"It seems there are still things we can agree on after all." A divorce! She'd rather fake her own death and at least be remembered well by society or actually die than go through a divorce. If he seriously thought she'd ever consider such a thing then he knew even less about her than she thought. She had to once again swallow her indignation though, handling this situation correctly could be the difference between obtaining her freedom and having to seek her happiness by sneaking around him. He had never been the most difficult husband to deceive but then if he'd been present perhaps she'd never have strayed...
Ursula took a steadying breath before finally getting to her point. "I have no desire to resort to a divorce, I should rather be miserable with you than an outcast. However, I do think it would be in our best interests if we released one another from all but a few bonds of our marriage." It really was a dangerous gamble. If he agreed then she might finally be able to find happiness without guilt, if he did not then she'd be stuck in the hellish purgatory of a union they called their marriage and he would only be more mistrusting of her. "Our interests should always align where the children and family reputation are concerned. As far as society would be aware nothing would have changed but we would see very little of each other outside of public gatherings, if you were to return here for the summer I would go to the country house and vice versa. I wouldn't make any demands of you nor burden you with my emotions; it would be of no consequence to me whether you took a mistress or never said a kind word to me again. I would only ask that you continue to support me financially and allow me the same freedom." The success of this hinged entirely on his apathy towards her, really it wouldn't change much for him because he did as he pleased now anyway, but hopefully the prospect of interacting with her even less than they did now would appeal to him. "It would be a near total severance from one another, a separation if you will."
Ursula took a steadying breath before finally getting to her point. "I have no desire to resort to a divorce, I should rather be miserable with you than an outcast. However, I do think it would be in our best interests if we released one another from all but a few bonds of our marriage." It really was a dangerous gamble. If he agreed then she might finally be able to find happiness without guilt, if he did not then she'd be stuck in the hellish purgatory of a union they called their marriage and he would only be more mistrusting of her. "Our interests should always align where the children and family reputation are concerned. As far as society would be aware nothing would have changed but we would see very little of each other outside of public gatherings, if you were to return here for the summer I would go to the country house and vice versa. I wouldn't make any demands of you nor burden you with my emotions; it would be of no consequence to me whether you took a mistress or never said a kind word to me again. I would only ask that you continue to support me financially and allow me the same freedom." The success of this hinged entirely on his apathy towards her, really it wouldn't change much for him because he did as he pleased now anyway, but hopefully the prospect of interacting with her even less than they did now would appeal to him. "It would be a near total severance from one another, a separation if you will."
Thanks to Bee for this magnificent set <3