Rebecca married rather young; her father found her a husband on her eighteenth birthday. The family is quite well-offwhat more could one possibly need for happiness? The wedding was splendid, the entire village joined in the celebrations. However, only the newlyweds seemed a bit out of place amid all the cheer.
Rebecca took a liking to her husband, though she hardly knew him at all. Her sister wasnt so fortunateshe ended up marrying a forty-year-old man from the neighbouring village. People had started to think shed be left on the shelf, but her father eventually managed to find her a husband and promised her a generous dowry.
The newlyweds set up home in Edwards family house. There wasnt a great deal of space, but at least it was theirs. The head of the family assured them that once grandchildren arrived, theyd have an extension built.
Rebeccas mother-in-law never made life difficult for her, and helped her settle into her new role as a young wife. Her sister-in-law, on the other hand, was openly hostile. Agnes, who was older, still lived with her parents. Her father had arranged a marriage for her as well, but her husband returned her after only a year, along with all her belongings. She had a spiteful streak. She shirked household chores and had no interest in starting her own family, so she remained single, with just her own company.
Tradition dictated that a daughter-in-law only became the true lady of the house upon giving birth to her first son. Until then, she was expected to keep her head down and hold her tongue. For this reason, every young woman entering her husbands household tried to become pregnant as soon as possible.
Rebecca adopted the same strategy. Until her pregnancy, Agnes made her take on the hardest, most unpleasant tasks. Not that it was necessarythere were paid staff on the estate to handle those things. Agnes just relished tormenting poor Rebecca.
When Edward received the news that he was to become a father, he was over the moon. The in-laws were overjoyed, proud of their new daughter-in-law. That very day, they went to purchase materials to start building an addition to the house. Agnes, meanwhile, fumed and sulked. She understood that, for the rest of her days, shed be stuck in a cramped little room, left to look after her parents. She realised no one would ever offer her marriage, and no one would build her a house.
Six months later, Rebecca woke to heavy knocking at the door. It was Agnes.
“Why are you lying in bed? Have you finished all your chores?”
“In the house, I have. My husband wont let me work outside.”
“Oh, Im sure he doesnt. Youre just slacking!”
“Did you want something, Agnes?”
“Who do you think youre talking to? Practising to order me about, are you? Dont forget, you havent earned that right until youve given birth!”
“I hadnt meant anything by it”
“Youre nothing here, and your little one wont change that! Understand?”
Agnes flew into a rage, throwing things at Rebecca and shouting abuse. Their father-in-law rushed in and swiftly led the furious woman away. Rebecca patted her rounded stomach and reassured herself. Everything would work out in the end. Everything was bound to be alright.
