The Last of the Winter Roses

the long version

Ardith Winter had turned down a marriage proposal from her neighbor and childhood companion St. John Worth during her London season assuming he had made the offer in jest. Now a few years later she is required to seek his aid during a storm, and the two cautiously resume their friendship. She does not realize immediately though that he is actually deeply in love with her and has been patiently waiting for her to turn to him, and so a subtle courtship also gets underway.