Elizabeth loved the smell of books. Newer books smelled like fresh paper and ink while old books smelled musty and sweet. The library went from a dirty, run-down building to a beautiful, polished library in merely a week. Standing in the middle of the library with her hands on her hips in mild satisfaction, Elizabeth smiled as recalled one of her early, childhood memories.

It was a chilly, misty October evening in Hamilton. Elizabeth was nearly ten years old at the time. She remembered how she spent hours in her father's library, reading Jane Austen. When her father insisted she put down her book and go to bed, she squealed in protest.

"Father! Please let read just one more chapter! Mr. Darcy just told Mr. Bingley that Elizabeth isn't handsome enough to tempt him!" young Elizabeth said. "And I know that's not true!"

"My little romantic, your passion for reading is reading is good, but it's nearly 10 pm!" her father, Mr. Thatcher exclaimed.

"But, Father!" she protested. "Please!"

Elizabeth smiled as she thought back on those fond recollections. As the memories faded away, she returned to reality. She groaned as she remembered the events of the day and her promise to Clara. She had to face Lucas. However, after her encounter with Nathan, she couldn't escape the feeling of nervousness. Perhaps Nathan was right. Perhaps she should stay away from Lucas.

Or maybe, Nathan was wrong. Maybe because he believed it was his job to believe the worst in people, he did. And maybe Lucas was not a bad man at all.

I'll be cautious. That was Elizabeth's conclusion. She wouldn't cease contact with Lucas because of Bill and Nathan's suspicions. However, perhaps it would be best to talk to Bill. He would probably be less bias than Nathan.

Elizabeth glanced at the clock on the library wall. It was nearly dark! She quickly turned her lamp off and locked the library door for the night. She stopped outside a moment to enjoy the Hope Valley sunset. It was breathtaking. It reminded Elizabeth about what a blessing it was that Mr. Higgins sent her to this small town instead of a lavish, big city school. She sighed, breathing in the sweet, summer night breeze. The serene moment filled Elizabeth with hope. Hope for the future. It was such a strong feeling of hope. . . she hadn't felt so strongly about anything in a while. She hadn't felt such a strong sensation, a feeling of. . . happiness, since Jack died.

Happiness. Unexplainable happiness.

She glanced into the heavens. "Thank you, Jack, for all of the wonderful times we shared. The joy we shared. But I finally feel. . . happy again. You'll always have a part of my heart no matter what," she breathed in the breeze again.

The streets were strangely very empty. If it had been bustling and full, Elizabeth doubted she would have experienced such a moving moment of unexplainable bliss.

That moment was interrupted by a voice. A voice that belonged to a man that Elizabeth had to confront. . . again. "Hello, Elizabeth!" the voice called from behind.

Elizabeth spun around to see Lucas Bouchard's smiling face. "Hello, Lucas," she said. She removed any trace of a smile from her face. It did not feel appropriate for that moment. "How are you?"

"I'm doing quite well, Madame Librarian," he said, his charming smile widening. "How is baby Jack doing?"

Madame Librarian. It was his nickname for her. He had become rather cozy with Elizabeth. Some days, Elizabeth did not mind. Other days, it made her feel uncomfortable. Especially after he had romantically quoted a book to her. Ever since that night, she always felt at least the tiniest bit of discomfort around him. But Nathan did not need to know that.

"He's doing quite well. He's with his Auntie Rosemary at present," she said.

"I didn't know you were in relation to Rosemary Coulter," he said, surprised.

"Oh, no," Elizabeth flushed. "We call her that. . . umm, she is like an aunt to him and like a sister to me. We're not biological family, but in all other respects, we're just that. . . family." She realized how silly that must sound to Lucas.

"I see."

"I need to talk to you about something," she said. "It can't wait."

"I understand. Would you like to sit down at the saloon for a bite while we talk? You've been working so hard at the library lately, I'm sure you're famished."

Elizabeth glanced down the street to the saloon. The windows were radiating with the light from within. "Okay," she said. It seemed appropriate enough for a discussion.

He offered Elizabeth his arm.

There is no polite way to decline when a man offers you his arm, Elizabeth's old governess had said. With no choice but to accept his arm, she reluctantly linked her arm around Lucas's. She glanced at Lucas's face. He seemed mightily pleased.

She glanced around the darkening streets. Silently, she hoped no one would see them. Unfortunately, she quickly learned that someone did see them. Of people in Hope Valley to have seen them arm in arm, it was Nathan Grant.

His face looked somber yet grief-stricken. He stood on the opposite sidewalk, across from Lucas and Elizabeth. She turned her head toward Lucas and away from Nathan. "You know, it's kind of you to offer your arm but - "

"Of course, my lady," he said eloquently. He continued to walk in a leisurely manner.

"If you don't mind, it's not fair to keep Rosemary waiting. Do you mind if we walk just a bit faster?" Elizabeth felt herself panic and she could not even fathom why.

"Anything you wish," Lucas's charming words slipped off his tongue with ease. His pace quickened, but only a little more than a little. Elizabeth internally frowned. It would be rude to tell him to go any bit faster, but she hated the feeling of Nathan's eyes on her.

Lucas freed his arm, walking ahead of her. "After you," he said, opening the saloon door with exaggerated flair.