The Second Mrs. Rivers

the long version

Carol’s father was remarrying, and the bottom had dropped out of Carol’s world. She was doing her best to be civilised about the whole position, much as she distrusted her new stepmother; but even Simon, whom she had thought of as loyal and whom she loved, called her “selfish”. “It’s not altogether your fault,” he said. “We’re all fond of you and we’ve indulged you. But someone’s got to knock sense into you, and make you realise that you’re not a child any longer, that other people have rights to be considered.” And I have a heart to be considered, thought Carol, but he had made it plain that he was not concerned with that.