Chapter 2
Because her mouth had been open in surprise, he was able to easily to slide his tongue into her mouth. For some reason Porter's reaction was to try and push his tongue out of her mouth with her own, rather than just pulling her head back. And the duel was on! As Neville tried not to surrender his conquered territory, he placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her with him as he stood up. Porter placed her hands on his chest, preparing to push him away, when his arms wrapped around, her pulling her close, and thereby trapping her hands between them.
Just at that moment, the elevator doors opened, and the janitor with his rolling cart, came into the room. Seeing the two young people kissing, he said, "Don't mind me, I'll just empty the trash and be out of your way in a minute."
Porter jumped away from Neville, smoothing her hair and suit with her hands as she quickly sat back down at her desk. Grinning, Neville grabbed his translation, and headed for the elevator saying, "I'll pick you up at 7:00 PM tomorrow for dinner, Harvard. By the way, my name is Neville," he said with a cheeky grin as the elevator doors closed on him not giving her a chance to respond.
After the elevator doors closed, Porter ran her fingers over the Harvard alumni pin she wore on the lapel of her suit jacket. She was oddly pleased that he had noticed that small detail about her, but she was still fuming about the kiss. Because of that, it took her quite a bit longer than necessary to finish the translation that Neville had interrupted.
Sunday, February 4, 1961
1000 EST
Webb home
Georgetown, Virginia
The next morning Neville began calling in favors to find out who the pretty young Harvard graduate from the night before was. It was nearly noon before he made the disquieting discovery that his little Russian expert was in actual fact Porter Bernadette Winston. The socialite debutante his mother had been trying to introduce him to for the last two months, whom he had been adroitly trying to avoid, and quite successfully, much to his mother's annoyance. Discovering that she still lived in her family home, he called his favorite florist and had two-dozen orchids delivered to her. Telling the florist that he wanted the message written in Russian, and he would spell the words out to her. "R borr nor tbl ceroahr beepom mon ocer."
When he was finished the florist said, "It sounds lovely, what does it mean?"
"It just means, I'll see you tonight, my dove."
Porter had the maid arrange the beautiful bouquet of orchids in a vase on the center table in the foyer. She still giggled occasionally as she dressed for her date. Her mother, Corenthia, had asked several times what had been so funny in the card that had arrived with the flowers, but Porter didn't think her proper mother would be amused at Neville's obviously mistaken Russian message. As she dressed, her mother continued to question her, as to whom this young man was, and why her daughter had agreed to go out with a stranger.
"Mother, I told you that I met him at work and he is taking me to the Willard which is a very respectable and public place. Remember it's the sixties now, and women do know how to take care of themselves."
"It may be the sixties, but men have not changed over the years," replied her mother.
"And they never will," grinned Porter. "But I will be careful, mother."
"I know you will, darling. It's him, I worried about."
Just then the doorbell rang and the two women could hear the maid answer it and show Porter's date into the drawing room.
"I think I'll go down and offer him a drink, while you finish getting ready. It'll give me a chance to check him out," her mother said.
Going down stairs Corenthia stepped into the drawing room and said, "Hello, young man, my name is Corenthia Winston and you would be?"
"My name is Neville Webb, and may I say you look very young to be Porter's grandmother," Neville smiled as he kissed the back of Corenthia's hand.
To be continued…..
