Chapter 24
For some unfathomable reason, the second after those words left his mouth, Beatrix’s nose shot into the air. She then sent him a glare, shrugged her arm free, and stomped away. Mort, to Norman’s surprise, trotted past him a second later, not bothering to spare Norman a single glance.
Finding himself more than a bit bewildered, Norman strode after Beatrix, catching up with her in no time. “Forgive me, but I get the distinct impression that I’ve somehow annoyed you again.”
She stopped in her tracks and plunked her hands on her hips. “Of course you annoyed me. Here I was beginning to believe you were coming around in regard to how you view women, but apparently, I was wrong about that.”
“What do my views on women have to do with any of this?”
“You just said you agree with Harvey, after I told you that he took Theodosia and me to task for wading into the fray.”
Norman blinked. “I agree with Harvey because the two of you could have been grievously injured, and that would have distressed me more than I can say.”
Beatrix blinked back at him. “Oh.”
“Yes, oh, but I do apologize if what I said came out wrong.” He smiled, and then winced when the action reminded him he’d recently taken a blow to the face. “The only excuse I have, though, is that I fear I’m not myself at the moment, not after what just happened, and what happened earlier today.”
“What happened earlier today?”
“Someone broke into my home, but—” Norman looked up and gestured to the officers still milling around—“perhaps now isn’t the moment to get into all that.”
“I’ll expect you to tell me everything at some point,” Beatrix said, moving into motion again until she reached Theo’s side, Mort stopping directly beside her, where he proceeded to nuzzle Beatrix with his nose.
“That’s an interesting animal you’ve got there,” Harvey said to Beatrix, dabbing at a small trickle of blood running down his cheek with a handkerchief.
“He’s Norman’s.”
Harvey sent a nod Norman’s way. “Ah well, I suppose you have your reasons for owning a donkey, Norman, and I must say it does fit your reputation as an eccentric about town.”
“Mort’s a mule,” Norman pointed out. “I purchased him at an auction because he’s rather odd, quite like myself, and he was being overlooked because all the horses at the auction were prime specimens.”
Harvey frowned. “You bought him because he’s odd?”
“That, and I overheard a man say Mort was destined for the glue factory if he wasn’t sold that day, which made it impossible for me not to buy him.”
Beatrix moved closer to him and placed her hand on his arm. “You saved him from the glue factory?”
The touch of Beatrix’s hand on his arm sent a jolt racing through him, one that left him feeling as if his brain had been scrambled as well.
“He did,” Theo said, looking up from where she’d been riffling through an etiquette book and pulling Norman from a state of what could certainly be considered shock. “I think it speaks to Norman’s sensitive nature.”
Not certain he was comfortable with Theo delving into his sensitive nature, because from what he’d read, sensitive natures in gentlemen left ladies with the impression they were not manly men, Norman opened his mouth, but swallowed the argument he was about to make when Beatrix sent him a smile.
It was a lovely smile, filled with genuine warmth, which made him think that perhaps he’d been wrong about the whole sensitive nature business.
“Oh, lovely, you still have my pistol purse,” Beatrix said, interrupting his thoughts as she nodded to the small pistol he was clutching in his hand. “Were you able to get it to fire again?”
Before Norman could answer, Harvey stepped forward. “What do you mean, fire it again?” He nodded to Norman. “Did you shoot at those criminals?”
“I didn’t. Beatrix did. Hit one of them in the shoulder.”
Harvey’s eyes went wide as he considered Beatrix. “You shot a man? How did I miss that?”
“You were preoccupied,” Theo returned. “And before you start lecturing Beatrix about the inadvisability of her shooting a man, she had no choice in the matter. If she’d not pulled out her pistol and taken action, Norman could very well be dead right now.”
Harvey turned to Norman. “Why would anyone want to shoot you?”
Having no reason to avoid the question, Norman shrugged. “Someone’s been trying to steal my research pertaining to double electrical currents. The danger has apparently escalated, what with how my home was burgled this morning and how I was just set upon by some of the same men who tried to divest me of my research when they held up a train I was recently on.”
Harvey blinked. “Who would possibly want to steal your research? Seems a curious thing to want to steal, and most scientists, myself included, take pride in making new discoveries on our own.”
“I’ve narrowed down my list of suspects considerably of late, although given recent events and the unexpected intelligence of the person evidently behind the attempts to steal my research, I’m going to have to rethink that list.”
Harvey tilted his head. “Who do you believe is trying to steal your research?”
“I originally thought it could be any of the men who attended that meeting about electricity in New York with me, yourself included at first.”
Harvey seemed to swell on the spot. “I’m insulted you’d even consider me a suspect.”
Norman frowned. “I said you were a suspect at first. I’ve since changed my mind.”
“As I would expect you to, but . . .” Harvey returned Norman’s frown. “What made you change your mind?”
“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.