Page 122 of The Quiet Wife
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A couple of days later, Lizzie took her to the parlour.
“I’ve been thinking,” she whispered, after checking their conversation would not be overheard.
“About what?” She sat down and Lizzie followed suit.
“You should divorce him,” Lizzie announced.
Frances wondered what on earth had got into her. “That sounds wonderful, but it’s impossible.”
“You caught him with another woman.”
“And?” Frances’s eyes widened. “I’ve been unfaithful too.”
“Yes, but Fred doesn’t know that for certain.”
Frances gave her sister a small smile. “He told me that he doesn’t think I’ve been unfaithful. Apparently, I’m too old for that sort of carry on.”
Lizzie hesitated, then flushed. “I’ve done something.”
“Oh, Lizzie, what?” Frances didn’t think she could bear any more arguing.
“I’ve talked to Edith and Aunt Agatha.”
“About what?” An awful suspicion curled in her stomach.
“About your… situation. I asked them to call on us. Today.”
“Lizzie…!”
Before Frances had time to object, the footman announced Aunt Agatha, Miss Woodgrove, and Edith.
When they were all settled, and tea brought in, Frances chatted incessantly about plans for Christmas, about the children, about anything to avoid the apparent reason for their visit.
“Are we going to talk nonsense all day, or are we going to address the problem?” Agatha said, putting her cup down with a decisive clink.
Frances froze.
Edith moved to sit beside her and grasped her hands. “What Aunt Agatha is trying to say is we are here to help, my love.”
“What have you done?” Frances cast a horrified glance at her sister.
Tears filled Lizzie’s eyes. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t bear it. I needed advice in working out how best to help you. I… we can’t let this go on.”
Frances’ throat closed. “Thank you, but there is nothing to be done. Frederick is my husband, and there is no getting past that. No matter how I feel, or how I might wish it were different, I can’t change that.”
Aunt Agatha sniffed. “Don’t worry about Mildred,” she said, noticing Frances’ anxious glance at her companion. “She has my complete confidence, and we have discussed your plight at length. You can be assured of our complete and ongoing support.”
“Oh,” Frances said weakly.
“I can’t imagine Frederick granting you a divorce, but you could ask for one,” she said.
“I’m not sure what the point would be in that. It will only antagonise him, and he’ll really make life miserable for all of us.” Frances could picture it now. He would be unbearable.
Aunt Agatha arched an eyebrow and smiled. “You could ask for a divorce but settle for a separation.”
Frances frowned. “I don’t understand.”
