Summary

In Chapter 11, Anthony and Maddie ride the bus home from their successful fitting for Cornelia and Rose’s Gala gowns. Anthony tells Maddie that Rose grew up poor. She met Dr. Hale while competing in a Bright Leaf pageant. Her goal was to earn enough money to move to New York City, but she chose to marry rich instead. Anthony says none of the Bright Leaf elites care about the poor—not even Mitzy. He points out how awful working conditions are for women in the factory.

After Anthony gets off the bus, Maddie starts reading the book Cornelia lent her: Wielding Power from the Pedestal: The Hidden Role of Southern Women in Enacting Civic Change from 1880–1930. Maddie feels thrilled by the stories about influential women. She gets off at Aunt Etta’s house, where she meets Frances. Frances informs Maddie that measles...