Meanwhile at the Brooks, we find out a bit more about Armstrong, Agnes’ maid. Every so often she takes a pie from Mrs. Bauer over to her elderly mother who lives in a tenement building. Armstrong’s mother appears well but has limited mobility and may be suffering from other chronic illnesses. Clearly whatever Agnes pays her is going towards her mother’s medical and household needs.
Marian and Peggy are still not entirely on good terms. Mrs. Scott visits the Van Rijin house unannounced looking for Peggy. She runs into Marian instead and tries to use her to persuade Peggy to come back home. At this point the audience doesn’t know entirely what caused the rift to begin with but Mrs. Scott has one point that’s worth considering. Even though Peggy so far has had it fairly easy living among all the white people she will end up never being fully accepted. Peggy, now realizing her mother is circling, draws a firm boundary with Marian about her private affairs. Agnes, not realizing there was a falling out, asks Peggy to accompany Marian on the Charity Karen trip to hear Clara Barton speak in upstate New York. She doesn’t trust Aurora’s judgment because Mrs. Chamberlain was also invited.
Clara Barton’s speech focused on the growth of the American Red Cross. She announced that Bertha’s generous donation allowed the organization to open up 3 new chapters, not just one. Barton after the speech reveals she is well aware that Bertha is using philanthropy to move up the social ladder, but she appreciates whatever she can do to help disaster victims.
Anne Morris is permanently pressed during Barton’s speech. She’s ready to ruin everyone’s good time on multiple accounts. She’s wearing black as she is still officially mourning her husbands’ death. She tells anyone who wants to hear it that George is a murderer. Barton after the speech gives the Charity Karens a tour of the infirmary where recent fire victims were being cared for. Bertha wasn’t ready for the sight of severe burns which was more opportunity for Anne to call out Bertha’s bad deeds. Anne Morris is also sneering that Peggy is there not only as Marian’s chaperone and as the New York Globe’s representative. At one point she calls Peggy colored in a snide way, not as the usual for the time word for Black. She can die mad about that one. Her efforts to shun Peggy fail as Barton tells Peggy the Red Cross will help any victim of disaster no matter who they are. Charities denying aid to African Americans was a very common thing in 1882. Later on, Marian is impressed after reading Peggy’s report on Barton and the event.
Mr. Raikes manages to secure an invite on the trip as well for arranging hotel and travel. He may have some interest in philanthropy but his real agenda is getting closer to Marian. He succeeds in kissing her and a suggestion to come to his room but Peggy foils him. Marian isn’t sure whether to feel honored or offended by Mr. Raikes’ attention. Peggy says she has more experience and it’s only an insult if you don’t feel the same way. Marian asks how Peggy knows this. Peggy reveals that a few years ago there was a man she liked named Elias Finn who was the stockboy for her father’s pharmacy. They were forced to break up because her father didn’t approve. Marian is giggling and also trying to sort out what it means to feel lust and love.
Nathan Lane finally appears as Ward McAllister, Mrs. Astor’s friend and advisor. Since he’s the main curator of the Four Hundred list, he’s honestly the 1882 version of an Instagram influencer. His accent is delightfully over the top and there’s some (unintentional?) queer coding vibes there. Bertha easily wins him over as he promises to improve her guest list for future events. He notes Aurora Fane, Marian, and Mr. Raikes are nice people but they are a long way from Mrs. Astor’s friends. Does this mean Gladys will finally be able to have her debutante ball?