It gives me great pleasure to present you with answers I found through the questions I presented to author Charlotte Boyett-Compo.  Ms. Boyett-Compo fully satisfied my curiosity by going back in time and reenacting how her characters would feel to me prying into their lives.

GRACE VIVIENNE BRELL

Suzie Housley:  You make it no secret Sinclair was not your favorite grandchild. Was there any one instance which would justify your hatred? If so, please explain.

Grace Vivienne Brell: The boy was incorrigible! He couldn't do anything right from the time he was weaned. He wasn't a handsome child and he whined and whined and whined whenever it was necessary to discipline him. He couldn't take his punishments like a little man.

Oh, no, not Rory Sinclair McGregor! He was nothing more than a spoiled brat. I tried very hard to bring up in the ways of
righteousness but unfortunately there was too much evil in his soul. The sins of the father are always visited upon the child.)
 

Suzie Housley:  You hinted there was a secret love you felt for Sinclairs father, please explain what it was?

Grace Vivienne Brell: Sinclair's father was a saint until he met that vile Felicity. She ruined his life and she turned him away from those who would have provided him with all the love he would ever have needed. He was a handsome, virile man with such immense power. Who would not love such a prime example of young Southern manhood?
 

Suzie Housley:  Do you see any traits in Connor, Leland, or Brendan which would make you think they would be better owners of your beloved Windlass?

Grace Vivienne Brell: You are joking, I'm sure! Not a one of them is worthy to run Windlass.  A drunk, a joker, and an imbecile are what you have in those three.  No, with my precious Duncan gone, what I need in a man is someone as ruthless as Edward Delacroix but who could be easily manipulated...ah, encouraged...to run things the way I believe they should be run.  A strong, powerful man who will give me the respect I deserve and listen!
 

Suzie Housley:  Your beau Roy Floyd Bartlett was only mentioned briefly. What circumstances brought the two of your together?

Grace Vivienne Brell: Roy Floyd is a fool, but he is a pleasant fool. I simply need a man now and then to escort me to functions where it is not polite for a female to be seen alone. He is convenient. He is, of course, enamored of me. In my day, I was considered the most beautiful woman in Savannah. Many men vied for my hand and a duel or two was fought over me. It is a shame so many of our gallant men gave their lives on the field of honor in a vain attempt to preserve our Southern way of life during the War between the States.

Suzie Housley:  Duncan was your favorite grandchild. What characteristics did he posse which Sinclair lacked?

Grace Vivienne Brell: Duncan was a god among men, m'dear! He was powerful, strong, determined. He had a way about him and, Lord, you should have seen him sit a horse! Such a debonair chevalier!! He cut a dashing figure with his trim hips and broad shoulders, his flat belly and long, elegant legs! What a striking man, he was.

He was everything Rory Sinclair wasn't. Sinclair could not hold a candle to Duncan. My word, that boy isn't good enough to wipe the mud from Duncan's boots!
 

Suzie Housley:  Why didn't you allow Evangeline to carry out her plans to kill Ivonne and Edward?

Grace Vivienne Brell: We certainly did not need the law breathing down our necks, now, did we? As much as I detest both Delacroix and that insipid little half-breed he married, I could not allow Evangeline to throw caution to the wind and commit murder, now, could I? Had I sanctioned such a thing--and mind you I most certainly would not have!--I could have been implicated. Do you really think
Evangeline would have held her tongue? Why, the woman is a trollop of the first order, not to mention being a simpering fool in the bargain!

Suzie Housley:  Did you have anything to do with Devon and Felicity McGregor's untimely death?

Grace Vivienne Brell: Of course not, you silly girl! I am a good, God-fearing woman. How dare you even insinuate that I would be capable of causing harm to another person!  Devon found ill-favor in the eyes of the Lord and paid for his sins along with that tart, Felicity.  You reap what you sow, Susan. You reap what you sow!

Suzie Housley:  How could you stand by and allow the woman you loved to suffer under the hands of a monster like Delacroix?

Rory 'Sinclair' McGregor:  Ivonne made her choice, Sue. As much as it hurt me to see her marry a rascal like Edward, I didn't feel I could just step in and stop the wedding. I'd been gone a long, long time and thought perhaps she'd fallen out of love with me.

More than anything, I wanted her happy. I thought if she had wanted me, she would have let me know. Since she didn't, I figured she was content with the life she'd chosen for herself. We all make mistakes and the good Lord knows that was perhaps the worse one I ever made.
 

Suzie Housley:  Why do you object to your grandmother using your full name, Rory Sinclair McGregor?

Rory 'Sinclair' McGregor: My grandmother always used my full name when she was angry at me...which was most of the time, actually. I knew when she said Rory Sinclair McGregor I was in for a whipping and the whipping would be as brutal as she could make it. After awhile, her using my full name became an insult. You would have to hear the way she said it to understand how annoying it could be.
 

Suzie Housley:  Did you ever have any feelings you forgot to mention about Leonie Emmerson?

