Storing Up Trouble, стр. 101

“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