Storing Up Trouble

by Jen Turano

  “Well, that’s just unfortunate,” Norman muttered as he came to stand beside Beatrix.

  “You aren’t happy for my aunt and Edgar?” Beatrix asked.

  “Oh no, that’s not it at all, but Edgar, what with his charming proposal, just threw into doubt what I hoped would be a rather spectacular moment for us.”

  The entire Pullman car fell silent as everyone turned Norman and Beatrix’s way.

  “I don’t believe this is how you should go about this, Norman,” Theodosia said, marching her way up to Norman as she pulled a fashion magazine from her bag. “And even though we recently decided to abandon the research we did, every article I read stated most emphatically that a romantic setting is a must for what I know you’re about to do.” She gestured around. “This isn’t what I’d call romantic.”

  “Seems fairly romantic to me,” Aunt Gladys said, her eyes twinkling as she settled a smile on Edgar.

  Norman turned to Beatrix. “Perhaps I should wait.”

  Beatrix tilted her head. “I’ve never been an overly patient sort. So . . .”

  “You want me to get on with it?”

  “Indeed.”

  Theodosia threw up her hands and marched away, joining Murray on the floor.

  After she got settled, Norman took hold of Beatrix’s hand. “I made you a new pistol purse. Theo has it.”

  Beatrix wrinkled her nose. “You made me a new pistol purse?”

  “And it’s a lot better than your old one,” Theodosia called, holding up the purse in question, one that was covered in brightly colored beads. “Gemma and Oscar helped put on all the beads, although Norman did promise Gemma you’d teach her how to shoot the purse someday, if he can convince you to—”

  Norman cleared his throat, loudly.

  Theodosia stopped talking for all of a second before she nodded. “Right, you’re in the midst of something important so I’ll just be quiet, but I do have to mention that you’re the one who brought up the purse in the first place.”

  “I was stalling as I tried to get my scattered wits about me,” Norman said.

  “Perfectly understandable,” Theodosia said. “May we dare hope your wits are no longer scattered?”

  “I believe they’re returning to order.”

  “Then do get on with matters, Norman,” Theodosia encouraged. “It’s turning into a very dramatic moment, and I believe I speak for all of us when I say we’ve had enough drama for today.”

  Norman nodded. “Too right you are, so . . .” He turned back to Beatrix. “Would you be so kind as to clarify why you wouldn’t leave me when I told Harvey I’d tell him everything he needed to know after he let you go?”

  Since that wasn’t exactly what she’d been expecting Norman to say, Beatrix frowned. “I don’t think there’s anything to clarify about that.”

  “Of course there is.”

  Knowing Norman, what with him being a rather focused gentleman when he set his mind on something, wouldn’t continue until she gave an answer, Beatrix blew out a breath. “Not that this should come as a surprise to you, but I didn’t leave you because I’m inordinately fond of you.”

  “Are you merely fond of me or might you be a bit more than fond?”

  “Well . . .”

  “Because I’m more than fond of you,” Norman interrupted before Beatrix could finish. “In fact, I love you, but if you’re only fond of me, I won’t bother saying anything else because I don’t want to put you in the uncomfortable position of having to decline my offer of marriage, which you’ll no doubt do if you’re merely fond of me.”

  Beatrix found herself devoid of words.

  Norman loved her, he’d said that out loud, and even though he hadn’t actually proposed to her, he’d done exactly that in a very Norman way.

  “I love you too,” she whispered, which had his eyes widening before he, oddly enough, frowned.

  “I suppose this is the part where I should actually propose to you, because I’ve just realized I didn’t do that yet.” He leaned closer to her. “Theo and I have researched the matter most extensively, and I have a few of the better suggestions in regard to extending a lady a proper proposal stored to memory.”

  “I think you did propose to me and in a very charming way, at that.”

  His lips began to curve. “Oh, well, right then, but I don’t believe you said whether or not you’ll marry me.”

  “I would have thought my declaration of love for you would have been a sure sign that yes, I would love nothing more than to marry you.”

  “You would love to marry me?”

  “More than anything.”

  Norman’s lips began to curve even more before he pulled her into his arms, and then he was kissing her in a way that was definitely more than merely pleasant.

  Epilogue

  DECEMBER 1886

  “Is the bride nervous?”

  Beatrix looked up from where she’d been waiting in a room reserved for brides at Grace Chapel in New York City, finding Norman sticking his head through the door.

  “You’re not supposed to see the bride before she walks down the aisle,” she said.

  “From all those articles and books Theo made me read, I know for certain that only pertains to the groom, and I’m not the groom today. Edgar is.” Norman slipped into the room and drew Beatrix to him, giving her a kiss before he stepped back and smiled.

  “And while I did just inquire as to whether or not Gladys is nervous, how are you doing, Mrs. Nesbit?”

  Beatrix returned the smile, knowing she would never get tired of hearing herself addressed as Mrs. Nesbit. “I’m fine, although it’s been rather difficult to keep Aunt Gladys in this room until the ceremony actually starts, what with how anxious she is to marry Edgar.”

  Norman consulted his pocket watch. “She only has ten minutes to go.”

  “She’s been waiting thirty years.”

  “True.” He glanced to Aunt Gladys, who was having her hair fussed over by Blanche as Mamie flitted about, rearranging the small train that was attached to Aunt Gladys’s gown. “I’m still surprised Gladys agreed to get married in New York, and with all the pomp and circumstance I wouldn’t have thought she’d want.”

  “She was concerned my mother was harboring a bit of disappointment over not being able to plan an elaborate wedding for me, what with how you and I decided to hold a very small wedding at the beginning of November, something I believe your mother was disappointed about as well.” Beatrix smiled. “However, what with how elaborate the wedding and reception we’re about to attend are sure to be, I’m certain my mother is no longer suffering from disappointment, although she might be suffering from exhaustion, given how much effort she put into making sure her sister’s big day would be truly remarkable.”

  “And my mother is surely not still disappointed either, not after you told her you want to hold a spectacular ball at the end of January, introducing us as a newly married couple to Chicago society.”

  “Your mother has no reason for any disappointment,” Theodosia said, stepping up to join them, looking rather smug. “I’ve asked her to plan my entire wedding to Stanley, and I’ve given her carte blanche.”

  Beatrix grinned as she looked Theodosia over, taking in the stylish gown she was wearing as well as the vibrant curls that had grown longer, their vibrancy a direct result of a new formula Theodosia and Blanche had created, one they were hoping to bring out into the world after the beginning of the year.

  That Theodosia had blossomed since Beatrix had first met her was not in doubt. She’d formed a fast friendship with Blanche, enjoyed spending time with all of Aunt Gladys’s friends, but more important, when she’d returned to Chicago from New York, Stanley had surprised everyone, including Theodosia, when he’d announced that he’d been in love with Theodosia for years, and he wasn’t going to hide that love another day or give her a reason to ever attend a ball with any gentleman other than himself.

  Theodosia had then thrown herself into Stanley
’s arms, proclaimed herself in love with him as well, and that had been that. Norman’s mother, to Theodosia’s surprise as well as to her delight, had taken her soon-to-be daughter-in-law under her wing, providing Theodosia with the mother figure she’d never known.

  Mary had also been quick to apologize to Beatrix, which had allowed Beatrix to begin building a relationship with the woman who would be her mother-in-law forevermore. That relationship was certain to suffer disagreements at times, what with Mary still having a tendency to want to shelter Norman, while Beatrix found it best to keep pushing him further into the real world.

  “I was right about Harvey,” Theodosia suddenly said, pulling Beatrix from her thoughts.

  “What does Harvey have to do with anything?” Norman asked. “He’s currently serving a very short stint in jail, thanks to the deep pockets of his father, but it’s an odd time to bring him into the conversation.”

  “I know,” Theodosia said, “but a thought just sprang to mind and I thought I’d voice it.”

  “What thought?” Norman asked when Theodosia stopped talking as she glanced past Norman and got a sappy look on her face.

  “My brother’s standing behind me, isn’t he?” Norman asked.

  “He is,” Beatrix said as Theodosia swept past them, whispered something to Stanley, then returned. “He’s saved me a seat.”

  “Thoughtful of him.”

  “Wasn’t it, though?” Theodosia asked before she nodded. “And the thought I had was this—I told Harvey he could have been using his proclamation of innocence as a distraction to keep us from learning he was behind all the shenanigans, and I was right. That’s exactly what he was doing, although I do believe Miss Burden was the true mastermind, even with her plan being less than well-developed.” She grimaced. “Hardly seems right that her father got her released without jail time, although I suppose since she’s been sent off to Egypt to stay with some obscure relative who enjoys looking for Egyptian artifacts, that is punishment enough. Miss Burden probably won’t like trudging through all that sand.”

  “If all of you are done chatting,” Aunt Gladys said, gliding up to join them, Blanche and Mamie by her side, “I’d like to get married.”

  “We should take our seats,” Beatrix said.

  “Before you do that, dear, I’d like a private word with you, if you don’t mind.”

  After they waited until everyone else quit the room, except for Annie because she was standing up with her sister, Beatrix soon found her hand in her aunt’s.

  “I wanted to thank you, my dear, for barreling into my life and adding so much joy to it. Edgar and I have grown to love you dearly, and I do hope we’ll see much of you and Norman after we return from the trip Edgar’s planned for me.”

  “Since Norman and I will most likely still be living in your house because it’s doubtful the house we’re building on Lake Shore will be done until summer, I don’t believe you’ll have to worry about that.”

  Aunt Gladys smiled. “How delightful, but do know that even after you move out of my house, I’ll be visiting you often. I’m looking forward to helping you with that new committee you’re forming to advance the rights of working women as well as advance the work still needed to obtain the right to vote for all women.”

  Beatrix returned the smile. “And I look forward to your help. By the time you return, we should have the building completed on State Street and numerous attorneys hired on to lend legal counsel to women in need. Word has already gotten out about the assistance I’m going to be offering to women who have no place to turn when they encounter problems at work or with their unreasonable husbands. I hope other women of means may eventually join forces with me, which will certainly advance the rights of women in the not-too-distant future.” Her smile widened. “Constance has already insisted on helping me, and even Mary wants to be included, deciding much needs to be done in order to ascertain that Gemma will be able to pursue her interest in science someday.”

