Go on home! Ill speak to you there! William snapped, glancing sharply at the busy street. No need to entertain the public with your bickering!
Fine! Have it your way, then, snorted Harriet, tossing her long ponytail over her shoulder with a stubborn glare.
Harriet, dont push me! William threatened quietly. Well discuss this at home.
Ooh, such a big man! Harriet tossed back with a mocking laugh, and strode away towards their house.
William waited until she was well out of earshot, pulled out his mobile, and muttered into the microphone, Yeah, shes on her way home now. Make sure you greet her properly, just as we arranged. And into the cellar, if shes difficult! Ill be back soon.
Tucking his phone away, William was just about to step into the corner shop to reward himself with a pint for handling his wife, when an unfamiliar man caught him gently by the sleeve.
Sorry to intrude! the stranger said with an apologetic smile. But you were just with a young lady
My wife. What about her? William frowned, suddenly defensive.
No, nothing at all! The mans smile became ingratiating, almost nervous. Could you tell me, is your wife perhaps called Harriet Barker?
YesHarriet, thats right. Barker before we married, William said warily. Why do you want to know?
And is her middle name Sarah? Her father was George, wasnt he?
Yes! said William, his irritation rising. How do you know Harriet?
The truth was, Harriet had only moved to their quiet Midlands village three years previously. Before that, not a soul had heard of her, and shed said herself shed run away from her parentsdidnt want to be forced into marriage.
So why on earth was this stranger inquiring in such detail?
Ah, forgive me, Ive never met her myself. Im sort of a fan! The man blushed slightly.
Listen, mate, if youre her fan, Ill break a few ribs for youfor her fitness, not yours! William growled, stepping closer. If youre after my wife
No, thats not what I meant at all! protested the man, waving his hands frantically. I mean Im a fan of her talent!
Her talent? Cant say I know of any, William countered, confused.
Well, you know, Harriet was permanently banned from competitive Muay Thai at eighteen for excessive aggression. Thats no small feat! the stranger declared. Its a pity she stopped after those two private tournaments. Watching her in the ring was a thrill!
Williams hand shook as he fumbled for his phone. It slipped from his fingers and crashed onto the pavement, shattering. Hurriedly gathering the pieces, he tried to power it on. No luck.
He sprinted home, muttering feverishly, Please, let me be on time!
When Harriet had arrived in their rural village, William had noticed her immediately. How could he not? Young, fit, and lively, shed quickly been hired as the PE teacher at the primary school.
Everyone assumed she was on placement, but then it turned out she was twenty-five and had come for goodand shed come alone.
Theres something odd going on, the village women whispered over tea. Young and interesting, and she turns up here! Mark my words, theres a secret behind her.
Oh, nonsenseshe probably had a disastrous relationship back in the city and came to lick her wounds, countered another. Or perhaps trouble with her parents, and shes run away. Happens all the timesaw it on telly!
William watched her from a distance, not rushing in.
You never know with people like thatlets see how her story unfolds, he thought.
Working at the village school wasnt just tiringit meant endless staffroom gossip. Six months in, Harriets version of her past was the talk of the tea table.
My parents were business people, decent enough really. But then business went south, supplier let them down, and everything unravelled. My father decided to sort things out by marrying me off to the right bloke, she told them.
And you should have seen my would-be groom! I decided I was better off running for it!
Youre all alone, then? one of the older teachers shook her head, concerned.
People live everywhere, Harriet shrugged. Better to carve your own path than marry someone you dont love! It wouldnt even be a marriagemore like being sold livestock! And I dont intend to be anyones merchandise.
Dont worry, youll find your true love here, the staff reassured. Its a small village, but there are decent men about.
Once Harriets account made its rounds, William made up his mind.
Ill take her for my wifeour local girls these days are greedy and bold, but shes an outsider. And we wont see her family! he declared to his parents and older brother.
Shes young, healthy, fitshe teaches PE, after all! Shell give us strong children and help about the house. How busy can school be?
A catch, for sure, agreed his family. And if she acts up, well handle her the old-fashioned way!
They were convinced a wedding was only sensible. William was handsome, after all, and now Deputy Manager at the village veg market.
Whenever a big inspector came down, William was just a buyer, but once hed spoken up enough about efficiency and systems, they left the director in place, giving William the deputy jobYou know what to do, so get on with it. And take the flak when theres trouble!
People joked that initiative got you punished, but William built the place up, and everyone knew it. True, the staff muttered that Mr. Williams punishments were fierce, and the security chiefhis brother Henrywas a right brute, never hesitated to use force.
Still, the thefts stopped, so all was overlooked.
How could Harriet refuse such a reliable man? At first it was teas and walks, then he courted her in earnest, and finally she agreed to marry him.
William took Harriet from her staffroom bedsit and brought her home to his family.
