Into the Flames

by Multi-Author

  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.

  Diana set down her knitting. “You know, I think perhaps I’ll go dine out this evening. I’ll be home at a decent hour—say nine o’clock? Mrs. V, do you think your husband could pick me up then at the Lakeshore Inn? I’ll make my way down by way of the shops. I’m in a spendy sort of mood this afternoon.”

  “Of course, ma’am.” Mrs. VanCleve smiled. “I’ll stay in the house with the young lovebirds until you return. Of course I may turn my wireless up. My hearing isn’t what it used to be, you know.”

  She actually winked at Nettie as she walked away.

  Diana followed, waving over her shoulder. “Have a good night, sister. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” With a laugh, she followed the housekeeper down the back stairs.

  Nettie sat in stunned silence.

  They’d all conspired to give her and Eli an evening to themselves.

  The wall clock showed it was nearly five. Diana wouldn’t have many shops to choose from still open, but the dime store and department store were open until seven. At five, Eli’s employees would leave. Mrs. V would stay in her little sitting room after dinner, with her wireless. Tucked off the kitchen, it was under the main dining room. If she and Eli retired to the parlor after dinner, they would have nearly complete privacy.

  Nettie shivered. Maybe she should go put on her mother’s rhinestone earrings. And lipstick. And definitely more perfume.

  She got up to go to her room when she heard Eli’s footsteps on the back stairs. She moved into the hallway to greet him, fairly bouncing with excitement at the idea of an evening alone. One look at Eli drove that completely from her mind. His face was grim, his skin and clothing covered with ash and soot.

  “I didn’t hear the fire bell.” It was the only thing she could think to say. The bandage on his hand was fresh, and those were clean, so she took them in hers. “Eli what’s wrong.” She’d seen him serious, furious, and playful, but never so despondent.

  “Come sit down, Nettie.” He dropped her hands and led her into the breakfast room. The dumbwaiter chimed and he pulled a carafe of coffee from inside, along with two cups. “Sit down. I’m afraid I have some awful news, my dear.”

  Nettie sat, hugging herself with her good arm. “Tell me,” she said as he meticulously poured the coffee and added sugar to hers. “Diana? She’s only just left the house. Has something happened to her?”

  “No. My sister waved as I was walking in. It’s your father, Nettie. I’m afraid he’s gone.”

  “Gone? Gone where? Away? Missing? To jail?” She didn’t know quite what Eli expected her to feel. It wasn’t as if she was going to miss the man.

  “He’s dead, Nettie. He somehow managed to burn down his house around him. We found him when we went for the sewing machine. It probably happened last night, and it was so cloudy no one saw the smoke.” He pressed the cup into her hand. “Drink up. It’ll help with the shock.”

  “Well.” She still didn’t quite know how to feel. There was sadness, of course. And guilt, a lot of that. “Is it so very wrong that part of me is relieved?” She hated to even mention it, but there was a weight lifted, knowing he could do no more damage to her or Eli.

  “No. I have to admit to that as well. He can’t hurt you anymore, Nettie. And whatever it was in him that broke, that allowed him to cause such pain, maybe that’s gone too. Perhaps he’s finally at peace.”

  Her eyes stung. “That’s a beautiful way to look at it. Thank you, dearest.” It was the first time she’d called him that and it felt right. “Did you—is he—are you sure…”

  He sipped his coffee. “His remains are with the police. There’s…not much left to identify him, but we found a little bit left of his boots. Not many men wear a size 13. As soon as they’re done with the body, I’ll arrange for the funeral. I assume you’ll want him with your mother?”

  “That’s what she would have wanted.” Nettie still couldn’t come to grips with the idea that she was finally free. “I really couldn’t care less. I’m not about to go into mourning like a Victorian maiden.”

  “Good. Because I don’t want to delay the wedding for a year.” He brushed her cheek. “Why don’t you go lie down for a while until supper? You look pale and I need a bath. Meet you in the dining room at six?”

  “Perfect.” They’d have their night alone as planned. Only Nettie didn’t feel quite as much like celebrating.

  Nor did she feel like lying down. She had a broken arm, not a dread disease and in general she was not a fragile person. Eli, and to a lesser extent, Diana, seemed intent on treating her as if she was. That was something she needed to put a stop to before the wedding.

  If there was still going to be a wedding. With her father gone, Nettie didn’t need protection any more. She co
uld take her wages and move into a respectable boarding house.

