To Catch a Wolf (2 page)

daughters of her brother's colleagues trust her judgment on everything from the latest

Paris fashions to the hiring of servants?

I am no different than any of them. No different.

"But oh, how thoughtless of me," Cecily said. "Pray do not think—" With a show of

confusion, Cecily created a minor hurricane with her fan. "It was not my intention to

remind you—”

"Please, Miss Hockensmith. Do not distress yourself. I assure you that I am not in the

least offended by the subject of dancing." She laughed lightly. "It is a ball, after all! And

you are a most elegant dancer.”

Cecily Hockensmith had perfected the fine art of the blush. "You flatter me, Miss

Munroe. It is only natural that a woman should dance well when provided with a

superlative partner.”

Athena knew to whom Miss Hockensmith referred. Athena made it a point to take note

of every ripple in the generally calm waters that made up Denver's elite social circle.

The stylish lady from New York—as yet unmarried—had paid particular notice to Niall

from the first. It was no wonder. Niall Munroe was a handsome man of dignified bearing

and considerable assets.

But Niall had not reciprocated the interest, though he had courteously danced with

Cecily at Mrs. William Byers's anniversary ball. Nor was he a particularly fine dancer.

Business had prevented him from mastering such niceties.

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Inwardly, Athena sighed. What was she to do with Niall? Could Miss Hockensmith be

the right woman for him?

The mere thought was uncomfortable. But why? There was much to admire in Miss

Hockensmith, and her father might become Niall's new business partner. You will be

seeing much of her now that they have settled in Denver. Perhaps we will become great

friends. How wonderful it would be if I could help Niall and Miss Hockensmith find

happiness

Cheered at the notion, Athena pushed aside her faint unease and pressed Cecily's

hand. "I doubt that you shall find a shortage of partners at the Winter Ball.”

"Thank you, Miss Munroe. But please consider my offer of help. I should not wish you to

tire yourself. Your brother did mention that you work much too hard.”

Niall again. "Do you not have a brother, Miss Hockensmith? You know how they are. I

think they must secretly believe that no sister ever grows up to be a woman.”

"And a woman such as yourself would not wish to remain dependent. I admire your

courage." Cecily closed her fan. "Nevertheless, do call upon me at any time, Miss

Munroe.”

"Athena, please. We are such a small circle in Denver.”

"And formality is best reserved for those outside it." Athena had the brief, uncharitable

thought that Cecily must have practiced her perfect smile before a mirror. "I am certain

we shall become bosom friends, dear Athena.”

"Then I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.”

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With a graceful turn, Cecily swept to the door. Athena admired the way she moved so

that her form-fitting skirts maintained a column almost undisturbed by the motion of her

legs.

As if she had no need of legs at all.

Athena wheeled her chair to the window and drew back the curtains. All of the carriages

had gone, even Cecily's. Not one of the ladies would consider walking home, though

most lived within a few blocks of the fashionable quarter along Fourteenth Street.

Would they choose to walk tonight if they might never walk again?

You are morbid this evening, she chided herself. Niall will soon be home.

And Niall deserved peace and tranquillity after a long day of business. Athena deftly

maneuvered her wheelchair to the kitchen to consult Monsieur Savard about the

evening's dinner. She rearranged the roses displayed on a low rosewood table in the

marble and oak-paneled entry hall, and spoke with the housekeeper regarding the new

chambermaid and the hiring of a laundress to replace the woman who had returned to

her native France.

When all was completed to her satisfaction, she took up her usual place at her secretary

in the private sitting room and began to sort through the various letters, invitations, and

responses to her charitable campaigns. She basked in each small victory and refused to

regard the minor failures. Where the orphans were concerned—or the unmarried

mothers, or the poor men up by the smelters, looking for work—she could be

remarkably persistent. She had something to fight for.

Something that was beyond herself and her petty problems.

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In the hall outside the front door opened, and Athena heard the boom of her brother's

voice, followed by the cultured tenor of Brinkley's. Niall strode into the room, a typical

look of preoccupation on his handsome face. He paused just inside the door and

noticed Athena with vague surprise, as if he did not find her waiting in precisely the

same place every evening.

"Good evening, Niall," she said. "How was your day?”

"Very good, thank you. And yours?”

It was the comforting ritual they always followed, though seldom had either one

something truly noteworthy to report. Niall ran their father's business and handled

Athena's inheritance, providing her with a very liberal allowance; she, in turn, kept the

house and played hostess when his business associates gathered for dinner or a

sociable meeting.

But there were times, like this evening, when Athena felt a treacherous yearning for

something more. If only Niall would take some real interest in her activities

"It went quite well," she said. "The Aid Society met to discuss the Winter Ball—”

"That's months away," he said, pouring his usual whiskey at the sideboard.

"Yes. But the Munroe successes have always come from excellent planning. I only

follow your and Papa's examples." She smiled to take the challenge from her words. "I

regard my work as worthy of such care.”

Niall downed his drink. "I'm not so sure that the beneficiaries of your charity are worthy

of your efforts—or the money you spend on them." He poured another drink and

frowned at the inoffensive glass. "You are much too generous.”

