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Back A Gilded Lady
Chapters (50)
  1. Cover
  2. Half Title Page
  3. Books by Elizabeth Camden
  4. Title Page
  5. Dedication
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Ten
  16. Eleven
  17. Twelve
  18. Thirteen
  19. Fourteen
  20. Fifteen
  21. Sixteen
  22. Seventeen
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-One
  27. Twenty-Two
  28. Twenty-Three
  29. Twenty-Four
  30. Twenty-Five
  31. Twenty-Six
  32. Twenty-Seven
  33. Twenty-Eight
  34. Twenty-Nine
  35. Thirty
  36. Thirty-One
  37. Thirty-Two
  38. Thirty-Three
  39. Thirty-Four
  40. Thirty-Five
  41. Thirty-Six
  42. Thirty-Seven
  43. Thirty-Eight
  44. Thirty-Nine
  45. Historical Note
  46. Questions for Discussion
  47. In 2021, look for Luke Delacroix’s story in
  48. About the Author
  49. Back Ads
  50. Back Cover

“Thank you,” Caroline said, wondering at the odd lump in her throat as her gaze wandered the shabby, crowded office. The arrival of her replacement shouldn’t be a surprise, but it was. She had loved it here and hadn’t expected this meeting so soon. It was time to say something gracious. Something that wouldn’t hint that her heart was splitting at its seams. “I hope you will be as happy in this job as I was,” she finally said, embarrassed at the prickling of tears.

Miss Hagner nodded. “Is there anything I can do for you?”

Caroline was about to demur, but the faint sounds of children playing outside filtered through the walls. They were normal, happy children. They shouldn’t be resented because they were too young to appreciate the tragedy the nation had been through.

She chose her words carefully. “I’m sure the Roosevelt children are delightful, but Mrs. McKinley’s nerves are sensitive. Would it be possible—”

“Say no more,” Miss Hagner said gently. “I shall take care of it.”

And she did. Within a few minutes, the noise of the children subsided, then vanished altogether.

Caroline continued sorting through the condolence letters, unexpectedly dispirited by her replacement’s arrival. She’d been so busy over the past two weeks that there’d been no time to think about her own future, but it was coming fast. Never had the prospect of change been so frightening.

Thirty-Two

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Caroline spent all day Friday helping Ida pack for her return to Ohio. It was unexpectedly painful, for the first lady’s spectacular wardrobe contained a treasure trove of memories. With each gown she packed, Caroline remembered a state dinner, a reception, or a visit to a local attraction. Pina and Ludmila helped strategize how to pack the gowns into a dozen trunks for transportation back to Canton while Ida directed operations from her wheelchair in the corner.

“What will happen to this one?” Pina asked as she reverently laid out Ida’s inaugural gown. The satin dress literally crackled with a thousand seed pearls and crystals.

Ida’s voice was imperious. “I think it belongs in a museum, but for now it will go to Ohio.”

Ida was scheduled to depart in two days. Caroline had the niggling fear that Ida expected her to continue her secretarial duties in Ohio, which was unthinkable. She would wilt in Canton, especially knowing that Luke and Nathaniel needed her in Washington. Any hope of a presidential pardon for Luke had vanished, but she still had access to powerful friends in Washington.