Long ago, in a quaint English village, there lived a young woman named Elspeth Whitmore. She was betrothed to a gentleman called Alistair Pembroke, a man of steady character but bound tightly to his mothers whims.
*”Did we truly build that grand house for no purpose?”*
*”So youre saying we wasted our effort on that house?”* Alistairs mother, Mrs. Millicent Pembroke, snapped. *”Then return half its value!”*
One afternoon, Mrs. Pembroke, a sharp-eyed woman with cropped grey hair, sat Elspeth down. *”Before you became entangled with my son, there are things you must understand.”*
Elspeth, a fair-haired lass with wide eyes, regarded her future kin with quiet astonishmentshe had met the woman only thrice in her life.
*”If you wish to join this family,”* Mrs. Pembroke declared, *”you must know that Alistairs first loyalty is to his parents. Weve no need of a wife who means to rule him.”*
*”Do I rule him?”* Elspeth interrupted.
*”Let me finish, girl! Show some patience,”* the older woman retorted.
Elspeth flushed crimson and lowered her gaze. She had no wish to anger Alistairs mother, for their courtship was still fresh, and she dared not presume too much.
Mrs. Pembroke continued, *”Our family has long had a plan: once Alistair weds, we shall all reside together in the new house, nearly finished. A proper family under one roof!”*
*”How splendid,”* Elspeth replied with a strained smile.
The older woman arched a brow, surprised by her quick agreement. *”Im glad you see sense. I daresay we shall be great friends,”* she said, with a knowing glance.
Thereafter, Elspeth sought to please her. She brought little giftssometimes with occasion, sometimes withoutalways ensuring Mrs. Pembroke felt valued.
A year passed, and Mrs. Pembroke, fearing delay, began pressing Alistair to propose. *”When will you ask her?”* she prodded daily. *”Wait too long, and she may leave you. Then youll regret it.”*
At last, Alistair relented, and Elspeth accepted his proposal with delight. His parents paid for the wedding, further convincing her she had chosen well.
For three months, the newlyweds lived in a rented cottage. Then, one evening, Mrs. Pembroke announced with triumph, *”The house is ready! Gather your thingswe move at once!”*
*”Why?”* Elspeth frowned. *”Were quite content here.”*
Mrs. Pembroke stared. *”What do you mean? We agreed long agoonce the house was built, wed live together!”*
*”You agreed. I never did,”* Elspeth said coolly. *”We shant be moving in. In fact, since youve vacated your home, Alistair and I shall take your townhouse instead.”*
*”What?”* Mrs. Pembroke sputtered. *”Outrageous! You deceitful girl!”* She slammed down the telephone.
Elspeth listened to the dial tone, bemused, until Alistairs own phone rang in the kitchen. She eavesdroppedhis mother was raging at him.
When he finally ended the call, his face was dark. *”What is the meaning of this?”*
*”Meaning of what?”* Elspeth folded her arms.
*”Mother says you promised to live in that house. Did you?”*
*”I mightve agreed once. Ive since changed my mind.”*
*”That house stood unfinished for three years. Mother only completed it after our weddingfor you!”*
*”So she finished it. What of it?”*
Alistair said nothing, for his mother rang again. But this time, he handed the phone to Elspeth. *”You speak to her.”*
Mrs. Pembrokes voice crackled with fury. *”Repay us for that house!”*
*”What house? Have you lost your senses?”*
*”We built it for you, and now it stands empty! Return half its costfive thousand pounds!”*
*”Or what?”* Elspeth laughed. *”I signed no contract.”*
*”Then you shant see us again!”*
*”Heavens, what a tragedy,”* Elspeth said dryly, ending the call.
Mrs. Pembroke demanded Alistair repay her fifty pounds monthly, but he could not afford more. *”At this rate, itll take a decade!”* she fumed. *”Either move in, or increase the sum.”*
Elspeth refused outright, and within half a year, the marriage crumbled. The grand house remained, a hollow monument to broken promises.
