Gail MacColl - To Marry an English Lord

By Gail MacColl
and
Carol McD. Wallace

WORKMAN PUBLISHING, NEW YORK

Copyright 1989, 2012 by Gail MacColl & Carol McD. Wallace.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproducedmechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopyingwithout permission of the publisher. Published simultaneously in Canada by Thomas Allen & Son Limited.

eISBN 9780761171980

Cover design by Becky Terhune
Illustrations by David Cain

Photo credits: Front CoverDecorative frame: 100ker/Fotolella; Consuelo, The Duchess of Marlborough: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

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For Peter Jarrett, my very own English husband, with love and thanks.
G.L.M.

With affectionate respect to the memories of Mrs. Wharton and Mr. James.
C.McD.W.

Our heartfelt thanks to:

Lynn Seligman, who always believed it was possible to place this book with a publisher who would understand it,

that publisher, Peter Workman,

and his amazing staff, including Sally Kovalchick, who made sense of it all; Charles Kreloff, who helped inspire us years ago; Kathy Herlihy-Paoli for the beautiful design; Rona Beame for the imaginative and thorough picture research; Lynn St. C. Strong who sorted out our transatlantic inconsistencies, and Bob Gilbert, who was unfailingly patient about logistics.

We also gratefully received editorial advice, research assistance, reminiscences and hospitality from the following in Britain and America: Barbara and David Clague; the Countess of Craven; Mrs. John R. Drexel; Christian Lady Hesketh; Lord Hesketh; Hilary Hinzmann; Libby and Jonathan Isham; Lord Leigh; Victor Montagu; the Hon. Mrs. Charles Pepys; Gemma Nesbit; the Duke of Roxburghe; Sir Michael Culme-Seymour; and Liz Thurber.

The staffs of the following institutions were remarkably helpful: the British Library; the Huntington Library, especially Mary Wright; the New York Public Library; the New York Society Library; the Newport Historical Society; the Newport Preservation Society; and the Redwood Library in Newport.

And finally we thank our husbands, Rick Hamlin and Peter Jarrett, who provided in-house editorial advice and years of moral support.

CHAPTER 1
THE BUCCANEERS

Jennie Jerome, Lady Randolph Churchill

CHAPTER 2
THE FAIR INVADERS

Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough

CHAPTER 3
AMERICAN HEIRESSES: WHAT WILL YOU BID?

Cornelia Martin, Countess of Craven

CHAPTER 4
MARRIED HEIRESSES

CHAPTER 5
THE NEW HEIRESSES

Elizabeth French, Lady Cheylesmore

On a bright fall day in 1860, three hundred thousand people, nearly half the population of New York City, stood jostling each other and craning their necks on either side of Broadway. They were waiting to catch a glimpse of the latest distinguished visitor to their metropolis, a slender, fair-haired nineteen-year-old who had captured the imagination of the populace. He was Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, and as his open barouche bowled down the street, the crowds cheered and waved their welcome.

That was his greeting from the democratic masses. The upper-class welcome was fancier, though no less hysterical. A banquet had been proposed, but this idea was dimly received by the Princes suite. His Royal Highness had just left Canada, where he had been to so many banquets. He was awfully fond of dancing. Could there not be a ball to welcome him to New York?

Yes, dance with him, Lady,
and bright as they are,
Believe us hes worthy
those sunshiny smiles,
Wave for him the flag
of the Stripe and the Star,
And gladden the heart
of the Queen of the Isles.

We thank you for all
that has welcomed himmost
For the sign of true love
that you bear the Old Land:
Proud Heiress of all
that his ancestor lost,
You restore it, in giving
that warm, loving hand.

Punch (1860)

The Prince of Wales is introduced to Cousin Columbia by Lord Punch in a cartoon published at the time of his American visit.

Before the century is out, these clever and pretty women from New York will pull the strings in half the chanceries in Europe.
LORD PALMERSTON, British prime minister

So a ball there was. The select planning committee faced the invidious task of deciding just who in New York society was worthy of meeting the Prince of Wales. Never had there been such groveling, such angling, such pleading for invitations. And when, on the night of October 12, the four thousand chosen people succeeded in fitting themselves into the Academy of Music, another thousand un-chosen succeeded in joining them. The floor promptly collapsed, just as His Royal Highness was about to make his entrance, so the guests had to spend two hours milling around, examining each others toilettes (the Rhinelander emeralds, Mrs. Gardiners silver-and-coral dress from Worth, the new Paris dressmaker) as a swarm of carpenters made an ungodly racket hammering beneath them. The floor was repaired, the ball began, and though his dancing partners had been carefully chosen in advance, the Prince was mobbed by womenprim, well-bred Victorian ladies who would not let him alone. (Not in strict accordance with good breeding, sniffed the Duke of Newcastle, H.R.H.s chaperon.) The Prince did not seem to mind.

The face that launched a thousand daydreams. Every socialite in Manhattan wanted to say shed danced with the Prince of Wales.

The Academy of Music transformed into a vast ballroom. Right: The Prince portrayed by famous Civil War photographer Mathew Brady; an extremely valuable piece of pasteboard.