The lesson that was handed down through the generations in my family was simple enough: The chief aim is to secure a good marriage; a prosperous husband guarantees a happy life.
Charlotte, the only child of her parents, grew up under the watchful eye of her father and the indulgent affection of her mother, who repeated the maxim at every turn.
My dear, mother would say, the chief aim is to secure a good marriage. A prosperous husband guarantees a happy life. Charlotte nodded, for she had been taught to agree.
Where, then, was this prosperity to be found? At university there were plenty of respectable young men, and the intended fiancé came from a wellestablished family. Yet her father governed every aspect of her lifeno nighttime strolls, no student gatherings, no excursions into the countryside. Everything remained under his strict control.
Soon enough, the charming young man she had been promised to found another companionsomeone freer, more exciting than Charlotte. But the rigours of the diploma defence soon eclipsed any romantic dalliance. After that, a job was secured with her fathers assistance, and her mother set about arranging Charlottes personal affairs.
Mother knew exactly what she was doing. The sole daughter must make a good marriage, and now a new suitor appeared: the nephew of a family friend.
My dear Charlotte, you ought to look more closely at this gentleman. He is older than you, which is a benefit, not a drawback. Why should you settle for a boy? Think it over. Edward Harrington is a serious man; he runs his own firm, and you will not need to work.
Charlotte protested, But he is already married, Mother! He has a daughter, which means alimony.
Mother waved her concerns aside. Do not trouble yourself. His wife was of little consequence, and she and the child live far away. It is of no import.
The introduction was arranged, and Charlottes father kept his silence. Since she had finished university, he no longer meddled in womens affairs, preferring to let them decide for themselves.
In an unexpected turn, Charlotte found herself attracted to Edward. The tenyear age gap did not unsettle her; with his distinguished bearing he would still look striking a decade hence. He was handsome, courteous, and always impeccably dressed. Charlotte left a favorable impression as well, and they were married.
Her mother sighed with relief, having fulfilled her maternal duty, and devoted herself entirely to herselfsalons, boutiques, and trips abroad with her husband to warm climes, now without a daughter to attend. Charlotte, seeing such a model, kept pace.
Edward encouraged Charlottes wishes and needs, and she lived in comfort. Household chores fell to the housekeeper, who managed everything without Charlottes direction.
One summer, a sudden thunderstorm cracked the sky, and Charlotte barely had time to register the tremor before it struck. Edwards former wife had passed away under circumstances that left Charlotte indifferent. He was now forced to take in his daughter.
It was an unheardof situation. Charlotte had postponed having a child, and now a little girl would appear, for whom she was to become a second mother, as Edward termed it. There was no alternative. Edward cared little for Charlottes opinion; he simply presented the fact and asked her to show mercy. The child was innocent.
Soon Edward arrived with the girl, a shabby suitcase and a school satchel in hand. Mary, as she was called, was in the third year, tall, quiet, and almost mute, as Charlotte observed. She spoke little; everything was hushed. Yet one consolation soothed CharlotteMary bore a striking resemblance to her father, as if she were his true daughter, not a wayward offspring of the weak former wife.
Life in the large house, alongside her father, stepmother, and maid, weighed heavily on Mary, who was unaccustomed to such surroundings. After dinner she would rush to wash the dishes, ask for the broom to sweep the floor, and try to iron her own clothesbehaviours that grated on Charlotte. Marys father, absorbed in work and business, returned home late and had little time for tenderness. He was generous with his wife, yet Mary received only occasional head rubs and the question, How are things at school?
Charlotte felt her freedom shrink: she could no longer slip out whenever she pleased, visit her favourite haunts, or keep up with her fitness routine. No more earlymorning jogs to the health club. She needed sleep, time at the computer, and the ability to scroll through the newspapers. Yet Marys presence meant she could not escape; Edward asked her to supervise the girls studies and aid with her homework.
Charlotte wondered whether she should send Mary to a good boarding school, but she never mustered the courage. Instead she suggested to the extended family, You see, I am not a teacher, and it is hard for me to monitor her lessons. Look, her grades are average, but at school she does her work properly. It is for her own good. Edwards temper flared, and Charlotte regretted her proposal. Thus the relationship grew souran existence without romance, a constant undercurrent of dissatisfaction and irritation.
Two years later Charlotte gave birth to a boy, Denis. The need for a nanny arose, yet Mary, almost twelve, offered to look after her brother. No better caregiver could be found. Mary proved capableshe completed her lessons, played with Denis, and even pretended to be an adult when necessary. Meanwhile the housemaid, Nancy, was over sixty and growing weary. Charlotte made peace with the arrangement, grew accustomed to Mary stepping in for Nancy, and preserved the social poise required of a lady of her standing.
Denis grew, loving his elder sister as she loved him. When Mary finished school, Denis was about to start first grade, and once more the entire burden of his education fell on the sister who had matured far beyond her years. She entered university, studied English, and began tutoring her brother.
One afternoon Edward asked his wife, Dont you think, love, that you have left all the household and childcare responsibilities to Mary? He was increasingly absent after lunch, sometimes even evenings, preferring cafés and social gatherings with his circle of friends. What troubles you, dear? she replied. Your daughter handles everything. Nina merely pretends to work; she cooks, and that is the extent of her duties. Edward answered, Exactly, the rest is on Mary, isnt it? Charlotte stayed silent.
Indeed, all fell on Mary. The girl never complained, and occasionally Deniss mother would take him outlast week they visited an exhibition, a museum, and a childrens concert. Was that not enough?
When Mary earned her diploma, her father hired her as a translator in his expanding firm, which had long outgrown the domestic market. There she met Ivan, a lively salesman. Their affection blossomed before her fathers eyes, startling him. He had never imagined his modest, quiet daughter would indulge in an office romance, and it upset him at first. Yet Mary declared they would marry and stood firm, forcing her father to step aside.
Charlotte was as upset as her own father. She lost the household aide, and Nina warned she would soon retire. Edward did not hasten to find a replacement. Mary took the initiative: I will help, Mum, she said cheerfully. Ill come once a week to tidy and ironI’ve always done that. Her father replied, Not just once a week, but more often. Nevertheless Mary moved in with her husband after a lavish wedding and began to manage her own home.
Ivan, at first, spoke of opening his own business. He quit his job and set himself at a computer, but launching a venture from scratch proved difficult. His fatherinlaw, angry at the rash decision, refused assistance, though he gave his daughter a generous salary increase. Mary, unaccustomed to spending on herself, poured all her earnings into the family budget, occasionally slipping a few pounds to her grown brother in secret. The rest she dragged herself and Ivan through.
Ivans flat was bought on a mortgage; he liked good food, restaurants, and holidaysexpenses that quickly accumulated. Mary handled both the household chores and the finances, assisted her mother, and that became the rhythm of life.
Soon serious changes arrived. Edwards health declined, and foreign partners withdrew from the business. The firm barely stayed afloat. When Edward realised his condition would no longer allow him to steer the company, he sold it.
Mary kept her job; her father persuaded the new owner not to dismiss her, though the translator role was becoming redundant. Her wages were slashed dramatically. Edward fell into despondence, especially after his fathers funeral. Charlotte and Denis, too, needed support, and Mary moved back in with them, leaving Edward to ponder:
Either you find a proper job and bring money home, or we separate! she declared.
At the same time Mary sensed a flicker of hope. Perhaps the woman could still find joy, despite everything.In the end, Mary found her own peace, building a modest life of independence and quiet contentment beside her brother and niece.
