In the summer of 1932, Maxine opened her villa for limited occupation. Located at the Golfe Juan between Antibes and Cannes, it would be open for the May to October season and rarely had more than 10 guests at a time but guests also brought their own staffs to stay.
Her best friend became Doris Delevigne, aka Doris Lady Castlerosse, who at 19 became a model, known for her gold hair. There was a saying about the sexual Doris that went, "An English Woman's castle is her bed." Doris fell for an American Polo Player who had no title but was rich, Stephen "Laddie" Sanford.
As his mistress, Doris was set up in her own smart little Park Lane apartment where she was looked after, though Laddie started another affair years later with her neighbor there. But when they split she got a good settlement!
Doris moved on and became the mistress of a Canadian financier who bought he a house in Mayfair, London. She had servants at the house and a chauffeur to drive her Rolls.
At 25, she was using the money she received as gifts from her lovers to make investments and also had a clothing business. Doris also opened a hair salon in the Chaps Elysee, Paris.
Doris liked to go shopping in Italy and would return with hundreds of leather shoes because she wore her stockings once and a pair of shoes only 2 or 3 times. She'd give her once work stockings away to the less affluent daughters of the aristocracy who couldn't afford them. The flapper style suited her and so did wearing the flapper style without underwear.
Doris was well liked. She was warm hearted, clever and witty and made a party ignite. She never made quips at someone else's expense. She seemed to have unlimited energy as she went to Court Balls and Country House weekends..
She made the sign of the cross, saying "Tiara, Brooch, Clip, Clip!"
Then in 1926, Doris met Valentine Castlerosee, the Earl of Kenmare hier. He may have been near 300 pounds and have a boisterous personality but he thought Doris was sexy and elegant. They went out in London, Cannes, Deaville, Monte Carlo, and then they married. She got the title Viscountess Castlerosse.
The marriage was a disaster. He gambled and his debts grew. He had a temper. They both spent excessively on clothes. He was unfaithful but also jealous when she was. He wanted to proceed with a divorce due to her adultery but his mother told him not to: she wanted to save the family reputation.
Cara Delevingne, the model, is her great niece.
The primary reference for this post is the book "The Riviera Set" by Mary Lovell
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