Charlotte's Inheritance

"Charlotte's Inheritance" by M. E. Braddon is a story about a young law student in Paris named Gustave Lenoble, who is expected to marry well to improve his family's situation. Gustave comes from a normal family in Normandy and is trying to make his family proud. The book is set in a time of strong social rules and looks at love, responsibility, and choosing between family and your own happiness. Gustave's life changes when he meets Madame Meynell, a sad Englishwoman, in the Luxembourg gardens, as she will make him question what he expects of himself. He must decide whether to follow his family's wishes for him or follow his heart and love for Madame Meynell.