Hathaways Quotes

“I know I'm a bad bargain. But I'm begging you to have me anyway. Because I want a chance to make you as happy as you make me. I want to build a life with you."

He fought to steady his voice. "Please come to me, Cat, because there's no surviving you. You don't have to love me back. You don't have to be mine. Just let me be yours.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Married by Morning

“I'm not good enough for you. But no one is. And most men, good or bad, have limits to what they would do, even for someone they love. I have none. No God, no moral code, no faith in anything. Except you. You're my religion. I would do anything you asked. I would fight, steal, kill for you."

-Kev to Win”
― Lisa Kleypas, Seduce Me at Sunrise

“It's the perfect solution. We argue all the time. We can't stand each other. It's like we're already married.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Married by Morning

“Christopher heard a pair of women gossiping nearby, whispering in disapproving undertones.

"... Ramsey was found flirting in a corner with a woman. They had to drag him away from her."

"Who was it?"

"His own wife."

"Oh, dear.”
― Lisa Kleypas , Love in the Afternoon

“And Poppy, remember that someday you will meet a frog who will turn into a handsome prince."

"Good," Beatrix said. "Because all she's met so far are princes who turn into frogs."

"Mr. Bayning is not a frog," Poppy protested.

"You're right," Beatrix said. "That was very unfair to frogs, who are lovely creatures.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Tempt Me at Twilight

“Beatrix puts a distance between herself and the rest of the world. She’s very engaging, but also quite private in nature. I see the same qualities in Captain Phelan.”

“Yes,” Amelia said. “You’re absolutely right, Catherine. Put that way, the match does seem more appropriate.”

“I still have reservations,” Leo said.

“You always do,” Amelia replied. “If you’ll recall, you objected to Cam in the beginning, but now you’ve accepted him.”

“That’s because the more brothers-in-law I acquire,” Leo said, “the better Cam looks by comparison.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon

“After a universal silence, Leo was the first to speak. “Did anyone else notice—”
“Yes,” Catherine said. “What do you make of it?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” Leo frowned and took a sip of port. “He’s not someone I would pair Bea with.”
“Whom would you pair her with?”
“Hanged if I know,” Leo said. “Someone with similar interests. The local veterinarian, perhaps?”
“He’s eighty-three years old and deaf,” Catherine said.
“They would never argue,” Leo pointed out.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon

“Of all the Hathaway sisters,” Cam said equably, “Beatrix is the one most suited to choose her own husband. I trust her judgment.”
Beatrix gave him a brilliant smile. “Thank you, Cam.”
“What are you thinking?” Leo demanded of his brother-in-law. “You can’t trust Beatrix’s judgment.”
“Why not?”
“She’s too young,” Leo said.
“I’m twenty-three,” Beatrix protested. “In dog years I’d be dead.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon

“I’m fairly certain, Captain,” she said, “that the more you discover about me, the more you will dislike me. Therefore, let’s cut to the chase and acknowledge that we don’t like each other. Then we won’t have to bother with the in-between part.”
She was so bloody frank and practical about the whole thing that Christopher couldn’t help but be amused.
“I’m afraid I can’t oblige you.”
“Why not?”
“Because when you said that just now, I found myself starting to like you.”
“You’ll recover,” she said.
Her decisive tone made him want to smile. “It’s getting worse, actually,” he told her. “Now I’m absolutely convinced that I like you.”
Beatrix gave him a patently skeptical stare. “What about my hedgehog? Do you like her, too?”
Christopher considered that. “Affection for rodents can’t be rushed.”
“Medusa isn’t a rodent. She’s an erinaceid.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon

“We assured Phelan that we were more than happy to let him have you and your menagerie,” Leo retorted.
“After that, he said he needed to think.”
“About what?” Beatrix demanded. “What is there to think about? Why is it taking him so long to make a decision?”
“He’s a man, dear,” Amelia explained kindly. “Sustained thinking is very difficult for them.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon

“Beatrix,” Amelia said over her shoulder as they proceeded through the hallway. “Perhaps you should reconsider your attire. Poor Captain Phelan may find it somewhat shocking.”
“But he’s already seen me like this,” came Beatrix’s voice from behind Christopher, “and I’ve already shocked him. What is the point in changing clothes? Captain, would you feel more comfortable if I took my breeches off?”
“No,” he said hastily.
“Good, I’ll keep them on. Really, I don’t see why women shouldn’t dress like this all the time. One can walk freely and even leap. How is one to chase after a goat in skirts?”
― Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon

