Summary

Alva has had another child, a son named after William’s father. She thinks about her feelings for Oliver Belmont but assures herself that her thoughts as a new mother are not completely under her control. She has been working on the construction of a new church with a man named Richard Hunt who has also been helping her with her own home. Alva plans a proposal for William to honor the Vanderbilt family. Alva proposes they build a new, magnificent home to help regain their reputation in New York. When William learns of her plans to continue, he is somewhat annoyed with her because he believes that she has all of the privilege in the world, so she should really be concerning herself with womanly tasks instead.

William is upset with Alva, but Mr. Vanderbilt is impressed by her thoroughly researched...