Chapter 35
“You do realize that it would have been much easier all around if you’d figured out that Beatrix is not capable of the skullduggery you accused her of before she left to return to New York, don’t you?”
Norman stopped in the middle of Grand Central Depot, wiped his perspiring forehead with the back of his hand, and arched a brow at Theodosia. “What did you pack in this trunk? I can barely pull it.”
“Essentials, such as a large bottle of olive oil so I can continue on with the treatment Blanche and I developed to keep my hair in fine form as well as numerous jars of different creams I’ve been trying out to see which one makes my face softer.”
“Clearly your idea of essentials differs from mine, but the next time I offer to run down a porter to manage our trunks, I suggest you don’t argue with me.”
Theo gave an airy wave of a gloved hand. “I can pull my own trunk, Norman, if you’d like. I only thought to save us time.”
Before Norman could respond to that nonsense, Gladys marched up beside him, took hold of the handle of Theo’s trunk, then marched away without a single word. Edgar sent Norman a look that proved that man was still put out with Norman before striding after Gladys, easily pulling his trunk and hers behind him.
“What are the odds that we’d just happen to travel to New York on the same train as Gladys and Edgar?” Norman asked.
“Not great,” Theo returned as she watched Edgar weave his way through the crowd. “And even though we rarely encountered them on the trip here, what with them having their own private Pullman car while we rode coach, one would think some of the annoyance they’re holding for you would have dissipated since we’re obviously in New York so that you can make amends with Beatrix.”
“That annoyance will disappear in a thrice if you are able to make amends with Beatrix,” Mamie said, huffing her way up to them as she lugged a large trunk behind her. Blanche nodded in agreement to that as she stopped directly beside Norman.
“And if you can convince Beatrix you’re worthy of another chance with her,” Blanche began, “I imagine you’ll once again find yourself in Gladys’s good graces, although it may take a while longer for Edgar to come around. He’s been very disturbed by the unfounded accusations you leveled against Beatrix.” With that, Blanche sent him another nod, smiled at Theodosia, and took off after Gladys, with Mamie by her side.
Norman trailed after Blanche, finding that far easier now that Gladys had relieved him of Theo’s trunk and he only had his to pull. “In my defense, those accusations didn’t appear to be unfounded at first, what with that letter the Pinkertons found.”
“Mr. Waterbury was framed,” Mamie shot back over her shoulder. “Although by whom, well, that is the question of the hour, isn’t it?”
“Too right it is,” Theo agreed, but instead of speculating on that particular matter, she hurried to join Blanche, immediately launching into a discussion about whether or not they should try adding grapefruit juice to a new tonic they were developing that was supposed to help decrease the oil on a lady’s face.
“Is this really the moment?” Norman asked when the two ladies slowed their pace considerably when their discussion turned earnest.
“Says the man who’s been known to block traffic when he’s crossing the street and comes to a mathematical equation he’s never considered before,” Theo shot back, although she paired her statement with a grin and did jolt into motion again.
Reaching a line of carriages for rent, Norman took Theo’s trunk from Gladys, who sent him a sniff before she climbed into the carriage she’d rented, leaning out of that carriage a second later to pin him with a stern look. “Do not be a disappointment, dear. I expect you to extend Beatrix a heartfelt apology as well as extend one to her father for even considering the idea he resorted to theft in order to get your research papers.”
Norman arched a brow. “Do you truly believe I traveled all this way to do anything but deliver apologies to Beatrix and her father?”
Gladys considered him for a long moment before she inclined her head. “Perhaps there’s hope for you yet.” With that, she retreated into the carriage, with Edgar following her a second later, but only after he sent Norman a scowl.
“See, you’re making progress already,” Mamie said before she jumped into the carriage, Blanche doing the same as soon as Mamie found her seat.
“We’d better follow right behind them,” Theo said, waving a man forward to help get her trunk onto the hired carriage they were taking. “Gladys didn’t bother to give us Beatrix’s direction, and while I assume she lives on Fifth Avenue, it might take up precious time if we’re forced to knock on every door in search of her.”
Norman gave Theo his hand and helped her into the carriage, right as the hair at the back of his neck stood to attention. Turning, he scanned the crowd bustling outside of the depot.
“What is it?” Theo asked.
“I have the most curious feeling we’re being watched.”
Theo stuck her head out of the carriage, peered around, then frowned. “Who would want to watch us here?”
