Storing Up Trouble, стр. 71
Beatrix squared her shoulders. “I am looking at you, Theodosia, and what I see is an accomplished woman possessed of an unusual intellect as well as a woman who has proven herself to be a fast friend to a man many must find difficult. Any gentleman would be fortunate to be the recipient of your affection.” She tilted her head. “Does this gentleman have any idea you hold him in high esteem?”
Theodosia’s eyes widened. “I should say not, nor am I planning on allowing that to ever happen. It would certainly make time in his presence uncomfortable, and I’d have to take to planning out my visits with Norman to make certain this gentleman wasn’t—”
“He’s friends with Norman?” Beatrix asked when Theodosia went silent.
“I’ve said too much,” Theodosia muttered before she turned Rosie down a different street, smiling brightly at Beatrix a second later. “Weren’t we discussing Norman and that gauntlet you’ve thrown?”
“I find myself not nearly as curious about that right now.”
Theodosia ignored her. “What you need to understand about Norman is this—he’s very focused when he comes up against a challenge, and he’ll definitely see your remark about a pleasant kiss as a challenge. Although . . .” Theodosia bit her lip. “Since he and I have been taking great pains to have him avoid annoying you, it will be interesting to see how he goes about it.”
Taking a second to direct Theodosia to turn Rosie down another street, Beatrix glanced over her shoulder to make certain Officer Stewart was still following them, then wrinkled her nose. “What do you mean, you and Norman have been taking great pains to learn how to avoid annoying me?”
“Aren’t we almost to your aunt’s house yet?”
“No, we still have a good ten minutes to go, so out with it.”
For a second, Beatrix didn’t think Theodosia was going to cooperate, but then she released a sigh right before she launched into an explanation regarding what she and Norman had been doing over the past week, finishing by saying, “But even though Norman’s been attempting to adhere to the rules of the general manners and etiquette articles we’ve researched, you still seem to get annoyed with him often, which is forcing us to rethink our theories.”
“Am I to understand that I’m some sort of experiment to the two of you?”
“When you put it that way, it sounds slightly insulting.”
“It is insulting, although I’m still incredibly bewildered regarding why Norman felt it necessary to go to such extremes in the first place.”
For a moment, Theodosia didn’t respond, but then she blew out a breath. “Because he’s fond of you and wanted you to return that fondness.”
Beatrix felt a distinct flutter in her stomach. “Just because he frequently annoys me doesn’t mean I’m not fond of the man.”
Theodosia settled a stern eye on Beatrix. “You just recently told me you never said you were overly fond of Norman.”
“I did say that, didn’t I?” Beatrix asked weakly, even as she realized there was no good way to extract herself from what was turning into a very interesting, yet revealing conversation. “I suppose what you need to know about me is this—most gentlemen of my acquaintance are careful to never annoy me, which is why I find Norman somewhat refreshing.”
Theodosia steered her wagon around a large hole, turning to Beatrix after she got Rosie back on the right side of the lane. “Refreshing is encouraging, and I hope you’ll also find it refreshing and not annoying when Norman puts a concerted effort into changing your mind about his kissing abilities.”
“How exactly would he go about doing that?” Beatrix asked slowly.
“By finding other opportunities to kiss you, of course.”
Chapter 26
“You’ve not said much in response to my declaration about Norman’s plans regarding kissing,” Theodosia said to Beatrix in a low voice an hour later as they sat around a large table, waiting for Aunt Gladys to signal for their first course to be brought in.
“There’s really nothing else to say about the matter,” Beatrix returned, placing a stiff linen napkin on her lap and then nodding at Theodosia to do the same.
“I’m sure there’s much to say, and frankly, there are many questions I find I now have about kissing, questions you may be able to answer since, clearly, you’ve been kissed, whereas I, well, I’ve not had the pleasure of that experience,” Theodosia whispered before she placed her napkin in her lap, the seven other women at the table following suit. The only woman who lived under Aunt Gladys’s roof who was not in attendance was Miss Colette Balley, who’d gone off to help her sister with a sick child.
“Nicely done, ladies,” Aunt Gladys boomed, drawing Beatrix’s attention while earning a sigh from Theodosia, who’d obviously been hoping to continue their kissing discussion.
It wasn’t that Beatrix was opposed to discussing kissing. However, given that Theodosia would undoubtedly divulge whatever was said about the matter to Norman, what with how she didn’t seem to grasp that women expected each other not to divulge secrets that may be rather embarrassing, it would be for the best to delay the discussion until Beatrix had ample time to consider the matter.
“I hope all of you are famished,” Aunt Gladys said, reaching for a small bell resting beside her and giving it a ring. “It’s time for the first course, and our esteemed chefs this evening, Roberta and Susan, have chosen quail eggs in aspic with caviar.”
“What’s caviar?” Mamie asked.
“I don’t think you should start asking questions again, Mamie,” Blanche said. “The last time we were served a fancy meal, you asked what terrapin was and then spent the remainder of the meal going on and on about a turtle named Franklin.”
“Even thinking about eating poor Franklin should have made everyone queasy,” Mamie shot back.
“Caviar is fish eggs,” Aunt Gladys said firmly. “It’s a delicacy, and since I’m sure none of you have ever had