A woman who is not of the upper class, who has no close relatives, who looks presentable, who may or may not be poor. She should be modest and obedient, not seek love in matrimony and not be a halfwit. Most important, she must like children and be kind. Mary checks every box on Gregory’s list of ideal characteristics for a wife, so he proposes to her and they are married. Everything has been going according to Gregory’s plan, except that Mary is even more intelligent, charming and sincere than he expected. Will Gregory’s conscience undermine his happiness?