Storing Up Trouble

by Jen Turano

  “If you’ve forgotten, the skullduggery was your plan, Amelia,” Harvey argued.

  Miss Burden gave a nod, sending her curls bouncing. “True, but I wouldn’t have been forced to develop such a plan if you hadn’t annoyed your father by being incapable of inventing a workable invention, or, at the very least, making one little impressive scientific discovery, or, better yet, figuring out a way to prove you can earn a living, things I’ve come to realize are beyond you.”

  She turned to Norman. “It was never personal. You simply seemed to me to be the easiest mark, what with your reputation for living in your own world most of the time.” She shot another glare to Beatrix. “Unfortunately, Miss Waterbury seems to have had a most curious effect on you, making it far harder than I was anticipating to abscond with your electrical research.”

  “Why would you need my research in the first place?” Norman asked.

  Miss Burden arched a brow. “To prove to Harvey’s father that he’s capable of earning money.”

  Norman arched a brow of his own. “Because?”

  Miss Burden flung herself into the nearest chair. “Harvey’s father decided that he won’t loosen the purse strings until Harvey proves he has worth. Since that’s going to be next to impossible for him, what with his propensity for laziness and enjoyment of leisurely pursuits, I felt there was no choice but to develop a plan that would convince Harvey’s father he has some potential. After Harvey returned from his New York trip, we decided that the easiest way for him to make money would be to sell the most sought-after research presented in New York to the highest bidder.” She nodded to Norman. “Lucky for us, Harvey knew that your work showed great potential and also knew that there were numerous parties interested in your electric research, parties who wouldn’t balk at paying him if he was able to get his hands on it.”

  “They’d be comfortable purchasing stolen research?” Beatrix asked.

  Miss Burden gave a wave of a hand. “Scruples are rare when it comes to matters of electricity.”

  Beatrix frowned. “But how were you going to explain to Harvey’s father how he came up with that money?”

  Another wave of a hand was Miss Burden’s response to that. “Harvey will simply say he sold research he’s been working on to an interested party.” She smiled. “His father is desperate for Harvey to prove his worth, so I doubt he’ll question Harvey extensively about the matter.”

  “Or at least you hope he won’t,” Norman said before he turned to Harvey. “How did you realize so quickly, though, that I’d left misleading research for your hired thugs to find? I would have thought my calculations were beyond you.”

  Miss Burden released a titter. “Harvey didn’t figure that out. You told him, although you didn’t know that, of course.” She shrugged. “We knew that anyone interested in buying your research would need certain assurances that you’d had real breakthroughs with double electrical currents. Harvey also knew that you were unlikely to discuss your research with him, which is why I suggested he become involved with Theodosia. We hoped that she would be suitably impressed that a man like Harvey would even notice her and would then disclose things you and she talked about regarding your work.”

  “I find it hard to believe that Theodosia would have told anyone about the misleading papers I left behind.”

  “Oh, she didn’t,” Miss Burden said. “She’s proven herself far too loyal to you to do such a thing, but . . .” She sent Harvey a smile. “Harvey was visiting Mr. Robinson one day, hoping to get in that man’s good graces so he’d have a champion in his corner as he tried to squire Theodosia around town. Harvey may be shiftless at times, but he’s rather sly, and he eavesdropped on the conversation you and Theodosia were having that day when you paid her a visit. That’s how he learned the papers he’d acquired were all but worthless, and that’s when we adjusted our plan.”

  “Having your men attack me in the middle of the street after they ransacked my rooms, and then having them break into Gladys Huttleston’s home was quite a readjustment of plans,” Norman said dryly.

  Miss Burden shot a look to the man with the scar, who was now rubbing the spot where Beatrix had shot him. “I didn’t tell Martin and James to break into Miss Huttleston’s home. They took it upon themselves to do that, most likely as an attempt to get back at Miss Waterbury after she shot Martin.” Miss Burden leveled malevolent eyes on Beatrix. “You really have no one to blame but yourself for your current situation, Miss Waterbury. If you’d not interfered on the train, you wouldn’t have been pulled into this mess, but I suppose annoying, nosy women like yourself just can’t resist interfering in other people’s business.”