Rory 'Sinclair' McGregor: Leonie is a sweet girl, but I only have eyes for Ivonne. No woman will ever be able to intrigue me, thrill me, make me as happy as my beloved Ivonne. I respect Leonie. She is a good woman and I appreciate all she's done for me.  I suppose I love her like the sister I never had. Please don't tell her that, though. I have a feeling it might hurt her.

Suzie Housley: Why didn't you run into Sinclair's arms and allow him to save you from the cruel clutches of Edward?

Ivonne Boucharde Delacroix: Believe me, Sue, I wanted to. With all my heart I wanted to go to Sinclair and throw myself at his feet. But he had been through so much and Edward had already caused him so much grief by buying Windlass out from under him. I knew if I tried to intervene or if it even looked as though I would go to Sinclair, Edward would completely destroy him. You saw what happened on the road. I knew Edward was responsible for that. How could I tempt fate knowing what might happen to my precious Sinclair? No, it was best I stay away from him as much as it pained me to do so.
 

Suzie Housley:  Sinclair left you safely with his grandmother and family when he left for the war. Why didn't you have the courage to stand up against his grandmother?

Ivonne Boucharde Delacroix: Grace Vivienne is an evil woman. You can not imagine how badly she treated the servants at Windlass. She treated me no differently than the negroes. To her way of thinking, I was not suitable material for the McGregor clan. She constantly found fault with everything I did. She berated me at every turn. Whenever I would try to defend Sinclair to her, she would explode in a fit of fury and once even slapped me when I dared to disagree with her. I knew if I stood up to her, she would find a way to cause trouble for Sinclair when he returned from the war. When he was sent to prison, she was overjoyed and hoped he would not return. I honestly believe she hoped the Yankees would kill him.  In the end, she crushed my spirit. I was never a strong woman and under her merciless attention, I lost what little stamina I had.

Suzie Housley:  Why did you ever return to Edward's house once you knew he was responsible for Sinclairs beatings?

Ivonne Boucharde Delacroix: Only one other person knows this, but Edward swore to me if I did not, he would hire someone to murder Sinclair. I took him at his word. My own fate meant little to me. Sinclair's life was all that mattered. I would have done anything to protect him.

Suzie Housley:  You stated you hinted for Leonie Emerson to wait for you before the war.  How is it we found out later no one had ever bothered to approach her to court her?

Leland Buell: Well, m'dear, I was rather shy with females back then. I didn't consider myself the cream of the crop, you understand, but I cut a good enough figure a lady would not have been ashamed to be seen with me, if you get my meaning. Miss Leonie didn't seem to be sweet on none of the other gentlemen about town and none of them seemed to pay her any attention whatsoever. She was, and still is, I fear, a bit on the hippy side. I always liked meatier women, though. And another reason I didn't take up courting her back then was I could see how she looked at Sin. Hell's bell, darling, all the women looked at him like he was a piece of rock candy in a store window! I was relieved he didn't give her the time o'day. Not that he was mean spirited about it. That ain't Sinclair. He just didn't notice the gal staring at him. He had eyes only for Miss Ivonne. So I figured, well, I thought, perhaps, I would have a good chance with Leonie once I got back. Didn't figure I'd have any competition and plenty of time. Of course, when I did, I wasn't the man I was before I left and what woman would have wanted me then?
 

Suzie Housley:  What characteristics did a handsome man like yourself see in a unattractive spinster as Leonie?

Leland Buell:  Well, bless your soul, Miss Sue! You think me handsome, darling? Well, don't that beat all? Thank you, honey. You done went and made this good old boy's day!

All kidding aside, though, I saw sweetness in Miss Leonie. I saw a good woman with a bright soul and a clear head on her shoulders. She comes from sturdy stock and I figured she wouldn't be one of them faint-at-the-drop-of-a-hat misses whose corsets are so tight... Excuse me, Miss Sue. That ain't a polite thing to be talking about to a lady. Miss Leonie is a pretty woman, a little on the hefty side, but that just means there's that much more to love, now, don't it?
 

Suzie Housley:  It was to be assumed you drowned your sorrows in drink because of the loss of your leg. Were there some other demons which plagued you? If so, please explain.

Leland Buell: Ain't losing a limb enough to drive you to drink? Well, I suppose if I'm gonna be honest here, I could say seeing all the suffering during the war, watching my friends getting blown to bits, and hearing all that screaming didn't help. For a long time I had some pretty mean nightmares. I keep seeing them taking my leg off and knowing I wouldn't ever be the same again. I guess drowning my sorrow in liquor ain't the best way to handle it, but it beats taking my revolver and blowing my brains out.
 

Suzie Housley:  You said you asked Leonie Emerson's mother's permission to take Leonie to Denton Henndon's wedding. Why didn't you ask Leonie first and then you both could confront her mother?
 

