“We're buying shares now.
All of us.”
“But there are no objections?”
“No, not to the plan.”
“Only to me.”
Meanwhile, Bertha and Mrs. Morris discussed the next charity event.
The charity’s initial location fell through, so they had been discussing moving it to the
Fifth Avenue Hotel.
Bertha offered the use of her ballroom for free.
But Aurora Fane is Mrs. Morris’s joint chairman, and Aurora did not want to partner with Bertha
since doing so would make her aunt Agnes mad.
“It wasn't my decision.
I had to defer to Aurora.”
But is that true?
Aurora told Marian that the choice had been Mrs. Morris’s.
“It's a shame about the armory.”
“I know.”
“We should have accepted Mrs. Russell's offer, but Anne Morris wouldn't hear of it.”
“Why do you care?”
“I don't want to annoy George Russell.
Not at the moment” So ultimately, the Bazaar was held at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel.
Bertha was pissed.
And George loves his wife.
So the power couple showed up and put on a show.
“Is Mr. Morris here?”
“He's hoping to look in later.”
“Then he may miss it.”
“I don't understand.”
“You will.”
“Here’s a hundred dollars on one condition.”
“What?”
“That everything on this stall is delivered to my house on Fifth Avenue within the hour.”
“This sort of stunt does not impress the people you want to win over.”
“Mrs. Morris, this sort
of stunt impresses everyone.”
Mrs. Chamberlain was impressed.
And, in a way, so
was
the legend herself, Mrs. Astor.
“Goodbye, my dear.”
“You're not going.”
“There's nothing to stay for.
The lion has roared.”
Mrs. Astor is not yet ready to befriend the Russels, but her daughter Carrie has already
begun to form a bond with Larry Russel.
“Handsome young men who talk are always useful.”
So if Marian ever gets past Thirsty Tom Raikes, we may have a Carrie, Larry, Marian love triangle.
“I have a free morning.
It is a treat to be savored.”