  “Is that why you forged that letter framing my father, and somehow arranged for it to be found by the Pinkerton Agency? Because you wanted to get back at me for being nosy and annoying?”

  Miss Burden shrugged. “Frankly, I had no idea at the time we created that letter that you were Arthur Waterbury’s daughter. I only pointed out to Harvey after I learned that the Pinkerton Agency had been hired to investigate the attempted thefts of Norman’s research that we needed a scapegoat. I then remarked that it was unfortunate we couldn’t make you that scapegoat, what with how you’re always sticking your nose in our business.” Her lips curved the slightest bit. “Harvey then pointed out that he’d had an unsuccessful meeting with a Mr. Arthur Waterbury, who’d refused to extend Harvey so much as a single dime for future research purposes, and then wondered if perhaps you were some distant relation.”

  Miss Burden tapped a finger to her chin. “That got me to thinking that it would be amusing if you were a distant relation, which is why I forged the letter and signed it from Arthur Waterbury.” She caught Beatrix’s eye. “I must admit that I was more than amused to learn you’re Arthur’s daughter and completely delighted that you were cast in the unusual role of villain and spy.”

  She turned to Norman. “If you’d only continued to think of Miss Waterbury as a spy, we would not now find ourselves in this unfortunate situation, because you would not currently be in New York, nor would we have been forced to take the dramatic step of following you here.”

  Norman tilted his head. “Why did you follow me? I have to believe it would have been easier all around if you’d just waited for me to return to Chicago.”

  “Harvey’s father has been relentless of late about Harvey proving his worth, which forced us to come after you.” Miss Burden nodded. “Lucky for us, Harvey’s father is heavily invested in the Pullman company, which is how we were able to secure this private car, and on the very same train you traveled to New York on.” Miss Burden shook her head. “Unfortunately for you, the situation has taken a concerning twist, leaving me and Harvey with few options.”

  “I bet that’s exactly what the villain would say in one of those gothic novels, Beatrix,” Norman said, drawing everyone’s attention. “I have to imagine that villain would then go on to say that it’s time to dispose of the witnesses, which, of course, means kill them.” He nodded to Miss Burden. “Am I right about that?”

  Miss Burden blinked. “Murder might be taking the matter too far.” She shot a look to Harvey.

  Harvey rubbed a hand over his face. “Well, I suppose we could take Norman’s research, sell it to the highest bidder, then flee to some far-off country to avoid any unpleasant consequences of our actions.”

  Miss Burden frowned. “I don’t want to live in some far-off country.”

  “But you’ll be with me, the man you’ve claimed, and often at that, you long to marry.”

  Miss Burden’s frown deepened. “But surely you must realize that the money you’ll receive from the research papers won’t keep us in style for long, don’t you?”

  Harvey’s forehead furrowed. “It seems as if I’m missing something here. I thought you wanted to marry me because you love me, which is why you thought up this plan in the first place so that I could finally win the respect of a father who seems to despise me.”

  “I
never mentioned a word about being in love with you,” Miss Burden shot back. “Nor do I suffer from a delusion you love me. Frankly, I’ve assumed you only want to marry me because I’m beautiful and look good on your arm.”

  “Those are some of the reasons,” Harvey countered, having taken to looking disgruntled the second after Miss Burden claimed she didn’t love him. “But since we’re apparently disclosing all, the main reason I wanted to marry you was because of your father’s fortune. I thought if matters couldn’t be resolved with my father, I’d be able to live well on your money.”

  Miss Burden narrowed her eyes. “I don’t have a large dowry. Father believes his money should be given to his one and only son, so there’s no fortune coming your way through me.”

  “How unfortunate,” Harvey said.

  “I believe everyone here is in full agreement with that,” Norman said. “But to get matters moving along, if you would unbutton my jacket, Harvey, since I don’t currently have use of my hands, and then reach underneath my vest, you’ll find my research papers.”

