“How many belts do you need?”
The blank look on Norman’s face was answer enough. Eyeing his waistline, she moved to the drawers where the stock was kept, pulled out three different styles in what she estimated to be Norman’s size, then added those to the pile of collars.
“What else?” she asked.
Norman consulted his notepad. “I thought perhaps I should get a few pairs of half hose, as well as some, er . . .”
“Garters?” Beatrix finished for him, earning a nod from Norman in return.
“There’s really nothing to be embarrassed about over purchasing garters, Norman—ah, I mean, Mr. Nesbit. It’s not as if men’s garters are thought of in the same way as ladies’ garters.”
“I could use some new garters,” Theodosia said, causing Beatrix to jump because she’d not realized Theodosia was standing right behind her.
“Those will be found on the fifth floor,” Beatrix told her.
Theodosia frowned. “Why wouldn’t they be found here? Aren’t they along the same lines as Men’s Furnishings?”
“They’re unmentionables, so they need to be treated as such,” Beatrix said, earning another frown from Theodosia.
“I’ll just purchase some in this department,” she said a moment later, giving an airy wave of her hand.
Beatrix shook her head. “Men’s garters and ladies’ garters aren’t interchangeable. Men’s garters are secured below the knee, whereas ladies’ garters are, ah, secured a bit higher up on the—”
“Thigh, yes, I know,” Theodosia said. “But I rarely wear ladies’ stockings. I prefer wearing men’s half hose.” She smiled. “Half hose is far more comfortable than stockings, and it’s not as if anyone can see what I’m wearing since my skirts cover my legs.”
“I did not need to know that about you,” Norman muttered.
“It’s not as if I’ve just disclosed something scandalous,” Theodosia said before she nodded to Beatrix. “I could also use some new half hose too, so you might as well show me the selections you were going to show Norman.”
Realizing it was hardly her place to tell Theodosia that words such as leg and thigh were to be avoided at all costs in mixed company, Beatrix surged into motion again, choosing garters for Norman and Theodosia, as well as a nice selection of half hosiery for both of them.
Dusting her hands together after she’d organized their purchases on a counter, she pulled out her sales pad.
“What’s that for?” Norman asked.
“I need to tally up all of your purchases before you can move on to looking for jackets.”
“Aren’t you going to help me with those?”
“I can’t go to that department with you. The upper floors are only for seasoned salesmen and saleswomen, a rank I’ve yet to achieve. Just tell them you’re interested in Prince Albert jackets and they’ll take it from there.” Beatrix looked over the items and began tallying them.
“You don’t need to do that,” Norman said. “I’ve already totaled my purchases for you.”
“I’ve totaled mine as well,” Theodosia added.
Norman shook his head. “I totaled your half hose and garters in with my total.”
“I don’t want you to buy my garters for me. That could cause all sorts of talk.”
“No one will know they’re for you since they’re men’s garters,” Norman argued before he nodded to Beatrix. “I’m paying for all of it, and the total is—”
“Perhaps you should write it down,” Beatrix said before he could finish. “That way I can know if you’re right after I total everything up as well.”
Even though Norman looked as if he’d like to argue with that, he scribbled down a figure on his notepad, then began drumming his fingers on the counter as she went about the daunting task of adding a very long list of numbers on her notepad, lifting her head and glaring at him when she lost track of a column after he started humming under his breath.
“Stop it. You’re distracting me.”
He sent her an amused look. “You don’t need to add up the purchases. I assure you, the total I came to is not wrong.”
Refusing a sigh, she returned to her task, finishing up a full minute later. After she slid her bill of sale across the counter, Norman glanced over it, his only response being sliding the number he’d written down back to her.
Annoyance was swift when she realized his total did not match hers, being off by twenty-two cents, and unfortunately she had the sneaking suspicion she was the one in error.
Pulling the bill of sale away from him, she scratched out the total she’d written down, replaced it with his, then forced a smile. “And there we have it. Would you care to charge this to your account, or would you like to pay cash?”
“I don’t know if I have credit here.”
“Of course you do,” Theodosia answered. “Your mother arranged it for you years ago after you came into your majority and gained access to the trust fund your grandfather set up for you.”
“You have a trust fund?” Beatrix asked.
“I do, and I apparently have access to credit at Marshall Field’s as well, but I’ll pay cash today.” He smiled. “Are you certain you don’t want to tally up the total again?”
“And have you distract me from getting the proper number by humming again? I think not.”
“I’ve never heard you hum before,” Theodosia said, lifting her head and abandoning a half hose she’d been inspecting. “Are you feeling well?”
“I’m fine,” Norman said firmly. “I’m a little fatigued, though, from all this shopping, so I believe I’ll forego looking for jackets today.”
“Then all that’s left to do is tell me whether you’d like to take all this with you or have it delivered to your house, and if that’s the case, you’ll need to provide me with your address.”
Norman got a rather odd look in his eyes. “Are you asking for my address because you’re curious where I live?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” She turned to Theodosia and smiled. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Miss Robinson, and I do hope you’ll have fun at that ball. I’m sure Mr. Harvey Cabot
