Elisabeth jumped when she heard the doorbell ring. Looking through the peephole, she saw a young man who looked to be about thirty. He had short brown hair, blue eyes, and a neatly trimmed beard. He wore navy blue slacks and a dark green shirt and had a red beret on his head.

She opened the door and smiled at him. "You must be George."

"At your service, madam, and you must be Elizabeth." He gave he a courtly bow. She had the urge to giggle but bit her lower lip.

"Louis and Anne are waiting in the car." He offered her his arm, and when she took it, he led her to Louis's car. Ever the gentleman, he opened the door on her side before walking around to his own.

"How are you?" asked Louis as she got herself settled.

"I'm fine, thanks," Elisabeth told her brother. His presence had a calming effect on her, as it always did. "How are you?"

"We're both doing well." He wore beige pants with a light blue shirt, while Anne wore black slacks with a hot pink blouse.

Louis drove to the restaurant and parked, and they all went inside.

The walls of the dining room were green, and the ceiling was beige. Many framed paintings hung on the walls, and a chandelier hung from the ceiling. The tables were round and covered with white tablecloths, and the chairs were brown.

The hostess met them at the front and led them to their table.

The waiter turned out to be a swarthy young man with dark hair and eyes. His name tag read 'Pierre.'

"Can I start you off with some drinks?" he asked.

"White wine OK for all?" Louis glanced around the table, and the others all nodded.

Surveying the menu, Anne selected a moderately-priced meal, out of consideration for Louis.

"Oh, go ahead and order the lobster tails," he encouraged. "I know you want them."

"Very well, as long as you share them with me," she told him.

"Of course I will."

While waiting for their meal to arrive, Elisabeth glanced at George. He smiled at her, and a feeling of warmth flooded her body. She hadn't been on very many dates, and she knew George was a few years older than she was. She suspected he was quite experienced as well, and that thought made her feel very insecure.

"Anne told me you're studying art at Tulane," he told her. "How are your classes going?"

"Very well so far," she replied. "I plan to use spring break to polish up on my techniques. How is your job going?"

"Well enough. Spring break's great, isn't it? Well, for you it must be. I get to spend the first part of it grading exams." He grimaced, and Elisabeth giggled.

"You're a teacher, then."

"I teach history at Decatur High."

"I think that's wonderful, that you're teaching young people about the past. History is so important."

"Well, it pays the bills, anyway."

Their food arrived, and they dug in. Having lived in New Orleans her entire life, Elisabeth was familiar with the cousine and had her personal favorites, which included Crawfish Etouffee. She'd eaten hardly anything all day and was starving but, conscious of the impression she was making on George, took only small, dainty bites of her meal.

George, who was watching her, smiled to himself. In the brief amount of time he'd known her, he could already tell she was as different from Jill Parker as night was from day. From her personality as well as her age, he deduced she didn't have much experience with men, and that was fine with him, as he much preferred it to the opposite.

As she enjoyed her lobster tails, Anne observed the interaction between her brother and Louis's sister and was glad he'd suggested the double date. She'd found such happiness with Louis and wanted her brother to experience the same happiness.

When they were finished eating, Louis and George split the bill, and then Louis took first Elisabeth home, then George.

"See, I told you he'd treat her like a lady!" Anne said as they watched George walk away.

"So far he has." Louis gave a small smile, and Anne marveled at how his normally meek personality underwent a radical change in matters concerning Elisabeth. With a chuckle, she reflected the same was true of George where she was concerned.

"What's so funny?" asked Louis.

"Protective older brothers," Anne replied.

Louis laughed. "We are a formidable breed."

They reached Anne's home. "Thank you very much for dinner," said Anne as he walked her to her door.

"You're quite welcome," he replied. "It was my pleasure."

"You are coming inside for drinks, aren't you?"

"I was just waiting for you to ask."

She gave him a knowing wink, and he blushed.

Elisabeth wasn't surprised to see her mother sitting on the sofa doing needlework as she entered the house. Mrs. Bourbon looked up as soon as she heard her daughter's soft footsteps.

"Hello, dear," she greeted Elisabeth. "How did your date go?"

"It went fine, Mom," the young woman replied. "George seems to be really nice. I hope he asks me out again."

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." Mrs. Bourbon returned to her needlework as Elisabeth went to her bedroom to change into her nightgown. Her French poodle, Fifi, sat on her bed looking dolefully at her. She stuck her bottom lip out playfully.

"Oh, come on, Fifi. You know I have to go other places sometimes, but I always come right back home to you, don't I?" She petted Fifi's soft white fur, and the dog rolled over on her back.

Elisabeth chuckled as she stroked Fifi's belly. "I know how much you like tummy rubs." She undressed and retrieved her favorite nightgown from her dresser, then pulled it over her head and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth.