Aurora Leigh

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses commercial sexual exploitation, assault, and rape.

Pausing in France, Aurora finds respite from the heaviness of life in England. Pondering life and art at length, her thoughts return to Romney as she catches sight of Marian while in Paris. Aurora thinks of writing to Romney but stops herself because she believes that he is happy in his current circumstances. Weeks pass, during which Aurora searches for Marian and finally finds her in the flower market by chance. Initially reluctant to speak with Aurora, Marian eventually leads her out of the city and to her tiny home, where she is caring for a baby boy. Aurora brings Marian news of Romney, and upon seeing the child, accuses Marian of promiscuity, but Marian protests Aurora’s assumption, criticizing the protagonist for passing judgment upon her life from her lofty social position. Marian explains that on the ill-fated day of her wedding, Lady Waldemar contrived to convince her that Romney could never love her, and that he loved Lady Waldemar instead. Lady Waldemar then sent Marian to France with a lady’s maid, who abandoned Marian in an establishment for sex workers.