Chapter 21 #2
Turning around, Annaliese spotted Miranda strolling toward her, holding fast to Flick, who looked quite as if he’d just been given an early Christmas present.
Before she could do more than smile, though, Miranda began fishing around in the bodice of her traveling gown, something that caused both Seth and Flick to spin around and present Miranda with their backs, although Charlie and Howard didn’t turn around at all, obviously preferring to gawk instead.
“That’ll be quite enough of that,” Annaliese said, making a circle with her finger that had the two men turning around, albeit reluctantly, Charlie muttering something about her being a wet blanket under his breath.
“Don’t take that to heart, Miss Merriweather,” Norma Jean said.
“You’re not really a wet blanket, well, except for when you remember you’re a decorum instructor and turn all stern and proper.
Otherwise, I have a feeling we’re kindred spirits as we’re both aware of the rules of civility yet only choose to embrace those rules when it suits us and when those rules don’t get in the way of our pursuits. ”
“A rather observant point,” Annaliese conceded.
“Of course it is” was all Norma Jean said right as Miranda pulled a necklace from her bodice that was gawdy in the extreme and was exactly what was needed to entice Harriet from the tree.
“I knew it was in there somewhere,” Miranda exclaimed before she gave her bodice a pat. “It is truly unfortunate that something hasn’t been invented that would allow a woman to access the valuables she’s hidden in her corset more easily.”
“It’s safe to turn around,” Norma Jean said before she nodded to Seth as he turned.
“If you ask me, what Miranda just suggested would be a lucrative thing for you to invent next since I know ladies would love to have a ready place to stash their valuables that doesn’t have the risk of those valuables slipping out like my pistol slipped out of my garter. ”
“I now feel the distinct need to resurrect my role of wet blanket again,” Annaliese began as Seth’s eyes went distant, clearly already puzzling out what type of invention he could make that would fill the whole hiding-valuables-in-a-corset problem.
“As I’m sure you remember, Norma Jean, we discussed the inappropriateness of speaking about unmentionables in public two weeks ago. ”
“Since that particular lesson turned into a rollicking discussion, I could hardly be expected to forget it.”
“But you feel this is one of those times where you don’t need to pursue an air of civility because it’s getting in the way of . . . ?”
“Having Seth come up with an invention that truly would benefit ladies everywhere,” Norma Jean didn’t hesitate to say before she sent Annaliese a smile.
“You’ll have to give my brother some specific pointers once he gets down to inventing as I’m sure that you, quite like me, have chosen to hide valuables, not in a reticule where anyone can steal them, but in a safer place, such as a corset.
Unfortunately, Mother won’t let me wear one of those until I’m a little older, and she got downright testy when I tried to convince her to let me keep the enhancer, which, sadly, I don’t believe I’ll be wearing anytime in the near future. ”
“What’s an enhancer?” Miranda asked, causing Annaliese to jump ever so slightly as she’d not realized the mermaid lady had stolen up beside her.
“It’s a corset that enhances your charms,” Norma Jean said. “Regrettably, according to Miss Merriweather, it’s got a leaking problem with the rubber blow-up thingamajig, so I wouldn’t run out and buy one until that issue is fixed.”
“I bet pressing a hot iron to that rubber thingamajig might stop the leaking,” Miranda said.
“Allow me to be a wet blanket yet again and remind both of you that this isn’t exactly the time to be talking about corsets, blow-up thingamajigs, or anything else that might soon have talk turning to bosoms,” Annaliese said before she nodded to Miranda.
“And with that out of the way, allow me to apologize for not properly introducing myself earlier. I’m Miss Annaliese Merriweather. ”
“She’s my decorum instructor,” Norma Jean added before Miranda could do more than incline her head Annaliese’s way.
Miranda blinked. “Decorum instructor?”
“Indeed,” Norma Jean said.
After giving Annaliese a bit of a perusal, Miranda shook her head.
