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Chapter 30

After the Harper's article, other articles began appearing in newspapers and magazines, and every one began with "MissElsie de Wolfe" followed

by descriptions of the Colony Club. Stanford White's name appeared seldomly and only in passing. Mrs.Harriman explained to

Nora that it was a clever strategy by Bessie and Elsie to divert interest to the retired actress and away from Stanford White,

so people wouldn't associate them with the disgraced architect. Nora understood, but it hurt a bit for her to see him cast

aside, regardless of how licentious his private life had been.

She read the newspapers, kept up with the trial. She didn't want to believe the things that were said about him by the Thaw

woman. Nora couldn't bring herself to call her by name. And the way Elsie and Bessie talked about her, Nora felt no need to

throw her an ounce of sympathy. But the papers certainly did.

"Crocodile tears," Bessie proclaimed with disgust when she caught Nora shaking her head over an article on the trial. "They

should forbid the sob sisters from attending. They've absolutely turned the story around to suit their readers. Now you listen

to me, Nora Bromley. Don't believe everything you read in the papers." She snorted and strode toward the door, but turned

before she left. "It's a sad tale. But Stanny's tragedy will become our triumph."

"That's terrible."

"Yes. But he would expect us to survive. And for his building to be used and enjoyed. And it will survive, for Stanny's sake,

and for ours."

Once the decision had been made to go ahead with the Grand Opening, almost everyone dove in with enthusiasm.

"Just thought I'd help," Helen Barney said one day after she expertly folded a hundred napkins into a complex design. "I learned

it from my nanny when I had the chicken pox as a girl. It's a very calming pastime."

Nora moved from floor to floor, overseeing the final touches. The bedrooms were finished, all with simple beds, a chaise longue,

a writing table, and adequate lighting for both reading and primping. On the fifth floor, the restaurant was prepared for

dining. Small tables with shield-back chairs were set with white linen, all embroidered with the initials of the Colony Club.

Even the staff quarters on the mezzanine floor were neat as a pin, though they would not be part of the tour that Elsie would

present on the evening of the Grand Opening.

Mrs.Harriman sent out stacks of invitations and was delighted at the acceptances she received.

The group of protesters had for some reason lost interest and dwindled to almost nothing about the same time last-minute hammering

ceased.

"Moved on to another scandal," George said.

Nora hoped so. She'd been invited to attend, though she thought it might be more a case of her being available if something

dire happened.

Of course her Sunday-best dress was nowhere near what the others would be wearing. Even the newspaper and magazine journalists

would be wearing their finest, since only the crème de la crème of that profession was invited. None of them would be taking

clandestine photographs and causing trouble.

And then the big night arrived.

Elsie looked over the main lounge where the guests would gather for a few words from Daisy and Anne. The waiters were standing by, all wearing their buff-and-blue uniforms that accentuated the decor perfectly.

She took a deep breath. As for herself, Elsie felt rather resplendent in her new evening gown, sent especially by Poiret for

the evening. The fire was crackling in the fireplace at the far end of the lounge and she was relieved to see that the chimney

didn't smoke the tiniest bit.

Bessie made her way toward her, carrying two champagne coupes, her gown of beads and sequins sparkling in the light.

"I thought you might need this."

Elsie took one of the coupes. "I do." She held it to the light. "I think they're rather nice, these glasses, don't you?"

"You are the expert on glassware. I just like the champagne. To you, my dear." And Bessie lifted her glass to Elsie.

Elsie felt a rush of triumph, gratitude, and stage fright all rolled into one. She owed Bessie more than she could express.

"And to you, and to Stanny," said Elsie.

"You're going to be a success, my dear. Ah, there's Daisy. And she's brought Bordie. Good, though after tonight, he'll have

to come in the private door with the rest of the men." She trundled away to greet them.

Elsie handed her glass to a nearby waiter, who stood at the ready. The champagne just took the edge off, but she didn't want

to be too relaxed. She was ready to embark on the most important role of her life. She was ready. The moment was here. The

outer doors opened and the guests began to pour in.

Elsie met and greeted everyone, but didn't say too much. Build the allure, make them eager, promise them the experience that will change their lives. It was all theater, really, presentation, manipulation. Sometimes you had to work with an inferior play, make the best of

things, but tonight was the pinnacle of excellence, a grand simple building, with furnishings like they had never seen.

