8 Quotes & Sayings By Rhys Bowen

I gather you weren't keen on going back to Scotland with your brother at this time of year. I don't say I blame you. Terribly bleak and cutoff in the winter."" Oh no, Mom, " I said, as her words sunk in. "My brother is not going back to Scotland. He and my sister-in-law are going to the Riviera."The Riviera? I had no idea."" For my sister-in-law's health. She's feeling rather frail at the moment."" I don't think that frail would ever be a word to describe your sister-in-law, " the Queen said, looking up with a half smile on her lips as a tray of coffee was reeled into the room." I managed to have six children without making a fuss. One just got on with it. . Rhys Bowen

Is the princess still in the fitting room?"" Oh no, darling. She appeared about half an hour ago. Poured herself a black coffee, and looked longingly at the cakes. That child is starving herself if you ask me. Now she's definitely too thin. European men do like a woman to have a little meat on her bones."" And Prince Nicolas, have you seen him recently?"" I haven't seen him since lunch. I gather he and Antone went out to shoot. And I expect Max went with them. They're only happy when they're shooting something. Apart from sex of course." "Mother! " I gave her a warning frown. My mother glanced around at the other women, who were tucking into their tort with abandon. "They won't understand. Their English is hopeless, darling. Besides, it is about time you are acquainted with the facts of life. I've hopelessly neglected my duty in that area. Men only have two thoughts in their heads. And those are killing or copulating."" I'm sure there are plenty of men with finer feelings who are interested in art and culture."" Yes, darling. Of course there are. They are called ferries. And they are quite adorable. So witty and fun to be with. But in my long and varied life I've found that the ones who are witty to be with are no use in bed. And vice versa. Rhys Bowen

A man in love does not notice the cut of the dress, but rather a face of a beloved. Rhys Bowen

Aren't you going a little overboard?" I asked, picturing a day ahead of me trying to find these items in a town I didn't know." Nonsense, darling. What's the point of a party if you don't go overboard." I sat on the sofa watching her, admiring her. Not only was she beautiful, but she had a wonderful way of shaking off life's little problems, like water off a duck's back. Nothing seemed to upset her. . Rhys Bowen

Idealistic? Ruddy stupid, if you'll pardon the language, miss, : Mr Roberts said. "All this talk about power for the people and down with the ruling classes and everyone should govern themselves. It can never happen, I told him. The ruling classes are born to rule. They know how to do it. You take a person like you or me and you put us up there to run a country and we'd make a ruddy mess of it. Rhys Bowen

When I venture to point out the unfairness of this, I am reminded of the second item on my list. Apparently the only acceptable destiny for a young female memâ€â€¹bâ€â€¹er of the house of Windsor is to marry into another of the royal houses that still seem to litter Europe, even though there are precious few reigning monarchs these days. it seems that even a very minor Windsor like myself is a desirable commodity for those wishing a tenuous alliance with Britain at this unsettled time. I am constantly being reminded that is is my duty to make a good match with some half-lunatic, buck-toothed, chinless, spineleâ€â€¹sâ€â€¹sâ€â€¹â€â€¹â€â€¹, and utterly awful European royal, thus cementing ties with a potential enemy. My cousin Alex did this, poor thing. I have learned from her tragic example. Rhys Bowen