She accepted his proffered hand and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor. "Step, pause, step, step," he demonstrated. She copied his movements, and soon the two of them were rotating clockwise just like all the other couples on the floor.

"This is fun!" Anne cried. Her breath became labored as she struggled to keep up with him. "You're such a good dancer!"

"Thanks, so are you!"

They danced to three songs, and by that time, Anne felt as if she were ready to drop, but she was determined not to let her exhaustion show. Louis seemed barely winded at all, and oblivious to her distress.

I can't take this anymore! she told herself toward the end of the third song, but she pasted a smile on her face and continued to do her best to keep up with Louis.

"Now we gonna slooow things down a little bit," the accordion player announced. Thank God! Anne told herself.

A Cajun ballad began to play, and Louis pulled her close and put one hand on her waist while clasping her other hand. He was a couple of inches taller than her, and as they began to move together, she looked into his dark eyes and saw that they were sparkling.

"Are you having a good time?" He sounded a tad anxious.

"I'm having a wonderful time, Louis. Are you?"

He grinned and gave a slight nod, and she had a mental picture of him standing on the sidelines, watching his younger brother dance with every pretty girl present.

"I'm so glad I came," she told him.

"So am I."

The song ended, and another began. She noticed that a lock of his hair had fallen and resisted the urge to tuck it back into place. As they moved together in perfect harmony, time seemed to stand still, and before Anne was even aware of it, the musicians had struck up another fast number.

"Want to sit this one out?" asked Louis. "I could use a little break myself."

"So could I."

Louis returned to the food table, and Anne found herself in the presence of Mrs. Bourbon and Elisabeth once again. "Come have a seat, dear." Mrs. Bourbon led her to a chair. "Would you like a glass of wine?"

"I'm fine, thanks."

"I saw you dancing with my brother," said Elisabeth. "You're really good! Have you always lived here or did you move here from somewhere else?"

"I was born at the navy hospital in Pensacola, Florida," Anne replied. "My Dad was in the military, the Jag Corps, and we moved around a lot when I was a kid. When I was fifteen, he got out of the military and opened his own office here. He'd been stationed at Belle Chasse when I was a little girl and liked the area."

"Did you live in any foreign countries?" asked Elisabeth.

"France and the Netherlands."

"Really? Our ancestors came from France, many years ago." Elisabeth's smile looked so much like her brother's that Anne felt a rush of warmth for the young woman.

"How old are you, Elisabeth?"

"Not quite twenty. I'm studying art at Tulane."

"That's great! Maybe you can get a better job than cleaning aquariums." Anne grimaced.

"Is that what you do?" asked Mrs. Bourbon.

Anne nodded. "I work at the Aquarium of the Americas. It pays the bills, so I guess I can't complain."

"That sounds like fun!" exclaimed Elisabeth. "Do you get employee discounts?"

"Of course, and not only that, they're always running specials on admissions. I could get you the information on what we've got going now if you're interested."

"Oh, thank you!"

"Erm - hello." Anne saw that Louis had returned.

"Hello, darling." Mrs. Bourbon gave her son's arm an affectionate pat. "Anne here was just telling us about her job at the Aquarium of the Americas." She turned to Anne. "I wish you could have met our oldest son, Joseph. He was such a bright boy. Ambitious as well." She shook her head. "Such a tragedy."

Louis cleared his throat. "Well, would you like to dance some more?' he asked Anne.

They danced to several more songs, then found a comfortable settee to sit on and talk. "Your mother and sister seem so nice," Anne commented.

"Thank you." Louis took a sip of his wine. "Elisabeth and I have always been very close. I was ten when she was born, and to me she looked just like a little doll. I helped her learn to walk, and later, to read and write. She's been there for me during the lowest points of my life." A shadow passed over his face, and Anne wondered what was on his mind.

"It's that way between me and George," she told Louis. "He's only three years older than me, so we grew up together. My sister Mary is closer to my age, but I've always felt closer to George. There was always so much competition between me and Mary, about our looks, clothes, boyfriends - everything."

"So tell me more about George."

"He teaches history at a local high school, and he's dating a girl named Jane Parker." Anne grimaced. "She's all wrong for him, and everybody can see that but him."

Louis laughed. "They do say love is blind."

"In George's case, stone blind." She had as sudden thought. "Is your sister involved with anyone?"

Louis shook his head. "Elisabeth's pretty religious, and also quite devoted to her studies. It would take a really special guy to catch her attention."

"And to get the approval of her protective older brother, of course," Anne teased.

Louis looked startled for just a minute, then burst out laughing. "That as well."

Elisabeth was a bit young for George, anyway, Anne realized.