After tonight, interiors would never go back to the doom and gloom of the last century. And Elsie de Wolfe would be there ready to guide her new clients into the new epoch.

Across the room, Daisy greeted the guests, her voice rising over the hum of conversation and gently guiding it to silence.

Her welcoming speech was brief. Elsie had been a little concerned about Daisy. She was so very formal and not the most dramatic

speaker, but she kept her part short and, after a meaningful pause, finished with: "And now, I present the Colony Club and

its interior designer, MissElsie de Wolfe."

Daisy gestured to Elsie. Elsie lifted both arms, the silk of her sleeves billowing, and her audience turned as if she were

the conductor and they the instruments.

"Good evening, friends. Please join me on a tour of the largest and most beautiful women's club in America, and perhaps the

world." She bowed slightly and guided them to the stairs and down to the marble swimming pool.

The gasps of awe behind her lifted her, and she basked in the glow of the fairy lights hidden among the arbored ceiling and

reflecting off the walls of Venetian glass. It was a fairyland of mystical Oriental splendor .

Elsie knew just when to break the mood and led them seamlessly through changing rooms, saunas, and masseuse cubicles, then

back up the stairs to the first floor.

And so it went through the reading room, parlor, and trellis room. To the second floor, where much was made of the running

track, while Elsie enthused about the health benefits of exercise.

On to the assembly room, her wall sconces lighting the room like an army of elegant sentinels, the small panes of the full

windows reflecting their light.

Here was her future. Her audience, hanging on to every word, awaiting her gift to them. Elsie's heart overflowed with emotion, and when she blinked away tears, she was astonished that she hadn't even needed menthol to make her eyes glisten.

Nora tagged along behind the others, being discreet, nervous and yet excited to see their work through others' eyes. Elsie

spun her magic and for the first time, Nora wished she'd seen her onstage. But mostly she was just nervous that something

would go wrong, though she didn't know what. Everything had been checked and double-checked; drapes tied back with perfect

knots; pictures hung securely...

And Nora had been a part of it. This moment of pride was immediately followed by the panic that had begun to beset her in

quiet moments. She took a deep breath and stole away, the festive mood suddenly deserting her as she neared her office in

the strangers room, where she was no longer a stranger. Yet, knowing soon she would have to move out.

Where would she go now? She'd have to start looking for a new position. At least she wouldn't be alone in the rain and homeless,

this time. Higgie and Aunt Sorcha had become a second family to her.

She opened the office door and found George leaning over her desk looking at some plans.

"What are you doing here?"

He jumped and turned around. "Standing by, in case you... You know, these are really good."

"What?"

"These are yours, right? The factory design?"

"Shirtwaist factory. I did those after that MissLemlich's talk. She's a garment worker. And the things she said... I meant

to do more, but things got so busy here." She was surprised by a yawn. She was suddenly so tired.

"Well, maybe you'll have more time to work on your own projects now that the club is finished."

"Where?" She hadn't meant to sound so brittle, but suddenly alone in her office with George, the immensity of the future was

overwhelming.

"Well, be patient. Something will turn up."

Nora rolled her eyes, mainly to stay awake. She sank into her desk chair.

"Like I said, I may have a proposal."

Nora's stomach dropped. "A proposal?" Professor Gerhardt's advice about women in architecture echoed in her mind. One way

that women could get ahead was to work for their architect husbands, until the needs of the family became too pressing. But

not for Nora. Not even with someone who she—She swallowed a big, unhappy knot in her throat. She had a promise to fulfill.

No, no, thank you. I'm an architect. And I'm going to stay that way.

George frowned. "A business opportunity... maybe."

"In architecture?"

George nodded, his face blank. "Like I said. Maybe."

"Well," said Daisy, accepting another coupe of champagne. "I think that went swimmingly."

"Yes, indeed," Bordie agreed. "You ladies are on the road to success."

The ladies in question, about seven of them, committee members, who were the last to leave, all raised their glasses.

"We'll drink to that," said Bessie and drained her glass.

"We pulled it off," said Elsie. "And hardly anyone mentioned Stanny. Though it does seem a shame; he would have enjoyed the

kudos tonight immensely."

