Chapter 75

Nettie wished she hadn't sent Eli to retrieve her sewing machine. It was easily replaced, and based on the amount of time this errand had taken, something had gone wrong. Eli was irreplaceable.
The front foyer doorbell rang - a first, in Nettie's experience. Eli hadn't had a single caller in the almost two weeks she'd been there, other than those in his office. She jumped up to get it, but Diana shook her head. "Mrs. V has her pride too. Let her do her job."
The door opened and closed, then two sets of footsteps climbed the stairs to the main parlor. Nettie set aside the magazine she'd been trying to read while Diana lay her knitting in her lap.
"Mrs. Elias Lawson, Jr.," Mrs. VanCleve announced in a lofty tone. "To see Miss Price."
Diana squeezed Nettie's hand and whispered, "Don't worry. I won't leave you with the shark."
Nettie stood and held out her right hand. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Lawson. How lovely of you to visit." She'd been paying attention to Diana's manners as well as the ones she'd gleaned from her reading. "Would you care for coffee or tea?"
"No, I would not." Eli's mother ignored Nettie's hand and turned to her daughter. "Diana. I wish you to return home immediately. All these stairs cannot possibly be healthful in your condition."
"My bedroom at the Pines is also on the second floor, Mama." Diana pronounced it in the British manner, ma-MA. "I'm quite content here with Nettie. We've been renewing our friendship. You might say we've become as close as sisters."
Nettie returned to her seat and bit back a grin at Diana's sauciness. "My intention is to stay with the Websters when they return from their trip." She smiled at Mrs. VanCleve. "I think Mrs. Chalmers and I would like some tea anyway, please. You may bring up a third cup, in case Mrs. Lawson changes her mind."
Mrs. VanCleve bobbed her head and left. Nettie must have imagined the slight gleam of approval she thought she'd seen in the older woman's eye.
"Mama, allow me to introduce you to Eli's intended." Diana picked up her knitting and grinned. "Nettie, this is my mother, Araminta Lawson. Mama, meet your future daughter-in-law, Nettie Price."
"What sort of name is Nettie?" Mrs. Lawson sniffed. "You cannot possibly be serious about marrying my son. I presume you are in the family way? I could make your life very lucrative if you're willing to walk away from Eli - and Carstairs. Would a check for ten thousand do the trick?"
"Nettie is short for Annette, to which I do not choose to answer." Nettie drew in a deep breath and firmed her spine. "As to your other assumptions, you are incorrect. Your son is a gentleman. He and I have not been intimate. Nor am I of a mercenary bent. I have no interest in his bank balance, and neither presence nor absence of funds in said account will cause me to leave him. If you are inclined to throw away good money, I'm sure there are numerous charities which would be delighted with such a generous donation."
Diana clapped. "Oh, well done, my dear. Mama, you are outmatched. Nettie is perfect for Eli. On top of that, she'll do the family proud. Besides, the more you insult her, the more determined she'll be to stay. She really loves him, you see. She's lovely and brilliant, and brave enough to face down dragons. What more could you want?"
"Breeding? Education? Savoir faire?" Mrs. Lawson shrugged. "Not that Eli has ever listened to good advice anyway, but I had hoped Miss Pierce here would be more comme il faut."
"It's Price, if you please." If the old bat thought she could intimidate Nettie with French, she was in for a shock. The Websters had taught her several languages, modern and ancient. She smiled at Mrs. Lawson. "Mais, oui, Madame. Ma famille n'est pas importante ou nanti. Mais moi, j'aime votre fils, et je suis compable d'apprendre." Yes, ma'am. My family isn't important or well-heeled, but I love your son and I am capable of learning.
"Indeed." Mrs. Lawson blinked. "We shall have to work a trifle on your accent. Was your governess perhaps from the north of France?"
"No, she was a well-traveled, distinctly middle-class American. And she wasn't my governess - do they really have those anymore? - she is my godmother and employer. I'm not ashamed of working in a bookstore, Mrs. Lawson. I wasn't born in your world and I have repeatedly pointed that out to your son. But as I said, I do love him, and he seems quite determined that we be wed."
"You're wearing my mother's ring." Mrs. Lawson's eyes were a darker brown than her son's but every bit as intense. Her bobbed hair was sleek and silver, but her smooth skin made her look too young to be the mother of four adults. "And it's on the wrong hand."
"It won't go on with the cast. The ring is beautiful and so is the sentiment behind it. If it bothers you that much, though, I can ask Eli to buy me one that's new." Nettie would hate to give up the lovely little ring, but it would be worth it to help mend fences with her future mother-in-law.
"No. It was left to Eli to do with as he wished. Please see that it returns to my family if this marriage falls through." She left unspoken the fact that she obviously thought it would.
"You have my word." If Eli changed his mind and broke the engagement, of course she'd return the ring.
Mrs. VanCleve arrived with the tea as Mrs. Lawson stood. "I'll see myself out. Good day, Diana. Miss Pike."
Nettie and Diana rolled their eyes at each other as Diana poured their tea. "Now you know why I was glad to stay here instead of at the Pines." Diana stuck out her tongue and both women laughed.
Even Mrs. VanCleve cracked a smile. "Anything else you'd like, Miss Nettie? Miss Diana?" It was the first time she'd used Nettie's first name.
"No thank you, Mrs. V." Nettie used the short form as both Eli and Diana did. "Can you manage to keep supper warm until Mr. Eli returns?" It really had been a very long time.
"Of course, Miss." This time the housekeeper gave Nettie a genuine smile. "I've made some of his favorites as sort of a celebration."
"I'm sure he'll appreciate that." It seemed something good had come from Mrs. Lawson's visit. Nettie had finally won over Mrs. VanCleve.