marco hated himself for the way he treated georgiana, but he decided that marrying vanessa would be his ticket to high society. senator ogden approved of the engagement as he thought it might "tame" her. when they do get married, marco makes regular trips to new york to see georgiana, even though she senses that someone is watching her, marco never tries to approach her. marco and vanessa's marriage produces a son, frank. however, vanessa refuses to sleep with marco anymore. when marco asks his father-in-law for his approval to run for the state senate, he agrees and thinks an ellis island immigrant would be the perfect candidate to go up against the irish incumbent backed by casey o'donnell. when vanessa makes an exhibition of herself at a party due to an alcohol problem, she is admitted to a hospital in rhode island, where she is befriended by an artist called una marbury.