“No idea, but . . .” Norman looked around again but didn’t see a single soul watching them, or even anyone who looked vaguely familiar. He told the driver to follow Gladys’s carriage before he climbed into the carriage and took a seat.
Theo pressed against the window as they trundled their way through the streets of New York, excitement in her eyes. “I’ve never been to New York before,” she admitted, her breath fogging up the glass.
“We’ll have to make certain to take in some sights—after I settle matters with Beatrix, of course.”
Theo sat back in the seat. “Dare I hope you have a plan to settle those matters?”
“Not a single one.”
“That’s not like you at all. You always have a plan.” She immediately began rummaging around in the large bag she was carrying, pulling out a fashion magazine, along with an etiquette book. “Perhaps these will give us some suggestions.”
Norman shook his head. “The few times I tried to follow proper etiquette and expected behavior didn’t seem to impress Beatrix in the least.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, when I tried to assist her in the coat check by taking all the coats from the ladies, she got annoyed with me. But then when I gave her that leg for Hubert, she sent me the nicest smile, even though I’m sure giving a lady a leg isn’t exactly proper.”
Theo stuffed the magazine and book back into her bag. “Perhaps that means she’s fond of the real you and not the person you tried to become in order to impress her.”
“Which suggests our experiments pertaining to proper manners were ill-conceived from the start.”
“On the contrary,” Theo argued. “Our experiment proved that expected behaviors won’t always work when the subject is not a typical subject, which you must admit, Beatrix is not.”
“An excellent observation,” Norman said as the carriage began to slow, and then pulled to a stop directly behind the carriage Gladys, Edgar, Mamie, and Blanche were in.
Reaching for the door, Norman stepped to the sidewalk, helped Theo out, then squinted at the house in front of him.
That the house was impressive was not in question, but the sheer size and detail given to every aspect certainly confirmed what Beatrix had been trying to tell him—the man who owned this particular house, that being her father, had no reason to steal anyone’s research.
He should have listened to Beatrix, but his pride had gotten in the way, that pride having been wounded over the notion that she’d used him, made a fool of him, and worse yet, had toyed with his affections.
He no longer cared if his pride suffered, because he intended to make matters right with Beatrix even if that entailed begging her on bended knee for forgiveness because . . . well, he was more than merely fond of her.
She’d changed his world in a way he’d never expected, and in so doing, she’d allowed him to see his many, many flaws, which had then motivated him to take steps to correct those flaws, thus improving his life significantly.
He’d begun to form actual attachments with his family and with Theo—attachments that would have been all but impossible when he’d still been so self-centered and consumed with his work.
Beatrix was responsible for that, and yet, when his mother had presented him with Beatrix’s duplicity, he’d allowed his pride to get in his way.
He’d be fortunate if Beatrix even accepted his apology, and while he was hoping to convince her to accept more than that—to accept him and all his flaws and idiosyncrasies—he couldn’t blame her if she didn’t.
“Are you going to come in the house with us or not?” Gladys demanded, pulling him out of his thoughts and back to the situation at hand.
“Coming in the house,” he said firmly, moving to join Gladys, who was now marching her way to a front door that was already opening.
“Gladys,” a man in a black jacket exclaimed, stepping aside as he gestured her into the house. “How lovely to see you. Your sister will be thrilled you’ve come to visit, as will Beatrix.” He held out his hand to Edgar, which Edgar immediately took. “Happy to see you’ve recovered.”
Edgar nodded. “It was a horrible illness, Mr. Parsons, but didn’t last long.” He sent a fond look after Gladys, who was already disappearing down a hallway. “Gladys watched over me like a hawk and even insisted on staying with me while Miss Beatrix returned here.”
“Which I would think must have convinced you it’s past time you . . . well, I’ll leave it to you to figure out what you should do from here,” Mr. Parsons said before he turned and smiled at Mamie and Blanche, both of whom were looking more than a little apprehensive. “Who do we have here?”
Edgar performed the introductions, his lips twitching when Blanche and Mamie curtsied to Mr. Parsons, a man who was clearly the Waterbury butler, before they hurried into the house.
“This is Miss Theodosia Robinson, a dear friend of this gentleman here,” Edgar said next.
Mr. Parsons arched a brow at Norman. “And who is this gentleman?”
“That’s Norman Nesbit.”
“You may wait out here” was how Mr. Parsons replied to that, sending Norman a glare before he gestured Theo and Edgar into the house and firmly shut the door behind them.