The Life She Wanted: A Novel(6)

“Owen, there you are,” Mabel said. “The Buckleys are looking for you. Alice Buckley’s son is starting Princeton and I said you’d give him some tips.”

“Mother, this is Pandora. We were talking about Pandora coming to Princeton. She can take the train from Penn Station, and I’ll pick her up.”

Mabel studied Pandora curiously.

“What a stunning gown,” Mabel commented. “Do your parents keep a townhouse in New York? Sometimes I wish my husband didn’t love Rosecliff as much as he does. New York is much more exciting.”

Pandora was about to reply but stopped. She could hardly say she’d soon be living in New York to attend secretarial school, and she wasn’t going to admit she made her own dress. She didn’t want Mabel to know that she couldn’t afford to buy one.

“Pandora is Willie Carmichael’s daughter,” Owen said to his mother. “I was telling you about her earlier.”

Recognition crossed Mabel’s features.

“Of course, that’s why Owen wanted us to meet,” Mabel exclaimed. “I’ve taken up tennis. Imagine, we’ve owned Rosecliff for ten years, and I’ve never been on the tennis court. Owen said you could give me lessons.”

“Pandora would be happy to.” Pandora was surprised Owen answered for her. “She’s going to help me work on my serve when she comes to Princeton. I’ll be the strongest player on the team.”

Pandora’s cheeks flushed, and she gripped her champagne flute. Was that the only reason Owen invited her to Princeton? Although, she thought to herself, it was good that he wanted to play tennis with her. Couples needed to have things in common.

“I’d be delighted,” Pandora said, willing herself to smile.

Pandora heard a rustling sound and smelled a distinct perfume.

“Owen, where have you been hiding?” Lillian Clarkson approached them. “I had to drink my first glass of champagne by myself.”

Pandora had to admit Lillian looked beautiful. She’d replaced the sporty clothes she wore to the tennis match with a tiered chiffon dress and long white gloves. A jeweled hairpin held her curls, and she carried a beaded evening bag.

“Hardly hiding,” Owen said cheerfully. Pandora watched him take in Lillian. His eyes stayed on her décolletage longer than Pandora preferred. “I found Pandora,” he continued. “She’s going to give Mother tennis lessons. Maybe you can have lessons too.”

“I can’t play tennis. I burn too easily without a hat.” Lillian addressed the group. “I discovered that last summer when we were in Portofino.” Her brow furrowed. “I hope the lessons don’t start next weekend. My parents want to invite your family to a house party at Beechtree Cottage. It will be the first house party we’ve given since we moved to Hyde Park.”

“We’d love to come.” Mabel turned to Lillian. “I can’t wait to see what your mother did with the interior.”

“It’s not as big as our place in Palm Beach, but it’s sweet,” Lillian said airily.

Pandora had heard Maude Van Luyen talking about Beechtree Cottage. It sat on twenty acres bordering the Hudson and had forty rooms plus an equestrian facility.

“Perhaps you can help Mother with the invitation list.” Lillian turned to Mabel. “It will be quite intimate, and she wants to invite the right people.”

“Why don’t we find your parents now?” Mabel suggested.

Lillian put her arm through Owen’s. “You must come and meet Daddy. He’s arranging a hunting trip to Georgia, and he wants you to come.”

Pandora waited for Owen to say something—that he couldn’t meet Leland Clarkson now; he was talking to Pandora. Or that Pandora must come to Beechtree Cottage as his guest.

Instead, Owen tucked Lillian’s arm under his.

“Do you mind if we finish our conversation later?” he asked Pandora. “Archie can show you around; he knows everyone here.”

Pandora gulped the last of her champagne.

“I don’t mind at all, in fact, I’m quite thirsty.” She tried to keep the hurt out of her voice. “I’m going to get another glass of champagne.”

She waited until they drifted off. Then she gathered the lace wrap around her shoulders and hurried past the gazebo, all the way down to the river.

Until the sounds of the party were a distant murmur, and she was completely alone.





Chapter Two


July 1926, Hyde Park, New York

It was colder next to the river than Pandora expected. The warmth of the party, the little plates of pig pastries, the candles flickering on tabletops were gone, and a cold breeze drifted onto the banks.

Pandora huddled on a bench. She was furious with herself for running away, but staying would have been worse. She couldn’t bear to see Lillian flouncing around with Owen as if they were already a couple. She needed time to refocus.

Had she been mistaken about Owen’s intentions? Over the last month, she had gotten her hopes up, imagining the moment when Owen would propose so often that it became as real to her as the moon shimmering on the river. She first got the notion a few weeks ago when Owen invited her to walk in the Van Luyens’ garden after a tennis lesson. Owen had needed a tennis partner, so Pandora’s father asked her to complete the foursome.