“Oh, come now, Lina,” said Harry, crossing his legs, bobbing his foot up and down. “It’s 1896. Stop acting like an old biddy.”
“Well”—she could feel Thomas’s eyes on her while she looked at Harry—“I suppose I could make an exception. But just this once.”
“Marvelous.” Harry clapped, springing to his feet. “Let’s go. My new carriage is right out front. Just wait till you see it. And please, don’t wear that silly veil. Let people see you in all your glory.”
The next thing she knew, she was standing out front before his carriage, or at least something that looked like the body of one. “What happened to your horses?” she asked, thinking they’d been stolen.
“This is a Schloemer Wagon. It doesn’t need horses. It’s motorized, Lina. Imagine that!”
“Motorized?” She was aghast.
“Word is that this machine right here is going to replace the horse.”
“Impossible. I don’t believe it. Not for a second.”
She was skeptical as he helped her inside, and after a series of cranks, the carriage let out an atrocious noise and started to move, on its own, as if some invisible force were pulling it forward. She was terrified. “Where are we going?” she asked, holding tightly to Harry’s arm.
“To Sherry’s. We’re going to dine. In the restaurant. Just like regular ordinary folks.”
Caroline was stunned. The only time she’d eaten at Sherry’s was at a ball or private affair. She’d seen people dine in public but had never done so herself. She wasn’t even sure how to go about doing it.
The maître d’ showed them to a fine table, elegantly appointed. Caroline felt everyone in the restaurant taking notice of her. Or perhaps they were looking at how very handsome Harry Lehr was. Either way, she supposed she was easily recognized, especially without her veil and with all her diamonds and oversize wig. Caroline was quite taken with the notion of a quaint table for two and a waiter who tended to their needs just as a footman would have done.
After their waiter presented her with a leather-bound menu, Caroline glanced inside and said, “Oh my. Did you see this? They have prices next to every item. How very odd.”
Except for the motorized wagon ride, the whole experience was unfamiliar but wholly enjoyable. Caroline loved everything and decided she would take to dining out more often. The next day, news of Caroline’s restaurant debut made nearly every paper: Mrs. Astor Visits a Public Dining Room. For once she was tickled by the press’s attention.
As her friendship with Harry continued, Thomas seemed to be more protective of Caroline, and if she hadn’t known better, she would have thought he was jealous. And while Thomas had become a loyal confidant, Harry was a most refreshing companion and always full of surprises.
* * *
—
The one drawback to Caroline’s friendship with Harry was that it did put her in frequent contact with Mamie Fish. He enjoyed Mamie’s sense of humor, and amazingly enough, the woman’s laugh didn’t give him a headache. When Caroline received an invitation to attend Mamie’s ball honoring Prince Del Drago of Corsica, she told Harry she wasn’t interested.
“I’ve never even heard of Prince Del Drago,” she said, but Harry had insisted Caroline attend, and when he set his lovely eyes on her and flashed that devilish smile, she could not say no.
So she went to Mamie’s ball, and since Harry was sociable with everyone, Caroline found herself engaged in conversation with Alva and her new husband, Oliver Belmont. Caroline had to admit that this second marriage seemed to agree with Alva. The hot-tempered redhead appeared to have mellowed, or perhaps it was Caroline who had become more genial.
Alva asked about Charlotte. “How is she getting on in London?”
“She’s delighted to be back in Europe,” said Caroline. Her voice had a queer ring to it, as she was unaccustomed to making small talk in general, let alone discussing her children—especially Charlotte, who had recently met that one man she truly could not live without. She and George Ogilvy Haig were to be married later that year.
Alva smiled. “I’m sure you must miss her dearly, as I miss my Consuelo.”
Of course, Caroline missed Charlotte, but she took comfort in knowing that her daughter had left New York with her head held high. And that was in great part due to Alva.
Meanwhile, Mamie was holding court, receiving her guests. The line moved along quickly and soon Caroline and Harry were behind a gentleman whom Mamie looked at and said, “Oh, how do you do? I had quite forgotten I’d invited you.” She laughed and added, “Well, do make yourself at home, and believe me, there’s no one here who wishes you were at home more than I.”
“Hasn’t she got a marvelous wit?” said Harry.
They were next, and when she shook Caroline’s hand, Mamie said, “We were taking bets on whether or not you’d show.”
“There’s still no telling how long I’ll stay,” said Caroline.
Mamie laughed and turned her attention to Harry, who took both her hands in his. “You look positively beautiful tonight,” he said.
Beautiful? Mamie was many things but beautiful was not one of them. Caroline felt a jealous stab to her heart. Heaven help her. Jealous of Mamie Fish! It was absurd. Besides, Harry Lehr was impossibly too young for her—and for Mamie, too. Caroline had heard the rumors about his having that portrait of a nude man in his bedroom, but it didn’t matter. This wasn’t romantic. It was simply that Caroline had never had such fun ever before in her life. He made her feel young and free-spirited, lively again. She also suspected that it did something for Harry to be the only person who could bring such playfulness out of The Mrs. Astor.
Playfulness was one thing, but when it was time to meet the guest of honor, the mysterious Prince Del Drago, Caroline was not expecting to be introduced to a chimpanzee. A chimpanzee! Dressed in a red bow tie, a tiny suit with tails and a top hat. Caroline was speechless. Everyone was laughing and looking, waiting to see what the Grande Dame would do. Well, she would do nothing. Caroline stood there, horrified, and frankly terrified of the little beast who stared at her, cocking his head from side to side. When Caroline started to back away, the chimpanzee let out a high-pitched squeaking protest and threw his top hat across the drawing room.
Caroline yelped and nearly tripped over her gown trying to take cover. Her heart was racing. “I think perhaps I should leave,” she said to Harry.
“Oh, nonsense, Lina. I won’t hear of it. Come now, you’re safe with me. I shall protect you.”
But as the ball continued, Caroline watched the guests taking turns petting the furry prince and offering him sips of champagne. Mamie laughed the entire evening, especially when the monkey leaped up into the chandelier. He was swinging from the fixture, and Stuyvesant climbed up on the table, tiptoeing about the stemware and china settings, trying to get the little fellow down. The prince shrieked and retaliated by throwing crystals and lightbulbs all over the room. Guests were jumping and vaulting about, trying to catch them, as if they were prizes.