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Good night."
    "Um, Mr. Stone," Angela stopped him in his tracks. "What on earth were you doing out on a stroll this late at night?" He smiled charmingly at her and heard her heart flip.
    "I just concluded some business and, it being such a fine night, decided to walk. What were you doing out this time of night?"
    Angela grinned sheepishly. "I couldn't sleep and came out for a breath of fresh air, it being such a fine night and all. Then I saw the moonflowers in bloom and wanted one. I was sure I could reach it if I held the railing when I stood, then leaned over and… well, you saw the result."
    "That, I did," he agreed. "Was this the flower you went to all the trouble for?" He plucked a moonflower and held it between his thumb and finger, twirling it back and forth. He reached toward her and let the petals caress her cheek.
    "Yes." She nodded as she accepted the flower.
    "It doesn't compare to your beauty, Mrs. Elliott. Good night."
    He tucked his hands into his pockets and strolled off, but not before hearing her whisper, "Goodnight."
    ~ * ~
    "Mother? Father?" Gavin called out as he opened the door to the family home. "Where are you? I know you aren't in bed."
    "Gavin, for Heaven's sake! What are you doing?" His mother appeared at the top of the stairs, pulling her housedress around her. Her hair was disheveled and her face glowing. His father appeared behind her, moments later, pulling his robe around him, and his feet were bare.
    Gavin shook his head and grinned. "I guess you were in bed after all," he muttered.
    Gav looked amused while his wife covered her mouth with one hand. "That'll be enough young man," his father drawled, the corner of his mouth curving. "Show respect for your elders."
    "Absolutely," Gavin said and went into the study. His parents came down the stairs, following their son.
    "It's three in the morning, son, is everything all right?" His mother looked concerned.
    "I don't know if it is or not, Mother." Gavin poured a brandy for all three of them and handed a glass to each. "I've met a woman…"
    "Oh, Gav, our boy has met someone," his mother said, squealing with delight.
    "Hold on, Mattie, let him finish." Gav quieted his wife.
    "As I was saying," Gavin shot a look to his mother, "I met a woman. I won't go into the details, but as she was in my arms…"
    "He's met his mate, Gav!" Mattie squealed again.
    "Mother, please! Allow me to finish."
    "I'm sorry, Gavin. I just have visions of grandchildren running through my mind."
    Gavin exhaled an exasperated breath before continuing. "She was in my arms because she is an invalid and almost fell over the railing while reaching for a moonflower." Gavin saw his mother's crestfallen look and felt badly for getting her hopes up, although it was more her fault than his, he reasoned. "Anyway, I met her at the hotel ball the other night and didn't realize she was chairbound until I found her at church the next morning. The reason I'm here is because something strange happened that has never happened before, and I need your advice."
    "Have a seat, Son." Gav gestured to the leather sofa. "Let's have it all and then we'll see what we can make of it."
    "As I said, she was in my arms… she is so beautiful, you should see her." Gav clamped a hand on his wife's leg as she began to get excited again. "We were staring into one another's eyes, my blood running wild, and well, you know what happens to a man when he's excited, but that's not the strange thing." He glared at his mother and she hid a grin behind her hand. "My fangs emerged. That never happens unless I'm ready to make a kill. I don't understand it. I wasn't ready to kill Mrs. Elliott; I was ready to fu…"
    " Mrs. Elliott? Mrs. ? Good Lord, Gav, he's a scoundrel, a rogue! Trying to woo a married woman, Gavin Richard Charles Philip Stone, III, I will not have…!"
    "Mother!"
    "Mattie, I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation." Gav nodded to his son, patting his wife's knee.
    "Mother, she's a widow."
    "Oh," Mattie