Finding Annie

Chapter 10: The Couple

Richard and Georgiana were one of the most influential couples in New York. Their range of interests, their social and business networks, their links with politicians and religious leaders was astounding.

They partly saw their role, and not for just business purposes, to link together this range of people and dedicated their huge joint wealth to doing good, and encouraging others to do good too. They were acutely aware of the privilege they enjoyed and the stark contrast with the lives of ordinary New Yorkers.

Let me share with you just one Ball in January 1883 that they threw for the glitterati of New York. It took Georgiana and myself months of planning and hard work to bring it to fruition and it was to turn the tide for my future with Richard Arnold, so successful was it.

1261 Fifth Avenue was a great place to throw a ball; it's hard to give credit to its proportions, but for example the Art Gallery housed all of the late Aaron Arnold's painting collection, as well as those Richard added to the family collection. Art was taking over our lives and formed a perfect conjunction between Georgina's interests, her brother, the artist De Forrest Bolmer, and the long-standing focus of the Arnold family.

At that event John O'Brien did us proud. The New York Times in its February 1st edition eulogized, "The Art Gallery at the rear of the house was used for dancing, in connection with the parlors, which were handsomely decorated with flowers. Lander's orchestra, screened behind living plants and ferns, played for the dancing."

Georgiana and I worked closely to make sure her gown for the Ball was perfect. It was a white satin dress with large and very realistic silk flowers stitched diagonally across the front. She chose the color to go with the beautiful matching necklace, earrings and bracelet of pearls and diamonds that Richard had given her for a wedding gift.

When everything was cleared and the last of the guests were gone, Georgiana sought me out. We joined Richard Arnold in the family sitting room. It was he who spoke first: "Miss Maher please sit down." I perched on the edge of a sofa trying to recount anything I might have done wrong. Richard Arnold sat opposite me with Georgiana standing behind him.

“Miss Maher, Georgiana has been singing your praises for many months, and I have been able to see with my own eyes, since our wedding and beyond, the remarkable set of skills you possess; your organizational capability and your fluency and empathy with people from all walks of life. I have come to realize that you are just what is needed here at 1261 Fifth Avenue. I would like to offer you the post here of Assistant Housekeeper, with special responsibility for managing the social and formal functions we have here”.

I was breathless and astonished.

“Of course, you would continue, as you have, supporting my wife Mrs. Arnold as her Lady’s Maid, but in addition take on the governance of these aspects of my household and ensure that everything is done in the efficient manner as if you were doing it yourself. In short, apart from my wife, you would have the role of managing all the social functions in my household. You will work with my wife when we are resident; in our absence, you would take sole charge of our future social plans”.

Georgiana interjected excitedly, "Come on Annie, will you take the job or no?”. "Yes, yes I would love to do that job". There seemed to be a collective sigh of relief and then, quite to my surprise, he reached for a tray set on an occasional table near him with three champagne flutes on it.

"Let me propose a toast to you Annie Maher: 'To the future'"; we raised and chinked our classes, "To the future!". I had to fight hard to keep back my tears.

I retired to my room, still breathless at the stunning advancement and opportunity I had been given. At 33 years of age I would be helping to run the household of one of the most prestigious houses in New York. But it was more than that; I had grown to understand Georgiana's confidence in me; she knew what we might achieve together. This though was a ringing endorsement from Richard Arnold.