Chapter 8
Victoria had taken her mother's advice and married George Wentworth, her late husband's distant cousin. She cared for him very much, but could never love him as much as she loved William. He was a typical old moneyed Bostonian, except for his enthusiasm for the common sport of football. They had married shortly before the birth of her daughter, Eunice. She was such a sweet child, that her stepfather had started calling her Lovey. Victoria loved her daughter very much, but hated the fact that she had William's eyes and was a bit stubborn. Even at five years old, Victoria saw a small, hint of Rose in her daughter. She hoped there wouldn't be a day when she would want to play with the gardener's son!
"Lovey, darling I'm going to go to the theatre. I want you to practice your piano and your letters and numbers with Ellen before you go to bed." Ellen was Lovey's nanny.
"Mother, when can I go to the theatre? It sounds fun!"
"Lovey, I've told you, you must wait until you are older. Now go and practice your piano."
"Yes, mother. I hope you and Daddy like the play."
Victoria cringed upon hearing Lovey call George, "Daddy". She had never told her daughter about her real father.
"We will Lovey, dear. Daddy wants a hug from his girl before he leaves," said George.
Lovey ran into George's arms and gave him a hug. She's not your girl, she's William's girl, thought Victoria.
Once at the theatre, Victoria noticed a familiar face on the stage. She looked at her program to see the name Rose Dawson. Good heavens, Dawson is the name of Rose Dewitt Butaker's steerage rat, she thought. She's alive and working as an actress, how disreputable! She decided to tell Ruth, who had been heartbroken since she lost her daughter.
Next week, the Wentworth's attended the Howell Cotillion. After attending the cotillion, Lovey could not stop talking about the fun she had with Thurston Howell III.
"Oh mother, he's so much fun and he has the cutest Teddy Bear!"
"Eunice Elizabeth Wentworth! I forbid you to ever spend time with him again!"
Why, Mother?"
I'll tell you when you are older! Now, it's time to go have a tea party with your friends, dear."
"And our dolls!"
"Yes, and your dolls."
Lovey did not follow her mother's advice about Thurston. They dated as teenagers and finally eloped in 1944. When Lovey found out the truth about her father, she couldn't believe her mother had such a silly reason for hating the Howellll's. She was thankful however that Thurston III like his father, survived the sinking of the S.S Minnowin 1964, and was part of their new life on a deserted Isle.