  She paced her room, anxious to talk to Eli. His hastily spoken words certainly seemed to imply that he planned to go on as they’d discussed. How much of that was him being noble and refusing to back out of a promise? Did he truly want to go ahead with the wedding? She needed to know before she burst.

  Stalling, she remembered to put on the dainty rhinestone earrings, but the lipstick and perfume seemed over the top on the day of her father’s death. She supposed she should put on something black, but her skirts had fastenings she couldn’t manage with one hand, and all the frocks Diana had bought her were in cheerful pastels. She couldn’t do much about her hair, either—the braid Diana had put in this morning would have to do.

  She joined the housekeeper in the dining room and was graciously allowed to place the silverware on the table. As a bachelor, Eli kept a simple table, only two forks and two spoons. Nettie had almost gotten used to that. Once they were married—if they were married—he’d be expected to entertain. The magazines had made that clear. They were going to need a lot more silver, and Diana hadn’t been wrong about the china. Blast all this nonsense. Why couldn’t the wealthy eat like everyone else, with one fork, one knife and one spoon?

  “My condolences, Miss Nettie.” Someone had informed the housekeeper of Al’s death. “You let Tim or I know if there’s anything we can do.”

  “Thank you.” It was nice, Nettie thought, to feel that Eli’s employees were on her side for a change. “It will be a simple, private service—just Mr. Eli and I. I can’t pretend he was a good man, but he’ll have a decent burial.”

  “As it should be.” Mrs. VanCleve looked up at the same time as Nettie saw—or rather sensed—Eli enter the room. “Well, don’t you look dapper, Mr. Eli? I’ve all the courses set out on the sideboard, so you can serve yourselves. Stack the dishes in the dumbwaiter when you’re finished, if you would.” With a nod that a generation ago would have been a curtsy, the smiling housekeeper left the room.

  “You do look very dapper.” Nettie had never seen Eli in a dinner jacket before. They’d always dined casually since her arrival. “I hope you don’t expect me to dress up for dinner every night after we’re married.”

  “You look lovely no matter what you wear.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek, then held her chair. “I do like the earrings. I’m looking forward to buying you more jewelry.” He took his seat across from her and served them both from the soup tureen on the table.

  “I’m not a paper doll,” she said with what she hope was a stern but caring smile. “You needn’t keep trying to dress me. I’ve had some trouble getting that through your sister’s head. I’ll never be the socialite she is. I like pretty things, but I doubt I’ll ever be quite up to snuff in your mother’s eyes.”

  “Neither am I.” He set down his spoon and studied her across the table. “I hear you had a visit from Mother today. I hope it wasn’t too daunting.”

  “I think I held my own.” Nettie chuckled. “That’s another thing you’ll have to get used to. I’m normally polite, as I’ve spent much of my life working in a shop. But I do speak my mind when the occasion arises. I’m not the meek little mouse most people see, you know. Are you still sure you want to marry me?”

  “Utterly.” He lifted his water glass, as they’d both forgone wine with the first course. “I couldn’t live with a mouse. I want a wife who’s kind and clever. Someone I can actually talk to who will do more than parrot my own opinions.”

  “Well then.” She lifted her glass as well. “You realize I no longer need safekeeping. You don’t have to keep me around to protect me, either.”

  “Of course.” He sighed and shook his head. “Quit trying to talk me out of marriage. If you don’t want to be my wife, say so. Otherwise, can we please start making plans? I know you’ll want a short period between the funeral and the wedding. How does a month sound?”

  “Perfect. I’ll have full use of my arm by then, and the Websters will be home. We’re still planning to have it here?”

  “If that’s what you wish.” He resumed eating. “I was thinking New York for a honeymoon. Niagara Falls, and a few days in the city.”

  “Anywhere is fine with me. The furthest I’ve ever been is to Indianapolis.” She didn’t think they’d spend much time sightseeing, regardless of where they went.

  “Will you wear a formal dress or something simpler? I’ll admit that I’d love to see you in a white gown and veil.”

  They managed to discuss wedding plans through the first two courses, and Nettie spent the last two outlining her idea for a wives’ auxiliary for the fire department. He applauded the plan and promised to take it to the next meeting of the fire board, the six men who organized and supervised the volunteers, of which Eli was, of course, a member.

