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gentleman here to see you. A very handsome gentleman by the name of Mr. Roxbury.”

6
    Heedless of the Wind and Weather
    Quinton held his breath in anticipation. Would she see him? He half hoped she would turn him away and then he would be done with it. It was the height of foolishness for him to be at her door in the first place. He was marrying Emmeline Tarleton in a month. He had no business calling on the lovely Lisette Hamilton, especially when she had specifically dissuaded him from doing so.
    Yet here he was. Standing in the front hall of her mother’s house, after he spent half the morning tracking down her mother’s address from the locals.
    He simply could not help himself.
    Lisette appeared in the hallway, her eyes glowing a dark green. Dressed in a fetching gown of deep burgundy that complemented her creamy complexion, she was even lovelier than he remembered. The urge to touch her was so strong he had to stop himself from reaching out and drawing her into his embrace.
    â€œWhy, Mr. Roxbury, I wasn’t expecting to see you!” She looked a bit frantic, and there was a distinct edge to her voice. For his ears only, she whispered furiously, “What on earth are you doing here?”
    He answered with deliberate loudness, so anyone could hear, “I was in the neighborhood and thought I would stop by and pay my respects to you and your family.”
    â€œLisette!” an accented female voice called from the parlor. “You must invite your guest inside! C’est le summum de l’impolitesse que de laisser un invité à la porte! ”
    â€œWhat a nice surprise!” Lisette said with false enthusiasm through clenched teeth. “Won’t you please come in and sit down? My mother and I were just having some tea.”
    Lisette’s good manners required her to greet a guest, however unwanted, with grace and charm. There was a smile on her pretty face, but he could see the panic in her eyes. Her cheeks were flushed slightly, yet he sensed that she was excited to see him nonetheless. Happiness surged through him just at being near her.
    He knew he should not have come, and it would be best simply to turn around and leave now, before things became more involved. Seeing her would only cause complications for himself. And most likely problems for her as well. But there was something about her that he could not resist and was what drew him to show up at her door this afternoon.
    â€œIt would be my pleasure to join you and your mother for tea.” He returned a smile and followed her into the parlor.
    It was a pleasant house, decorated tastefully and not overly stuffed with the fashionable knickknacks and trifles that filled the most stylish homes of the day. There was something simple and elegant about the little house that appealed to him. A cleanness of lines, an accentuation of empty space.
    A woman with long gray hair reclined on a divan with a blanket covering her. She might have been a beauty once, but now that look was faded. She did not appear ill, just as Lisette had predicted on the train yesterday. The woman was quite alert and eyed him with avid interest.
    Lisette made the introductions. “Mother, may I present Mr. Quinton Roxbury. Mr. Roxbury, this is my mother, Mrs. Genevieve Hamilton.”
    â€œGood afternoon, Mrs. Hamilton,” he began. “I hope I have not intruded on your visit with your daughter.”
    â€œGood afternoon, monsieur . You have not intruded at all. Quel plaisir de partager la compagnie d’un bel homme. It is an honor to have such a handsome gentleman visit us. Please be seated and join us. We shall have Fannie bring you some tea. I must admit I am most anxious to learn how you know my daughter.”
    Again, Quinton wondered what the hell he was doing there, about to be questioned by Lisette Hamilton’s obviously not ailing mother. He took a seat on the sofa, and Lisette sat beside him. Just the nearness of her made