Proper Pride, Volume I

Proper Pride, Volume I

A narrative of society, scandal, and mistaken honour, the work tells the story of a young, spirited heiress placed under guardianship and a dashing cavalry officer whose impulsive marriage to her sets in motion a cascade of domestic and public upheaval. The tale opens with richly detailed settings—from the sunlit, bustling streets of Malta to the sterile stiffness of English military establishments—and contrasts the light, free pace of Maltese casual life with England’s strict propriety. Early in the narrative, a chance conversation over cigars and local gossip introduces the young woman’s background, including her orphan status, impressive fortune, and highly guarded upbringing, while hinting at the complex social maneuvers and arranged guardianships that influence her destiny. The marriage, arranged in an atmosphere of youthful idealism and the convenience of rounded societal connections, is soon thrown into jeopardy by the emergence of a forged marriage certificate. This document, purportedly proving that her husband had married another woman earlier, becomes the fulcrum of a bitter struggle—one that splits family confidences and ignites fierce debates over fidelity, reputation, and personal honour. Key figures, including a meddlesome chaperone and various relatives, interject their own interpretations and ambitions into the crisis. They argue over the proper conduct for a young wife, weigh the financial and social implications of a union questioned by official records, and reveal through rapid, often caustic dialogue the deep-seated prejudices and ambitions that stalk the couple. As public scandal mounts, the officer’s character is painted in sharp relief through his internal conflict and public outbursts. His honour and pride are wounded by the notion that his marriage may be null, while the young wife—caught between her innate obstinacy, deep-seated pride, and the manipulative pressures of those around her—oscillates between fierce repudiation and desperate longing for reconciliation. Their encounters are marked by heated exchanges in which accusations of hypocrisy, betrayal, and ingratitude fly as they confront each other on the brink of separation. The narrative shifts as the officer is recalled to active service in India, where the distances of empire and duty exacerbate the personal rift. Even as the exotic colonial scene and the rigours of military life offer a backdrop of vivid descriptions and ironic commentary on social order, the persistent rumor and the sting of the disputed certificate continue to haunt him. Letters from family members and fragments of overheard conversations only deepen the sense of isolation and despair on both sides. Gossip permeates the ranks of soldiers and the drawing rooms of the genteel, and every new piece of correspondence or whispered remark threatens to unmask further deceptions. Layered with biting social satire and detailed character studies, the work exposes the vulnerability of personal relationships to external machinations. Through the interplay of eloquent dialogue, passionate confrontations, and reflective internal monologues, the narrative interrogates the meaning of marriage, the nature of truth in a world dominated by appearances, and the destructive power of pride when it meets the rigid expectations of class and duty. In the end, the fate of the couple hinges on whether the forged evidence can be unmasked and the misunderstandings reversed—or whether the tragedy of miscommunication and manipulated honor will condemn both to irreparable estrangement.

By B. M. Croker · First published 2023 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Satire, Contemporary Fiction · 11 chapters · 41,653 words

First lines

December in Malta is very different from that month in England. There is no snow, no black frost, no fog; a bright, turquoise-blue sky, and deep indigo sea, smooth as glass, and dotted here and there with the white sails of fishing-boats, make a becoming background for this buff-coloured island. The air is soft, yet exhilarating; a perfume of oranges, cheroots, and flowers pervades the atmosphere. Little boys, with superb dark eyes, are thrusting delicious bunches of roses and heliotrope into the hands of passers-by, and demanding "sixpence. " The new piano-organs are grinding away mercilessly at the corner of every street. A trooper, a Peninsular and Oriental, and a vicious-looking ironclad are all in simultaneously, and Valetta is crammed. Such, at least, was the scene one December afternoon, not many years ago. It was the fashionable hour; the Strada Reale was full of shoppers, sightseers, and loungers; half the garrison were strolling up and down. Fat monks in brown, thin nuns in black, fruitsellers, Maltese women in their picturesque faldettas, soldiers, sailors, rich men, poor men, beggar men, and no doubt thieves, thronged the hot white pavement.

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Proper Pride, Volume I is listed on Textopian as a novella by B. M. Croker, dated 2023 CE.

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fiction · novel · literary · social commentary · satire · culture · identity · contemporary · character-driven · drama · humor · coming-of-age

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