by Jen Turano
“Because I’m aware of your limitations as a scientist, and . . .” Norman’s voice trailed off when Beatrix cleared her throat in a rather telling fashion.
“What?” he asked.
“You obviously suffered a blow to your head, quite like Mr. Cabot did, which is the only explanation I can think of to explain why you were just about to insult Mr. Cabot’s abilities as a scientist.”
“I’m sure Harvey’s well aware of his limitations and should be relieved that those limitations are exactly why he’s no longer on my list of suspects.”
The look Beatrix shot him next was filled with exasperation, but before she could voice that exasperation, Theo lifted her head from her book.
“I just read the most excellent advice.”
Beatrix frowned. “What is it?”
“It says that good humor is the only shield to protect oneself from the barbs of satirists, and that you’re supposed to be the first to laugh at a jest made against you because then others will laugh with you instead of at you.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” Norman asked.
Theo shrugged. “Well, nothing, but it’s interesting, isn’t it? And it might come in handy at some point.”
“As riveting as that is, Theodosia,” Harvey began, “if we could return to the topic of Norman’s research, I feel compelled to state loud and clear that I am not responsible for the attempted theft of his work.” He handed Norman his satchel, something Norman hadn’t even realized Harvey had been holding. “As further proof, I’m now returning Norman’s satchel to him that Theodosia thrust at me when she decided she needed to look something up in one of her books. If I had been the culprit, I certainly wouldn’t be doing that, now, would I?”
“Unless you just decided that it would benefit your claim of innocence by not running off with the satchel, which would certainly muddy the waters and throw suspicion in another direction,” Theo argued as she looked up from her book again.
Harvey’s brows drew together. “I’m doing nothing of the sort, but dare I hope you just blurted out that bit of nonsense because of another passage in that ridiculous book?”
“There’s nothing ridiculous about Cecile B. Hartley’s book. And I was just reading that a gentleman must never stop another gentleman in the street during business hours because there’s a chance that will delay said gentleman from important matters of business.”
Harvey stared at Theo for a few seconds before he nodded. “I believe this is where I offer to escort you home because you’re evidently overwrought, which is the only explanation I can come to, given that I don’t believe this is quite the time to be leafing through a book on what seems to be general manners.”
Theo wrinkled her nose. “While I thank you for the offer, I’m not returning home after this. I’ve been invited to attend a dinner with Miss Gladys Huttleston, and if I return home, I’ll be late. And that engagement, I’ll have you know, is why I’ve been leafing through this book at what you must see as a most unusual time, but I’m about to be served a seven-course meal and I have no idea what to expect in regard to proper cutlery.”
Harvey opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Miss Amelia Burden suddenly burst on the scene, stumbling to a stop when she reached his side.
“Mr. Cabot, what’s happened to you? I was just at Marshall Field & Company and learned that a shooting had taken place on the street, and—” She stopped talking and drew in a deep breath. “I came to see if the rumors were true, but you’ve not been shot, have you?”
Harvey took hold of Miss Burden’s arm and gave it a pat. “I’m fine, although I’m sure I must look a sight.” He nodded to Norman. “I happened upon Norman right as he was being accosted by a group of criminals I’ve recently learned are determined to steal his research. I, as a gentleman, had no choice but to throw myself into the madness, especially after I realized Miss Robinson had apparently thrown herself on top of a man who was trying to tear Norman’s satchel straight out of his grasp.”
Miss Burden turned to Theo. “Surely Mr. Cabot is mistaken and you weren’t tussling with a member of the criminal set, were you?”
Theo had returned to her book and didn’t bother to so much as look up. “I couldn’t very well ignore that Norman was being assaulted.”
Miss Burden nodded to Harvey. “You should escort Miss Robinson home immediately. She’s clearly suffering the effects of her recent misadventure.”
“I already offered,” Harvey said. “She declined because she’s made arrangements to attend a dinner engagement with Miss Gladys Huttleston and doesn’t care to be late.”