“Very well,” Beatrix said reluctantly. “But I warn you, they may be resistant to the match.”
“I’m resistant to the match,” Christopher informed her. “At least we’ll have that in common.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon

“Did it fall out?" Leo asked. "Is she bald?"
"No, not at all. It's just that her hair is...green."
To look at Leo's face, one would think it was Christmas morning. "What shade of green?"
"Leo, hush," Win said urgently. "You are not to torment her. It's been a very trying experience. We mixed a peroxide paste to take the green out, and I don't know if it worked or not. Amelia was helping her to wash it a little while ago. And no matter what the result is, you are to say nothing."
"You're telling me that tonight, Marks will be sitting at the supper table with hair that matches the asparagus, and I'm not supposed to remark on it?" He snorted. "I'm not that strong."
"Please, Leo," Poppy murmured, touching his arm. "If it were one of your sisters, you wouldn't mock."
"Do you think that little shrew would have any mercy on me, were the situations reversed?" He rolled his eyes as he saw their expressions. "Very well, I'll try no to jeer. But I make no promises."
Leo sauntered toward the house in no apparent hurry. He didn't deceive either of his sisters.
"How long do you think it will take him to find her?" Poppy asked Win.
"Two, perhaps three minutes," Win replied, and they both sighed.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Tempt Me at Twilight

“Her chances of a decent marriage were about to be dashed-and all because of a ferret.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Tempt Me at Twilight

“A lifetime with such a woman was not nearly enough.”
― Lisa Kleypas

“Poppy was busy with needlework, stitching a pair of men’s slippers with bright wool threads, while Beatrix played solitaire on the floor near the hearth. Noticing the way her youngest sister was riffling through the cards, Amelia laughed. “Beatrix,” she said after Win had finished a chapter, “why in heaven’s name would you cheat at solitaire? You’re playing against yourself.”
“Then there’s no one to object when I cheat.”
“It’s not whether you win but how you win that’s important,” Amelia said.
“I’ve heard that before, and I don’t agree at all. It’s much nicer to win.”
Poppy shook her head over her embroidery. “Beatrix, you are positively shameless.”
“And a winner,” Beatrix said with satisfaction, laying down the exact card she wanted.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Mine Till Midnight

“That goat has been nothing but trouble. And the dratted creature isn't even picturesque. Goats resemble nothing so much as badly dressed sheep."
"That's quite unfair," Beatrix said. "Goats have far more character and intelligence than sheep, who are nothing but followers. I've met far too many in London."
"Sheep?" Christopher asked blankly.
"My sister is speaking figuratively, Captain Phelan," Amelia said.
"Well, I have met some actual sheep in London," Beatrix said. "But yes, I was mainly referring to people. They all tell you the same gossip, which is tedious. They adhere to the current fashions and the popular opinions, no matter how silly. And one never improves in their company. One starts falling in line and baaing.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon

“God help anyone who stands in your way. You do like to manage other people's lives, don't you?"
"Only when it's obvious I can do a better job of it than they can.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Mine Till Midnight

“Poppy," she murmured, "no matter how Miss Marks tries to civilize me- and I do try to listen to her- I still have my own way of looking at the world. To me, people are scarcely different from animals. We're all God's creatures, aren't we? When I meet someone, I know immediately what animal they would be. When we first met Cam, for example, I knew he was a fox."
"I suppose Cam is somewhat fox-like," Poppy said, amused. "What is Merripen? A bear?"
"No, unquestionably a horse. And Amelia is a hen."
"I would say an owl."
"Yes, but don't you remember when one of our hens in Hampshire chased after a cow that had strayed too close to the nest? That's Amelia."
Poppy grinned. "You're right."
"And Win is a swan."
"Am I also a bird? A lark? A robin?"
"No, you're a rabbit."
"A rabbit?" Poppy made a face. "I don't like that. Why am I a rabbit?"
"Oh, rabbits are beautiful soft animals who love to be cuddled. They're very sociable, but they're happiest in pairs."
"But their timid," Poppy protested.
"Not always. They're brave enough to be companions to many other creatures. Even cats and dogs."
"Well," Poppy said in resignation, "it's better than being a hedgehog, I suppose."
"Miss Marks is a hedgehog," Beatrix said in a matter-of-fact tone that made Poppy grin.
"And you're a ferret, aren't you, Bea?"
"Yes. But I was leading to a point."
"Sorry, go on."
"I was going to say that Mr. Rutledge is a cat. A solitary hunter. With an apparent taste for rabbit.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Tempt Me at Twilight

