Norman’s brow furrowed. “The Haymarket Riot happened last May. This is October. I would think, given the time that’s elapsed, that any lingering resentment caused by that unfortunate event has dissipated.”
“The only way that resentment is going to dissipate is if all the owners and investors in our Chicago factories agree to abandon the twelve-hour workday.”
“Wouldn’t it be prudent to at least consider reducing the weekly hours required to avoid potential strikes and additional riots?” Norman asked.
Stanley shook his head. “Demand for steel and iron always fluctuates. When demand is high, we need our workers to work twelve-hour days in order to earn as much profit as we can so that when demand decreases, we can continue on without having to close any of our factories.”
“I could help increase the efficiency of the factories by updating the machinery,” Norman offered. “That might allow you some negotiation room when it comes to reducing hours.”
“That would take you months, if not years, to complete.”
Norman shrugged. “I am a Nesbit, Stanley. It’s past time I begin acting like one and take an interest in the family business.”
Stanley narrowed his eyes. “What about your inventions and your scientific research?”
“It’ll be there for me when I have a spare moment.”
Stanley’s eyes narrowed another fraction. “But what about becoming the first scientist to perfect different ways of harnessing electricity?”
Norman waved that aside. “If we’re actually able to improve the efficiency of our many factories, that would be considered an important achievement as well. It could benefit other factories throughout the country, thus improving people’s lives much more than any electric vehicle I may eventually invent.”
“I believe I’m going to like Miss Beatrix Waterbury,” Stanley surprised him by saying. “She’s obviously responsible for this new-and-improved you. Even without having met her, I know she’ll be a woman I can appreciate.”
“Beatrix does seem to have had a marked influence on him,” Theo agreed, exchanging smiles with Stanley that almost seemed sappy. “Just imagine the influence she could have on him if they continue their association.”
“He might become an entirely different person altogether.”
“I am sitting right here,” Norman muttered. “But if the two of you are done with whatever this is you’re doing, which looks like a spot of flirtation if you ask me, I’d like to know, Stanley, if the offer I just made to take an interest in the family business is one you’re going to accept.”
“We weren’t flirting,” Theo and Stanley said in unison, before they smiled at each other, smiles that were sappier than ever.
Norman lifted his hand to rake it through his hair, until he remembered he didn’t have much hair left on his head these days. “Fine, you weren’t flirting. But returning to my offer?”
Stanley stared at Theo for another ten seconds before he finally pulled his gaze from her and nodded to Norman. “Of course I accept your offer, Norman, as well as greatly appreciate it. And if you are successful with improving our efficiency, Father and I will certainly be able to discuss decreasing the hourly workday, something that may very well help save our factories in the end.” He shook his head. “You’re going to have to broach this idea with Father, though.”
“You don’t think he will approve?”
“Oh, he’ll approve. I just don’t think he’ll believe me if I tell him about your unexpected offer.”
Even though Norman wanted to argue that point, he knew Stanley was right. He’d never shown an interest in the family business before, which meant their father would be skeptical about the offer unless it came directly from Norman.
Rising to his feet, Norman strode over to Stanley, extending his hand to his brother. As Stanley stood and took the hand, giving it an unexpected squeeze, Norman realized in that moment that he was finally, and after far too many years, taking the first step to truly becoming a part of his family. Curiously enough, he knew he had Beatrix to thank for that.
Chapter 23
“Any plans for this evening?”
Beatrix looked up from the box of table linens she’d been unpacking and smiled at Miss Joan Caton, a woman who worked beside her in the Bargain Basement, the department where Beatrix now found herself since she’d been relieved of her duties at the coat check.
“I’m having dinner with my aunt,” she replied. “What about you?”
“I’m off to enjoy a show at the Columbia Theater with some other Marshall Field & Company girls. You’re more than welcome to join us if you’re not looking forward to spending the evening with your aunt.”
“How kind of you to offer. And while an evening at the theater sounds lovely, I don’t want to disappoint my aunt, and dinner with her, odd as this may seem, is always an adventure.”
“Perhaps next time,” Miss Caton said before she took a step closer to Beatrix and lowered her voice. “Everyone is appalled about you getting yanked out of the coat check and sent to the Bargain Basement. Why, if you ask me, you should have been promoted for having the gumption to reprimand Mrs. Sturgis. She’s a nightmare every time she comes into the store, and it’s unacceptable that she injured you and then complained when you brought the injury to her attention. I suppose, though, that you must have been relieved to have been sent here instead of getting dismissed. It’s most unusual for management to be so forgiving when an employee offends a customer, even if that customer is wrong.”
Beatrix knew full well that the only reason she’d not been dismissed was because Mr. Selfridge had been in New York when she’d had her encounter with Mrs. Sturgis, which had left Mr. Bailer responsible for disciplining her.
After arriving in his office, Beatrix had found Mr. Bailer in a most agitated frame of mind, his agitation a direct result of the dilemma he found himself in. He was quick to inform her that her behavior was
