A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts

Shortly before Alva’s 40th birthday, while they are on vacation in Newport, Rhode Island, William tells Alva that he has purchased a plot of land in town. He wants Alva to oversee the construction of a vacation home for them there. He tells Alva that Oliver is in town, building his own home with Richard Hunt, the architect.

Alva is surprised to hear Oliver has returned to the US after traveling abroad for seven years. The news makes her think about the nearly irresistible spark between them. She thinks about how she heard “a noted naturalist” speak at a lecture about how this “animal chemistry” was “a physiological response” (324). At the same lecture series, she had heard Mark Twain speak, although many did not attend because they were offended by his portrayal in his novel, The Gilded Age.

Alva runs into Oliver and Richard in town. Alva is delighted to see Oliver. He invites her to the groundbreaking for his new building the following morning. She accepts.

Alva sends a letter to Lady C. She tells her best friend about her feelings for Oliver, although she emphasizes that she has “never acted on this attraction” (333). Lady C. replies to say she sympathizes with Alva’s situation. She suggests that they get together that winter, while Alva is traveling in Europe.

That spring, after visiting Europe, Alva and William return to New York to learn that Corneil and Alice’s son Bill had died of typhoid a week earlier. They are shocked and dismayed. Alva feels guilty that while she was enjoying herself with Lady C. in Europe, Alice and Corneil had been dealing with their son’s illness. There is a lavish funeral, and people gather outside the Vanderbilt homes begging for money for their own sick relatives. Consuelo persuades her mother to give them some money.

A few weeks later, Alva, William, and their children take William’s large yacht, the Alva, from New York to Newport to see the completed vacation home, dubbed Marble House. Alva based its design on the Petit Trianon in Versailles. On the way, the yacht crashes into a small rowboat, killing two passengers. Alva is horrified and haunted by the deaths. William acts like nothing is wrong. She wonders if he is a “monster.”

William and Oliver spend a lot of time together that summer, developing a zoo. One night at a clam bake, Oliver approaches Alva and briefly caresses the back of her neck. She is deeply moved by the gesture. She reflects on how rarely she is ever touched. She gives in to the yearning feeling.

Later, over dinner, Alva’s friend Mamie comments that she admires Alva’s restraint over William’s habit of bringing “harlots” into the house. Alva is shocked, but before she can react, the butler arrives with a telegram, informing the party that William’s yacht has sunk. That evening, William tells them that the yacht was hit by another ship while docked, and it sank. Miraculously, he and everyone else survived.

Before bed, Alva tells William she wants the title to the Marble House. She explains that if he dies, she will be left with nothing. He agrees to hand the title over to her. Then, Alva goes to bed with her sister, Armide, who is vacationing with them.

In August, Alva receives a letter from Lady C., announcing that her husband, the Duke of Manchester, has died of tuberculosis.

In May, Alva prepares to take her children to the annual Coaching Parade in Central Park. Her husband has been in Europe since February, overseeing the construction of a new yacht, the Valiant. Her son, Harold, misses his father. Oliver Belmont drops by. She is happy to see him. Alva agrees that they can all go to the parade together.

That summer, Oliver and Alva spend a lot of time together. There is an item in a local tabloid, Town Topics, commenting on their constant companionship and suggesting they are having an affair. Alva threatens the publisher, Colonel Mann, with a lawsuit for publishing libel. Alva tells friends that she and Oliver mostly talk about politics. They think that is not very romantic, but Alva disagrees; she finds it “terribly romantic” to have her opinions taken seriously.

In July, William returns home. He immediately confronts Alva about whether she has been having an affair with Oliver. She denies it. He tells her that he wants to take the family on a round-the-world cruise on his yacht. She agrees. She thinks it will give them a chance to make a fresh start—and take her away from the temptation of Oliver.

