Home > Work > A Case for Christmas (The Lords of Bucknall Club, #2)
1 " More often than not, the moves he made during an investigation were based on feelings. Wretched things, feelings—though they were certainly preferable to sentiments. "
― J.A. Rock , A Case for Christmas (The Lords of Bucknall Club, #2)
2 " Fernside took the body?” “Oh, certainly.” Darling’s teeth caught what little light there was on the street as he grinned. “This one’s Fernside’s dream. The poor bastard had six fingers.” Gale stood so still that for a moment it seemed the whole street might merely be set dressing—a backdrop for the stage that Gale could lift of its hooks and shake out, leaving utter darkness in its place. “Six fingers,” Gale repeated. And wasn’t he wide awake now? The dead man was Howe. "
3 " Gale looked sideways at him, then down at the news sheet. “Still pretending you read?” “I’ll have you know, I am up to volume three of The Maiden Diaries, and Gale… there are certain objects that I simply do not feel should be put up one’s orifices.” “That’s probably true.” “And yet it all turns out so well for those characters.” “It’s just fantasy.” “Yes, but can a shallot—? "
4 " I feel I am receiving more information than I bargained for.” “Do you know—I would never have thought this of Warry, but he can eat any food, and I do mean any food, in a manner suggestive of playing a fellow’s pipe? Just last week I watched him eat a boiled egg and nearly spent in my drawers.” “This is definitely more information than I bargained for.” “You asked.” “And I am sorry I did. "
5 " He narrowed his eyes. “Why do you have mud on your breeches?” “Secret passage,” Gale said. “I do love a secret passage,” Soulden said. “Is that a euphemism?” “Not at all. I love secret passages, and also pert arses, and I never mix the two of them up. "
6 " The Runners do not, as a rule, like me, and I do not like them. They consider me a meddlesome nuisance who only exists to make them look like bumbling fools, and I consider them, well, bumbling fools. "
7 " There were lines at the corners of his eyes, and slight furrows running from his nose to the corners of his lips as though he spent a great deal of time laughing. Personally, Gale hated laughter, but it was oddly pleasing to think that this man enjoyed it as a pastime. "
8 " Standing so… so near to me. I cannot think.” Chant took two steps away from him. “Is this better?” “It is better, though still far from ideal.” Chant’s nod was agreeable. “Ideal would be if I stepped off the dock and drowned? "
9 " Was this what it was like to be in love? Did it make a man stupid? It had certainly made Hartwell stupid, but if love was a plummet into idiocy, Hartwell had only been standing on a step stool to begin with. Gale was standing on a chimney sweep’s ladder and had a lot farther to fall. "
10 " He glared at his mother’s back as she went through his bureau. “Why did you invite Chant for tea?” His mother sighed and turned, holding a dressing gown. She tossed it to him. “I suppose it’s too much to ask you to dress correctly, but I am old fashioned enough to believe one ought to at least cover one’s nipples before taking tea with friends. "
