The Life She Wanted: A Novel(41)

Pandora suddenly had an idea.

“Could I use the car this afternoon?” Pandora inquired.

“Of course. Stephen will take you anywhere.” Adele patted Pandora’s hand. “I must be getting old. All I want to do is take a bath and lie down before dinner.”





That afternoon Pandora gave Stephen an address and sat back against the upholstery. She wondered if she was making a mistake. But girls like Millie deserved a chance; she had to do something.

Levi Dresses occupied a two-story building on Broadway a few blocks from Penn Station. A gold sign stood above the door, and in the window was a display of skirts and blouses.

Just a few days ago, Pandora read about Levi Dresses in an article about the New York fashion industry. More women were buying dresses ready to wear. The custom-made tailors were being replaced by dress shops that had a showroom and factory in the same space.

Levi Dresses wasn’t anything like Thomas Maisel Dresses, which had occupied a small set of rooms on the second floor of an office building. Inside were countless metal racks crammed with dresses. Pandora had never seen so many dresses. Bolts of fabric were stacked against the walls, and through a door she could hear the click-clack of sewing machines.

A middle-aged man wearing a dark suit approached her. He had thinning hair and a long, angular nose.

“Can I help you?” he asked.

“I wonder if I could speak to the owner.”

“I’m the owner.” He held out his hand. “Levi Rosen.”

“Pandora Carmichael.” Pandora shook his hand.

Levi led her to a quiet corner, and Pandora told him about Millie—how she was so bright, but she couldn’t afford a dress for a job interview, and she wouldn’t accept a dress as a gift.

“I was wondering if you could extend to her a store credit. Millie would pay for the dress when she gets a job. I’ll sign a guarantee, of course.” Pandora pulled at her gloves. “My fiancé’s father owns Enright’s Bank.”

Levi nodded in recognition. Pandora could tell he was impressed. Enright’s Bank was one of the most prestigious in New York.

“I admire what you’re doing,” Levi said. “But I’ve never met you. And I can’t let customers take dresses without paying for them. I have salaries to pay and business expenses.”

Pandora had been so hopeful that her plan would work. She supposed she could go home and sew a dress for Millie. But she was so busy with wedding planning, and she wanted to help Millie today.

Suddenly she had an idea. She unclipped her gold earrings. They had been a present from Harley, but Harley gave her gifts all the time. And she was certain she’d get them back.

“What if I gave you these earrings to keep until Millie pays for the dress?” She handed them to him.

Levi turned them over. He studied them carefully.

“I suppose that would work.”

Pandora was already scribbling her address on a piece of paper.

“You can return them to me here.” She handed it to him.

“All right, you have a deal.” Levi slipped the paper into his pocket. He smiled for the first time. “You’re a persuasive woman, Miss Carmichael. I’ll make sure Mrs. Grimes tries on our best dresses.”





Adele was still lying down in her room when Pandora returned to the townhouse. She picked up the telephone in the living room and dialed Virginia’s number.

“Pandora!” Virginia said when she answered. “You didn’t tell me you were in town.”

“I wondered if you’re free for dinner,” Pandora said. “Somewhere that Harley would approve of.”

Virginia’s light laugh came down the line.

“Don’t worry. I won’t corrupt you by taking you to a speakeasy,” Virginia promised. “We’ll go to Sardi’s. It’s in the Theater District, so there will be interesting people.”

Sardi’s was located in the basement of a brownstone on Forty-Fourth Street. When Pandora arrived, only a few diners were scattered at the tables. A short while later a play must have let out, because suddenly the interior was full of men carrying theater programs and women waving cigarette holders and hovering around the entry. It was so crowded that Pandora worried Virginia wouldn’t see her when she arrived.

“You shouldn’t let the waiter seat you in the back.” She heard Virginia’s voice ring out.

Pandora glanced up from the menu. She almost didn’t recognize Virginia. Her long, luxurious curls were gone, replaced by a sleek helmet of hair that stopped just below her chin.

“You got your hair bobbed!” Pandora said in shock.

Virginia pulled out a chair. “The hairdresser said I look exactly like Louise Brooks. He probably says that to all the women when they leave the salon.”

Virginia did resemble Louise Brooks. The short hair made her eyes seem larger and accentuated the curve of her neck.

“You’re prettier than Louise Brooks. But I can’t believe you cut your hair!” Pandora exclaimed. Pandora would never get a bob; she thought it would feel practically like walking around naked.

Virginia waved her hand dismissively.

“All the women in New York are doing it. Wolfgang and I went to Chumley’s the other night. F. Scott Fitzgerald was there with his wife, Zelda, whose hair is almost as short as a boy’s.”