The 1800's, was a time when a woman was expected to conform to the expectations of a male dominated society. Courtship was followed by marriage and a life dictated to by the whims of her husband, the raising of countless children and dependency on his financial acumen. For those brought up in those times, the thought of a woman being financially independent was the cause of gossip and innuendo. Idle speculation as to how they had managed to achieve such status, without a man in their lives, enlivened many a high tea and soiree.