“Why would anyone willingly attend a dinner with Miss Huttleston?” Miss Burden asked. “She’s an unpleasant woman, odd most would say, and—”
“I suggest you have a care before you say any additional disparaging comments about Miss Huttleston,” Beatrix snapped.
Miss Burden raised a hand to her throat. “On my word, you’re that coat check girl from Marshall Field & Company. And while I have no idea what you’re doing involved in all this, you should have a care in how you speak to me, unless you’d like to find yourself dismissed from your position for behaving so rudely toward a valued customer.”
“We’re not currently in the store, Miss Burden,” Beatrix said shortly. “Which means I don’t need to have a care in watching what I say to a woman making disparaging remarks about Miss Gladys Huttleston.”
“Why would you care what I say about Miss Huttleston?”
“She’s my aunt.”
Miss Burden blinked. “But you’re a coat check girl.”
“I’ve recently been demoted.”
Miss Burden blinked again. “But your aunt is rumored to be one of the wealthiest women in the city.”
“Indeed” was all Beatrix said to that right as Agent Cochran strode into view and made his way directly for Norman.
“He got away,” Agent Cochran said, shaking his head. “But at least we have James McCaleb. He might, under a bit of pressure, divulge the names of the other two men.”
“James McCaleb escaped,” Beatrix said, nodding to Harvey. “He overpowered Mr. Cabot and ran off.”
Agent Cochran ran a hand through his hair, his hat nowhere in sight. “I should have known James would try something like that, but I didn’t want to leave Norman out there unprotected with so many men of the criminal persuasion running loose.” He blew out a breath. “On a positive note, though, at least we have one name of someone who most certainly can shed some light on the earlier events of the day. I don’t imagine it will take long to track James down, not with how many Pinkerton men are now working on this case.”
“Pinkerton agents are involved with all this?” Miss Burden asked.
Beatrix frowned at Miss Burden before she nodded to Harvey. “Perhaps it would be for the best, Mr. Cabot, if you were to escort Miss Burden home. She seems flustered by what’s happened, and the last thing any of us need is for her to suffer a fit of the vapors. Theodosia will be fine because I’ll ride with her to my aunt’s house, so there’s no need to fret about leaving her unprotected.”
“I would like to go home,” Miss Burden proclaimed, holding out her hand to Harvey. “I would also appreciate you escorting me there because I drove my pony cart to the store earlier, but I certainly don’t feel safe right now.”
Harvey looked at Theodosia, who was once again reading, then back to Miss Burden, then returned his attention to Theodosia and cleared his throat. “If you’ve no objections, Miss Robinson, I’m going to escort Miss Burden home. I will, however, call on you tomorrow.”
Theo waved that aside. “There’s no need for that, Harvey. I’ll see you on the evening of the Palmer ball. I’m sure you’ve already told my father what time you’ll be by to pick me up for that ball, so that’s soon enough to see you again.”
Miss Burden looked Theo up and down, her brow wrinkling. “I’m sure you’re much relieved, Miss Robinson, that the Palmer ball is still
some time away. You’ll have plenty of time to scrub that dirt from your person and get yourself presentable, although I’m not certain much can be done with that hair of yours.”
Irritation began trickling through Norman’s veins. “I’m certain Theo will look lovely at the ball, Miss Burden, dressed in the first state of fashion, if I’m not mistaken.”
His irritation increased when Miss Burden looked Theo over again and pursed her lips. “If you say so, Mr. Nesbit, but looking lovely might be a somewhat insurmountable goal for Miss Robinson.” With that, she grabbed hold of Harvey’s arm and together the two of them hurried away, Miss Burden whispering furiously into Harvey’s ear.
“Are you certain you won’t change your mind about attending the ball with that man?” Norman asked, which had Theodosia abandoning her book and looking up.