  Harvey blinked, shot a look to Miss Burden, then did as Norman asked, pulling out a sheaf of papers from Norman’s vest a second later. He glanced through them, shuddered just a touch, then lifted his head. “We will need you to explain the finer points of this.”

  “And I’ll do just that, but only after you let Beatrix go.”

  “So she can run off and summon the authorities?” Miss Burden asked. “I think not, which means you need to start explaining your research to us before I have Martin and James do something unpleasant to Miss Waterbury to encourage you to cooperate.”

  Norman, instead of arguing, drew in a breath and nodded. “Very well, although I suppose I should begin by stating that I have realized my research is flawed, more specifically . . .” and with that he began doing what he did best, pontificating on and on about his research and where he felt it needed work.

  Fifteen minutes later, and with Miss Burden and Harvey looking rather bewildered, Norman finished with, “Any questions?”

  Harvey hid a yawn behind his hand, then winced when Miss Burden gave him a swat. “Surely you must have a few questions after all that, don’t you?” she demanded.

  Harvey’s brows drew together. “Surely you must have realized by now that I’m slightly intellectually challenged when it comes to science. In all honesty, I didn’t understand most of what he was saying, and—”

  A loud thump against the door interrupted Harvey, and before Martin and James could do more than jump, the door to the Pullman car flew open, Murray rushing in, pistol drawn. Behind him came Theodosia, brandishing a large beaded reticule she immediately aimed at James, who’d pulled out a knife.

  “I knew help would arrive at some point” was all Norman said before he struggled to his feet and launched himself at Martin, head-butting the man because his hands were still tied behind his back.

  As Beatrix struggled to her feet, Aunt Gladys flew into the room, followed by Edgar, who was also gripping a pistol and used that pistol to knock James’s knife out of his hand. A second later, Annie and Arthur dashed into the room, her father launching himself at Martin, who seemed to be in the process of trying to strangle Norman.

  “Beatrix,” her mother yelled, grabbing James’s knife from the ground. “Give me your hands.”

  Relief was swift when Beatrix felt her bindings fall away, but that relief was quickly replaced with horror when she turned and discovered Miss Burden holding Aunt Gladys around the neck, a knife pressed against Aunt Gladys’s throat.

  “I’m afraid all of you have forced my hand,” Miss Burden shrieked. “I’ll use this knife if I have to, I swear I will, unless I’m allowed to leave this room with no threat of injury to my person.”

  Beatrix glanced around the room, finding her father and Norman lumbering to their feet, an unconscious Martin lying on the floor. Murray and Theodosia were sitting on top of James, who seemed to have been secured with Murray’s tie. Edgar was in the midst of a brawl with Harvey, but the moment he realized Aunt Gladys was in peril, he flung him aside. Harvey crashed into the side of the Pullman car and slumped to the floor.

  “You will release her . . . now,” Edgar said, drawing himself to his full height and taking a step toward Miss Burden.

  “Don’t come any closer, or I will hurt her,” Miss Burden screeched.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Miss Burden,” Aunt Gladys snapped. “You’re in enough trouble as it is, but if you add murder to the charges that are soon to be leveled against you, you’ll never see your way out of prison. I don’t think you’d do well with a long prison sentence considering there are no frivolities offered.”

  “Gladys . . .” Edgar all but growled.

  Aunt Gladys smiled. “I’m speaking the truth, Edgar. She’s distraught and isn’t thinking clearly, so I thought I should point out the obvious to her.”

  “She has a knife pressed to your throat.”

  Aunt Gladys nodded, then winced, probably because the knife was making nodding somewhat painful. “I know, dear. She’s also ruining the hairstyle Blanche spent precious time on earlier, and—”

  In the blink of an eye, Aunt Gladys jabbed Miss Burden with an elbow and then stomped on her foot. Miss Burden’s knife clattered to the floor, skittering directly next to Harvey, who took that moment to release a groan. He opened an eye, then immediately shut it, as if the situation was too much for him to handle.

  “Harvey!” Miss Burden screamed. “You can’t leave me to deal with all this. Grab the knife that’s right in front of you and help me for once.”