Were one big family under one roof, my dear! Williams mother chimed, bustling about. We do everything together and help each other. I dont know how it was with your lot, but this is how we do things!
My family didnt really have rules, Harriet admitted. But you all know I left them for that reason. Now Im Williams wife, Ill learn our ways here.
This was met with much approval.
Im afraid I dont know much about running a house, though, Harriet blushed. We had a housekeeper where I grew up.
Well sort that out! her father-in-law grinned. Youre a quick study, arent you?
In principle, yes, Harriet replied. But I cant stand unfairness.
Ah, but fairness is a slippery fish, my dear, Williams mother cut in. There are rules to family life, as old as the hills! Honour your husband and his family, show respect as youd want for yourself, and never forget that a gentle nature and obedience become a woman. In return, the men see to the big matters and look after us all!
If those are the customs, Harriet shrugged. I just hope there are no punishments, old style.
Dont be daft! laughed her father-in-law. No rods or stables here!
Yet Harriets misgivings were quickly justified. Her freedom vanished barely a month after the wedding.
Work and the shopthat was all. Everything else was, Where are you off to? Loads to do here! The garden, the chickens, the ducks! Harriet! bellowed Williams mother. Were familyI cant manage alone!
And she wasnt exaggerating. William and his brother vanished at work most days, leaving at dawn, returning late, sometimes working overnight at the market, which never slept.
Her father-in-law was crippled with bad legs and backoffering only advice, never help. Everything fell on his wife and Harriet.
Yet even Williams mother was slowing down: bad joints, migraines, high blood pressureyet housework waited for no one.
And what about a personal life? Harriet protested. Not even talking about Williamjust friends, a film, a cafe, a walk. I dont even have any mates here!
Friends are no good to a married woman! Take my word for itfriends do more harm than good for wives! And cafes and filmstalk to your husband. Its not decent for a wife to go out alone round here. This isnt the citypeople will talk, and youll never live it down! Especially as a teacher!
What, seriously? Harriet gaped.
You grew up in the city, but around here, everyone knows everyones business. Step out of line, and youll never get rid of the reputation. As a teacher, you risk your joband your name!
The logic was ironclad, but Harriet had no intention of burying herself alive in endless chores.
She worked, did what was asked, but demanded respect for herself. Shed stand her ground, raise her voice, even answer back.
Work is everybodys job, shed say. If someone loafs while I slog, Im done with it!
Two and a half years passed. Harriet still hadnt settled. She insisted everyone pull their weightor she wouldnt.
Oh, what a character that Harriet is! exclaimed Williams mother when Harriet had been sent to the shop. Shes a handfulanswer for answer!
She treats me with no respect! Williams father huffed. Ask for a cushion or a cup of water and shes all, Im busy!
William, this is dreadful, Henry, the older brother, chimed in. She disrespects our parents! How can you let that go?
She mocks me tooIm the man here! Somebody needs to bring her into line, circus-style. And weve no kids yet! If we do, shell run roughshod over us all.
Well sort it, Henry said. Take her for a walk, then send her home alone. Well wait and have words. If she listens, fine. If notwell use force. If she puts up a fight, lock her in the cellartell school shes off on leave. A month will settle her down!
So the trap was set. While William strolled with Harriet, the family lay in waitbuilding themselves into a righteous fury, the plan ticking along, waiting for Williams call to say Harriet was on her way.
But William was too late.
The gate was untouched, but the front door hung off its hinges, splintered beyond repair. In the hallway, Henry was curled up on the floor, howling and clutching a broken arm. William snatched his brothers phone, dialled 999, and thrust it at him.
Give the address! William yelled over the chaos. And ask for more than one ambulance!
Henry nodded, teeth clenched in pain.
In the hallway, amid the wreckage of their furniture, Williams father lay unconsciousalive, at least. Miraculously.
In the kitchen, his mother sat on the floor, the beginnings of a magnificent bruise blackening her face. In her handsher beloved rolling pin, snapped clean in half. The very pin she used each Christmas for her pies.
At the table sat Harriet, sipping a leisurely cup of tea.
Darling? she said, looking up. Have you come for your share?
N-no William stammered.
In that case, Im not sure what to offerperhaps a bit of fairness in family life? Harriet mused. Should have warned you all earlier!
You nearly William choked, You could have
I know my limits. And everyone got what they brought. Those who came at me, left with a reminder! I broke the rolling pin on my knee. Your mother? She ran into the door in her panicI never touched her.
And how are we supposed to live after this? William gasped.
I think well live peacefully! Fairly, most of all. And dont even think about divorcing me, Harriet smiled. Im expecting. And my child will have a father.
William swallowed hard. All right my love.
Once everyone had healed and tempers cooled, the family quietly renegotiated their rules.
From that day, peace reigned in the house. And no one dared mistreat anyoneever again.
