Norman let out a grunt. “Delightful is not a word anyone would use to describe Harvey. He’s been known to bore people to tears, and you mark my words, once Theo remembers that, she’ll change her mind about going to the ball with me.”
“Considering you almost had Pinkerton men drifting off to sleep when you waxed on and on about your electrical research, you’re quite the pot calling the kettle black,” Beatrix countered.
“Theo enjoys discussing electrical research with me, and that right there is why I know she’ll enjoy attending the ball with me over Harvey.” Norman nodded to Theo. “You know I’m right about that.”
Theodosia shrugged. “You’re right about me enjoying our electrical discussions, but I won’t be changing my mind about the ball. I’ve made a promise to Mr. Cabot, and I intend to honor it.”
“But if you don’t go with me,” Norman began, “I’ll be subjected to the company of either Miss Paulina Dinneen or Miss Caroline Ashburn.”
“Those ladies aren’t your only options,” Theodosia argued.
“They are according to my mother, and—ouch. Have a care, Theo. You just stepped on my foot.”
“I did it on purpose.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because the answer to your problem is right in front of you, but you’re being annoyingly obtuse, something that’s quite unlike you and does suggest you’re soon to come down with some dreadful illness.”
“I’m not becoming ill, nor is the answer to my dilemma right in front of me,” Norman argued, which had Theodosia rolling her eyes before she actually pointed to Beatrix.
“She’s right there. In front of you. Miss Waterbury.”
“Oh dear,” Beatrix muttered as Norman’s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again, as if he couldn’t decide what reply he should voice regarding Theodosia’s unexpected declaration.
Taking pity on the poor man, Beatrix summoned up another smile. “There’s no need to worry I’m going to take what Miss Robinson just blurted out as an invitation, Mr. Nesbit. And with that settled, I think it’s time for you to pull out your billfold, pay for your new items, and then get on with your day.”
Norman narrowed his eyes at Theodosia before he pulled out his billfold, counted out the exact amount he owed for his purchases, then pushed the money over the counter.
“I’ll leave it to Theo to arrange for the delivery of my items.” With that, he sent Beatrix a curt nod and stalked out of the department without another word.
“What have you done to him?” Theodosia demanded after Norman disappeared from sight.
“I’m not the one who did something to him,” Beatrix countered. “That, Miss Robinson, falls directly on you.” She pulled out sheets of brown paper and began wrapping up Norman’s purchases, ringing for a delivery and cash boy when she was finished. She then wrote down Norman’s address that Theodosia rattled off to her as she waited for the delivery boy to arrive.
“You might as well send my items to Norman’s house,” Theodosia said. “I’ll just retrieve them later.”
“Which will give you the perfect opportunity to apologize to him,” Beatrix said, handing the address she’d just written down to the young boy who’d shown up by her side, an address she might have already memorized for some peculiar reason.
When the cash boy arrived next, Beatrix handed over the money Norman had given her to pay for his purchases and pretended not to notice the irritated looks one of the salesmen was sending her as she nodded to Theodosia.
“I think that does it for today,” Beatrix said.
Instead of taking her leave, Theodosia frowned. “Why do you think I should apologize to Norman?”
“Because he’s your friend and you just embarrassed him.”
“We’re not friends.”
“You are.”
“The term friend has always seemed frivolous to me.”
“Being friends with a person is not frivolous. In fact, friendship is essential to living a happy life, but now is not the time to discuss this further. I need to return to my department, and you need to go after Norman.”
“I don’t know where he went.”
Beatrix refused a sigh. “I’m going to assume you and Mr. Nesbit came to the store together, which means he’s probably waiting for you outside the front door, unless he decided to abandon you and take a train home, but that doesn’t really seem to me like something he’d do. He’s an annoying man, no question about that, but he’s a gentleman, and a gentleman wouldn’t abandon a lady, no matter the embarrassment that lady caused him.”
“I don’t know how I could have embarrassed him.”
“You’ll have to ask him about that, then.”
“It would be simpler all around if you’d just explain it to me.”
Beatrix chanced a glance to the salesman who’d now moved up beside her, hardly encouraged when he sent her a scowl. Glancing back to Theodosia, Beatrix forced another smile. “I’m afraid I really do need to get back to my department, Miss Robinson. I’ve prevailed on Miss Wheeler’s kind offer to watch over my counter for long enough. I will offer you a small bit of advice, though, since you seem at a loss for how to proceed with Mr. Nesbit. Ask him to explain why he’s upset with you, but do know that it has been my experience with gentlemen that when they’re embarrassed, it’s best to get right down to begging their pardon. That should go far in soothing his offended sensibilities.”
“Norman’s never struck me as a gentleman possessed of sensibilities.”
Beatrix opened her mouth, but before she could say a single word to that, a loud clearing of a throat drew her attention. Turning, she discovered Mrs. Goodman standing a few feet away from her, a look of outrage on her face.
Beatrix rapidly bid Theodosia a good day, which left Theodosia looking somewhat confused, probably because of the abrupt end to their interaction, and then she forced her feet to move in Mrs. Goodman’s direction, knowing the conversation she was about to have with the woman was going to be anything other than pleasant.
Chapter 14
