Chapter 70

"Son of a bitch." Eli rested his elbows on the desk and let his head fall into his hands. "I heard about it at the fire station too. Unfortunately, I still haven't figured out what to do."
Diana snorted. "That's because you're a man, and therefore an idiot." She gestured around the room and at Eli's law school diploma. "Oh, you're smart, that's not it, but you don't comprehend women and you don't have a clue about gossip. Folks are saying that maybe Nettie is as trashy as her father, only it didn't show up until now. If you want her to have any kind of reputation, brother mine, you're going to have to step up and do the honorable thing."
"And what's that?" Though in his sinking stomach, he thought he knew.
"Put a ring on her finger." Diana's expression was calm and flat, the opposite of her normal, volatile cheerfulness. "You're going to have to marry her - or send her somewhere no one's ever heard of either of you."
He squeezed his eyes shut. "Damn it, when did you get so smart. You think that's going to be as easy as it sounds? Nettie is a proud woman - and I like her too much to make up pretty lies."
"Good." Nettie stood in the doorway, a book in her good hand. "I don't like lies. Not even pretty ones."
Eli buried his face in his hands. "Jesus, Nettie. Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" He saw the hurt in her wide eyes and mentally cursed. "How much of that conversation did you hear?"
"Just the end. I came in on Di telling you to put a ring on my finger or send me away. I assume there's been a little bit of talk?" Nettie set the book down and eased into his office. She slid into the second guest chair and studied his face.
"More than a little," Diana interjected. "It's all over town, I'm afraid, and it doesn't cast either of you in a very positive light."
Nettie nodded. What little bruising was left on her face was softened by the powder she'd begun to use. "So now my father is still the town drunk, and I'm the town whore."
"Don't say that - "
Diana held up a hand cutting off her brother and held Nettie's gaze. "Pretty much."
"And a gold-digger, of course." Nettie sighed. "I told Eli this would never work. I have a great-aunt in Boston. Maybe, if I can borrow bus fare, I could stay with her until I get a job up there. At least I know the Websters will give me a good reference."
"You don't need to borrow anything," Diana said. "I can give you bus fare, or even train f - "
"Stop." Eli turned on his sternest lawyer voice and let it thunder through the room. "Nobody's going anywhere. Nettie, do you even know this great aunt? Have her address?"
"Well, it's back at the house. I think I met her once when I was little. She sends a Christmas card every year, so I know she's still alive, or at least she was in December."
She twisted her good hand in the pleats of her dress - another present from Diana, it had no sleeves to interfere with the cast. So far, Eli had seen three of them, but this one, in soft blue gauze, was his favorite. The boat-style neckline showed her delicate collarbones and the soft fabric clung to her curves. She still wore her hair in a braid down to her waist, rather than putting it up as she always did for the store, and Eli had discovered he liked being the only man who regularly saw her hair down. "Nettie, you're rambling. You do that when you're nervous."
She nodded. "I know. It's just...I should have left town years ago, but I promised Ma I'd take care of him. And I tried, I really did, but you can't take care of someone who doesn't want it, can you? So now I have to leave, and it's a little daunting, especially with only one wing."
"You're not leaving." Eli kept his voice calm this time. "Di, make yourself scarce. And tell the secretary and clerk to go home for the day."
"Aye, sir!" With a laugh, Diana saluted her brother, winked at Nettie, and left through the door into the waiting room.
"Look, Eli, I heard what Diana said, and it's ridiculous." Nettie straightened her spine and gave him a stern look. "I will not be married to stop some silly gossip, and I wouldn't let such a thing happen to you. This isn't the Victorian era, after all. I'll do fine outside of Carstairs. It will be an adventure."
"Be reasonable." It felt wrong to say that to Nettie. She was usually one of the most rational people Eli had ever met. "I have an idea. Can you be quiet for a minute and listen without getting upset?"
"That depends on what you have to say." Her lip quirked into a half smile and Eli relaxed a little. She was still sensible, sane Nettie, even under the lipstick and new clothes.
"Well, here it is. We pretend to be engaged." He leaned over and clasped her hand, noting the pink nail polish Diana must have talked her into. "We make a big announcement, the whole deal, only we don't set a date. Then you'll have time to make arrangements wherever you'd like. I have contacts in Chicago and Grand Rapids - some back east too, from law school. You'd make a topnotch secretary. I can also go out to your father's place and bring back anything you need - like your aunt's address. Meanwhile, we let the town think we're planning the wedding of the year."
"And?" Nettie left her hand in his, which he took as a positive sign.
"And then, once your arm is healed, if - when you find a job, somewhere to go, you jilt me and I put you on a train out of town." He laced his finger through hers. "It's a perfect plan." Except for the part where she left. That he wasn't so sure about.
"You're willing to let the entire town - including your family - think you're marrying a nobody from the wrong side of the tracks. Who's going to believe that, Eli?" Her face flushed and her eyelids dropped to their joined hands. "I heard what you said to Diana. I like you too, Eli. I like you a lot. You're the kind of man every girl dreams about. But we both know I'm not the highlight of any man's fantasy. I can't let you become a laughingstock to save my pride."
"Nettie, will you stop running yourself down?" He couldn't stand it when she did that. "You're a sweet, beautiful, brilliant woman. You're a little quiet, and you haven't had the easiest start in life, but those reflect on your father, not on you. Any man would be lucky and proud to have a partner like you by his side." Oddly, he found he was telling the truth.
"Right - until I used the wrong fork for fish. You're very kind, Eli, but I'm not in your league. Can you really imagine me sitting down to dinner at your mother's table? Drinking tea with the mayor's wife before a city council meeting? Don't be absurd."
"Oddly enough, I can, though ten minutes ago, I might have said mo. But you're too smart to play dumb. Yes, you'd have some catching up to do. Read an etiquette book if it makes you happy. There's bound to be one in there." With his free hand, Eli gestured toward the library. "Yes, you'll need a few more clothes. Di will be delighted to take you shopping once you're allowed out. Maybe even into Grand Rapids for a day."