Beatrix blinked. Truth be told, she had felt a tad unsteady after Norman had set her down, but in all likelihood, that was simply a result of having lost the feeling in her feet after having them dangle over his arm for such an extended period of time.
“He suits you,” Aunt Gladys proclaimed.
“He does not suit me.”
“He does because he’s your exact opposite and you know what everyone says about opposites—they attract.”
“Or try to kill each other.”
“There is that, but I believe Norman needs you. He’s always been rumored to live for his work, but a man can’t live on work alone. You’re a lady who embraces life to the fullest and enjoys living from one adventure to the next. And”—she held up a hand when Beatrix opened her mouth—“you need him because he’s different, and he’ll never bore you.” Aunt Gladys leaned forward. “Your mother has lent me the impression that you have no interest in society men, having used a nonexistent relationship with a Mr. Thomas Hamersley as a way to dissuade society men from pursuing you. That suggests to me that you’re not interested in gentlemen most ladies would be keen to become better acquainted with. Norman might be perfect for you because he’s not your typical gentleman.”
“He’s the most annoying man I know.”
“Which is exactly my point, dear. Can you recall any other gentleman who elicits that type of emotion from you?”
“Well, no, but with that said, Norman’s given me no indication he’s romantically interested in me.”
“He went shopping at Marshall Field & Company. If that’s not an indication that he’s at least curious about you, well, I don’t know what is.”
“He was at Marshall Field & Company to purchase gloves for Theodosia.”
“Or so he told you,” Aunt Gladys said right as Phantom jumped straight up into Beatrix’s lap, then took to watching her as she tried to finish up a piece of bacon.
“I’m not giving you any of this,” she told the cat.
“He might stop planning your demise if you share with him. Phantom loves bacon.”
“An excellent point,” Beatrix said, breaking off a piece of the bacon and holding it out to Phantom, who immediately devoured it. A second later, she found herself surrounded by cats, all of them mewing up a storm, their meows turning to contented purrs after she dispensed the rest of her bacon.
Shooing Phantom from her lap, Beatrix rose to her feet. “While I certainly hate to end this most unusual conversation, I need to get ready for work, so . . .”
“Fine, I’ll leave you in peace . . . for now,” Aunt Gladys said as she got up from the table and sailed out of the room, the cats trailing after her.
Shaking her head, Beatrix headed for the bathing chamber. After finishing up in there, she hurried to her wardrobe, choosing another plain white blouse paired with a black skirt. As she buckled her shoes, thoughts of Norman drifted to mind, ones she couldn’t seem to banish with any success.
He was the most annoying man she’d ever known, but there was something about him that appealed to her. In all honesty, her knees had gone just a touch weak when Norman and Theodosia had shown up at the store the previous week, which could very well mean that her aunt was on to something and that she was, surprisingly enough, becoming more than fond of a man she’d originally thought she’d never hold in any affection.
Chapter 19
As the barber at the Palmer House Hotel went to fetch a sharper pair of scissors, Norman smiled at Gemma and Oscar, who were huddled together on a bench with their heads bent over a pad of paper, making a list of supplies needed to build a peddle-boat.
He’d not had any intention of bringing them along to the barber’s this morning. However, Constance had shown up while he’d been enjoying breakfast, needing their mother to watch Gemma and Oscar while she attended a scheduled engagement because the children’s tutor had fallen ill. Norman had offered to watch them instead, earning Gemma and Oscar’s undying gratitude after his mother mentioned something about hosting a tea party complete with dolls for the two of them.
“How’s it coming?” Norman asked.
Gemma lifted her head, eyes shining with excitement. “I think we have almost everything listed, but are you certain we can get all these parts? I don’t have much pin money left this week because I spent mine on . . .” She stopped speaking, sent Norman a guilty look, then bent back over her notes.
Norman resisted a grin. “Might your pin money have gone to those roller-skis you and Oscar were determined to make?”
Oscar began nodding before Gemma elbowed him, which had him stopping mid-nod as he sent Gemma a grimace, crossed his arms over his chest, and presented her with his back.
Gemma heaved a sigh. “Sorry, Oscar. I shouldn’t have done that.”
Oscar, clearly a boy who couldn’t hold a grudge long, turned around. “Apology accepted, but you might as well tell your uncle Norman about the roller-skis. I bet he could help us make them work so that we wouldn’t go crashing into things, like that vase you haven’t told your mother you broke.”
“Dare I hope it wasn’t an expensive vase?” Norman asked.
Gemma shook her head. “Afraid not, and I won’t have enough pin money for the next five years to pay for it. It was from France—a present to Mother from Aunt Alice.” She scratched her nose. “Maybe I should send a telegram to Aunt Alice since she’s in Paris right now and see if she could find another one of those vases.”
Norman frowned. “Alice is in Paris?”
“She’s been there for months. She’s taking an extended tour of the continent with Uncle Wallis.”
“Is she really?”
“How could you not know that your other sister is in Paris?”
It was a worthy question, and one that, regrettably, he knew the answer to far too well.
He’d not known his oldest sister was in Paris because he rarely bothered to take the time