"True," Bessie said. "But he will someday get his due, when this horror is over and the world can see him for the talent he was."

"Will that really ever happen?" asked Nora, who was standing at the edge of the group.

"Oh, yes," said Bessie. "There will always be a bigger scandal just waiting to take today's biggest scandal off the front

page. And soon people will forget why it was such a big deal. It's the way of the world, as Congreve reminds us. Of that you

can be sure."

"And will you go back to the architectural firm now that the club is completed?" Daisy asked Nora.

"They don't want me back. They never wanted me in the first place. Only Mr.White did. He's the one who hired me."

"The only forward thinker in the group," Bessie said.

"Well, don't despair," Elsie said. "I'll be opening my own interior decoration business soon, and I'm sure we'll have enough

business to offer you a place."

"Thank you, but—"

"Elsie, you are relentless," said Daisy. "Poor Nora is practically dead on her feet. I, for one, need a good night's sleep

before worrying about the future and I bet she does, too. We open tomorrow for the members. Our first official day. You and

Nora can discuss things then." She smiled at the young architect, dressed in simple percale with two beautiful combs in her

hair. She was talented; she needed a future in architecture, not as a shadow to Elsie's growing demand as a decorator.

Nora should be designing her hospitals, schools, factories. The girl obviously needed a salary, but Daisy hated to think of

her giving up her dream just to keep herself and her family afloat. It was the story of so many young women. Not being able

to afford to accept an opportunity if they were lucky enough to get one.

Best for everyone to sleep on it.

"Thank you all for the work you've done. Tomorrow the real work begins. Come, Nora. Let's get your coat and send you home."

Daisy walked the girl down the hall to the strangers room.

She helped Nora into her coat. The girl really was physically exhausted, and probably frightened and confused. The rest of them had been celebrating without a thought about those who would move on. Those who had laid the brick, built the walls, installed the electricity. And those who had nursed them through everything.

"Thank you," Nora said in a small voice. And Daisy remembered the first day she'd met her, scrambling over the scaffolding,

bold and determined and undaunted. Daisy hated to think that those attributes had been beaten out of her all because of the

stupid scandal.

Daisy walked her outside where the Harriman driver waited in Bordie's new automobile, and realized she didn't even have the

girl's address.

Once that was taken care of, she put Nora inside and leaned in after her.

"I know this must be a difficult time for you. And I don't want to sway you one way or another, but I've seen your designs,

heard your ideas, watched you work indefatigably for someone else's success. Don't sell yourself short. Don't be afraid to

go after what you want."

"I want to be an architect."

"Then go after your dream, fulfill your promise."

"I'm not sure I know how. Not now."

"I completely understand, my dear. We all feel that way sometimes. I must have felt that way a hundred times since I had the

idea of a women's club. Felt that way more times than not during the last few months.

"Each of us has their own destiny to follow. I have faith in me and I have faith in you. And you have friends." She smiled;

the girl could hardly keep her eyes open. She might not even remember what Daisy had just said. And really, who was Daisy

to give advice to someone in such different circumstances from her own?

"Good night. See you tomorrow."

Daisy stood a long time watching the car drive away, so long that she was shivering by the time Bordie came out to see what was keeping her. "I sent Nora home in the car," she said on a yawn.

"Of course you did. Come back inside. I assume it's coming back for us?"

"Of course."

"Do you think there are any sandwiches left?"

The next day a theater sandwich board appeared in the foyer, announcing the four Tuesday meetings for the month and that the

Colony Club doors were now open for its members. Ladies poured in from morning until evening, having tea and gossiping, quietly

reading the newspapers and periodicals in the reading room, chatting in the main lounge, their voices sometimes rising as

a point was being made. They played cards in the parlor. They talked about the latest French fashions, the latest strike by

the coal miners, and a group around Alva Belmont nearly came to fisticuffs over women's right to vote.

It was getting on toward evening and the ladies showed no signs of leaving. Nora returned to the strangers room and began

collecting her materials and supplies.

"Can I come in?"

"George, where did you come from?"

"McKim and Mead. I came to pick up our plans and stuff."

