Page 69 of A Naughty Proposal for His Winter Countess
Harriet's eyes popped wide, “Are…are you telling me to turn a blind eye when my husband has an affair?”
“It is expected of us,” Martha replied.
Aunt Barbara made her tea, “Not only must you be prudent in cases of infidelity, you must allow your husband to prevail in everyday arguments. To argue much runs the risk of driving him from the home, where he might seek comfort in another.”
Absolutely astounded, a wordless Harriet flickered her unbelieving gaze between the two. She could not believe the downright nonsense that she was hearing.
The tipping point came when Martha added, “Be prepared to do most of the giving, while knowing that you might not receive anything back. Men, by their nature are less accustomed to sacrifice their own personal pleasures for the benefit or the accommodation of others.”
“In the bedchamber on the night of the—”
Harriet dropped her cup to her saucer in a jarring clink, “I'm sorry, thank you for your efforts, but playing blind to my husband’s affairs isridiculous. I will not do it.”
Martha's lips flattened, “What Aunt Barbara and I are saying is prudent advice. Before I married, Aunt Barbara told them to me and now, I'm telling you the same. It would do you good to listen to us. These guidelines have been passed down for generations and have been proven over time, and rarely fail.”
“Have they? It seems to me that these rules were made after assuming all men would be philandering tyrants. If this is the case, how come such advice hasn't worked for all women?” Harriet asked, looking pointedly to Martha. “Not every man is cut from the same cloth and I would like you to understand that neither is every woman. Ordinary rules cannot apply to unique situations.”
“Then, cut them to fit,” Aunt Barbara said. “Use what is prudent at the appropriate time.”
Feeling the tension begin to settle among them, Harriet refreshed her cup, “Anything more, excluding the marital bed.”
“As it comes to your duties, you're allowed to decide the meals, how the house shall be furnished, the management of the house and servants, clothes and such forth. But your husband decides what is to be the place of residence, controls the scale of expense, what is to be done with property, his profession and interest, his activities, whom he socializes with friends, all these must be left solely to the husband,” Martha said.
“I must add that the discipline, manners and education of the children must be left to him as well, or there never can be any harmony in the family,” Aunt Barbara added.
Martha looked at Harriet, “Do you think you're ready for that?”
“One day, yes,” Harriet replied then laughed. “Earlier, Daniel was asking me why I didn't have a horde of nieces or nephews around. I told him God hadn't created them perfect enough.”
Martha looked down in her cup with a weak smile, “That's it, I suppose.”
“On the other hand,” Aunt Barbara said, reaching out to tap Harriet's knee, “Why don't you travel for a while after you marry? I know you're of majority, and marriage, house and home await you, but there was one thing I regret not doing in my youth and that was to see the world. I strongly suggest that you go abroad. I hear southern parts of France are lovely in springtime.”
Martha coughed, “Perhaps she’ll go next year. The wars are still on, Aunt.”
“America then,” Aunt Barbara amended.
“There too,” Martha replied. “They entered the war this year, Aunt.”
“Goodness gracious,” Aunt Barbara huffed. “Is there anywhere to go that isn't dangerous?”
“Perhaps New Holland,” Martha suggested. “But we're off topic. Harriet, the essence of our conversation is that marriage is not as idealized as you think. It's a lot of hard work.”
“I'll keep that in mind,” Harriet replied.
Aunt Barbara reached for her cane, “Well, that's settled. If it's all right with you, I think I'll turn in. Good night, Dears.”
After echoing the parting words, Harriet watched their elderly aunt leave the room. She didn't know how to phrase her question; she wanted to know if Martha lived her life with Antony under the rules she had just advocated for.
“Martha, are these the rules you use with Antony?”
Her sister nodded, “Yes.”
“Forgive me for saying this, these rules are made to keep happiness in your marriage, but I don't see much happiness with you.”
Martha's face closed off, “I told you, things come in waves. Antony is still under pressure. That's another issue I need to tell you. It won't be bliss and happiness all the time.”
But it doesn't seem as if there was any happiness at all between you two.