In October, the family sets out for their cruise to Egypt, India, and Europe. Alva is reading Henry James’s The Portrait of a Lady on the cruise, because she can relate to the story of a woman whose life is changed when she inherits a fortune. Alva is surprised to see that William has invited Oliver on the cruise. He has also invited playboy Winthrop Rutherfurd, who is courting Alva’s 16-year-old daughter, Consuelo. Alva does not approve; she thinks he is only after her fortune.

One day, while on the cruise, Oliver and Alva talk about Consuelo. Alva remarks that perhaps Consuelo is willfully ignorant of Rutherfurd’s womanizing history rather than simply naive. Oliver asks Alva if she is happy. He feels she is hiding her real self “behind that faultless façade” (382).

While in Calcutta (Kolkata), Alva visits with Vicereine Lansdowne. Lady Lansdowne proposes that she arrange for Consuelo to meet the Duke of Marlborough, Charles Spencer-Churchill, in England. Alva agrees, though she feels anxious about finding a good match for her daughter.

While on the train en route to Paris, Alva opens a long letter from Lady C. In the letter, her best friend admits that she has been having an affair with William, Alva’s husband, for years. While he was away overseeing the construction of his new yacht, he had in fact been sleeping with Consuelo. He has also been financially supporting her since the death of her husband. She admits that she was late the morning after the costume ball because she had been in bed with William.

Alva is shocked, hurt, and angry. She cannot believe how badly she has been betrayed. She does not know what to do; to publicize the affair would risk damaging her daughter’s position in society before she has been married, and it would financially ruin Alva. Nevertheless, she resolves not to end up like a Henry James heroine and decides she will ask for a divorce.

That evening, she confronts William about what she has learned. He admits it is true. She tells him she is thinking of divorce and throws a plate at him to get him to leave the room. She goes to the balcony and calls out, “I have led an exemplary life” as a “warning” (408).

Alva contemplates what to do while she prepares for her daughter Consuelo’s coming out ball. Consuelo is very beautiful, and they have many offers for her marriage. Consuelo is courted by Prince Francis Joseph of Battenberg, future ruler of Bulgaria, but Consuelo finds him dull. They agree to turn down his proposal of marriage.

After a few days of considering what the Empress Eugénie might do, Alva finally confronts William with her plan. She tells him that after she leaves Paris, she wants William to publicly have an affair. That will provide the pretext she needs for a divorce without revealing the shameful secret that the real affair had been with her best friend. She tells William that if he does not agree to the scheme, she will reveal his affair with Lady C.

The day before she leaves Paris for London, Alva is confronted by William and Corneil. They strenuously insist that she desist in her plans for divorce and forgive her husband. Corneil says she “made a vow to G-d” (431). Alva refuses to give in, in no small part to “set an example” for other women (432). Reluctantly, William agrees to her plan.

In August, Alva arrives in London with Consuelo. They go to the Duke of Marlborough’s estate, Blenheim, in Woodstock. The Duke is known as “Sunny.” Sunny and Consuelo get along very well.

Upon their return to New York, the story of William’s affair breaks in the newspapers. Alva uses the newspaper stories as evidence to prove infidelity in her divorce claim. Her lawyer attempts to dissuade Alva from getting a divorce because it would tear at the fabric of society and “plant in other ladies’ minds the notion that they, too, can take their offenses to the courts” (440). Alva insists on going through with the divorce. Alice and Mrs. Vanderbilt visit and plead with her to forgive her husband, but she refuses.

That autumn, William and Alva break the news to their children about the divorce. They are shocked but come to understand. Most of society shuns Alva once the news breaks about the divorce proceedings.

On Christmas Eve, Alva runs into Oliver in his carriage near Central Park. She tells him to leave her alone. She is angry because she thinks he knew about William’s affair with Lady C., but Oliver is shocked when he learns of it. He insists he did not know, and she believes him. They go on a carriage ride together and catch up. Oliver says he is getting involved with progressive politics. They part as friends.

At church on Christmas, Alva sees Ward McAllister. She apologizes to him for having shunned him after the publication of his book. He forgives her. They rekindle their friendship.