“According to numerous etiquette books, a lady never reneges on a promise, and I did, unfortunately, promise Harvey Cabot I’d attend the ball with him.” She snapped her book shut and tucked it under her arm. “I have no idea, though, why you said I’d be dressed in the latest fashions when you know I’m wearing my one and only gown.”
“Couldn’t seem to help myself.”
“Yes, well, now I’m in a bit of a pickle because I know that awful Miss Burden will enjoy nothing more than mocking me when she sees me dressed in my slightly shabby ball gown.”
Norman frowned, considered that for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”
Theodosia blinked. “Take care of what?”
“Never you mind,” Norman said before he turned to Beatrix and handed her his satchel. “This is for you.”
“You’re giving me your research papers?”
He shook his head. “My research papers aren’t in there, although I should have realized someone might mistakenly believe that and chosen a different type of bag to carry what is in there. That might have spared us our recent drama.”
Beatrix opened the latch and frowned as she pulled out the object nestled inside. “Is this some type of club meant to be used as a weapon?”
“It’s not a club. It’s a prosthetic limb I made for Hubert. I finished it late last night and wanted you to take it to him today. I’m hopeful he’ll find it more comfortable than that peg leg he’s currently wearing.” He helped her unwrap the fabric he’d wrapped around the limb. “I made it out of steel, and it has a suction socket to keep it firmly attached as well as a polycentric knee, which I won’t bore you with what that means, and an articulated foot.”
For the longest moment, Beatrix didn’t say a thing, but then she lifted her head, her eyes sparkling quite as Theo’s had done when they’d decided they were friends.
“Thank you, Norman,” she said quietly. “Hubert will love this, and it was very kind of you to take the time to make him something that will certainly improve his quality of life.”
The most curious feeling took that moment to settle in the very pit of his stomach, a feeling that then spread throughout his body and left him rather warm. He took a step toward Beatrix, powerless to do anything else, and then he reached out and drew her toward him, right before he lowered his head and kissed her.
Chapter 25
The moment Norman’s lips touched hers, Beatrix felt a shock run through her, one that was obviously responsible for her foot lifting of its own accord, something she’d read about in the romance novels she enjoyed but certainly had never experienced before.
A second later, she felt something jab into her stomach, realizing it was the prosthetic limb. A second after that, she realized they were standing in the middle of a busy sidewalk, and . . . it was not exactly the right setting or moment for her to be enjoying a kiss with Norman.
Tearing her lips from his, Beatrix took a step back, faltering because her foot had yet to return to the ground. Flailing about, she grabbed hold of Norman’s arm, concern immediately replacing the shock she’d been feeling when she glanced at his face and found him staring at her, quite as if he was experiencing some manner of shock as well but hadn’t snapped out of it just yet.
Glancing past Norman, Beatrix found Theodosia leafing through her book like mad, shaking her head and muttering until she finally stopped on a page, lifting her head a moment later.
“While this is certainly an unexpected development between the two of you, not to fret,” Theodosia said, catching Beatrix’s eye. “According to this book, as long as Norman immediately asks for your hand in marriage, there will be no unfortunate repercussions for the kiss the two of you just shared in front of an entire crowd, if you neglected to realize that.”
Beatrix felt the most unusual urge to laugh, until Norman blinked and began looking as if someone had knocked him over the head with something heavy.
“We have to get married?” he asked, the note of disbelief in his voice going far to banish any urge Beatrix felt to laugh, replaced with an urge to kick the man.
“Of course not.”
“But Theo just said it’s expected after we, ah . . . kissed—a kiss I’m going to assume was noticed by more than a few people.”
Beatrix gestured around at the crowded sidewalk, where not a single person was seemingly paying them the least little mind. She looked back at Norman. “No one noticed anything, probably because everyone’s preoccupied with getting home in time for dinner.”
Norman’s brows drew together. “I’m sure someone must have witnessed our kiss.”
“I did,” Theodosia said, holding up her hand.
