"I must be besotted,” he said evenly. “I have the imbecilic i..." — Loretta Chase quote meaning

I must be besotted,” he said evenly. “I have the imbecilic idea that you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen. Except for your coiffure,” he added, with a disgusted glance at the coils and plumes and pearls. “That is ghastly.