  “Norman still planning to become involved with teaching?” Aunt Gladys asked.

  Beatrix nodded. “He’s not been having much luck getting the local colleges to agree to his terms of including women, which is why he’s decided to add a large building on the land we’ve purchased on Lake Shore. He wants to use that building for science lessons available to women and men. He also wants to offer up the building for suffrage lectures, since that will lessen the chance of me landing behind bars again.”

  “He has certainly come around in his way of thinking about the suffrage movement,” Aunt Gladys said with a smile. “Perhaps I’ll even take one of his classes—after I get back from my trip around the country, that is. ”

  “You’re not supposed to know the details of the trip Edgar planned for you.”

  Aunt Gladys waved that aside. “Why do you think I agreed to have your mother plan my wedding for me and hold it in New York? I knew Edgar procured a private Pullman car and intends to whisk me around the country, making it from one coast to another, stopping whenever something strikes our fancy. That’s why I thought holding the wedding on the East Coast would make it easier to execute Edgar’s plan, while also allowing your mother an opportunity to plan that extravagant wedding she always assumed she’d plan for you.”

  “All excellent decisions on your part, but how did you find out about Edgar’s plan?”

  Aunt Gladys smiled. “Mamie prevailed upon the delightful Agent Cochran to uncover the details for her.”

  Beatrix grinned. “Agent Cochran seems to be dropping by your house often these days.”

  “Indeed he does, which isn’t all that surprising, what with his obvious interest in Mamie. I do believe a Pinkerton man may be exactly what she needed to keep herself out of trouble, even though she and Agent Cochran do seem to have the tendency to slip away often, what with how they enjoy holding hands and gazing longingly into each other’s eyes.”

  “Norman and Beatrix seem to have that tendency as well,” Annie said, stepping up to Beatrix and giving her a squeeze. “I’m delighted you finally found a gentleman who loves you wholeheartedly, and one who doesn’t seem opposed to holding your hand, kissing you whenever he pleases, and—”

  “I think the music has begun,” Beatrix said, interrupting her mother before Annie could list all the ways Norman showered Beatrix with affection, affection that certainly took New York and Chicago society matrons aback, not that Beatrix was bothered by that, since she’d never really put much stock in the many opinions of society.

  “It is the music,” Aunt Gladys said, her eyes sparkling. “Which means it’s time.”

  “Let me go take my seat.”

  After giving Aunt Gladys a kiss on the cheek, Beatrix rushed out of the room and down the aisle, grinning at her two very best friends in the world, Isadora MacKenzie and Poppy Blackburn, who were sitting with their husbands, Ian and Reginald.

  Slipping into a seat beside Norman as the “Wedding March” began, Beatrix turned as Annie walked down the aisle, met halfway by Arthur, who kissed his wife in front of everyone before he escorted her to the front of the church, Annie sending Edgar a wink, which he immediately returned.

  Everyone stood as Aunt Gladys entered the room. She’d insisted on walking down the aisle by herself, knowing that God, who’d always been by her side, would be walking beside her, giving her His blessing as she married the man she’d loved for so long, her Edgar.

  Tears blinded Beatrix more than once as Aunt Gladys and Edgar exchanged their vows. And then they were finally pronounced man and wife, drawing applause from everyone.

  With both of them beaming after Edgar kissed Aunt Gladys, they turned and moved down the aisle, their happiness a palpable thing.

  “Who would have ever thought all of us would experience so many weddings in, what, just over a year?” Isadora asked, walking over to join Beatrix. Poppy waddled beside her, looking radiant and due to give birth any day.

  “It’s been quite the year,” Poppy agreed, giving her stomach a
pat, smiling as the children Isadora and Ian had adopted, Prim, Henry, Violet, and Daisy, dashed past. “Reginald’s been feeling rather smug about your marriage to Norman, Beatrix, because he told me this past summer, after you stated to us you were destined for spinsterhood, that you’d be married by Christmas, and here you are, married by Christmas, and to a most unusual, yet delightful, gentleman.”

  Glancing to where Norman was having an earnest conversation with Ian, Isadora’s husband, and probably about labor issues at the factories he was now involved with, Beatrix smiled. “He is a most unusual man, and I’m now convinced he was certainly placed in my path by God, although that particular path was not one I’d ever dreamed for myself, what with it being such a lovely path to find myself on.”

  Taking Isadora’s hand, and then Poppy’s, Beatrix lifted her gaze to the cross that was at the very front of the church right as the Bible verse her aunt had mentioned a few months before sprang to mind.

  And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

  Closing her eyes, Beatrix took a moment to say a prayer of thanks to God for directing her to a most unexpected path, one that had allowed her to find the love she’d always hoped to find. With a quiet “Amen,” she linked arms with Isadora and Poppy, walking with her friends to join the husbands none of them had seen coming, content with the idea that all of them were certain to discover new paths throughout the years, paths that would bring even more laughter, happiness, and love into their lives.

  Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook and Twitter, or online at jenturano.com.