a repulsive earwig ever since she first grew a vocabulary.

But I don't want to be a vampire drone.' Sophronia winced. 'They'll suck my blood and make me wear only the very latest fashions.

For you, it's gossip. For me, it's action.

Ivy was particularly adept at being ignorant but could cause extensive havoc with the smallest scrap of information.

We're a team like tea and milk, or cake and custard, or pork and apple.

Having delivered the expected daily miracle, Floote stood in his usual stance and warily watched the Templars work.

Alexia wondered what it said about her character that Ivy had genuinely believed she would intentionally go climbing about the side of a floating dirigible.

What if all those strange and unexplainable bends in history were the result of supernatural interference? At which point I asked myself, what's the weirdest most eccentric historical phenomenon of them all? Answer:the Great British Empire. Clearly, one tiny little island could only conquer half the known world with supernatural aid. Those absurd Victorian manners and ridiculous fashions were obviously dictated by vampires. And, without a doubt, the British army regimental system functions on werewolf pack dynamics.

And vampires were perverted. Or so she hoped

One could not blame a people for disliking vampires. Vampires were like brussels sprouts - not for everyone and impossible to improve upon with sauce.

[She] lost her patience, a thing she was all too prone to misplacing.

It is a valuable thing for an intelligencer to be forgotten.

The vampire's eyes were open, and he was staring at her intently. It was as though he were trying to speak to her with simply the power of a glare.Alexia did not speak glare-ish.

It didn't feel sporting to shoot at a crazy person, even if that person was a vampire who'd agreed to the job.

Lyall's face went deadpan as he relayed the details, as those who are tortured or raped will become when they retell the pattern of abuse

I suppose that saves us from having to determine what to do with a butler who goes around killing people. It certainly reflects badly upon our domestic staff. Still, I shall miss him. There was a man who knew how to brew a good cup of tea.

But we were talking about me and my problems."Sophronia looked Monique up and down gravely."I don't think we're going to solve those in the space of one carriage ride.

It had taken her a good deal of time before she believed that she was worth all that fierce affection he lavished upon her. To have it stolen away unjustly was that much more cruel.

Here, I stole it for you. Why don’t you tell me what it’s for.”“Aw, Sophronia, how thoughtful. You brought me a present!

His eyes are peculiar. There is nothing in them, like an eclair without the cream filling. It's wrong, lack of cream.

After every unladylike action, there must be an equal and opposite reaction. Consider the necessary, analyze the consequences, clean up the mess.

Tonight I crash an airship. On purpose.

Cats were not, in her experience, an animal with much soul. Prosaic, practical little creatures as a general rule. It would suit her very well to be thought catlike.

Madame Lefoux accepted a cup of tea and sat on another little settee, next to the relocated calico cat. The cat clearly believed Madame Lefoux was there to provide chin scratches. Madame Lefoux provided.

Sophronia and Dimity took a vacant love seat at the front, Sophronia dislodging a large, fluffy cat with a scrunched-up face. The cat gave her a disgusted look. Or seemed to; it was hard to tell with that face.

Most girls recently out of finishing school are like soufflés: puffed up, not very substantial inside, and prone to collapsing at the slightest provocation.

After four marriages, and four deaths, she had everything in life a woman might desire: titled position, swollen coffers, the freedom to travel, and a world that accepted her because it was afraid of her.

Gavin tried not to stare at the lobster. He decided not to inquire further. Whatever Jack's reasoning, best to accept that crustaceans were necessary to his view of the world.

What do you want?" Sophronia was moved to exasperation."Me? Stockings and breeches to come back in fashion. I do miss seeing a man's calves.

She took a moment to lament her lack of parasol. Every time she left the house, she felt keenly the absence of her heretofore ubiquitous accessory.

He might have lost his mind, but never his fashion sense.

Mortals trotted about in shoes and corsets made to limit movement, fashion for prey.

Chasing ghosts while pursued by daemons...

Consider the necessary, analyze the consequences, clean up the mess.

That's a very murky position," objected Felix."So's the weather. But this is England, we must learn to live with uncertainty.

The important question is, what will your wear for a wedding dress, Alexia? You look horrible in white.

Lady Maccon stopped suddenly. Her husband got four long strides ahead before he realized she had paused. She was starring thoughtfully up into the aether, twirling the deadly parasol about her head."I have just remembered something," Alexia said when he returned to her side."Oh, that explains everything. How foolish of me to think you could walk and remember at the same time.

The monkeys, she explained, were considered reincarnated politicians, which made Rue laugh and the stick entirely understandable.

I never gossip. I observe. And then relay my observations to practically everyone.

I hate missing everything. That's why I want to marry well and be a grand lady. Then I can host all the parties, all the time, and see everything that is going on always. How can you stand not knowing?