Storing Up Trouble, стр. 14
“Aren’t we almost there yet?”
He consulted his pocket watch. “We have approximately twenty-four minutes before we arrive at your aunt’s house.” He tucked his watch away. “That means you have plenty of time for an explanation.”
She blew out a breath. “I suppose there’s no harm in telling you the story behind me being banished from New York.”
“You’ve been banished?”
“For lack of a better word, yes. My mother, you see, became exasperated with me after I managed to get myself arrested while marching with hundreds of fellow suffragists through the streets of New York . . . and arrested twice, at that.”
Norman blinked, just once. “You were arrested twice?”
“I’m afraid so.”
He frowned. “You do realize that it’s a futile movement, don’t you? The majority of women enjoy having men take care of them, and men enjoy taking care of their women. Because of that, the movement is doomed to failure, which means you would be better off to find a different, less volatile cause.”
“And to that I would say this—men have all the say in our lives especially after a woman gets married. They have complete control over our finances, unless a woman is fortunate enough to have a father who has some wealth and foresight in setting up a separate account for his daughter, but most women don’t have that luxury. Men also have the final say in where we live, how we deal with children, and . . . well, I could go on and on. Many women want the right to vote because laws affect us, and yet we have no say in what laws are passed.”
“And you were willing to get arrested for pushing the right to vote?”
“It wasn’t as if I planned on getting arrested either time. The first rally was supposed to be a tame affair, but then the police showed up, someone threw something, and the next thing I knew, I was locked behind bars.” She shook her head. “The second time I’d gone to listen to a lecture. After the lecture, some of the women decided to take to the streets, wearing their Votes for Women sashes. I just happened to be trailing after them when yet another ruckus broke out, and before I knew it, I was behind bars again.” She sighed. “After my father posted my bail for the second time, my mother decided I needed a change of scenery.”
“Your mother must be exceedingly put out with you if she’s making you spend time with Miss Huttleston. I also have to imagine you’re put out with her because of the banishing business.”
“I don’t blame my mother. And because I’d almost gotten arrested during a frenzied protest about labor conditions in Five Points a few months before I actually got arrested those two times, my mother had good reason to be concerned.” Beatrix winced. “And then if you add in what happened with Mr. Thomas Hamersley, I really can’t claim to be surprised that my mother bought me a train ticket and sent me west.”
“Who is Mr. Hamersley?”
She rubbed a hand over her face. “I wasn’t intending on telling you about him, but he’s a friend of mine, and not of the romantic sort.”
“Is that because Mr. Hamersley no longer views you in a romantic way after you got arrested? Not that I would blame him for that,” Norman continued before Beatrix could respond. “No gentleman wants to court a woman with progressive ideas and an arrest record.”
Beatrix’s lips thinned before she gave a sharp rap on the ceiling of the cab, which brought the cab to a smart stop a moment later.
“Why did you stop the cab?” Norman asked.
“Because the only way I’m going to be able to resist pulling out my pistol purse again is to remove myself from your company.” She reached for the door. “I imagine now is the perfect time for me to try that running business you mentioned earlier.”
“You can’t run all the way to your aunt’s house,” Norman argued. “You don’t even know where she lives.”
“Given that my aunt seems to have quite the reputation, I’m sure someone will be able to point me in the right direction. And with that, allow me to say good-bye.” Ignoring the protest Norman called after her, Beatrix hopped from the cab, told the driver to take Norman to Prairie Avenue, then set off down the road at a good clip.
“You’re not wearing shoes that are conducive to a brisk excursion. You’re certain to develop numerous blisters,” Norman said, loping up beside her.
She picked up her pace, something that had Norman picking up his pace, as the hansom cab followed them from a few yards behind.
“Normally when a person bids another person good-bye, it’s a cue that their time together has come to an end,” she said, increasing her pace again, which he met with ease.
“I’m not letting you go to your aunt’s house unaccompanied.”
“I’ve traveled all the way from New York unaccompanied. I’m perfectly capable of making the last mile or so of my journey on my own.”
Norman stopped in his tracks, a wonderful opportunity, as far as Beatrix was concerned, to put some distance between herself and the annoying man. Unfortunately, she’d barely made it half a block before he was at her side again.
“You never explained why you were traveling alone. Was I correct in assuming your family did not have the funds to hire a traveling companion to travel with you?”
“Has anyone ever told you that it’s not acceptable to question a person about their finances?”
“I believe every one of my decorum instructors mentioned that at some point in time.”
“And yet you’ve apparently decided to ignore that particular rule even though, clearly, I don’t care to discuss my financial situation with you.” She slowed her pace and ignored that she was already developing a blister on her heel. “But to answer your original question before you take to