“It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
Eddy offered an almost imperceptible nod. She’d seen him at the orphanage a few days ago.
“MissCarmichael, my fiancée MissGreer.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Eddy said.
The woman smiled falsely but gave no verbal reply. Vera’s face took on a distinct coolness in response to the obvious slight, but Eddy let the rudeness roll off her back. Women like Greer thought it beneath them to exchange pleasantries with women like her, and it wasn’t as if it was the first time Eddy had encountered the attitude.
Fontaine appeared perturbed as well before turning his attention back to Eddy. “Your cooking skills are causing such a stir my customers are deserting me.”
“Just earning my wage, Mr.Fontaine.”
His eyes never leaving Eddy’s, he told his fiancée, “MissCarmichael is the woman Jim and I rescued in the dessert. She’s also spearheading this year’s fund-raiser for Mary’s orphanage.”
Greer offered nothing in response.
Needing to distance herself from all that he was and the tiny shoots of hope that refused to die, Eddy said, “I have to get back to MissSylvia’s and start dinner. I can’t steal more of your customers if there’s nothing for them to eat.”
He chuckled, and his smile made the shoots inch higher. To save herself, she turned to the fiancée and employing the good manners the woman obviously lacked, said, “A pleasure meeting you, MissGreer.”
The blue eyes flashed dismissively, and Vera’s jaw tightened in reaction.
Head held high, Eddy walked to the door. “Good-bye, MissVera, and thank you.”
“You’re welcome, honey.”
“Ms.Carmichael?” Fontaine called gently.
Eddy turned back.
“My apologies.”
Eddy realized he was apologizing for his fiancée’s lack of grace, and she found that so endearing there were no words. A quick glance at MissGreer showed her red-faced. Whether it was from anger or embarrassment, Eddy didn’t know or care. “Thank you,” she replied softly.
“You’re welcome.”
With that, she pulled open the door and stepped out into the sunshine.
On the drive back to the Greer home, Natalie said, “Thank you for embarrassing me.”
“I was about to tell you the same thing.”
“I shouldn’t have to converse with a woman like her.”
“Is that why you were so rude?” A big part of Natalie’s problem was that her parents had never pointed out unbecoming behavior, so if they were to be married, it was left to him. “I’m a Republican and after we marry, more than likely we’ll be entertaining people of color in our home. You’ll be expected to be polite. Do you think you can do that?”
“Why, you’re genuinely upset with me,” she said, sounding surprised. “She’s just a Colored cook, Rhine. I don’t have to converse with Coloreds or servants.”
“She’s a human being, Natalie—just like we are.”
She blew out a breath. “Oh all right. I doubt I’ll ever see her again, but if I do, I’ll try and remember that.”
“Thank you.”
“Although I still don’t see why,” she pouted, and hooked her arm into his as he held the reins. “It’s not like she means anything to either of us.”
Rhine was silent for the rest of the drive.