Chapter 2 #2
Fortunately, the engine took that moment to sputter to a stop, sparing Annaliese a response that would certainly see Phoebe’s matchmaking attempts turning up a notch—because of course Seth’s decision to stop an engine from blowing up was appealing, and . . .
“Where were we?” Seth asked as he strode up to rejoin them, wiping his now blackened hands on another handkerchief and acting quite as if he hadn’t just spared the fairgoers a potential explosion.
“Mother also believes that humbleness is an attractive trait as well,” Phoebe whispered.
Ignoring that bit of nonsense, Annaliese resettled her attention on Seth. “I believe you were going to tell me why Norma Jean needed money.”
“Ah, quite right,” Seth said. “She told me that she was, once again, penniless, having used all her money on a hat she claimed she couldn’t live without.
” He frowned. “Norma Jean didn’t tell me why she needed additional funds, though, because she got annoyed with me after I pointed out that her new hat was already attracting flies.
She then told me I was the rudest brother alive.
” Seth gave his chin a rub. “With that said, I don’t think I was being rude in the least because the flies that were buzzing around Norma Jean’s hat were biting flies.
I didn’t get a chance to point the biting business out to her, though, since she stalked off in a bit of a huff. ”
“Without getting any money from you?”
“Technically, yes, but I gave money to Velma to give to Norma Jean, and then gave Velma money for herself because she told me she’d spent all her pin money on a bag of sweets, something she said she regretted because she and Norma Jean and the rest of their friends longed to see a specific attraction.
She then said that no one could afford the price of a ticket because everyone was low on or out of funds. ”
Annaliese’s brows drew together. “And after you gave Velma money, you just watched her and Norma Jean waltz away?”
“I didn’t see any waltzing because the engine I’d been tinkering with began making an odd moaning noise right after I gave Velma the money.
” He gave his nose a scratch. “Thankfully, I was able to pinpoint the moaning to a malfunctioning steam cylinder, which, thankfully again, turned out to be an easy fix, and one that staved off an explosion that would have been of epic proportions, quite like the one that would have just happened if I hadn’t shut that other engine down. ”
“And at no time did it strike you as odd that your sister only had Velma for company?” Annaliese asked.
“Not when I assumed you were waiting somewhere nearby, since Norma Jean told me she was at the fair with her decorum instructor. I also assumed my sister would hurry back to join you, where all of you would then go off to enjoy that attraction since she and Velma now had the funds to purchase tickets for everyone.”
An ache began forming in Annaliese’s temple.
“Did it occur to you, since Norma Jean admitted she was on a trip to the fair compliments of the Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies, that she and Velma wouldn’t need funds for an attraction as the cost for those, as well as for lunch, would be handled by the school? ”
Seth blinked. “Are you suggesting she and Velma were fibbing about why they needed funds?”
“I’m not certain the girls were fibbing regarding the why behind their request, but they definitely neglected to disclose a few key details.” She blew out a breath. “It would have been helpful if you’d asked them what attraction they wanted to see.”
Seth gave his stubbly jaw a rub, the stubble a clear indicator that the gentleman had forgone a shave that morning. “For that I do apologize since I didn’t even consider there might be some questions I should have asked Velma before I handed her money.”
She stifled a sigh. “There’s no need to apologize, Seth, as it’s not your fault the girls slipped away from me. I do, however, need to apologize to you because I’m taking my frustrations out on you, which certainly isn’t fair.”
“Maybe we won’t have that much strategizing to do after all since my mother always says it’s a good sign when two people can apologize easily to each other,” Phoebe suddenly said as she sent a smile to Mabel, who was standing beside Coraline.
Coraline frowned. “Strategizing about what?”
“Yes, strategizing about what?” Seth repeated.
Phoebe gave a bit of a start, quite as if she hadn’t realized anyone but her friends would be able to hear her, before she shot a glance to Seth, then sent Annaliese a look that clearly begged for assistance.
Unable to ignore an unspoken request for help from a girl who obviously didn’t want a man she and her friends found dreamy to know they were cooking up some shenanigans, Annaliese returned her attention to Seth.
“Since I’m going to assume there’s another lady code that pertains to disclosing key points when it comes to strategizing, you’ll have to puzzle that out on your own as well.
With that out of the way—and no, now is not the time to do that puzzling—any thoughts as to what attraction might have drawn Norma Jean and Velma’s interest? ”
Seth gave his stubbly chin another rub. “I saw a sign advertising a mermaid when I first arrived, but . . .” He nodded to Coraline. “You’re one of Norma Jean’s good friends. What do you think? Mermaid lady? Or was there another attraction that might have appealed to her more?”
“They weren’t going to see the mermaid lady because we realized that it wasn’t a real mermaid, merely a woman in costume,” Coraline admitted.
When Coraline didn’t expound further, the thought sprang to mind that getting a girl to talk when lady codes were evidently involved was quite like pulling teeth. However, since this wasn’t exactly the moment for teeth pulling, Annaliese summoned up her stern look again.
“Should I assume that there was a specific attraction Norma Jean wanted to see, and an attraction you’re now going to tell me about, even if it breaks an entire slew of lady codes?”
For the briefest of seconds, Coraline didn’t respond, until Annaliese crossed her arms over her chest and arched a brow Coraline’s way, soliciting a wince in return.
After exchanging a look with Phoebe and Mabel, she returned her attention to Annaliese.
“I suppose this is one of those rare times when a code is meant to be broken. But know that it wasn’t Norma Jean who wanted to see a certain attraction, it was Velma.
She wanted to watch a magician saw a lady in half. ”
A sense of relief was immediate. “Considering some of the other more questionable attractions I passed today—such as the fortune teller who claimed to tell people exactly how and when they’ll die, an attraction that could have left Norma Jean and Velma unable to sleep for weeks—going off to watch a magic show is probably not all that concerning. ”
“Except that Velma didn’t simply want to watch the show.
She wanted to be the volunteer who gets sawed in half,” Coraline admitted before she winced again.
“After Velma said that, Norma Jean swore she’d figure out a way to make that happen, and unfortunately .
. . Norma Jean’s very good at figuring things out. ”