“Yes, well, you don’t count, Theodosia,” Beatrix returned. “And besides, you must realize that Norman’s unexpected kiss was simply a result of him suffering some adverse effects from the madness we just experienced. I believe that sensitive nature you mentioned earlier might have been to blame.”
Norman narrowed his eyes on her. “I’m not having an adverse effect to any madness, and I’m not all that sensitive.”
Beatrix arched a brow. “Does that mean it’s a frequent occurrence for you to kiss an unsuspecting lady on the street?”
“Can’t say that I’ve ever done this before.”
“Then for goodness’ sake, put that unusual mind of yours to work, which will then allow you to conclude that your recent behavior was some manner of anomaly.”
“My mind is in fine working order. It’s working so well, in fact, that I have to consider what Theo suggested.”
Beatrix waved that aside. “Honestly, Norman, even though we did enjoy a rather pleasant kiss, there’s no need for talk of marriage.”
His eyes narrowed another fraction. “You found our kiss to be merely pleasant?”
“Indeed.”
“Perhaps I should give it another go. I’m sure I’m capable of delivering a more-than-pleasant kiss.”
“Absolutely not, and with that settled, we’re going to put this matter behind us for good.” She nodded to Theodosia, who missed the nod because she was once again thumbing through her book. “We should get on our way, Theodosia. If you’ve forgotten, my aunt has plans for you this evening, ones I’m going to assume she’s anxious to begin.”
Theodosia lifted her head. “I thought Gladys was only going to serve me dinner and then have one of her friends try to fix my hair.”
“That’s some optimistic thinking on your part,” Beatrix said, pretending not to notice that Theodosia’s eyes had gone wide and that she’d begun muttering under her breath about “terrifying situations,” followed by her hair not being that bad after all.
Returning the prosthetic limb to the satchel she’d dropped to the ground at some point, probably the second Norman’s lips had touched hers, Beatrix nodded to Norman, who was watching her far too intently and looking remarkably disgruntled.
“I’m off to make certain Agent Cochran has no further questions for me, and then I’m going home,” Beatrix said.
“Just like that? With no further discussion about what transpired between the two of us?”
“Yes.” Turning on her heel
, she marched her way over to Agent Cochran, who greeted her rather warily, lending the impression he’d witnessed the kiss but was too polite to mention it. Thankful for that small favor, she was quickly told that there was nothing further he needed from her, since he’d already informed the police about what little he knew of their attackers. He then nodded to Officer Stewart, the policeman who’d taken down her account of events, and told her that Officer Stewart was going to be accompanying her home since dangerous criminals were still afoot.
Not having a reason to argue with that because she certainly didn’t want to suffer another ambush, Beatrix thanked Agent Cochran before she moved to rejoin Norman and Theodosia.
That those two were whispering to each other was somewhat concerning, especially when their whispers came to a rapid end the second they caught sight of her.
“Am I interrupting?” she asked, earning a nod from Norman and a shake of the head from Theodosia.
“Shall we get on our way?” Theodosia all but chirped, an unusual state of affairs because Beatrix had never heard the woman sound quite so chipper. “My pony and wagon are just over there, next to Mort.”
Norman’s eyes widened. “I forgot all about Mort.”
“Which you might not want to do again since you are now responsible for that animal’s welfare,” Beatrix said.
“I would have remembered him at some point, but . . .” Norman looked over to where Mort was standing by Theodosia’s wagon, his eyes closed and body completely still. “Do you think there’s something wrong with him?”
Beatrix glanced to Mort. “I believe he’s sleeping, which might put him in a more amiable frame of mind, making him keener to cooperate with you—after he wakes up, that is.”
Norman tilted his head. “Perhaps you should be the one to wake him up since he does seem to like you more than me.”
“I’m not waking him up, and the only reason he gravitated to me earlier was because I’ve always enjoyed animals and they can sense that.” She caught Norman’s eye. “If you want Mort to like you, you might begin showing him more affection. You could also go off and find a carrot at one of the local groceries and give it to him when you do wake him up.”