Dear Prudence,
Two days ago, I received a text from a friend asking why I was divorcing my husband, “Henry.” I explained that our marriage is perfectly fine and asked where she heard it. I should have known: my mother-in-law, “Nelly.”
Nelly has never cared for me, and over Christmas, I told her off after she made fun of my sister’s pregnancy weight gain to her face. As it turns out, she has since begun spreading the word that my husband and I are splitting up as a measure of revenge. Henry is scared of her and refuses to confront her about it. Should I threaten legal action if she refuses to correct the record with friends and relatives?