LJ Idol Season 10, Week 4 (Break Week), Prompt 3 - Jantelagen
“Someone needs to put her in her place”
“I saw her brazen as you like handing out leaflets”
“Up to her husband to bring her into line, nothing a sharp word wont call halt to”
William had heard all the scandalised whispers. Had nodded and uh huhed along to the words, even though he felt bad. Not that he didn’t agree with them. But Christopher and Elizabeth were friends.
Of course that was something else he had been called to task for. Letting Catherine remain friends with Beth.
“She will fill her head full of nonsense”
“Once those ideas get hold”
“I’d never allow my wife to associate herself with that”
He knows there are elements of truth in their words. Heck Christopher had said himself if Beth hadn’t started attending that book club with Margaret Spittal none of this would have happened. His wife would still be at home, tending to the house and preparing dinner.
That had been the part that had shocked William the most. Since she got caught up in this nonsense Beth had abandoned every aspect of being a wife. Their plans to start a family were on hold. Christopher came home several nights a week to a dark house and no dinner. The nights the lights were on were tense and full of anger. It was no way for a man to live.
It was hard to see where this madness had begun. To pinpoint where the radicals had infected good honest woman. And now there was actual talk of it being considered in parliament. Shocking what the world had come to. Women having the right to vote, it was nonsensical. They would only ask their husbands who to vote for anyway. It was stuff and nonsense. What would be next, your wife following you to work, female bankers, female policemen. William snorted at his own little joke, allowing himself a chortle at the nonsensical idea of a woman in a suit, carrying a brief case, perhaps she would pull her hair back and draw on a moustache.
I mean, it was beyond the pale. Don’t get him wrong, he loved women, he loved his wife, and he had loved his mother and fully respected the part that women play in this world. They were the homemakers, the caregivers. Without their warm steady hands, kind hearts and patient natures, who would raise the next generation of bankers and lawyers. IF a woman was out at work, how would she teach her daughter how to cook and darn. There was so much that made no sense to him. Especially with Beth, I mean she had married well, a husband with a job in the city, no money worries. Ungrateful is what it was. It was hard not to feel down for poor Christopher.
Aw well, it would blow over soon enough, these lunatics would realise no one outside their own little group of fanatics were listening and would shut up. The spinsters would go back to being quiet and not blaming the world for their bad luck and the thoughtless and careless ones like Beth would be welcomed back with a sigh.
Thank the lord it hadn’t touched his house. Taking off his coat and hanging his hat, he looked around with a fond sigh, preparing to greet his wife, but the house was silent. There so no fire on and no smell of dinner. Looking at the clock his eyebrows rose in alarm. 5.20pm.
Her book club had never run this late!
“I saw her brazen as you like handing out leaflets”
“Up to her husband to bring her into line, nothing a sharp word wont call halt to”
William had heard all the scandalised whispers. Had nodded and uh huhed along to the words, even though he felt bad. Not that he didn’t agree with them. But Christopher and Elizabeth were friends.
Of course that was something else he had been called to task for. Letting Catherine remain friends with Beth.
“She will fill her head full of nonsense”
“Once those ideas get hold”
“I’d never allow my wife to associate herself with that”
He knows there are elements of truth in their words. Heck Christopher had said himself if Beth hadn’t started attending that book club with Margaret Spittal none of this would have happened. His wife would still be at home, tending to the house and preparing dinner.
That had been the part that had shocked William the most. Since she got caught up in this nonsense Beth had abandoned every aspect of being a wife. Their plans to start a family were on hold. Christopher came home several nights a week to a dark house and no dinner. The nights the lights were on were tense and full of anger. It was no way for a man to live.
It was hard to see where this madness had begun. To pinpoint where the radicals had infected good honest woman. And now there was actual talk of it being considered in parliament. Shocking what the world had come to. Women having the right to vote, it was nonsensical. They would only ask their husbands who to vote for anyway. It was stuff and nonsense. What would be next, your wife following you to work, female bankers, female policemen. William snorted at his own little joke, allowing himself a chortle at the nonsensical idea of a woman in a suit, carrying a brief case, perhaps she would pull her hair back and draw on a moustache.
I mean, it was beyond the pale. Don’t get him wrong, he loved women, he loved his wife, and he had loved his mother and fully respected the part that women play in this world. They were the homemakers, the caregivers. Without their warm steady hands, kind hearts and patient natures, who would raise the next generation of bankers and lawyers. IF a woman was out at work, how would she teach her daughter how to cook and darn. There was so much that made no sense to him. Especially with Beth, I mean she had married well, a husband with a job in the city, no money worries. Ungrateful is what it was. It was hard not to feel down for poor Christopher.
Aw well, it would blow over soon enough, these lunatics would realise no one outside their own little group of fanatics were listening and would shut up. The spinsters would go back to being quiet and not blaming the world for their bad luck and the thoughtless and careless ones like Beth would be welcomed back with a sigh.
Thank the lord it hadn’t touched his house. Taking off his coat and hanging his hat, he looked around with a fond sigh, preparing to greet his wife, but the house was silent. There so no fire on and no smell of dinner. Looking at the clock his eyebrows rose in alarm. 5.20pm.
Her book club had never run this late!