  Harvey didn’t move a single muscle.

  Beatrix couldn’t help herself, she snorted. “In all frankness, Miss Burden, you must have realized at some point that marriage to Harvey will always leave you dealing with everything.”

  Miss Burden pressed her lips together, sent Beatrix a scowl, then presented Beatrix with her back right as a policeman rushed into the Pullman car. He glanced around, pulled out a whistle, and gave it a blow, which resulted in five more policemen entering the car in short order.

  Within ten minutes, the police had taken Miss Burden, Martin, and James into custody, Miss Burden screaming all the while that she was innocent and that her father would be having something to say about the unacceptable treatment she was experiencing. The two policemen holding on to her arms didn’t seem concerned about that as they dragged her away, her screams falling on deaf ears.

  Harvey, who’d refused to open his eyes even though Beatrix was relatively certain he was conscious, was placed on a stretcher and taken out last. He stirred feebly and opened his eyes as he passed her, then quickly closed them again, as if he couldn’t bear the sight of her.

  “Are you all right?” Annie asked, coming to stand beside Beatrix, smoothing a strand of her hair away from her face.

  “I’m fine, but how did all of you become involved with this latest drama?”

  Annie smiled. “We’re family, dear, which means we’re nosy when it comes to family matters. After Norman and that delightful Theodosia showed up with Gladys and Edgar, we told Norman where he could find you. We gave him a ten-minute head start before we followed, wanting to find out how he was going to make amends to you.”

  “They ran across Murray and me as we were giving chase to the carriage you and Norman were thrown in,” Theodosia added, coming up to join Beatrix as she nodded to Murray, who was dabbing blood from a nose that was already beginning to swell.

  Beatrix’s eyes widened as she took a step toward Murray, remembering full well the aversion Murray had to blood. He waved her off as he took a seat on the floor of the Pullman car.

  “I’m fine, and no, I won’t be fainting today. Just need a second to compose myself. Is Norman all right?”

  Beatrix turned and settled her gaze on Norman, who was wiping blood from his face with the sleeve of his jacket.

  He was looking the worse for wear, but she’d never found him more appealing.

&nb
sp; He looked up and sent her a hint of a smile, and then he was moving toward her, his gaze turning more intense the closer he got. His progress was delayed, though, when Edgar cut in front of him on his way toward Aunt Gladys, who was speaking to Arthur. She abruptly stopped that conversation when Edgar stopped directly beside her, took hold of her arm, and pulled her toward him.

  “You could have been killed” were the first words out of Edgar’s mouth.

  “But I wasn’t,” Aunt Gladys pointed out.

  “But you could have been,” Edgar argued before he shuddered. “The sight of that woman with a knife pressed to your neck took a good twenty years off my life.”

  “Which means you’re now, what . . . about eighty-five?”

  Edgar’s lips curved just a touch. “Indeed, and at that advanced age, I should know better than to behave like a stubborn old man, resisting the notion of marrying you simply because of my pride, but . . . no more.”

  Aunt Gladys blinked. “What does that mean?”

  “It means I love you—have always loved you—and it’s past time I did something about that.” He dropped to one knee, winced, then took hold of Aunt Gladys’s hand. “I don’t currently have a ring, but I would be honored if you’d agree to marry me.”

  Aunt Gladys considered him for a moment. “You do realize that I’m still a very wealthy woman, don’t you?”

  “’Course I do, and while that was the main reason I resisted the idea of marriage to you, I’ve now realized that your wealth doesn’t matter. It also doesn’t matter that people are going to be talking about us for years, what with me being a butler and you being a wealthy woman. The only thing that matters to me is you.”

  “I could always terminate your employment.”

  Edgar grinned. “True, but then I’d have nothing to do with my days but bother you.”

  Aunt Gladys returned the grin. “What a delightful prospect.”

  “Does that mean you’ll marry me?”

  “Of course I’ll marry you, Edgar.”

  A second later, Edgar was on his feet, and then he was kissing Aunt Gladys, clearly unconcerned that they had an audience.