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Athena retained her smile. Niall had always been blunt, and this was hardly a new

argument. "We agreed long ago that you would make the money, and I would see that

some portion of it went to help the less fortunate, according to my own judgment.”

"A judgment based upon emotion and sentimentality.”

Athena wheeled closer to him and touched his sleeve. "What is it, Niall? Is something

troubling you?”

He set the second drink down untouched and looked directly at her. "One of those

'fallen women' you attempted to reform was caught trying to steal the wallet of a very

influential financier from Chicago.”

"One of my girls? How do you know?”

"When she was caught, she blurted out your name. She seemed to think that you would

intercede for her." He swept up the glass and downed the contents quickly. "It was not a

pleasant circumstance to hear my sister's name on the lips of a whore.”

Athena stared at her interlaced fingers. "You witnessed this yourself?”

Niall paced to her desk and shuffled the stack of papers and bills. "I was consulting with

the gentleman regarding a business venture of some importance when she accosted

him on the street. It is fortunate that he caught her. She is now in jail where she

belongs.”

Niall had always been the hardheaded, ambitious one in the family, Athena the heart

and conscience. He was more annoyed with his sister than with the poor young woman

who had been driven to such an act.

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Annoyed because Athena's work had inadvertently disrupted his business. Because she

had failed.

"It is entirely my fault," she said meekly. "I will pay the girl's fine, and—”

"I forbid it. Some people can't be helped, Athena. They only become more entrenched

in their laziness and dependence.”

She looked up to meet Niall's gaze. The flinty gray of his eyes had softened, and she

saw the pity and guilt in his face. Not for those he spoke of, but for her.

"Have you ever tried to help," she asked, "simply for the sake of it? With no hope of

profit or gain?”

"Have you?" His mouth was a rigid line, almost cruel. "Hasn't your work paid dividends

in the admiration and respect of your ladies? Hasn't it won you a place for yourself

where no one can feel sorry for you?”

Athena clutched the iron-rimmed wheels of her chair and jerked it backward as if he had

struck at her. "I am sorry that I have disappointed you.”

He shook his head and made a slashing gesture with the side of his hand. "No. No. But

it is completely unnecessary to exhaust yourself by becoming indispensable to every

philanthropic cause in Denver. The Munroes already have the city's—the nation's—

respect and admiration. We never had to fight for it. No one stands above us in

influence or capital. As long as you are my sister, your position is assured.”

Even though I cannot dance, or make a grand tour of Europe, or even enjoy a social

luncheon at the Windsor. "Of course you are right, Niall," she said, regaining her

composure. "I appreciate all you have done for me.”

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"Athena

" He grimaced. "I'm poor company tonight. Perhaps you should dine alone.”

"No, please. I understand the pressures you face. Let us speak no more of this. M.

Savard has prepared your favorite meal, and you would not wish to disappoint him.”

He sighed. "Very well." It was impossible for her to take his arm, so he positioned

himself behind her chair and pushed her to the dining room. He placed her at one end

of the table and assumed his seat at the opposite end. Each setting was elegantly

arranged, with a cloisonne vase of fresh flowers at the center of the vast oak table, low

enough so as not to obstruct the view down its impressive length.

Brinkley appeared to direct the parlormaid and footman in serving the first course. For a

time they ate in silence while Athena searched for some innocuous subject to draw Niall

close again.

"I saw Miss Hockensmith today," she began. "She is quite taken with you, I believe. She

will be expecting your attentions at the Winter Ball.”

"Will she?" He never lifted his eyes from his plate.

How little he truly knew of women, for all his vast experience of the world. How lonely he

must be with only those dry businessmen as companions, and how oblivious to his own

loneliness. His sister was simply not enough.

Until recently, she had not considered the damaging effects of that loneliness. At the

ripe age of twenty-six, she had seen more and more of her peers married and managing

households of their own. She remembered a time when even she had held such

aspirations.

Selfish aspirations, with no thought of others. It was Niall she must worry about now.

She knew his real reason for avoiding the bonds of matrimony.

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It was she. Athena Munroe, bound to him with the implacable chains of guilt. All he

might have dreamed as a boy, all the old wildness, had been abandoned for her care,

her happiness.

But how could she be content when she knew that he was not, even if his ultimate

happiness meant that she must be alone? Was that not a small sacrifice to make after

all those he had made?

As long as she had her work

"Miss Hockensmith is rather lovely, you know," she said. "Quite willing to help in the

work of the Society, and with the orphans. I seem to remember that you had been

considering her father for some sort of partnership.”

He peered at her over the top of the flowers. "Do you wish to become my business

adviser, Athena, or are you simply matchmaking?”

His attempt at humor warmed her. "It would not hurt you to show occasional courtesies

to my friends.”

He muttered something too low for her to hear, which was not an easy feat. Her ears

still functioned perfectly well, and better than those of anyone she had met in her

lifetime.

"I beg your pardon?”

"Nothing." He nodded to Brinkley, who had brought the dessert. He stabbed at the