Star crossed lovers... in the 1940s On the day Mary Beniot was engaged to Rheal Chaisson, she did what any girl of 15 in 1942 would do; faint, in St. Luc’s Cathedral. It served her papa right! Mary was not insane of joy that her papa chose a rotten cabbage for a husband. Father Fitzpatrick called Mary Benoit forward. She faced the congregation along side Monsieur Chaisson. Jean-Claude, her papa, was invited next. A bewildered Mary was gauchely bumped, as her papa and Rheal shook hands across her front. The Priest, blessed the union announcing their engagement to Saint Agnies, the etiquette society of the front pews, the humble Saint Antonie of the back pews, and to the horrified shock of Mary, and her beloved Michael Papineau. Mary had a secret. She was pregnant with Michael's baby, and was forbidden to see him again. Michael's family had no use for the servants who worked on their estates, including Mary's family. Michael proposed to Mary, over and over again. She was forced to say no, for fear of shaming his reputation. It was shameful and unthinkable for Mary to be an unwed mother, let alone have her own choice for whom she wanted to marry.