Hurrying to hang it up, she stepped beside Miss Jaycox, who was hanging up a shawl she’d taken from the woman who’d been standing behind Mrs. Allerton.
“You know that fine-looking gentleman?” Miss Jaycox whispered. “The one Mrs. Allerton called Mr. Nesbit?”
“I do.”
Miss Dixon sidled up next to her, grabbing a hanger that she threw a black cape over. “But how do you know him? On my word, he’s absolutely delicious as well as charming.”
“I suppose he does come across that way, but frankly, I’m beginning to wonder if he’s recently blown something up. Surely that would be responsible for the extremely different gentleman who has shown up at Marshall Field & Company today compared to the gentleman I’ve come to know.”
Leaving Miss Dixon and Miss Jaycox looking somewhat confused, Beatrix all but sprinted back to the counter, coming to an abrupt halt at the scene unfolding before her eyes.
Norman was assisting another lady with her jacket, smiling and chatting about the weather, of all things, as he assisted her. Turning, he inclined his head to Beatrix before he nodded to a line of additional wraps placed in a row across the counter. He then proceeded to rattle off a list of names that the wraps belonged to, beaming a smile at Beatrix as he informed her that those ladies were waiting to be given claim tickets.
By the time Beatrix, with the aid of Miss Dixon and Miss Jaycox, managed to hand out tickets and then hang all the wraps Norman had apparently assisted all the ladies out of, her forehead was beaded with perspiration, and annoyance was flowing freely through her veins.
Depositing a lovely silk wrap that belonged to Mrs. Hallberg, she marched back to a counter that was, thankfully, devoid of additional wraps as well as ladies. Norman stood there all alone, humming a cheerful tune under his breath.
“What is the matter with you?” she demanded, which had his humming coming to a rapid end.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re acting beyond peculiar, which is peculiar in and of itself since peculiar seems to be a common state for you.”
Norman frowned. “I’m not acting peculiar in the least.”
“You’ve been engaging in idle chitchat with ladies I’m convinced you barely know.”
“You’re the one who went on and on about how idle chitchat was an activity that everyone should embrace.”
Beatrix yanked a handkerchief from the sleeve of her blouse, blotting her still-perspiring forehead. “Perhaps I did, but I certainly wasn’t expecting you to try your hand at chitchat while assisting ladies with their wraps at the coat check.” She took another dab at her forehead. “If you’ve neglected to notice, Mrs. Goodman has made three passes by here, and, given the scowling she’s been doing, I’m certain I’m going to be in for a rough time of it once you get on your way to wherever it is you’re going next.”
“I’m off to Men’s Clothing next because I’d like to purchase a few of those Prince Albert jackets you recommended.”
Her pesky knees took that moment to go decidedly weak.
“Dare I hope everything is going according to plan?”
Beatrix glanced past Norman and found Theodosia standing to his right, but any greeting she might have extended to Theodosia died on the tip of her tongue when she got a good look at the woman.
Wearing a dress that gave shabby a new meaning, Theodosia had apparently decided to try to brighten up her ensemble by attaching random bits of wilting flowers to the fabric. On Theodosia’s head was a brown hat with additional flowers glued to it, along with what appeared to be some type of stuffed bird, although the species was unrecognizable because it looked as if the bird had suffered a severe squishing at some point in time.
“I’m not certain we can claim success with our research just yet,” Norman said, pulling Beatrix’s gaze from Theodosia to settle on him. “She’s clearly annoyed with me.”
“Of course I’m annoyed with you,” Beatrix shot back. “You’ve disrupted the coat check, and I’ll be fortunate not to find myself dismissed.” She turned to Theodosia. “May I dare hope that the two of you have recently blown up Norman’s workshop again?”
Theodosia’s brows drew together. “Why would you hope we’ve done that?”
“Because that’s the only explanation I can come up with to explain Norman’s odder-than-usual behavior today.”
Theodosia’s eyes widened before she turned to Norman. “You’re right. I don’t believe we can call this a success because she’s more annoyed with you than ever.”
Norman nodded. “Agreed. It’s most perplexing because I adhered to the research we gathered, and none of that research suggested that chivalrous behavior would evoke annoyance.”
Before Beatrix could ask a single question about that puzzling statement, Mrs. Goodman came into view, bristling with animosity.
“Is there a problem here, Miss Waterbury?” she demanded.
“Of course there’s not,” Norman said before Beatrix could speak. “Miss Waterbury is performing her job as a coat check girl admirably, as are the other two women.” He leveled a cool eye on Mrs. Goodman. “Why would you believe there’s a problem?”
Mrs. Goodman took a step closer. “Miss Waterbury seems flustered.”
“Of course she’s flustered,” Norman returned. “She’s been running back and forth for almost twenty minutes, hanging up wraps and dispensing claim tickets. You’d be flustered as well if you were required to work so strenuously instead of waltzing around the first floor, dispensing gloom.”
Miss Dixon and Miss Jaycox, who’d been standing next to Beatrix, waiting for additional customers, turned as one and bolted away, both claiming they needed to fetch more hangers from the stock room.
“There’s the Norman I know,” Beatrix said as Mrs. Goodman stormed away. “But before you truly do get me dismissed, perhaps you should go see about those jackets you want to purchase.”
Norman brushed a piece of lint from his sleeve. “I have no idea why you believe my behavior could possibly get you dismissed. I’ve simply been trying to be helpful.”
“Which is curious in and of itself, but again, you need to go away.”
“We’re going to have