“Filled with determination, she pounded on Leo’s door. “Wake up, slugabed!”
A string of foul words filtered through the heavy oak panels.
Grinning, Amelia went into Poppy’s room. She pulled the curtains open, releasing clouds of dust that caused her to sneeze. “Poppy, it’s … achoo! … time to get out of bed.”
The covers had been drawn completely over Poppy’s head. “Not yet,” came her muffled protest.
Sitting on the edge of the mattress, Amelia eased the covers away from her nineteen-year-old sister. Poppy was groggy and sleep-flushed, her cheek imprinted with a line left by a fold of the bedclothes. Her brown hair, a warmer, ruddier tint than Amelia’s, was a wild mass of tangles.
“I hate morning,” Poppy mumbled. “And I’m sure I don’t like being awakened by someone who looks so bloody pleased about it.”
“I’m sorry.” Continuing to smile, Amelia stroked her sister’s hair away from her face repeatedly.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Mine Till Midnight

“You may choose to live like a miser,” Leo said, “but I’ll be damned if I have to. You’re incapable of enjoying the moment because you’re always intent on tomorrow. Well, for some people, tomorrow never comes.”
Her temper flared. “Someone has to think of tomorrow, you selfish spendthrift!”
“Coming from an overbearing shrew—”
Win stepped between them, resting a gentle hand on Amelia’s shoulder. “Hush, both of you. It serves no purpose to make yourselves cross just before we are to leave.” She gave Amelia a sweet quirk of a smile that no one on earth could have resisted. “Don’t frown like that, dear. What if your face stayed that way?”
“With prolonged exposure to Leo,” Amelia replied, “it undoubtedly would.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Mine Till Midnight

“You’ve already found your tribe.” She hitched a leg over his hips. “It’s called the Hathaways.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Mine Till Midnight

“Be that as it may, I think someday you'll meet a man worth giving up your independence for.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Mine Till Midnight

“I don't want adventure."
"I think you do. I think in a moment of weakness, you might surprise yourself.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Mine Till Midnight

“But I must warn you, Miss Hathaway ... life has a way of fouling up our plans. I speak from experience.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Mine Till Midnight

“Occam's razor."
"Yes. When formulating a theory, eliminate as few assumptions as possible. In other words, the simplest explanation is the most likely.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Mine Till Midnight

“Ah. That is the price of love, I'm afraid—the pain one suffers from its loss. I'm not convinced it's worth it. Perhaps if one must love, one should do so in moderation."
"Moderation in love," she mused aloud. "It's not something that would inspire a poet, is it?"
"A poet's view of the world would make for an uncomfortable life, wouldn't it? Everyone at the mercy of his or her passions, all of us tearing our hair out for the sake of love...”
― Lisa Kleypas

“The host of the evening, Lord Westcliff, approached to exchange pleasantries with Beatrix, Amelia, and Catherine. Beatrix had always liked the earl, a courteous and honorable man whose friendship had benefitted the Hathaways on countless occasions. With his rugged features, coal-black hair, and dark eyes, he was striking rather than handsome. He wore an aura of power comfortable and without fanfare. Westcliff asked Catherine to dance with him, a mark of favor that was hardly lost on the other guests, and she complied with a smile.
"How kind he is," Amelia said to Beatrix as they watched the earl lead Catherine into the midst of the whirling couples. "I've noticed that he always makes a point of being obliging and gracious to the Hathaways. That way, no one would dare cut or snub us."
"I think he likes unconventional people. He's not nearly as staid as one might assume."
"Lady Westcliff has certainly said as much," Amelia replied, smiling.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon

“Who won the brawl? Poppy asked impishly.
That earned one of Harry's rare grins. A conversation broke out in the middle of the fight. Which was undoubtedly a good thing, as it turned out that neither of us knows how to fight like a gentleman.
You fence, Poppy pointed out. That's a very gentlemanly way to fight.
Fencing isn't really fighting. It's more like chess with the risk of puncture wounds.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Married by Morning

“Countess Ramsay continued to smile. "We are cousins are we not?" And when my poor husband passed on to his reward, may God rest his soul, we found consolation in the knowledge that the estate would pass into capable stewardship as yours...."
"How refreshing it is", Leo interrupted..."to finally be able to communicate without the interference of solicitors."
"I agree, my lord," Countess Ramsay replied. "The solicitors have made the situation regarding Ramsay House quite complex, have they not? But we are only women, and therefore much of what they relate goes right over our heads.."
Countess Ramsay's pillowy cheeks puffed out with another smile...."What matters most is the bond of familial affection."
"Does that mean you've decided not to take the house away from us?" Amelia asked bluntly.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Married by Morning