The aristocrat, when he wants to, has very good manners. The Scottish upper classes, in particular, have that shell-shocked look that probably comes from banging their heads on low beams leaping to their feet whenever a woman comes into the room. Aristocrats are also deeply male chauvinist, and ... on the whole they tend to be reactionary.

Leo, sadly, has Parkinsons, but he used to cook all sorts of dazzling things.

I love the long grass coming up to meet the willows.

Bachelors begin at thirty-six. Up till this age they are regarded as single men.

Meetings ... are rather like cocktail parties. You don't want to go, but you're cross not to be asked.

People who can write a book usually do.

People always assume that bachelors are single by choice and spinsters because nobody asked them. It never enters their heads that poor bachelors might have worn the knees of their trousers out proposing to girls who rejected them or that a girl might deliberately stay unmarried.