seeing me, Mr. Hawkins! You do recall inviting my husband, Samuel Hamilton, and me to your lovely home this past winter? My husband has been trying to get you to join the Denver Club—it’s attracting all the best men of the city, I assure you. And I represent the Women’s Anti-Saloon League. Both organizations would be happy if you would visit—”
Though Henry had politely risen to his feet upon her arrival and accepted one of her extended hands in a brief greeting, he now took his seat again, despite the fact that she had not yet done so herself. If she were as meticulous as he guessed, she would see it as the slight he meant it to be.
“I’m terribly sorry, Mrs. . . .”
“Hamilton. Mrs. Samuel Hamilton. Esther, if you like.”
“Yes, well, Mrs. Hamilton, I’m very sorry but my responsibilities here at the bank leave me little time outside the office. You understand, of course.”
“Oh, but you must eat, mustn’t you, Mr. Hawkins? I’d be—that is, my husband and I would be ever so pleased to have you to dinner. We’d love for you to meet our daughter! A true beauty, so says everyone who meets her. Can we plan for you to come, then? Saturday evening? Or perhaps Sunday afternoon? Surely you don’t work every day of the week! Even someone as dedicated as yourself must take time for rest. It’s not good for the soul to work all the—”
“Mrs. Hamilton,” Henry said, in a tone so firm he was pleased to see her mouth clamp closed, “if your daughter has recently become of marriageable age, then I am far too old for her. If she has been of marriageable age for some time, then I shall be blunt and tell you she is far too old for me. In any case, I am not in the market for a wife. Good day, Mrs. Hamilton.”
“But I don’t understand, Mr. Hawkins. What would be the right age?”
Thankfully, Mr. Sprott came through the door just as she finished her question, sparing Henry the need to extend an impolite answer.
14
“I’D BEEN LOOKING FORWARD to this task myself all week, in fact,” Tobias said to Henry as he settled a sign across Henry’s desk. “But Etta’s train is due in from Cheyenne at last, and I’m eager to greet her. You understand, don’t you, Henry? She’s been gone an entire month, after all. So you’ll do it—if not for me, then for your dear aunt?”
“Is there some reason you can’t deliver the sign tomorrow? Why must it be today?”
“Because it’s Friday! And as you can see from the sign itself, the first lesson will be on Tuesday. If Miss Caldwell is to have the benefit of advertising, even a single day could be a lost opportunity.”
For the first time since Tobias had placed the sign on his desk, Henry looked down to see what it said. “Free Beauty Lessons, Tuesdays at Two.” He harrumphed. “What’s this all about, anyway? Is she trying to rescue the kind of girls who frequent that neighborhood or just make them more profitable?”
“The former, I assure you. She’s attempting to beautify the soul. Something we could all benefit from.”
The latter words were somewhat mumbled, and Henry knew to whom his uncle referred. He harrumphed again.
“Enough grumbling, Henry,” said Tobias. “You’ll do it, then? Perhaps if you accomplish the task before lunch, and you’re nice enough, she’ll offer you a meal in the bargain, or at least a piece of pie. She’s owed you one, you know, ever since we left that luncheon without dessert.”
Henry doubted Miss Caldwell would see it that way, though he couldn’t help but admit to himself the reluctance he exhibited was entirely fabricated. He wanted to see if her first client remained under her roof—a client his bank had inadvertently supplied. At least some of his money was going to a cause he might find worthwhile: saving someone from repeating the same kind of stupid mistake he’d made.
“Very well. I suppose I can affix it to the bottom of the other sign whether she is there or not. Have you the tools? A hammer?”
“Miss Caldwell has everything you’ll need.”
Henry eyed his uncle suspiciously. If he didn’t know better, he would say Tobias was beginning to sound like one of those mothers eager to arrange a meeting with their daughters.
“And, Henry?” Tobias said as he opened Henry’s office door to exit. “Take my advice and go just before lunchtime. That way you’ll have a