  They took their coffee into the parlor. It was a cool enough evening—even in September—that Eli lit a small fire in the marble hearth and pulled a two-person settee up in front of it. Nettie kicked off her Mary Janes and curled up beside him, leaning against his shoulder. He’d taken off his jacket and as much warmth seeped through the fine cotton of his shirt sleeve as from the fire. He smelled of sandalwood soap and a slightly spicy shaving lotion. He’d shaved for dinner, since there was no evidence of the razor stubble he usually showed by the end of the day. It made her smile, to know he’d gone to such trouble, jut for her.

  “I plan to work until the Websters can find a replacement for me.” She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. “I suppose your mother will be horrified.”

  “If they haven’t found someone before the wedding. And stop worrying about my mother. She does mean well in her own way, but it’s not the right way for me. I stopped paying any attention to her opinion years ago. I love the woman, but my life and hers aren’t at all the same.”

  “Thank God for that. But I suppose we should still invite them to the wedding.”

  “Probably. Even my brother Alex, who helped spread the rumors about us. He’s had it in for me ever since he figured out that my father wanted to hand the company over to his oldest son. I’ve relinquished all my interests, but Alex resents being second choice.”

  “None of us have the luxury of choosing our relatives.” She sighed. “At least yours never set fire to things.”

  He grunted. “No, but if any of them are rude to you at the wedding, I reserve the right to punch them in the face.”

  Nettie snorted. “Only if it’s not your mother.”

  * * *

  Eli glanced down at Nettie’s face glowing in the firelight, her wry smile, the wicked intelligence in her eyes. Had she really believed he’d break things off now that her father was dead? He pulled her into his lap and kissed her upturned nose.

  He was done talking. Making sure her cast was properly supported on his chest, he wrapped both arms around her for a long, leisurely kiss.

  “You’re a quick learner,” he murmured a few moments later. “That thing with your tongue—do it again.” He brought his lips back down and sucked on her tongue as she slipped it into this mouth. One of his hands cradled her head. The other rested open on her delicate rib cage and felt the layers of silk shift across her skin. Dear lord, she wasn’t wearing a corset.

  While their kisses grew more and more intense, he let his hand slide down to the hem of her dress, which was rucked up to mid-thigh. He gave thanks for modern, shapeless styles as he moved up, past her stockings and garters to a pair of silky tap pants. He cupped her firm backside and she moaned into his mouth as he squeezed.

  Demure little Nettie was a firecracker in disguise. Eli loved the fact that no one but him had ever seen this side of her. She plucked at the buttons on his shirt and slipped her right hand inside as he continued to explore upward. Her waist was slim, but not gaunt, her skin as soft as the silk she wore.

  His lips left hers to graze down her jawline to her throat. She tipped her head back, allowing him access. It also
shifted her torso, so that one soft, round breast slid under his palm. This time it was Eli who groaned. She wasn’t large, but her breast was high and shapely, her nipple hardened into a perfect pearl. He traced it first with a finger and then, when she cried out, he gently pinched it between two.

  “Eli!”

  Mindless with need, he leaned down further and caught it between his lips. Despite the two layers of fabric, she swelled further and arched her spine, pushing into his caress.

  “Come here.” He knelt on the floor and tugged her down beside him. She lifted her arms, allowing him to pull the loose dress over her head. The slip she wore was sheer, allowing him to see dark, hard nipples and a damp spot from his mouth. “You’re beautiful, Nettie.” He bent to take her mouth again, but she pushed him back.

  “Not yet.” One-handed, she fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, so he simply slid his suspenders down over his shoulders, and pulled shirt and undershirt off over his head. “Oh, my dear, I think you’re the beautiful one.” She leaned over and kissed the light mat of hair on his chest.

  He pressed her back to the floor, coming down over her, sucking her breasts through the thin slip. He pushed her slip up with one hand and pushed her underpants aside.

  Jesus, she was wet. He wondered if she even knew what that meant. Meanwhile, he slid one finger along her damp, puffy crease and stroked between her lips.

  Eli nearly came when she cupped his cock through his trousers. He was hard as a post and ready to explode. How was he supposed to wait a whole month to do this every night?

  The clever finger of her good hand opened the buttons of his trousers, and she mimicked him, sliding her hand inside. With a delicate touch, she explored his engorged penis, and painfully taut testicles.

  Eli hadn’t come in his trousers for decades. Hoping to distract her, he found the swollen bud of her clitoris and began to massage it.