"Oh." Nora turned back to what she was doing. She couldn't look at him. He was going back to work, work where he belonged,

where he could climb the ladder of success. And she... she would straighten up her things and...

"Did you give Elsie an answer yet?"

She shook her head.

"Do you want to take it?"

"I don't know; she pays well."

"But do you want to do wallpaper and latticework for the rest of your life?"

"You know I don't, but right now it's my only option."

"Not necessarily."

"McKim and Mead won't take me back. You said so. The only résumé I have is connected to Mr.White."

"Look at me."

She shook her head. She didn't know what he was going to say but she was afraid of what it might be.

He turned her chair around with her still in it.

"Remember last night, I told you I might have a proposal." He held up his hand, preventing her response. "A business proposal.

I've given McKim and Mead my notice. Fergus Finnegan and I are opening our own architectural firm. We've discussed this, and

we want you to come in as a partner, if you're interested. It will be slow going at first. We have to build up a clientele,

but between the three of us, that shouldn't be a problem. Just slow.

"We have different skills, skills that will complement and aid the others. Fergie is a draftsman, understands plumbing, electrical,

all that stuff. I want to concentrate on big buildings for the future, and you have your hospital and schools. We can all

build houses, and you can draw better than both of us together.

"It won't pay nearly as much as Elsie would, but you'd be doing what you love, right? Fergie's brother has a few feet of storefront

that he doesn't need at the moment and we can set up shop cheap.

"We'll split everything three ways. We just have to be patient. What do you think? You might get a job with another firm,

but with us, you'll be able to spend time with the designs you most want to do. We'll enter contests, do what we have to do

to drum up clients. It won't be easy. But—Why don't you say something?"

"Because you've been running on so, I haven't had a chance." Actually her heart was bursting. They might fail, but...

"You don't want me just for my watercolors?"

"No, though they are very good."

"I'd be a full partner?"

"Yes."

"With my name on the sign out front?"

"When we get one. Yes, Finnegan, Douglas, and Bromley."

He saw her look and explained, "We tried all kinds of name arrangements, and this sounds the best."

Nora nodded. "You promise?"

"Yes. Even if some day I make another kind of proposal and you say yes, it will always say ‘Bromley' on the sign outside."

The words she'd been waiting to hear for so long. She was an architect. "Bromley" on the sign. We made it, Papa, Jimmy. We made it. "In that case, I accept."

"Great! Let's go tell Mrs.Harriman and the others." He pulled her out of her seat and down the hall, where they found Mrs.Harriman,

Anne, and Elsie looking over the activities. It was getting late and the ladies still showed no signs of leaving.

"Ah, Nora, George. Still working?"

"We just came to tell you that Nora has accepted a position as partner in Finnegan, Douglas, and Bromley."

"Ah, you're striking out on your own?"

George nodded, animated as much as Nora had ever seen him. "It's a new century; the future is ripe for new kinds of buildings.

New attitudes toward design, as Miss de Wolfe has proven."

Elsie bent her head demurely, a gesture bound to floor any man who was close by, but Nora could tell Elsie was pleased. "I'll

expect all three of you to be available to consult on my projects as the need arises."

"Of course," Nora said. "It has been such an honor and an education. Thank you all." Her throat tightened and she blinked hard to overcome the swell of emotion inside her.

"That is splendid," Mrs.Harriman said. "I know we'll see great things from you both. And you both have connections here.

I know several people interested in your ideas for hospitals and apartment buildings, and I imagine with your backgrounds

you'll be called on for a variety of commissions."

"And I expect you to give me advice on a lounge for military families that I'm interested in fitting out in Brooklyn," Anne

Morgan added.

And a hospital , thought Daisy. She, too, would make sure that opportunities came Nora's way. And not just Nora. There were other projects

that needed support, inequities to be tackled. A city, a country, a world to make better. The Colony Club was just the beginning.

As they stood there, Mrs.Perkins, a matriarch of society who had been supportive throughout the process, and the mother of

several important men in the city government, came toward them, hands extended. "Daisy, I want to thank you. I have waited

for this evening my entire life. I have just telephoned home and told them not to wait dinner for me. I'll be dining at my

club tonight." She laughed delightedly. "Whoever thought this moment would ever come?"

"I did," said Daisy. "I never doubted it in the least."

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