Lester was in awe, almost, as she shared the story with him — he followed her instructions and his heart thumped swiftly in his chest. He could hardly believe that he'd forgotten the encounter she described, but then again he had never again been that drunk — and if this was the sort of thing he was forgetting when he was that drunk, then he would never be so again.

He wanted to tell her that she wasn't a nuisance. He was going to tell her, every time he saw her from now on, that she wasn't a nuisance — but for now, Lester focused on kissing her deeply, trying to pour into the kiss what he could not say with words. It was only the sound of footsteps in the hallway that led him to break the kiss off abruptly, and take a step back.

"Mr. Thompsett," Lester said in greeting, with what he hoped managed to be a casual smile towards her brother. "Miss Thompsett, thank you for seeing me — but I ought not take up all of your calling hours, I suppose."