On Tuesday afternoon, Lauren ran into Claire Chilton in the ladies’ lounge at the Ralph Lauren store on Madison Avenue. The flagship store was housed in a Gilded Age mansion, and even its restrooms were gorgeous, with brass fixtures from England and lovely prints on the walls. Lauren had been shopping the post-holiday sales, which so far, had worked as a distraction.
Running into Claire had just ruined that for her.
“Funny seeing you here, Lauren,” Claire said. Lauren had forgotten how underneath her veneer of snobbery, Claire was, at heart, extremely awkward. What was funny about seeing her here? Not much.
Lauren gave Claire an icy stare before looking ahead at the mirrors. They weren’t at a Society event, and Lauren didn’t have to be nice to her. After all, Claire had never returned the favor.
“You were missed at the meeting last night,” Claire said as she washed her hands. “It was a lot of fun, hanging out at the pool. Strange how three people were all sick on the same night. None of you seemed sick at the memorial service for your boyfriend.”
Lauren shot her a look that said How dare you bring up Alejandro? but Claire continued.
“I overheard my mom talking and she said that in her day, they never had issues with things like attendance. People were so much more devoted to the cause.”
“The cause? What cause?” Lauren didn’t know what Claire was talking about.
“You know about the museum benefit, don’t you?” Claire started carefully drying her hands with a cloth towel she took from a basket.
Lauren shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t.”
“You’ll find out soon enough. I think you’ll realize that the group is about much more than parties. It’s about helping make the world a better place.”
Lauren nodded noncommittally and examined her lip gloss in the mirror, as Claire leaned forward to meet her eye.
“I know that you all skipped the meeting together-you, Phoebe, and Thad,” Claire said. “Everyone knows. It’s completely obvious. You’d better be careful.”
“What are you going to do, Claire?” Lauren said. “Tell on me to your mom? Ruin my chances to get into the Junior League? Maybe it’s a big surprise to you, but I really don’t care about any of it. For some of us, our world is bigger than all that.”
Claire looked shocked, then confused, before gaining her composure again. “I don’t know what you mean,” she said as she patted down her straight hair.
Lauren leaned against one of the sinks and looked at the large oak door to make sure no one had entered. “Claire, hasn’t it ever occurred to you that this group is about a lot more than philanthropy and social opportunities? Haven’t you considered that it’s a truly evil group that we’ve all been indoctrinated into, and that we won’t truly be free until we leave it?” Lauren took a breath. She knew she was getting into risky territory here.
“I think you’re crazy,” Claire said. “There’s nothing evil about the group. My parents have been members since they were teenagers themselves. They’ve never said anything bad about it. What happened last semester were tragedies, but we can’t let that bring the group down. Chin up, Lauren. It’ll get better.”
Claire clasped her purse closed and started to move toward the door before turning around.
“Look, Lauren, I like you.”
“Oh, I’m so glad,” Lauren said as she tried to control her sneer.
Claire ignored her tone. “I think you should know that you guys are all on secret probation. There was a word my mother used: Infidels. They’re calling the five of you ‘the Infidels.’ Anyway, I hope to see you at the next meeting.”
“I’d rather eat broken glass,” Lauren said. She had never gotten this angry at someone like Claire before, but somehow it was all bubbling to the surface now.
Claire smiled, as if she hadn’t even heard what Lauren had said. “There’s really no reason, Lauren, that you have to ruin everything for yourself.”