Leland Buell: I was a coward, Miss Sue. That woman was as mean as a cornered rabid coon. She didn't take to me the first time she met me, but I think it was more she just wanted to make gods-be-damned sure she had Miss Leonie a'slaving away, doing what she wanted for the rest of the girl's life. Selfish she was. I guess she saw in me a threat. If Leonie went out walking with me, I might take her away from the Emerson household. I would have, too....in a heartbeat if I'd been given the chance!

LEONIE EMERSON

Suzie Housley:  Were you aware Leland Buell had an interest in you? If so, why didn't you help him accept his disability by being by his side?

Leonie Emerson:  I didn't have any idea at all how Leland felt! He certainly never made his feelings known. If he had, I would have gently turned him down. I know it sounds silly, but I always felt Sinclair would look up one day, see me, and know how much I loved him. I suppose that was a stupid daydream, but at that time, all I could think about was Sinclair. He was so dashing, so handsome, and had such a wonderful sense of humor. Oh, you should have seen him before the war, Sue! He was an Adonis stepped down from the vault of Olympus!

Suzie Housley:  Why did you rush to Sinclairs side to help him get over Ivonne. Did he ever show you any interest before to lead you to believe he was interested in you?

Leonie Emerson:  Someone had to take care of the poor man! No one seemed to understand how devastating Ivonne's marriage was on him. Oh, I know his cousins realized he was heartsick over it, but none of them lifted a finger to help him remedy situation, now, did they? Cowards, every last one of them. And as for that virago of a grandmother of his: the woman was meaner than a rattlesnake and twice as poisonous!  To answer your other question, though, no, he never showed me anything but respect. He was that way with any woman. He never encouraged me.  I just kept hoping, you understand.
 

Suzie Housley:  How could you falsely pose as another woman and give yourself to Sinclair?

Leonie Emerson:  We all do damning things when we are in love. I wanted him so badly. Just to feel his arms around me. To feel the weight of his body upon mine. To inhale the manly scent of him and taste the sweetness of his mouth!  I'm afraid I threw all caution to the wind and gave in to the demoness inside me demanding to know the feel of Sinclair's body in my arms. I know it was wrong, but I could not have stopped it...would NOT have stopped it...had I known the fires of hell would be lapping at my toes come morning!

Suzie Housley:  How could you not notice a man as handsome as Leland Brell?

Leonie Emerson:  I noticed him, dear, I just wasn't interested. I had my heart set on Sinclair and wanted no one else. Of course, looking back on it now, I think I would have accepted a walking out with Leland had he asked me, not my mother. Not to encourage him, you understand, but to have someone as a companion until Sinclair finally realized I bore him such great, undying love.
 

Suzie Housley: When you went away to have Sinclair's child was it your intent to ever return and inform him of how you had deceived him?

Leonie Emerson:  No, I knew it would hurt him and hurting him was the last thing I wanted.  Everyone had caused him pain of some sort and I could not allow another tear to be shed from those sad eyes.  I never wanted him to know I had stooped so low as to steal a child from his loins. I didn't want him to think ill of me.
 

Suzie Housley: Does any ONE man hold your heart? Or is it as cold as your soul?

Leonie Emerson:  Sinclair holds my heart, Susan. He always has and always will. Why do you think my soul is cold?

CHRISTINA MARIE DUNN BUELL

Suzie Housley: How is it that you are always the one to not suffer the wrath of Grace Vivienne Buell?

Christina Marie Dunn Buell: Because I give as good as I get from the old bat! She knows I will only put up with just so much from her before I start dishing it back out.  We understand one another: leave me alone and I'll leave you alone. I'm not afraid of her tongue, her irrational anger, or her wrath. If she wants to cause me grief, she'll get some in return!
 

Suzie Housley:  Why did CJ and yourself both seem to fade into the shadows and allow Sinclair to capture the limelight you were holding?

Christina Marie Dunn Buell: Haven't you realized yet that I am in love with Sinclair? God love him, CJ, is a precious boy. I adore him, but he isn't Sinclair. As much as I love CJ, had Sinclair ever shown me anything other than sisterly affection, I would have jumped his bones in the flick of an eye!  But Sin loves Ivonne. He always has and always will. I'll just content myself to be his champion and watch over him to make sure no one else ever hurts him again!

Charlee is the author of over thirty books, the first nine of which are the WindLegend Saga which began with THE WINDKEEPER. Married 35 years to her high school sweetheart, Tom, she is the mother of two grown sons, Pete and Mike, and the proud grandmother of Preston Alexander and Victoria Ashley. She is the willing houseslave to six demanding felines who are holding her hostage in her home and only allowing her to leave in order to purchase food for them. A native of Sarasota, Florida, she grew up in Colquitt and Albany, Georgia and now lives in the Midwest. She is a proud member of the Authors' Guild, National Writers' Union, the Writer's Club Romance Group, Romance Writers of America, Romance Foretold, The HTML Writer's Guide, EPIC (the Electronically Published Internet Connection), Women for Literature, Ardeon, E-Authors, the Phenomenal Women of the Web, and the first author to be published by Twilight Times Books, now Dark Star Publications.