“You don’t strike me as a decorum instructor, Miss Merriweather, but I’m well aware that looks can be deceiving as I’ve spent the last few years as a mermaid and yet I can’t swim.
I will admit, though, that I always thought decorum instructors maintained a stiff upper lip, along with sporting a prim and proper appearance at all times, but to point out the obvious, you’re a mess. ”
“Chasing down a runaway student will do that to a person, as well as having to rescue said student from a kidnapper.”
Miranda quirked a brow at Norma Jean. “You told me that you were on a holiday from school, going off to visit a distant relative at the beach and needed a chaperone because yours had seen an old flame at the train station and left you in the lurch.”
“I couldn’t very well have admitted that I was running away from home because I felt compelled to experience an honest-to-goodness treasure hunt,” Norma muttered.
“You never said anything about any treasure,” Miranda said slowly.
“I wasn’t sure I could trust a former mermaid,” Norma Jean admitted. “Then, after I got to know you and decided you were trustworthy, I didn’t tell you because I was starting to get the impression you were a responsible sort who would have taken me straight back home if I told you the truth.”
“I am a responsible sort, and yes, I would have taken you home.”
A warm smile settled on Flick’s face as he stepped up beside Miranda and took hold of her hand. “I’ve always known you’re responsible, which is one of the reasons I’ve always adored you.”
“And I’ve always adored that you’re a reliable man, far too handsome for your own good, of course, that face of yours attracting too much attention.”
“I would think it’s his muscles that draw attention,” Norma Jean said.
“Not something I need to hear coming out of my sister’s mouth,” Seth muttered.
Norma Jean waved that aside. “There’s nothing wrong with noticing a man’s muscles, Seth, and it’s not like you can miss Flick’s, what with how big they are.
” She turned her attention to Flick and Miranda, Flick looking rather embarrassed while Miranda had taken to grinning as if she were quite in agreement with Norma Jean’s thoughts about Flick’s muscles.
“I think it should be noted,” Norma Jean began, “that if not for me, the two of you would not now be sharing what is obviously a warm reunion since you should have been parting ways for good back in Chicago.”
“Which is why you’ll be the young lady who stands up with me once Flick and I run down someone who can marry us,” Miranda said, earning a grin from Norma Jean and a bit of a stunned looked from Flick.
“We’re getting married?” Flick asked.
“We are if you get around to asking me.”
Flick was on his knees a second later, taking hold of Miranda’s hand. He opened his mouth, closed it, then shot a look to Seth. “I’m not quite sure how to go about this.”
Before Seth could offer any suggestions, Norma Jean released a snort.
“Seth’s never asked a lady to marry him, but I’ve read my way through more than a few romance novels, my favorites being penned by George Eliot, who’s actually Mary Ann Evans but assumed a male pen name in order to get published.
” She lifted a brow Flick’s way. “Would you care for me to recite a few of her more romantic passages to give you some ideas?”
“While that’s very sweet of you, Norma Jean,” Miranda began, “I think I prefer Flick doing this on his own.”
“Perfectly understandable,” Norma Jean said before she sent a less-than-subtle nod Seth’s way.
“I’ll recite those romantic passages to you later.
” She then glanced to Annaliese, smiled ever so slightly, and returned her attention to her brother.
“You never know when romantic passages might come in handy.”
Flick cleared his throat. “While it’s delightful to see a sister take such an interest in her brother’s romantic life, this kneeling business is hard on a fella’s knees.
” Flick tilted back his head, his gaze once again fixed on Miranda’s face.
“To return to what we’re in the midst of, what do you think about getting married? ”
Miranda’s eyes began to sparkle. “I think that’s a splendid idea.”
“Does that mean yes?” Flick asked.
“It does.”
Those two words had Flick on his feet before he reached for Miranda, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her, a kiss that had Annaliese moving directly behind Norma Jean, where she promptly placed her hands over Norma Jean’s eyes, earning a distinct grunt of disappointment in return.