Efrem gasped. “You can’t do this. Father would never forgive you.”
“Your father is dead. If he is unhappy with me in his grave, so be it. It won’t be the first time I’ve displeased him. I’m only thinking of you and Susan and your families—my grandchildren. I’m doing this for you.” She glanced hopefully at Ellen and Efrem.
“Mother,” Efrem said, “I think you’re making a serious mistake. You mustn’t do this.”
To everyone’s surprise, Michael spoke up. “Why not? I think your mother is right. She should have what rightfully belongs to her. If this woman connived to get MacNair Products away from your family, you certainly should fight her to regain control.”
Lorna glowed. “Well, thank heaven there is one young person in this room with some common sense. Thank you for your vote of support, Mr. Crane.”
“Michael,” he corrected with an endearing smile.
“Michael.”
Efrem was annoyed. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Mother. MacNair Products has been doing incredibly well since the Nightsongs took over the management. We’re making more money now than we ever have. Father was a disaster when he was in the front office.”
“Don’t speak disrespectfully of the dead.” She glanced at Michael as she sipped her tea. “My attorney has already started the necessary proceedings. So whether you like it or not, Efrem, you’d better make up your mind to side with your own family. You have always been much too thick with the Nightsongs, ever since you were a boy.”
Knowing she referred to that shameful episode with Leon, Efrem lowered his eyes. “They are very nice people,” he insisted. “You just don’t know them.”
“I know as much as I want to know.”
“You don’t have to make this into another scandal, Mother,” Efrem said. “If you’d talk to Lydia I’m sure she would be more than willing to give you back MacNair Products.”
“I don’t want only MacNair Products; I want all of it,” Lorna said greedily.
“But—”
Lorna slammed her hand flat on the table. “The matter is closed, Efrem. If there is to be another scandal over this, that cannot be helped.”
Michael chuckled. “I’ve read about these Nightsongs. They seem rather attracted to scandals.”
Efrem glowered at him. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Michael. Lydia Nightsong and her family are the nicest people I know.” He looked at his mother, who caught his meaning only too clearly and tightened her lips, looking hurt.
Michael shrugged. “I only know what I’ve read about them.”
Efrem pushed back his chair and motioned to Ellen. “We should be getting home. Thank you for the tea, Mother.” He glanced at the baby sound asleep in the carriage which Ellen had been rocking from time to time.
“Yes, it is getting late,” Ellen agreed as she got up. “Michael?”
The young man remained seated. He purposefully picked up his cup and sipped.
“Michael hasn’t finished his tea,” Lorna said. “Don’t rush the young man.”
“It’s getting late,” Efrem insisted.
“Rush, rush, rush,” Lorna said. “That’s all you young people do these days.” She smiled at Michael. “Take another scone, Michael. I’ll have Charles drive you over later.” She patted his hand. “I know it may be boring, but if you could tolerate the company of an old woman I’d appreciate it. I’d like to hear all about New York. My daughter rarely writes, and when she does she says nothing about the social life, only what the children are doing.”
Michael looked at Ellen and Efrem, who were waiting impatiently. “If it’s all right with you two, I’d like to visit with your mother for a while longer.”
“As you wish,” Efrem said, decidedly displeased.
“Splendid,” Lorna gushed as she let Efrem and Ellen kiss her on the cheek and say their good-byes. “I’ll see that your house guest gets home shortly.”
“We’ll see you later then, Michael,” Ellen said as she wheeled the carriage out into the foyer.
Alone, Lorna leaned back in her chair. “So how are you enjoying San Francisco, Michael?”
“It’s a lovely city. I like it very much, Mrs. MacNair.”
“I do hope Ellen and Efrem have introduced you to some young ladies. We’re quite proud of our girls here.”
“I’m afraid I’m not much interested in young ladies, Mrs. MacNair. They all seem so terribly juvenile, always giggling and with nothing very intelligent to say.”
Lorna laughed. “The right one will come along someday. You’re still very young. You have plenty of time for settling down with the right girl.”
“I’ve always been attracted to older women,” he said, giving her a knowing glance and a smile. “My mother always said I was too old for my age.”
“And what age is that, if I’m not being too impertinent?”
“Twenty-five.”
“My, you make it sound antique. What will you think, I wonder, when you reach my age?”
“You aren’t that much older than I, Mrs. MacNair.”
She beamed. “Indeed I am.”
“Well, you certainly don’t look it.”
“How galant of you.”
“You don’t. You’re an extremely beautiful woman, if I may say so.”
Lorna shifted uncomfortably, pleased by his flattery. It had been a long time since a handsome young man had told her she was beautiful. “You must visit more often, Michael. I have so little company nowadays.”
“How about this evening?” he asked boldly.
She stared at him in surprise, then smiled. “Aren’t you dining with Efrem and Ellen?”
“I had planned on taking them out for dinner, but Ellen doesn’t want to leave Judith with the maid and Efrem never goes anywhere without his wife. So, I was thinking of dining out alone and then perhaps taking in the opera or a concert.”
“Do you like opera?”
“Not really. It’s just something to do and a place to be among people. I enjoy going to places where people look smart and elegant.”
Lorna sighed. “I can’t recall when I last went to the theater. I used to like it very much.”
“Then how about this evening? I’d be only too happy to take you to dinner and the theater.”
